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PART L*
HISTORY of the SOCIETY.

Account of the [and and Cafile of Lochurr, - Page 4.
Defcription of a Stone found at Coilsfield, L 6.
Sir James Hall on Granite, 2 a eet 8,
Account of the Prince of Wales Ifland, by Mr James Howifon, 13.
Method of cultivating the Oldenlandia Umbellata, > 16.

Account of a variety of the Bramble, by William Hall, Efq; 20.

AP PEON Dit X.

List of MemBERs continued from the fecond Volume, ao
Office-bearers of the Society, - . Bo:
_Office-bearers of the two Claffes, — ~ - - 28.
MEMBERS DECEASED, - - 126.
I, Biogra-

* N.B. Part I. comprehending the History, is contained under one fet of Pages ;
and Part II. comprehending the PaPErs, is contained under two fets, vz. Pa-
Pers of the Puysicat Cxiass, under the one; and Parers of the 5 aaa
signe under the other,

CO; NOT, Ae ea 8

vi

I. Biographical Account of Six James Hunter Blair, Bart. Page’31.

Il. Biographical Account of John Dryfdale, D.D. — - 37°
Ill. Biographical Account of Adaww Smith, 1 LD, - 55°
DonaTions prefented to the SoclETy, continued Jrom the

Jecond Volume, - 139.
Postscript to the Historvi=Account of a Mineral from
Strontian, by Dr Charles ‘Thomas Hope, = 143.
PiAGR OT Kd,

PAPERS READ BEFORE THE SOCIETY.

! 1,

PAPERS OF THE PHYSICAL CLASS.

I, Experiments and Ob origins. on the Unequal Refr aii of
- Light. By Dr Robert Blair, 5 © Page 2,
‘Il. Obfervations on Granite. By Dr Hutton, ad 7,
Ill. Of the Flexibility of the Brazilian Stone. By Dr Hutton, 86.
IV. An Analy/is of the Waters of fome Hot Springs in Teeland:

By Dr Black, - - - * 5.
V. An Account of the Hot Springs near Rykum in Iceland. By

John Thomas Stanley, Efq; — - - 127.
VI. An Account of the Hot Springs near Haukadal in Iceland.

By John Thomas Stanley, Efq; - s 138.

VII. On the Origin and Inveftigation of Porifms. By Mr Playfair, 154.
VILL An Account of the Quaffia Polygama, and of ihe Cinchona

Brachycarpa. By Mr John Lindfay, Or: 205.
IX. Defcription of a Human Male Monfier. By Dr Alexander
Monro, : mits vat . 21 5%

X. Ex-

Cy ON Oe INE OE AS. vii
xX. Experimepts relating to Animal Electricity. By Dr Alex-

ander Monro, Page 231.
XI. An Account, of repeated Shocks of Earthquakes, felt at

. _ Comrie in Perthfbire. By Mr Ralph Taylor, 240.
XIL..A Defcription of an Improved Thermometer. By Dr Ru-

therford, le 4 - - 247.

2.50,

XUI. Odfervations on the Mufcles. By Dr Alexander Monro,

XIV. An Account of the Peat-Moffes of Kincardine and Flan-
ders in Perthfbire. By the Rev. Mr Chriftopher Tait, 266.

>

ie

PAPERS OF THE LITERARY CLASS.

i. Tabieau de la Plaine de Troye. Par ™M. Chevalier, 3.
Il. An Effay upon ihe Utility of defining Synonymous Terms
in all Languages; with Illufirations by Examples from
the Latin. By Dr John Hill, - - 03,
- 131.

II]. On the Ancient Hellenes.. By Dr David Doig, -

TRANS.

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p# Y SICAL Clafs. A paper on the Caufe of Heat in Che-

mical mixtures, formerly read in the Philofophical Society,
was communicated by Dr Garpwer. Mr Rosert Kerr
read an Effay on the Origin of the Heat and Light in Defla-

gration.

A GENERAL Meeting of the Royal Society was held for the
election of Members, [See the Lift in the Appendix to the
Hiitory of the Society, Vol. II.]

Phyf. Cl. A B1OGRAPHICAL account of the late Dr Witson,
Profeflor of Aftronomy in the Univerfity of Glafgow, was
tee) read ;

1789.
Jan. 5.
On the caufe of
heat in chemical
mixtures.

Jan. 26.

General Meet-
ing.

Feb. 2. ,
Biographical
accountof Dr ~*
Wilfon. ,

1789.

March 2.
Mr Playfair on
the aftronomy
of the Brah-

mins.

March 16.
Biographical
account of Sir

William Dick.

April 6.
Account of the
olden/andia um-
bellata.

April 20.
Account of the
ifland and caftle
of Lochurr,

4 HISTORY of the SOCIETY.

read 3; communicated by his fon Mr Patrick Witson, the
prefent Profeflor of Aftronomy in that Univerfity.

Phyf. Ci. Mr Profeffor PLAYFAIR read a paper on the Aftro-
nomy of the Brahmins. [See Vol. II. No. XIII. Phy/ C7.]

Literary Clafs. Dr Duncan read a Biographical Account
of Sir Witt1AM Dick of Preftonfield, Bart. [See the Appen-
dix to the Hiftory of the Society, Vol. II. p. 58.]

Phyf. Ci. Dr ANDERSON read. a communication from
Dr James ANDERSON of Madras, containing an Account of
the Oldenlandia Umbellata, the Plant ufed for giving a red Dye
to Cotton in the Eaft Indies.

Lit. Cl. Dr Grecory read an Account of the Ifland and
Caftle of Lochurr, in the ftewartry of Kirkudbright; com-
municated by Mr Rrppexu of Friars Carfe, and tranfmitted
by Lord Hates.

_AccCORDING to this account, Lochurr is fituated in the
mid{t of a wild country on the eaftern border of Galloway,
about ten miles eaft of the town of New Galloway. Upon
the eaft fide of the loch are two {mall iflands, joined to the
fhore by a caufeway of large ftones, which is at prefent pretty
deep under the furface of the water. The gentleman from whom
Mr RippDELL received this account, was obliged to wade a-
long this caufeway up to the middle, in order to reach the
iflands, and to proceed with a great deal of caution, as the wa-
ter on each fide was about 16 feet deep. The neareft and
fmalleft of thefe iflands he found to be covered with willows
and long grafs, and to be about 70 feet long by 36 broad.
About 70 feet farther, is the largeft of the iflands, about 200
feet long and 72 broad, and furrounded by a wall of {tones
without mortar, fix feet thick, and in fome places five feet high.

On

HISTORY of the SOCIETY. 5

On each fide of the entrance from the caufeway, the wall is
formed into a circular tower, and within it are three or four
foundations of houfes.

- Turs dittle ifland is- inhabited by adders, and by the large
Scotch eagle, called the Earn.

-ONn leaving it, our traveller proceeded along the fhore,
about a mile toward the fouth, in order to vifit another ifland,
called the White Ifland. The White Ifland is in fact fur-
rounded by the loch only on three fides. On the fourth, it is
contiguous to a peat-mofs of the kind called a flow-mofs, and is
feparated from it bya ditch about 36 feet wide and 300long, which
ditch is ftrengthened by a ftrong breaft-work on the fide toward
the ifland. You enter by what feems to have been the ancient gate,
where the ditch is filled up. The ifland is about 552 feet long; and
nearly of the fame breadth. It appears to have been a Roman
fortification, and in all probability is what CAMBDEN calls the
Cardea of ANTONINUS. ‘There is a tradition here, that a num-
ber of Roman foldiers were ftarved to death in this ifland.

On the eaft fide of it, there are two mounts of about 38 feet
in diameter each, and at fome diftance from one another.
On the north fide, the foundation of feveral buildings are {till
to be feen.

_ Tue water of Urr runs out of the loch on the weft fide of
this ifland.

I'r is to be remarked, that the names of the places in this
neighbourhood are Gaelic, which language was fpoken in the
remote parts of Galloway fo late as 1671 and 1672.

Mr Profeflor Dauzet alfo read an Effay on Poetry, confider-
ed as an Imitative Art.

Lit. Cl. Dr ANDERSON read a paper, containing Obferva-

tions on the Perfonal Pronouns.
A

1789,

April 20,
Mr Dalzel on
poetry.

June 15.
Dr Anderfon on
perfonal pro-
nouns,

1789.
June ry.
Defcription of
a ftone found at

Coilsfield.

June 29.
General Meet-
ing.

July 3.
M. Monnet on
the formation
of minerals,

July 20.

- Dr Anderfon
on the laws re-

{pecting debt-
ors.

Nov. 2.
Dr Guthrie on
the climate of
Raffia.

Nov. 30.
General Meet:
ing.

6 HISTORY of the SOCIETY.

A DEscRIPTION and Drawing of a Stone found at Coilsfield
in Ayrfhire, was communicated by Colonel MontTcomery of
Coilsfield.

Tue ftone here referred to was found in digging a gravel-pit
at Coilsfeld, and under it an urn, of earthen ware, full of bones,
not calcined, but broken down into fmall iileecarn fo that
they refembled thofe found in the rock of Gibraltar. The
{tone is reprefented of an irregular figure, about five feet in’
length and two and a half in breadth. On the furface of it
are traced, near one end, fix concentric circles, at equal diftances
from one another ; the diameter of the largeft is about eighteen
inches. The other lines traced on the ftone are fo very irre-
gular, that no conjecture can be formed of what they were in-
tended to exprefs.

A GENERAL Meeting of the Royal Society was held for the
election of Members. [See Appendix to the Hiftory of the
Society, Vol. Il. ]

Phyf. Cl. Dr WALKER read an Effay on the Formation of
Minerals by M. Monnet.

sal

Lit. Cl. Dr ANDERSON read a paper, entitled, Hints for the
Improvement of the Laws in Scotland refpecting Debtors.

An Effay on the, Climate of Ruffia by Dr Mart-
[See

Phyf. Cl.
THEW GuTurie of St Peterfburg, was communicated.
Vol. I. No. XV. Phyf. Ci]

A GENERAL Meeting of the Royal Society was held for the
eleCtion of Office bearers. [See Appendix to the Hiftory of
the Society, Vol. II. ]

Phyf.

HISTORY of the SOCIETY. ae

Phyf. Gl. Dr Waker communicated fome papers from
Dr Francis BucHANAN of Leny.° They contained obferva-
tions on the Caves of Elephanta, a Defcription of two Wa-
ter-fpouts, and of a Luminous Appearance of the Sea.

Lit. Cl A COMMUNICATION was read from Dr WILLIAM
Biane in India, being Obfervations on the Origin of the Nu-
merical Characters, commonly called Arabic. The object of
this paper was to prove, that thefe Characters are of Indian
origin, agreeably to the opinion now generally received con-
cerning them.

Mr Hume alfo read a Biographical Account of the late Sir
Tuomas Miter of Glenlee, Bart. [See Appendix to the
Hiftory of the Society, Vol. II. p. 63.] |

Phyf. Cl. Dr Hutton read a paper entitled, Obfervations
on Granite. The paper is publifhed in this volume. [No. II.
Phyf. Cl.) | |

Sir James HAtt alfo read the firft part of a paper, entitled,
Obfervations on the Formation of Granite.

Lit. Cl. Mr Profeffos DALZEL read a paper, containing Ob-
fervations on the Pathetic in Poetry, and on the Union of the
Pathetic and Sublime.

A GENERAL Meeting was held for the Ele@tion of Members.
[See Appendix to the Hiftory of the Society. ]

Phyf. Cl. Joun CLERK, Efq; of Elden, read the firft part
of a paper, entitled, A Scheme for weighing up Ships funk
under Water. -

Lit.

1789.
Dec..7.

On the caves of
Elephanta, &c.

Dec. 21.
Dr Blane on
the Arabic cha-
racters.

Biographical.
Account of Sir
Thomas Miller.

1790.

Jan. 4.
Dr Hutton on
granite.

Sir James Hall
on granite,

Jan. 18.
Mr Dalzel on
poetry.

Jan. 25.
General Meet-
ing.

Feb. r.
Mr Clerk on
weighing up
fhips.

179%
Feb. 15.
Mr Hunter on
the Latin com-
pound perfect

tenfe.

March rt.
Sir. James Hall
on granite,

8 HISTORY of the SOCIETY;

Lit. Cl. “Mr Daze read a paper on the Latin compound
perfe@ Tenfe, by Mr Hunter, Profeflor of Humanity in the
Univerfity of St Andrew’s.

Phyf. Cl. Sir JAMES HALL communicated the remainder of
his paper, vz. Obfervations on the Formation of Granite.

Sir James HAtt declined putting the two papers above men-
tioned into the hands of the Committee for publication, as they
refer to Dr Hurtron’s Theory, which the author has not yet
explained fo fully as he intends, but which he is preparing to
give, accompanied by that variety of proofs and illuftrations,
which the profound refleCtion, and extenfive obfervation of
many years have furnifhed him with. The following abftrac&t
of them, therefore, is all that Sir James thinks it proper to
communicate at prefent.

Tue firft paper was fuggefted to him by a mineralogical
excurfion which he made in 1788, in company with the Ho-
nourable T. DouGLAs, among the mountains of Galloway, in
order to examine into the curious facts refpecting the junction
of the granite and the fchiftus, which were firft obferved by
Dr Hutrov, as related in his paper mentioned above, and foon
after communicated by him to Sir Jafizs Hau. Sir James
accordingly having met with the line of feparation of thefe two
bodies, continued to follow it till he made the entire circuit of
a confiderable tract of granite country, which reaches from
the banks of Loch Ken, where the jun¢tion is moft diftin@ly
feen, to the valley of Palnure,- and occupies a mountainous
{pace of about eleven miles by feven; and in all this extent,
he found, that wherever the junction of the granite with
the fchiftus was vifible, veins of the former, from fifty yards,
to the tenth of an inch in width, were to be feen running into the
latter, and pervading it in all directions, fo as to put it beyond

-all doubt, that the granite of thefe veins, and confequently

of the great body itfelf, which he obferved forming with the
2 veins

BISTORY of the SOCIETY. j

veins one conneéted and uninterrupted mafs, muft have flowed
in a foft or liquid ftate into its prefent pofition.

In giving an account of thefe obfervations, Sir JamEs Hatt
was led, by finding it impoflible for him to exprefs his ideas
clearly on the fubjeét, to enter at confiderable length into a dif-
cuffion of the terms of mineralogy, the imperfetion of the
language of that fcience, and the principles on which a lefs am-
biguous nomenclature might be formed. He particularly
pointed out, as the bafis of fuch a nomenclature, the grand di-
vifion which nature has made in the mineral kingdom, into
ftratified and unftratified bodies, the former comprehending
both the primary and fecondary ftrata, the latter comprehend-
ing granite, porphery, bafaltes, trap or whinftone, and lava.

He next ftated the argument which the fads concerning

granite that have been referred to above, afford in fupport of
Dr Hutton’s Theory of the Earth. He remarked alfo the
great number of facts which he had met with in Scotland, and
in the volcanic countries of Italy, that were connected and ex-
plained by that theory, and by no other; concluding on the
whole, that there was {carcely any fyftem in phyfics eftablifhed
on more folid principles, and that the publication of it was
likely to form a very important epoch in the hiftory of this
branch of philofophy.

To atheory, however, which embraces fo great a variety of
objects, fome difficulties muft be expected to occur; and this
is the more likely to happen, that though the agents employed
in it be fuch as we are well acquainted with, yet they are in-
_ troduced as acting in circumftances very different from thofe
in which we ufually fee them act. |

Or thefe difficulties the moft confiderable appeared to Sir
James HAtt to be the following: In granites which contain
quartz and felt-{par, it frequently occurs, that the felt-fpar is feen
with the form of its cryftals diftin@lly defined, whilft the

quartz is a confufed and irregular mafs, being almoft univer-.

Vou. IIL (B) fally

$e) | HISTORY of the SOCIETH

fally molded upon the cryftals of felt-fpar. Now, were it true,
that all granite is formed by fufion, the very contrary, it
would feem, ought always to take place, as felt-{par is very ea-
fily melted, and quartz refifts the greateft efforts of heat that
have hitherto been applied to it.

Tuis difficulty is obviated thus: It is well known, that when
quartz and felt-{par are pounded and mixed together, the mix-
ture may, without difficulty, be melted and run into a kind of
glafs, the felt-fpar ferving as a flux to the quartz. The fame
fact may be ftated in another way, by confidering the felt-fpar,
when melted, as a fluid in which, as in a menftruum, the
quartz is diffolved ; and in this view, we may expe, by ana-
logy, that phenomena, fimilar to thofe of the folution of falt in
water, fhould take place. Now, it is certain, that when ex-
ceflive cold is applied to falt water, the water is frozen to the
exclufion of the falt, the ice obtained yielding frefh water when
melted, and the falt, when the experiment is pufhed to the ut-
moft, feparating from it in the form of fand. Why fhould not
the fame thing happen in the folution of quartz in liquid felt-
fpar, when the mafs is allowed to cool below the point of con-
gelation of the menftruum? The felt-fpar may cryftalize fepa-
rately from the quartz, as we have feen pure ice formed fepa-
rately from the falt ; in both cafes, the congelation of the folvent
being /imultaneous to that of the diffolved fubftance. Hence
the cryftals may mutually interfere with each other’s forms,
and we.may as naturally expect to fee quartz molded on cryftals.
of felt-fpar as the reverfe.

In anfwer to an objection which might be urged againft this
reafoning, v7z. that the refult of the fufion of granite is a glafs in
which no cryftalization can be feen, an accidental experiment was
produced, which had happened at one of the Leith Glafs-houfes.
a few weeks previous to the reading of this paper. A quantity of
common green glafs having been allowed, in a great mafs, to cool
gradually and very flowly, it was found to have loft all the proper-

3 t1es

HISTORY of the SOCIETY. rr

ties of glafs, being opaque, white, very hard and refractory,
and wholly compofed of a fet of cryftals, which fhot into fome
cavities in a determined form. When a piece of this fubftance
was melted by the violent heat of a blowpipe, and was allowed
to cool inftantly, it recovered all the properties of glafs. We
may conclude from this example, that if the glafs produced by
the fufion of granite had been allowed to cool with’ fufficient
flownefs, it might have cryftalized, producing a granite fimilar
to that which was originally melted.

Tue fame principle feems to point out the theory of all kinds
of granite, and fhows their connection with one another, and
_with all the other unftratified bodies. If quartz, felt-{par,
{chorl, mica, garnet, tc. happen to be melted together, the
moft fufible fubftance of them all may be confidered as the
menftruum in which all the reft are diflolved, and we may fup-
pofe, that thefe various diflolved fubftances may differ amongtt
themfelves in their properties of folution, as falts differ from
one another; fo that fome of them may be more foluble in
the menftruum when very much ‘heated, than when it is com-
paratively cold, and others may be as foluble in it, when little
warmer than its point of congelation, as when raifed to a much
higher temperature. If then we fay, for example, that the
congealing point of the folvent is 1000 degrees of FAHRENHEIT,
and if the folution is at the temperature of 2000, we may con-
ceive one portion of the matters diffolved, as held by the fim-
ple diffolving power of the menftruum, and another portion
‘as held by means of its elevated temperature. When therefore
a mafs of this kind is allowed to cool very flowly, as we may
fuppofe muft be the cafe with liquid granite in the bowels of
the earth, thofe fubftances, held in folution by the heat of the
folvent, will firft feparate, and being formed in a liquid, will
affume their cryftaline forms with perfect regularity ; whereas
thofe fubftances which were held by the menftruum fimply as
a fluid, will not feparate till the congelation of the folvent itfelf

(B 2) takes

1790.
March rf.
Mr Clerk on
weighing up
fhips,

12 HISTORY Of the SOCKRTX.

takes place, when the cryftals of the various fubftances will in-
termix and confound the regularity of form which each would
have affumed if left to itfelf. In this manner, one of the moft
common kinds of granite will be produced, confifting of per-
fe@t cryftals of {fchorl, mica or garnet, inclofed in a confufed
mafs of felt-fpar, quartz and fchorl.

Ir the firft ftage of cooling is performed in the bowels of the
earth, and if the folution, while ftill liquid, is by fome effort
forced upwards, and erupted into the open air in the form of a
lava, which being fpread thin upon the furface, and expofed to
the air, would lofe its heat fuddenly, the cryftals of fchorl and
of mica, originally held by the heat of the menftruum, will be
of a large fize, having been produced in the liquid when in a
great mafs, and when its heat of courfe efcaped very flowly,

- there will be embodied in a mafs formed of very {mall cryftals,

fince they have been formed with great rapidity. This in fact
is the defcription of one of the moft common lavas, which con-
fifts of large and perfect cryftals of {chorl, embodied in a mafs
whofe fracture is dull and rough, and which, when examined
with a microfcope, is found to confift of a congeries of minute
cryftals.

Tuus, all the varieties among unftratified fubftances may be
accounted for by the different circumftances in which each of
them pafled from a liquid to a folid ftate.

Mr Crerk read the fecond part of his Scheme for weighing
up Ships funk under Water. [Vide /upra, Feb. 1.]

Mr CLERK not having finifhed the drawings neceflary for the
illuftration of this paper, did not put it into the hands of the
Committee for publication ; which, however, he has undertaken
to do, before another volume of thefe TranfaCtions can ap-

pear.
Lit.

HISTORY of the SOCIETY, 13

Lit. Cl. Dr ANpERson read a paper, entitled, Conjeétures
on the original. Ufes of thofe circular Buildings called Dunes
in the northern part of Scotland.

Phyf- Cl. Dr RUTHERFORD read a Defcription of an Improve-
ment made in the conftruction of the Thermometer, by JouNn
RuTHERFORD, M.D. [See No. XII. of this volume, Phy/ C/.]

feits C.
Dunes.

Dr ANDERSON read an abftract of his paper on

A GENERAL Meeting was held for the election of Mem-
bers. [See the Appendix to the Hiftory of the Society. ]

Phyf. Gi. Mr Kerr read a Defcription of an Animal Ig-
notum in the Mufeum of the. Univerfity of Edinburgh.

Phyf. Cl. Dr Hutron read Obfervations on the Theory of
Rain, being an addition to the papers on that fubject in the
firft volume of the Tranfactions of this Society, No. II. Phy/.
Cl. Thefe obfervations are fince publifhed by Dr Hutton in
a feparate work, viz. Differtations on different Subjects in Natural
Philofophy, Edin. 1792, and are contained in the third differta-
tion of the firft part.

AT this meeting, there was alfo read an Account of Prince
of Wales Ifland, given by Mr James Howisow, one of the
furgeons of the new fettlement in that land, communicated
by Sir Joun DatryMpLe.

Tue following are fome of the moft remarkable particulars
contained in this account.

Tuis ifland, which is defcribed in the charts under the name
of Pulo Penany, is fituated in the entrance of the Straits of Ma-
lacca, in 100 degrees of eaft longitude and in 5 degrees of north
latitude. It is about feven leagues in length and three in

| breadth.

1790.
March 15.
Dr Anderfon
on dunes,

April 5.
Dr Rutherford’s
improvement of
the thermome-
ter.

June 2r.

Dr Anderfon on
dunes,

June 28.
General Meet-
ing.

July 5.
Mr Kerr on an
animal fgnotum,

Aug. 2.
Dr Hutton on
the theory of
rain,

Mr Howifon’s
account of
Prince of Wales
ifland,

14 HISTORY of the SOCIETY.

breadth. Its northern extremity runs nearly parallel with the
main land, at a diftance of about two miles, by which a fine
channel is formed, where the greateft fleets might ride in per-
fect fafety, the height of the furrounding mountains acting as
a barrier againft the force of the prevailing winds.

THE climate of this ifland, confidering its vicinity to the
equator, is remarkably mild. Eighty degrees is about the mean
height of the thermometer at noon, which, during the night,
is feldom above feventy.

Irs healthfulnefs is certainly not furpaffed by that of any
European fettlement on the coaft. Out of a garrifon of three .
hundred troops, (natives of Hindoftan), not one has died for
thefe laft fourteen months ; a fingular fact to be experienced by
a new fettlement in an uncleared country. This great falubrity
is perhaps the effect of a conftant ventilation, fupported by al-
moft continued but gentle breezes, added to the drynefs of the
foil, the uniform but gradual elevation from the fea to the foot
of the hills preventing thofe ftagnations of water which, in
tropical latitudes, are fo highly prejudicial to the health of
man.

A ripceE of beautiful mountains, deeply indented with
valleys, and covered with evergreens, divides the ifland longitu-
dinally. Innumerable rivulets receive their origin from thefe
mountains, and are remarkable for the tranfparency and cool-
nefs of their waters.

Tue foil, which is light and fandy near the fea, gradually
changes to a rich clay as it approaches to the high lands. There
the fugar-cane grows with the utmoft luxuriance, and the
moft plentiful crops of rice are every where produced. Our
gardens have already furnifhed us with cabbages and potatoes ;
and when our induftry fhall have reached the tops of the moun-
tains, it will be no furprife to fee in our plantations moft of
the productions of Europe in their utmoft perfection.

In

HISTORY of the SOCIETY. rs

In decorating the landfcapes of this little ifland, nature has
has been peculiarly lavifh. An afflemblage of flowering trees
and fhrubs in perpetual bloffom, and endlefs in the variety of
their fpecies, form the firft fhade. Thefe are overtopped by
foreft trees of an immenfe height, which fpread their vatt
branches on every fide, and are covered with the richeft foliage.
Here ftrangers feel with rapture the effect of the breezes,
which, from whatfoever quarter they blow, are ftrongly im-
pregnated with the fragrance of the groves.

THE original animal produdtions of this ifland are very li-
mited. Of quadrupeds, the wild hog, deer and fquirrel, nearly
comprehend the whole; but the abfence of the tiger and leo-
pard, whofe numbers and ferocity almoft render the oppofite
fhores uninhabitable, amply compenfates for this deficiency.

Tue flying fox and fquirrel are natives of this ifland; the
former a non-defcript, and a great natural curiofity.

Or birds we have alfo but few, and only one which is re-
markable for the melody of its notes. A

Tue crow and fparrow, the never-failing attendants on po-
pulation, have but lately made their appearance. They are
now, however, rapidly increafing and multiplying. All the
domeftic animals arrive here at great perfection.

Tue fea which furrounds us, affords a vaft variety of fith
of the moit delicious flavour, and its fhores abundance of the
fineft turtle and oyfters. In no fituation indeed are the conve-
niencies and luxuries of life enjoyed in greater profufion.

Tue advantages of the ifland in a political and commercial
view, are too obvious to require to be pointed out.

Phyf. Cl, Dr Duncan read a printed paper, being a com- eee
munication from Dr JAmEs JOHNSTON of Worcefter, entitled, ?* ee be eg
Thoughts on the Functions and Difeafes of the Lymphatic plnds
Glands.

Lit..

1790.
Nov. 15.
Dr Doig on the
ancient Helle-
nes.

Dec. 6.
Dr Hutton on
the theory of
rain.

Mr Luchead’s

account of a bi-

tuminous lake.

Dec. 25:
Mr Frafer Tyt-
ler on tranfla-
tions

1791.
Jan. 3.
Method of cul-
tivating the ol-
denlandia uil-

dellata.

ws HISTORY. of the SOCIETY.

Lit. Cl. Mr Daxzet read the firft part of a Differtation
concerning the ancient Hel/enes, by Davip Doic, LL. D. Ma-
{ter of the Grammar-fchool of Stirling.

Phyf. Cl. Dr Hutrron read farther Obfervations on the
Theory of Rain. [See his Diflertations above referred to, Dif-
fertation III. Part I.]

Dr Wacker alfo communicated an Account of a Bituminous
Lake in the ifland of Trinidad, by Mr Witt1am LocuEap,
Surgeon in Dominica.

Lit. Cl. Mr Fraser TyT er read the firft part of an Effay
on the Principles of Tranflation.

Phyf. Cl. An Account of the method of cultivating the
Oldenlandia Umbellata, or Ché Plant, tranflated from the J: alinga
language by Dr ANDERSON of Madrafs, was communicated to
the Society.

Tue firft thing to be attended to is the gathering of the
feeds. When the plants are well grown and red-coloured, and
after they have flowered and produced fruit and long roots,
then it is time to get the feed. As the feeds are very fmall, and
drop down under the plant, they can only be gathered with
the fand, which muft be kept in a heap till next year, as it can-
not be ufed that year. The ground on which the feed is to be
fown, fhould be fandy, fupplied with {weet water, and well ma-
nured with fheeps dung. It is then to be plowed, the more
frequently the better, perhaps feven or eight times. . It muft
be perfectly level and clean, and divided into beds of one yard
broad, and four yards long, with a narrow water-courfe between.
The feeds muft be fown thinly in thefe beds, and palmira
leaves fpread over the furface, and the water poured on them
to prevent the feeds from being wafhed out of the earth, until
they fhoet up, which will be in five or fix days. For two

2 months

HISTORY of the SOCIETY. ry

months after this, the ground mutt be kept conflantly wet, and
fprinkled befides with water, having cow-dung mixed with it,
every morning, to prevent the fhoots from being blown off by the
_ wind. During the remaining months, the cow-dung may be
omitted, and the ground only watered twice a-day, morning
and evening. Grafs muft not be allowed to grow. If ma-

naged as above, the plants will be perfect in fix months, when -

they muft be dug up with a long iron bar, to prevent the roots
being broken, and bound up in fmall bundles, that are to be
dried and bound into larger bundles, of two maunds, or 150
pound weight.

AFTER cutting or beating off the upper part, the roots muft
be well powdered, and mixed with four times their quantity of
water in a pot, and boiled for fome time, to prepare them for
painting and dying red. For the painted calengary or chintz,
the painters ufe other ftuffs, together with Ché root, according
to their convenience, as Brazil wood, to fhow them where the
red is to be put ; but the Ché root is the principal.

THE ground that is once planted with Ché root cannot be
ufed again for the fame purpofe for fix years.

Ar this meeting, there was alfo read the firft part of a paper,
entitled, Experiments and Obfervations on the Unequal Re-
frangibility of Light, by Dr Ropert Briair, Regius Profeffor of
Aftronomy in the Univerfity of Edinburgh.

Lit, Cl. Mr Fraser Tyryer read the fecond part of his
Effay on the Principles of Tranflation. This effay has been
fince publifhed feparately.

A GENERAL Meeting of the Society was held for the Election
of Members. [See Appendix to the Hiftory of the Society:]

Von, IIL. silent fan Phy/;

1791
Jan. 3.
Dr Blair on the
unequal refran-

gibility of light.

Jan. 17.
Mr Frafer Tyt-
ler on tranfla-
tion.

Jan. 24.
General Meet-
ing.

1791.
Feb. 7.
Dr Hutton on
periodical
winds, &c.

Feb. 21.
M. Chevalier’s
Tableau, &c.

Feb. 28.

M. Chevalier’s
Tableau, &e.

March 7.
Dr Hutton on
phlogifton,

March 21.
M. Chevalier’s
Tableau, &c.

Biographical
account of Sir
James Hunter
Blair,

18 HISTORY of the SOCIETY.

Phyf. Cl. Dr Hutton read two papers; the firft contained
Obfervations on the Periodical Winds which prevail in Britain
during the fpring and autumn; the fecond, An Effay on the
Flexibility of the Brafilian Stone. The firft of thefe papers is
publifhed in the work referred to above, vzz. Differtations, &c.
by Dr James Hutton, and is the fourth Differtation of the firft
part. The fecond is publifhed in this volume. [PAy/. C7. No. III.]

Lit. Cl. M. CHEVALIER, of the Academies of Metz, Caffel,
and Rome, read the firft part of a paper, entitled, Tableau de la
Plaine de Troye, accompanied with Maps.

Lit. Cl. AT an extraordinary Meeting of the Society,
M. Caeva.ier read the fecond part of his paper above men-
tioned.

Phyf. Cl. Dr Hutton read the laft of a feries of papers on
Phlogifton, of which the reft had been formerly communicated
to the Society, and which are all publifhed in the fecond part
of the Doétor’s Diifertations above quoted.

M. CHEVALIER read the fequel of his paper, vz.
The paper is publifhed in this

Bite CT.
Tableau de la Plaine de Troye.
volume. [Zit. Cl. No. 1 *.]

At this Meeting, Mr GREENFIELD alfo read a Biographical
Account of the late Sir James HunTER Briar, Bart. [See

Appendix to the Hiftory of the Society in this volume. }
Phyf.

* N. B. By authority of the Committee of publication, and at the defire of the
Author, this paper has been tranflated into Englifh, and accompanied with large
Notes, by Mr DauzeEt, Profeflor of Greek in the Univerfity of Edinburgh, and
publifhed feparately in 4to : Which Tranflation and Notes have been, by permiffion
of the Committee, tranflated into German, under the infpe€tion of M. Herne of
Gottingen ; with a Preface, additional Notes, anda Diflertation, written by M. Herve
himfelf, and publifhed at Leipfic in 8ve,

HISTORY of the SOCIETY. 19

Phyf. Cl. The fequel of Dr BLarr’s paper was read, viz.
Experiments and Obfervations on the Unequal Refrangibility of
Light. The paper is publifhed in this volume. [No. I. Phy/.
Ci.)

Lit. Cl. The remainder of Dr Doic’s Differtation on the
ancient Hellenes was read.

A GENERAL Meeting of the Royal Society was held for the
election of Members. [See Appendix to the Hiftory of the

Society. ]

Phyf. Cl. There was read an Analyfis of the Waters of the
Hot Springs of Geyzer and Rykum in Iceland, by Dr Brack,
Profeffor of Chemiftry in the Univerfity of Edinburgh. The
paper is publifhed in thisvolume. [No. IV. Phy/. Cl.]

Lit. Cl. Mr Dauzex read an Account of a Journey made
from Rome to Tivoli, by ANDREW LuMmispDEN, Efq; with a De-
{cription of a Marriage-ceremony, taken from a bas-relief on
a farcophagus at Tivoli, being a letter from the Author, addrefled
to Joun Maccow4an, Efq; Edinburgh. This paper, as being
intended by Mr LumisDEN for a part of a larger work, was not
put into the hands of the Committee for publication.

Phyf. Cl. Dr HutTron communicated fome additional Ob-
fervations on Granite. Thefe make part of the paper referred
to above. [No. II. of this volume, Phyf C7. ]

Phyf. Cl. A Letter was read from Joun THoMAs STAN-
LEY, Efq; M.P. to Dr Biack, giving an Account of the Hot
Springs of Rykum in Iceland. ‘This letter is publifhed in this
volume. [No. V. Phy/. C/.]

(C 2) SOME

1791.
April 4.
Dr Blair on the
unequal refran-

* gibility of light,

April 18.
Dr Doig on the
ancient Hel-
lenes.

June 27.
General Meet
ing.

July 4.
Dr Black’s ana-
lyfis of the wa-
ters of Geyzer
and Rykum.

July 18.
Mr Lumifden’s
journey to Ti-
voli.

Aug. 1.
Dr Hutton on
granite,

Nov. 7.
Mr Stanley’s
account of the
hot fprings of
Rykum,

1991.

Nov. 21.
Dr Ogilvy on
the theology of
Plato.

Nov. 28.
General Meet-

ng.

Dec. 19.
Dr Ogilvy on
the theology of
Plato.

1792.

Jan. 2.
Account of a
variety of the
bramble.

** them in my garden here.

20 HISTORY of the SOCIETN.

SOME papers were alfo communicated at this: meeting, from
Mr Linpsay, Surgeon in Jamaica,

Lit. Ci, There was read the firft part of an Effay on the
Theology of PLato, by the Reverend Dr Ocitvy of Midmar
in Aberdeenthire.

A GENERAL Meeting of the Royal Society was held for the
election of Office-bearers. [Vide Appendix to the Hiftory of
the Society in this volume. ]

Lit. Cl. A fecond part of Dr Ocitvy’s Effay mentioned
above was read.

Phyf. Cl. An Account was read of a variety of the Bram-
ble found on the banks of Lochnefs in Invernefs-fhire, in a let-
ter to Sir JAMES Hat from WiLL1AM HALL, Efq; of White-
hall. |

“< Whiteball, foire of Berwick, Dec. 1. 1791.

“ ‘WueEn I was in the Highlands in the year 1787, I found
“on the banks of Lochnefs a plant which had fome refem-
“« blance to the common bramble, yet feemed to differ confider-
“ ably from it in its habit or manner of growth. As the in-
*« habitants faid it bore a fweeter berry than the bramble, I
** procured fome roots of it, and fince that time have cultivated
I have obferved it to poflefs the
“* following characters.

“ Ir is of the genus Rubus of Linnzus. Though it ap-
“* pears to be akin both to the rafp (Rubus Idéus) and to the
“ bramble, (Rubus Fruticofus), it differs in fome refpects from
“ poth. One or more erect ftalks, with a very few ‘hort

. prickles,

it 4

HISTORY of the SOCIETY. aI

prickles, fhoot up from each root, and bear no fructification
the firft year. In their fecond year, they begin to produce
flowers about the fame time withthe rafp-berry, in the firft week
of June, three or four weeks before the bramble ; but the fruit
does not come to maturity till the intermediate time between
ripening of the rafp-berry and bramble-berry, that is, about
the beginning of September. The fruit, which is of the colour
of the red- mulberry, has a peculiar tafte, fomewhat different
from both. After bearing fruit, the ftalk perifhes in the fecond
year, like that of the rafp ; but the root continues to produce
new fhoots yearly, like that plant. / Its characters may be ex-
preffed, in the Linnzan ftyle, as follows:

“© Rubus (Neffenfis) foliis quinato-digitatis, ternatis, feptenifque
nudis, caule fubinermi, petiolis canaliculatis; ftolonibus erectis bi-
ennalibus.

“© As it is fo nearly akin both to the rafp and the bramble,

it may perhaps be only a variety of one or t’other. But as:

it is to be met with in different places on the banks and among
the woods of Lochnefs, where it could not come from the
fame root, it muft have been propagated by the feed, and
would therefore feem to be a different fpecies from either, and
from any other Rubus that I know of. Iam,” tc.

AT this meeting, was alfo read the firft part of a paper on

Electricity, by Mr Joun LEstie.

Lit. Cl. A part of Dr Ocitvy’s paper on the Theology of

PLATO was read in continuation. The Society obferved with
regret, that the difcuffions of a religious nature contained in this
learned communication, rendered an admiffion of it among
their papers inconfiftent with the nature of their plan; and
therefore it was not put into the hands of the Committee for
publication.

1792o.
Jan. 2.

Mr.Leflie on
electricitye

Jan. 16.
Dr Ogilvy on
the theo:ogy of
Platos

179%
Jan. 23-
General Meet-

ng.

March 5.
Mr Leflie on
electricity.

April 2.
Mr Playfair on
porifms.

June 4.
Dr Butter on
the cure of St
Vitus’s dance.

June 25.
General Meet-

oy ange

\

July 2.
Mr Taite’s de-
feription of

mofles in Perth-

- fhire.

Nov. 5:

Dr Monro’s de-

{cription of a
male monfter.

Nov. 26.
General Meet-
ing. oi

Dec. 17.
Biographical

Account of Dr .

Dryidale.

a2 HISTORY of th SOCIETY.

A GENERAL Meeting of the Royal Society was held for the
election of Members. [See the Appendix to the Hiftory.]

Phyf. Cl. The remainder of Mr Lestie’s paper on Eleétri-
city. was read. |Vide fupra, Jan. 2.]

Phyf. Cl. A paper was read on the Origin and Inveftigation
of Porifms, by Mr PLayrarr. The firft part only of the pa-
per was communicated, and it .is publifhed in this volume.

[Phyf. Cl. No. VIL]

Phyf. Cl. ‘An Account was read of an Application of Hea
lock to the Cure of St Vitus’s Dance, by Dr Butrer of Lon-
don.

A GENERAL Meeting. of the Society was held for the eleGtion
of Members. [See the Appendix to the Hiftory. ]

Phyf. Cl. A paper was read, containing a Defcription of the
Moffes of Kincardine and Flanders in Perthtfhire, by the Re-
verend Mr CurisTOPHER TaiTE, Minifter at Kincardine. The
paper is publifhed in this volume. [No. III. Lit. C/.]

Phyf. Cl. Dr Mowro read a Defcription of a Human Male
Monfter, which is publifhed in this volume. [No. IX. Phy/.

Cl.)

A GENERAL Meeting of the Society was held for the election
of Office-bearers. [See the Appendix to the Hiftory. ]

Lit. Cl. Mr Dauzex read a Biographical Account of the
late Reverend Dr DryspaLtE. [See the Appendix to the Hi-
ftory of the Society. ]

A P-

PORE Pe ohn ae BE XL,

LIST of Memsers or Fettows of the Roya Society of
EpInBuRGH, continued from the fecond Volume. [Hiftory of the

Society, Appendix. |

Tue following Members were elected at the General Meeting,
Jan. 25. 1790.
RESIDENT.

Francis Garden, Efq; aa Cageafton, one of the Senators of the

College of Juftice. L.
William Farqubarfon, M.D. painbereh P.
William Tait, Efq; Advocate. L. .

NON-RESIDENT.
Sir William Fones, Bart. Prefident of the Afiatic Society, Calcutta. L.
Fofeph Ewart, Efq; Minifter Plenipotentiary of his Britannic
Majefty at Berlin. JL.

Hugh Cleghorn, Efq; Profeflor of Civil Hiftory in the-Univer-

fity of St Andrew’s. JL.

FOREIGN.

Fobn Benjamin Fachman, M.D. Koningfberg. P. _
Chriftopbher Girtanner, M.D. of St Gall, Switzerland 3 correfpond-~
ing Member of the R. S. at Gottingen. P.
Count Reden, Direftor of the Mines in Silefia. P.
M., de la Grange, of the Royal Academy of Sciences at Paris. P.
3 Hono-

Members cho-
fen, Jan. 25,
1799,

Members cho-
fen, June 28.
2790.

Members cho-

fen, Jan. 4.
179%

Ey aati HISTORY of the SOCIETY.

HONORARY.

Baron Hertzberg, Berlin.

TuE following were elected at the General Meeting, June 28.
1790.
RESIDENT.
Norman Macleod, E{q; of Macleod. L.

NON-RESIDENT. .
Francis Kinloch, Efq; of Gilmerton. - P.

Tue following were elected at the General Meeting, Jan. 4.
1791.
RESIDENT.
‘ohn Burnet, Efq; Advocate. L.

NON-RESIDENT.

Charles Scott, M.D. London. P.

ames Clerk, M.D. Dominica. P.

Mr William Lochead, Surgeon, Antigua. P.

Mr Alexander Anderfon, Intendant of the Royal Botanical Gar-
den, St Vincent’s. FP.

William Roxborough, M. D. Madras. P.

FOREIGN.
M. Chevalier, of the Academies of Metz, Caffel and Rome. L.

2 THE

APPENDIX, 23

Tue following were elected at the General Meeting, June 27, Members cho.
en, June 27.
1791. af 170%.

NON-RESIDENT.

Daniel Braithwaite, E{q; F. R.S, Lond. L.
Robert Townfon, Efq; P.

Fames Anderfon, M.D. Madras. P.

Fames Bell, D.D. Coldftream. L.

Tue following were elected at the General Meeting, Jan. 23. Members cho.

fen. Jan. 23.
1792. 179%

RESIDENT.

William Hall, ¥{q; of Whitehall. P.

Andrew Coventry, M.D. Profeflor of Agriculture in the Univer-
fity of Edinburgh. P.

Fobn Rotheram, M.D. P.

NON-RESIDENT.

Sir Fofeph Banks, Bart. P. R.S. Lond. P.
William Saunders, M.D. London. P.
Maxwell Garth/bore, M.D. London. P.
Fobn Stark Robertfon, M.D. Bath. P.
Alexander Hunter, M.D. York. P.
Alexander ‘fohnfon, M.D. London. P.

FOREIGN.

Dr Kemp, Profeffor of Mathematics in Columbia College, New
York. | P. |

Wow stil: Peasy THE

Members cho-

fen, June 26,
3792.

Members cho-

fen, Jan. 27.

1793.

“Members cho-

fen, June 24.

1793.

26 HISTORY of th SOCIETY.

Tue following were elected at the General Meeting, June 26.
1792.
NON-RESIDENT.
Theophilus Houlbrooke, Efg; P.

George Robertfon, Efq; in the fervice of the Honourable Eaft
India Company. P.

Tue following were elected at the General Meeting, Jan. 27.
1793+
RESIDENT.
Alexander Muir Mackenzie, Efq; L.

NON-RESIDENT.
Richard Pulteney, M.D. Blanford, Dorfetfhire, F. R. S. Lond. P.
Mr Fobn Lindfay, Surgeon in Weftmoreland, Jamaica. P.
Mr Mackay, of the Obfervatory, Aberdeen. P. -
Thomas Wallace, Ef{q; of Carlton Hall, Cumberland. L.

FOREIGN.
Don Antonio Gimbernat, Firft Surgeon to the King of Spain, and
Director of the Royal College of Surgery at Madrid. /P.
Samuel Latham Mitchill; M. D. Profeflor of Economics, Columbia
College, New York. P. |

Tue following were clected at the General Meeting, June 24.
1793+
NON-RESIDENT.

Thomas Newte, Efq; of London. P.
Thomas Somerville, D. D. at Jedburgh. L.

OFFICE-

ASP P BS NBD LX, 24

OFFICE-BEARERS of the SociEry.

bearers.

OrricE-Bearers elected for the enfuing Year, at the General
Meeting held for that purpofe, Nov. 29. 1790.

Prefident.

His Grace the Duke of BuccLEuGu.

Vice-Prefidents.

U

Lord Dunfinnan. | Right Hon. Henry Dundas.
Secretary. Treafurer.
Profeflor Fohn Robifon. | Mr Alexander Keith.
Counfellors.

Mr Benjamin Bell. | Profeflor Fergufon.
Mr Greenfield. | General Fletcher Campbell. .
Mr George Ferguffon. Mr Mackenzie.
Dr Gregory. Lord Dreghorn.
Dr Rutherford. Commiffioner Edgar.
Profeffor Stewart. | Lord Evock.

(D 2) OFFICE-

General office

28 HISTORY of the SOCIETY.

Office-bearers

of the clafiés. . OFFICE-BEARERS of the two CLASSES.

PHYSICAL CLAsSs.

Prefidents.
Dr Black. Dr Home.
Dr Autton. Dr Monro.
Secretaries.

Profeflor Playfair. | Dr Walker.

LITERARY CLASS.

Prefidents.

Mr Baron Gordon. Principal Rodert/on..
Sir William Miller. Dr Hugh Blair.

Fa

Secretaries.

Mr Frafer Tytler. ‘| Profeffor Dalzel.

At the General Meetings in 1791 and 1792, the fame office-
bearers were re-elected.

List

dM POR. Bi No DX: 29

t
List of MEMBERS deceafed, continued from the fecond volume.

William Cullen, M.D. Profeffor of the Practice of Phyfic in GeP
Univerfity of Edinburgh, tc. Feb, 5. 1790.

William Hamilton, M, D. Profeffor of Anatomy and Botany in’

the Univerfity of Glatvow: March 13. 1790.

David Stuart Moncreiff, Efq; one of the Barons of Exche-
quer. April 17. 1790. :

Fobn Leflie, M. A. Profeflor of Greek, King’s College, Aber-
deen. May 24. 1790.

Major General William Roy, F.R.S. Lond. May 30. 1790.

Alexander Millar, E{q; Advocate. June 30. 1790.

Henry Cullen, M.D. one of the Phyficians of the Royal Infir-
mary, Edinburgh. Oct. 31. 1790.

Robert Henry, D. D. one of the Miunifters of Edinburgh.
Nov. 24. 1790.

David Erfkine, Efq; Writer to the Signet. April 5. 1791.

Fobhn Steedman, M.D. April 16. 1791.

Fames Gillefpie, D. D. Principal of St Mary’s College, St An-
drew’s.. ‘June 2.°1 79%.

Alexander Stevenfon, M.D. Profeffor of Medicine in the Uni-
verfity of Glafgow. June 4. 1791.

Adam Smith, Ef{q; LL.D. Commiflioner of his pee s Cu-
ftoms, tc. July 17. 1791.

The Reverend Mr Matthew Murray, Minifter of North Ber-
wick. Auguft 13.1791.

Fofeph Ewart, Efq; his Majefty’s Minifter Plenipotentiary at
Berlin. Jan.°27. 1792,

Robert Adam, Efq; Architedt, F.R.S. Lond. March 3. 1792.

The Right Hon. Yobn Earl of Bute, &c.. March 10. 1792.

William Tytler, Efq; of Woodhoufelee, Writer to the Signet.
Sept. 12. 1792.

Sohn Ruffell junior, Efq; Writer to the Ns (Deas 20.1792.

Colonel Andrew Frafer, of the Engineers. 1792.

, 3 William

Members de-
ceafed.

30 HISTORY of the SOCIETY.

William Chalmers, M.D. Profeflor of Medicine, King’s College,
Aberdeen. Dec. 14. 1792.

William Robertfon, D.D. Principal of the Univerfity of Edin-
burgh, &c. June II. 1793.

George Stuart, LL.D. Emeritus Profeflor of Humanity in the
Univerfity of Edinburgh. June 18. 1793.

William Morehead, E{q; of Herbertfhire. June 19. 1793-

ForREIGN MEMBERs deceafed.

Benjamin Franklin, Efq; LL.D. April 17. 1790.
M, le Clerc de Sept Chénes, Paris. 1791.

StncE the publication of the fecond volume, the follow-
ing BriocraruHicAL Accounts have been read at different
Meetings of the Clafles *.

EeipAc-

* N.B. The Publication of the Biographical Account of the late Dr ALExan-
DER WILsov, Profeffor of Praéical Aftronomy in the Univerfity of Glafgow, is
delayed at the requeft of his fon ; as fome papers have been miflaid, which he hopes
may ftill be recovered, and which will render the Account in a future volume
more complete. (See Hiftory of the Society, p. 3. in this volume. ]

A eR: PBN. DoE. X. 31

I. Account of Sir fames HunTER BLaiR, Bart.

[Read by Mr GREENFIELD, March 21. 1791-]

HE following account of a late refpectable Member will

not, I am perfuaded, be unacceptable to the Society. He
- was one of the twenty-two who obtained the charter of its in-
corporation ; and although his fituation did not permit him to
aim at literary diftinction, he is entitled to an honourable place
in its records, both from the worth of his private character, and
alfo from his eminent activity and ufefulnefs in public life.

Sir James Hunter Buarr was the fecond fon of Mr Joun
Hunter, merchant in Ayr, and was born in that town on the
21ft day of February 1741. His father acquired a confiderable
property in land and money, and left his children, who were
ftill young at his death, in eafy circum{tances.

Iw the year 1756, Sir James was placed as an apprentice in
the houfe of Courts, Brothers and Company, Bankers in
Edinburgh. It was at this time that his friendfhip commenced
with Sir WILLIAM ForBEs, who had entered into the fame f1-
tuation about. two years before, and who was afterwards his
partner in bufinefs. Sir WILLIAM, in a very interefting letter,
written after Sir JAMEs’s death, exprefles himfelf thus: “ Our
friendfhip terminated only with his life, after an intimacy which
few brothers can boaft of, during thirty-one years ; in which
long period, we never had a difference, nor a feparation of in-

tereft.’’
AFTER

Account of Sir
James Hunter
Blair.

a2 HESTORY of the SOCWLE TY.

Arrer the death of Mr Joun Courts, the principal partner
of the Houfe, Sir Witt1am and Sir James were admitted to a
fhare of the bufinefs in 1763, and gradually rofe to the head of
the copartnery.

Ir was alfo in +763 that Sir James firft became a member of
the Town-council of Edinburgh, during the adminiftration of

Provoft DRUMMOND, whofe memory will long be refpected by
the inhabitants of this city. He afterwards continued occafion-

ally to have a feat in the Council, and filled all the different of-
fices of Magiftracy.

In December 1770, he married Mifs JANE Bratr, eldeft
daughter of Joun Briarr, Efq; of Dunfkey in the county of
Wigton. It is remarkable, that this lady’s father, at his death,
left no fewer than fix fons, four of whom were alive at the time
of their fifter’s marriage, but all of them having died, fhe fuc-
ceeded in 1777 to the family-eftate. Sir JAmegs on this occa-
fion, received the name of Biarr, and was afterwards, in - the
year 1786, created a Baronet of Great Britain.

On the eftate which had thus unexpectedly devolved to him,
he commenced a plan of moft extenfive and judicious improve-
ment. He nearly rebuilt the town of Portpatrick; he repaired
and greatly improved the harbour; he eftablifhed packet-boats
of a larger fize on the much frequented paflage to Donaghadee
in Ireland; and, laftly, while the farmers in that part of Scot-
land were extremely ignorant of their bufinefs, he fet before
them a fuccefsful example of the beft modes of agriculture, the
greate{t fervice perhaps which can be ‘performed by a private
man to his country. :

In September 1781, upon the death of the Member at the
time, he was called, without any folicitation upon his part, to re-
prefent the city of Edinburgh in Parliament; and at the gene-
ral election in fummer 1784, he alfo received the fame honour
of an unfolicited and unanimous nomination ; an event almoft
fingular at that period of violent political ftruggle. But before

the

APPENDIX. 54

o

the end of the firft feffion, he refigned his feat, as he found the
attention required by his bufinefs inconfiftent with his attend-
ance in Parliament, and he did not chufe to retain a place when
he could not difcharge the duties of it properly.

Ar Michaelmas 1784, in compliance with the urgent re-
queft of the Town-Council, he was elected Lord Provoft of
Edinburgh ; and in this fituation, he exerted, in a very confpi-
cuous manner, the indefatigable activity of his public fpirit.
For it was he who fet on foot thofe great operations which are
-at prefent carrying on for the improvement of the city, and of
‘which one of the moft important objects was the rebuilding of

the College.

Tue firft ftep of thefe operations was a work of great utility
and magnificence. The accefs to Edinburgh from the fouth,
on account cf the narrownefs and fteepnefs of the lanes, was
not only very incommodious, but even hazardous ; and accord-
ingly, it had often been propofed to open a communication be-
tween the High Street and the fouthern parts of the city and
fuburbs, by means of a bridge over the Cowgate. But the
{cheme, although its great importance was abundantly obvious,
appeared fo expenfive, and was attended with fo many other
difficulties, that every former attempt had proved unfuccefsful,
and it required all the ardour and influence of Sir James Hon-
TER BLAIR to carry it into execution.

We owe the accomplithment of it, however, not merely to
his ardour and influence, but alfo to his fagacity. For in order
to defray the great expence, he devifed means, which, to men
of lefs difcernment or knowledge in bufinefs, appeared very
inadequate to the purpofe. His fcheme was this: The proper-
ty which lay in the line of the intended communication, and
to a confiderable diftance on each fide of that line, was to be
purchafed at its real value at the time; and after the communi-
cation was opened, fuch parts of the ground thus purchafed as

Vou. IL me 2) were

Account of
Sir James Hune
ter Blair.

34. HISTORY of the SOCIETY.

Account of . ) i
‘i JamesHus. Were not to be left vacant, were to be fold again for the pur-
ene pofe of erecting buildings according to a plan. Sir James con-

ceived, that the fale of thefe areas, in confequence of the great
improvement of their fituation, would raife money fufficient,
not only to pay for the firft purchafe of the property, but alfo
to defray the expence of building the bridge, and whatever elfe ~
was neceflary for completing the communication. But left
there fhould be any deficiency, and likewife to afford a fecurity
for borrowing the money which might be requifite, the tru-
ftees for carrying on the work were to be empowered to levy a
fum not exceeding 10 per cent. of the valued rents of the
houfes in Edinburgh and the environs ; and in order to remove
all juft caufe of complaint, he propofed, that if any of the
owners of the property to be purchafed fhould not agree with
the truftees, the price of their property fhould be fixed by the
verdict of a jury, the jury confifting of fifteen perfons, who
were chofen by lot out of forty-five proprietors of houfes or
land in the city or county, named by the Sheriff in each parti-
cular cafe.

TueEsE propofals were publithed i in November 1784, and met
with the fame reception which has often attended fchemes of’
{till greater importance and more extenfive utility. ~They were
cenfured and oppofed from various quarters, and fometimes.
even with virulence. A man of lefs ardour and public fpirit
would have yielded to the difcouragements which Sir JAmEs
experienced on this occafion. Fortunately, he was of fuch a:
temper, that they ferved only to roufe his exertions, without:
rendering him lefs prudent in his meafures. His perfeverance.
furmounted every oppofition. An act of Parliament was ob-
tained for carrying into execution, not only the plan which has:
been mentioned, but likewife feveral others of great confequence
to the place; and on the 1ft day of Auguft 1785, the work:
was begun, by laying the foundation-ftone of the bridge,

which.

APPENDIX. , 35

which now connects, by an eafy and fpacious communication,
the fuburbs on the fouth with the reft of the city.

Wiruin little more than two years, (fuch was the activity
of the managers), the bridge was completely finifhed ; and al-
‘though the expence, including the firft purchafe of the pro-
perty, amounted to not lefs than L. 63,000, yet it is expected,
when the areas which ftill remain to be ‘fold are difpofed of,
and the prices of thofe already fold are paid up, that the tru-
{tees for the bridge will be enabled to pay over to the Magi-

nt ftrates, for the purpofe of carrying on the reft of the intended

improvements, the whole or the greateft part of the 10 per cent.
affeffiment.

Sir JAmEs lived only to fee the commencement of the great
works which he had projected. In fpring 1787, he went to
Harrowgate for the recovery of his health, but without the ap-
pearance of any alarming complaint. The waters had not the
fuccefs which was expected. In the month of June, his indifpo-

fition was much increafed, and terminated in a fever. He died:

on the 1ft day of July 1787, in the 47th year of hisage. His re-
mains were conveyed to Edinburgh, and depofited in the Gray-
friars Church-yard. On this occafion, the Magiftrates and
Council, and the Principal and Profeffors of the Univerfity, at-
tended in their gowns of office, to teftify their refpedt for his
character, and their fenfe of the importance of his fervices ;

and the public in general lamented fincerely, that a man fo ac-.

tive and zealous, and fo much fuperior to narrow and felfifh
views, was not {pared to complete what he had fo happily
begun.

In private life, he was affable and cheerful, warmly attached
to his friends, and anxious for their fuccefs. In bufinefs and
in his public exertions, he was upright, liberal, difinterefted
and patriotic: And he poffeffed, in no common degree, thofe
talents which are requifite for rendering benevolence effectual 5

(& 2) for

Account of
Sir James Hun
ter Blair.

Account of
Sir James Hun-
ter Blair,

36 HISTORY of the SOCIETY.

for to an unwearied application, he united great knowledge of
the world, fagacity in bufinefs, and a found under(tanding.
His virtues and labours were not unrewarded. His lite was
fhort indeed, but it was profperous and happy; he enjoyed a
very great fhare of the public efteem; in fpite of the interefts
and prejudices which he combated, he had no perfonal enemies ;
of the numbers whom he obliged, few were ungrateful ; he was
beloved by his friends ; and no man perhaps was ever blefled
with a greater portion of domettic felicity.

Il. Ac-

2

APPENDIX. 97

Il. Account of FoHN DrrspALe, D. D.
[Read by Mr DALZEL, Dec. 17. 1792. ]

F that found judgement, which difcerns what is right and
wrong, with uncommon acutenefs and precifion ; that firm
adherence to rectitude of conduct, which excites admiration,
and commands refpect ; thofe generous and benevolent difpofi-
tions of heart, and that indefatigable attention and beneficence
to friends, which produce the moft ardent affection, gratitude,
and attachment on the part of thofe friends ; that argumenta-
tive, powerful, and animated eloquence, which comes from the.
heart, and irrefiftibly imprefles on the minds of the hearers,
the fublime truths of religion and morality ; that ardour of
mind, and thofe fuperior talents, which are reftrained only by
invincible diffdence and modefty, from informing and pleafing
mankind by the production of various works of literary ge-
nius ;—if a character poffefled of fuch. endowments and quali-
ties as thefe, has any claim to be recorded among the monu-
ments of men, the memory of the perfon who is the fubject of
the following narrative, ought not to be fuffered to pafs into
oblivion. 3

Dr Joun DrysDALe was born at Kirkaldy, in the county of
Fife on the 2oth day of April 1718; being the third fon of
the Reverend Mr Joun Dryspace, Minifter of Kirkaldy, and
_of AnNE Fercuson, daughter of Witt14M Fercuson, Ffq;

. Provoit,

Account of

Dr Dryfdale.

38 HISTORY of the SOCIETY.

Provoft, or chief Magiftrate, of the fame town. He received

the elements of claffical learning at the parifh fchool, under
Davip MILLER, a man who had alfo the honour of inftrudting
the celebrated ADAM Situ, and JAmMEs Oswa tp of Dunikeir,
perfons who have refleted fo much luftre on their country, the

one as a philofopher and man of letters, and the other as an

eminent ftatefman. Under the fame matter, were alfo educated
Dr Joun Oswatp, Bifhop of Raphoe in Ireland, and
Dr Gzorce Kay, one of the minifters of Edinburgh, men
likewife of confiderable talents and accomplifhments. So that
MiILver had reafon to boaft, that few individual mafters of the
moft opulent and celebrated fchools, had fent from their tuition
a greater number of eminent men, than had been fent by him
from the obfcure fchool of Kirkaldy.

Wai eE at fchool, Joun DryspDate greatly diftinguifhed
himfelf as a claffical fcholar ; and there he contracted that ftrict
friendfhip with the moft eminent of his fchoolfellows, particu-
larly Mr Oswatp and Mr Situ, which continued unim-
paired through life. When he was thought to be fufficiently
prepared for the Univerfity, to which young men go at a much
earlier period in this country than in England, he was fent to
College at Edinburgh in the year 1732. He there profecuted
his ftudies with great fuccefs, and foon attracted the notice of
the Profeffors, by the rapid progrefs he made in the acquifition
of knowledge. After pafling through the ordinary courfes of
languages and philofophy, he engaged in the ftudy of divinity,
the ultimate object of his repairing to the Univerfity ; and
having profecuted this the ufual time, he was admitted to trials,
according to the forms of the Church of Scotland, before the
Prefbytery of Kirkaldy; and by them licenfed to preach the
Gofpel, in the year 1740.

He was foon after employed as affiftant to the Reverend
Mr James BANNATYNE, minifter of the College Church, Edin-
burgh ; and while he publicly officiated there, he was much

2 admired

PEP? IN VD CBX. 39

admired as an original, powerful, and rational preacher. His
diftinguifhed abilities, great integrity, goodnefs of heart, and’
agreeablenefs of manners, now procured him the friendfhip
and confidence of feveral other perfons, who afterwards became
celebrated in the republic of letters; and, about this time, a

particular incident occurred, which was an earneft of that ge--

nerofity of mind, for which he was afterwards fo remarkable.
Mr OswaLpD, who was now making a figure in public life, had
remained his firm friend, and had promifed to beftow on him
the firft living in the Church he fhould be able to procure.
The parifh of Kennoway, in Fife, became vacant, and at the

difpofal of Mr Oswatp ; but Mr Dryspate having heard, that

his friend was embarrafled by a certain political connection,
which made it extremely eligible to beftow that living upon
another candidate, he took an early opportunity of waiting on
Mr Oswa tp, and having voluntarily renounced his claim, he
begged of his friend. by all means to yield to the political ap-
plication in favour of his rival; for which Mr Oswatp ever
after confidered himfelf as under the greateft obligation to him.
Indeed, at every period of his life, the conferring of a favour on
a friend, was to Mr DryspALe a much more powerful motive of
action, than the view of obtaining any perfonal emolument ;
and in examining the foundations of morality, a fubject in
which, as well as his friend Mr Smitu, he took great delight,
and to which he had paid particular attention, the feelings ot
his own mind were fufficient to induce him to reje€t with dif-
dain the fyftem of thofe philofophers who deduce all human ac--
tions from a felfifh fource.

In the year 1748, he obtained a Crown-prefentation to the:
church of Kirklifton in Weft Lothian, by the intereft of the
late Joun Earl of Hopetoun, to-;whom he had been recommend-.
ed by WiLt1AM Apam, Efq; of Maryburgh, Architect, whofe:
third daughter he afterwards married.

In:

Account of

Dr Dryfdale:

Account of
Dr Diyidale.

6 HISTORY of the SOCIETY.

In entering upon this charge, he met with fome flight oppo-
fition, owing to an opinion induiftrioufly propagated, that the
{tyle and method of his preaching were not fufficiently popu-
lar, and that his difcourfes contained too great a proportion of -
the do@trines of morality. But this’ objection was foon obvi-
ated, after the people of the parifh became better acquainted
with him ; among whom he had not remained long, till he be-
came the object of a very general regard and efteem, not only
by the kindnefs of his difpofition and his unwearied benefi-
cence, but from the interefting and animated method in which
he inculcated the great truths of religion and morality in his
fermons. Never were difcourfes better calculated to command
the attention, and influence the conduct, than thofe which he
preached to the crowded congregations that attended him.

Tuoueu he had accuftomed himfelf to compofe and write
fermons with great care, yet he feldom, efpecially in the earlier
part of his life, ufed te carry his written difcourfes to the pul-
pit. His ufual method of preaching was, after carefully ftudy-
ing the fubject, to fpeak from the heads of difcourfe which he
had marked down. Often, when he had entered upon the dif-
cuffion of one of thofe heads, he grew fo animated, and poured
forth fuch a copious torrent of interefting illuftration, that he
found the time exhaufted before he had finifhed one half of
what he had intended to fay. He was therefore obliged to de- -
fer the remainder of the fubjet to one or more fubfequent dif-
courfes, which he continued with equal vivacity and force.

He poffefled a moft uncommon fertility of original thought ;
and although his eloquence was chiefly argumentative and _ ra-
tional, yet it was fometimes pathetic, often fublime, often em-
bellifhed with the richeft ornaments of original fancy, always
bold and manly, and always marked with the dignity and vi-
gour of an upright mind. Hence he was extremely fuccefsful
in exhibiting the grandeft and moft amiable pictures of virtue,
and in expofing the meannefs and deformity of vice in the

I mott

MPP END IX. 4i

moft odious and deteftable colours. Whatever he uttered was
natural, unaffected, and full of energy, always flowing from
the heart, and always difcovering a deep penetration into the
human mind. .

In entering upon his fubject, he feemed at once to feize upon ~

the moft proper and rational views of it; and he carried his
liftening audience along with him, in a rapid and fervid train
of juft, pure and elevated fentiment, from the beginning to the
end of his difcourfe. His fermons by no means confifted, as
had been infinuated, of the mere dotrines of morality. Thefe
he certainly did moft ftrenuoufly inculcate ; but, at the fame
time, no man ever brought home to the minds of his hearers,
with greater force and efficacy, ee genuine fpirit of that reli-
gion which he preached.

His mode of delivery, though by no means correét, was ex-
tremely animated and {ftriking. His gefture was frequently ve-
hement; and though not always graceful, becaufe not ftudied,
but produced by his real feelings, yet it had a moft powerful
effet. Nor were the elevations and depreffions of his voice by
any means confiftent with thofe rules which profeffed teachers
of the art of elocution inculcate. Thefe too were entirely di-
rected by his own fenfations, and fuited to his own original
mode of fpeaking. But however irregular his tones and his
emphafis. might fometimes be, ftill what he uttered came al-
ways home to the hearts, and effectually commanded the atten-
tion, of every audience. '

In that part of the fervice of the Church of Scotland which
confifts of a portion of fcripture read and explained from the
pulpit, and which is called the Lecture, Mr Dryspate difplay-
ed uncommon ability and fkill. He expounded the f{criptures in
a plain, fimple and connected manner, fo as to render the
meaning quite intelligible to ordinary capacities. But wherever
he found a paffage that he either did not clearly underftand
himfelf, or defpaired of making edifying to his hearers, he

Wor, Ll. (F) frankly

Account of
Dr Dryfdale.

Account of
Dr Dryfdale:

a

42. ° HISTORY of th SOCIETY.

frankly avowed the difficulty, and told the audience, that in-
{tead of amufing them with a variety of conjectures, either of
the commentators or of his own, he would pafs on to fome-
thing from which they would reap much more advantage. For
he never loft fight of what he had conceived to be the great ob-
ject of all religious inftrution, pralical improvement, not fpe-
culative opinion. The inftructions and exhortations with
which he accompanied the ordinances of religion, particularly
the difpenfing of the facrament of the Lorp’s fupper, all tend-
ed to the fame end, namely, the amendment of the hearts and |
lives of his people ; and they were all delivered with fuch ear-
neftnefs of manner, as convinced the hearers, that they came
from a pure and benevolent mind, intent upon promoting their
beft interefts.

As the fervice of the Church of Scotland does not admit of.
fet forms of prayer, but leaves the minifter to ufe his own ex-
preflions in addreffing the Supreme Being, Mr DrysnA.e’s
talents were in nothing more confpicuous than in this effential:
part of public worfhip. He did not indeed affume any ftu-
died folemnity of manner; but, with unaffected gravity and
fervour, poured forth the genuine and copious dictates of his
heart, in the moft glowing, various and proper expreffions ;
and fo far was he from repeating any particular ftudied form of
words in his prayers, that his audience ufed to remark, that on
hearing the beginning of his fentences, they feldom were able.
to anticipate the conclufion.

Sucu were his abilities as a minifter of religion; and with
thefe the irrefiftible arhiablenefs of his manners, and the known.

‘integrity of his private life, concurred to render him the object

of the higheft efteem and regard of his parifhioners. Even the
loweft of the people refpected and revered his. character 3 and.
fuch was the fuccefs with which his inftructions were attended,
that it was obferved of the morals of the inhabitants of the vil-
lage in particular, which had been formerly noted for irregula-

rity:

APPENDIX. 43

rity and vice, that they underwent a furprifing change for the
better, during the time of Mr Dryspate’s miniftry ;—a ftrong
proof of the great utility of well-qualified teachers of pure and
undefiled religion in any ftate !

Tuus he lived for fifteen years, difcharging with fidelity the
functions of a country clergyman, enjoying the domeftic fo-
ciety of his own family, and the converfation of many literary
and clerical friends who occafionally vifited him.

At length, in the year 1763, his fincere and ftedfaft friend
Mr Oswatp found an opportunity of ferving him, by pre-
vailing with the late Earl of Bure to ufe his influence with the
Town-council of Edinburgh, that Mr Dryspa.e might be ad-
mitted one of the minifters of that city. Gzorce DrumMmonp,
Efgq; at that time Lord Provoft of Edinburgh, exerted himfelf
with great activity on that occafion. Though it was pretty
well underftood, that the right of prefenting minifters to the
city was vefted in the Lord Provoft, Magiftrates and Council,
yet a practice had prevailed for the Council to wave the exercife
of that right, and to permit the general kirk-feffions of the
‘city to be the electors of their own minifters. The Lord Pre-
‘voft thought proper, for good reafons, to deviate from that mode
of election on this occafion ; and he prevailed with the Council
to grant a prefentation to Mr Dryspa.e to fupply the vacant
‘charge. This produced a confiderable degree of oppofition on
the part of thofe who were defirous that the election of mini-
fters fhould remain in the hands of the general feffions. But
the Council were determined to maintain what they imagined
to be their right; and after a civil procefs, the queftion was de-
cided in their favour. Several interlocutors had been pafled in
the Prefbytery of Edinburgh hoftile to the tranflation of the
prefentee, which caufed the affair to be brought before the Sy-
ned of Lothian and Tweeddale, where they were all over-ruled,

(F 2) and,

Account of

Dr Dryfdate,

44 i HISTORY, of the SOCIETY.

Account of

bi Duikie, | and the fettlement ordered to proceed ;—a decifion which was
finally affirmed by the General Affembly.

No fooner did Mr DryspDALe enter upon his new charge as
minifter of Lady Yefter’s, than all were convinced, that how--
ever difagreeable to fome the mode of his introduction might
be, no oppofition was due to him as a man, and as a minifter.
The fermons which he preached in that church attracted al-
ways a great concourfe of hearers, whom he never failed to de-
light and inftruét by an eloquence of the moft nervous and in-
terefting kind. Both his train of thought, and his manner of
expreflion, were evidently fuch as ftrongly indicated a vigorous
underftanding, an original genius, and a profound knowledge
of the human heart.

Hts reputation as a preacher afterwards rofe fo high, that on
occafion of an excurfion which he made to London to vifit his
friends and relations there, the late Mr STrRAHAN earneftly
requefted, that he would furnifh him with a volume of fer-
mons for publication. His friends prefled him much to em-
brace this propofal ; and he feemed at length difpofed to com-
ply with their wifhes. For on his return to Scotland, he began
to revife his fermons with a view to make a felection for publi-
cation; but he had not proceeded far till his difidence induced
him to procraftinate, and at laft to relinquith, every refolution
of that fort.

Tue fame native difidence and modefty were likewife the

Ue caufe of his declining to appear as a fpeaker in the judicatories
of the church. -While he remained in the country, he feemed
rather to avoid taking much concern in the management of
church-affairs; but on his coming to Edinburgh, he found
himfelf fo much connected with Dr ROBERTSON, to whom he
was always greatly attached as a friend, and to whom he con-
fidered himfelf as under great obligations, particularly for the
earneft and effeCtual manner in which he had efpoufed his in-

tereft

APPENDIX. | 45

tereft in his tranflation to town, that he refolved to give that
eminent leader every afliftance in his power in fupport of what
was called the moderate party in the church; the chief object of
whofe policy was, to maintain the right of prefentation as efta-
blifhed by law, againft thofe who conlidered that mode of fet-
tling minifters of the gofpel as a great grievance, and who {tood
up for the fuperior juftice of popular election. With refpect
to the merits of the queftion itfelf, men will always be found
to differ, nor is it proper here to enter upon the difcuffion of
it. But be it as it may, Mr DryspDAte was fully perfuaded ‘of
_ the retitude of that fide he had embraced; and though he did
not fpeak in the church-courts, Dr RoBERTSON could not have
been more fortunate in a co-adjutor. The native benevolence
of his heart was confpicuous in his manners, which were ex-
tremely popular and engaging ; and no fooner did he begin to
extend his acquaintance with his brethren, than he wonderful-
ly conciliated their efteem and affection. He took every oppor-
tunity of obliging them, both as individuals and as a body ;,
and his influence among them foon became very extentfive.

WirTHouvrt any folicitation on his part, and even without his:
knowledge, the Marifchal College of Aberdeen confefred on
him the degree of Doctor in Divinity, by diploma, bearing
date the 15th of April 1765: And the following year, the
death of the Reverend Dr JoHN Jarpine having produced a
vacancy in the Tron-church, which is collegiate, Dr DryspALE
was tranflated thither from’ Lady Yefter’s, which is a fingle
charge. He there had the good fortune to have for his col-
league the Reverend Dr Grorce Wisuart, principal clerk to.
the.Church, for whom he had long entertained the highett
efteem and refpeét; and Dr Wisnarr in his turn, having
a moft fincere affection for him, they found the greateft com-
fort in being now fo nearly connected. Never did two col-
leagues live together in more cordial and uninterrupted habits

of.

Account of
Dr Dryfdale.

46 HISTORY of th SOCIETY.

DeDaigie, Of friendfhip; their conftant ftudy being to oblige each other
by a perpetual feries of mutual good offices.

By the death of Dr JARrpINeE likewife, Dr DryspaLE now
obtained a fhare in the few clerical offices which the Crown has
to beftow on the clergy of Scotland. By Royal warrant, he ©
was appointed one of his Majefty’s chaplains, with one third
of the emoluments of the Deanry of the Chapel Royal. The
late Marquis of Rockingham was then Prime Minifter and he
was determined in his choice of Dr DryspAxe {folely by the
recommendation of Dr RoBEerTson.

As this office much improved Dr DrysDALe’s pecuniary cir-
cumftances, it furnifhed him with the means of indulging his
inclination for domeftic hofpitality to a much greater extent
than he had hitherto done. His houfe was open at all times to
his numerous friends and acquaintance, and it was their fre-
quent place of refort. There, in particular, many of the
younger clergy, and other young men, enjoyed the advantage
of his agreeable converfation, and never were happier than
when in his company. ‘There was fomething fo cheerful, fo
unafluming, fo benign, and, at the fame time, fo upright and
decided in his manner, that he gatned the efteem and good will
of all who had any connection with him, without ever exciting
the leaft degree of envy. Even fuch as were of different fen-
timents in church-affairs efteemed the man; and with feveral
of thefe he maintained a very friendly intercourfe. As his turn
of thinking on all fubjects was clear, acute and judicious, he
was very expert in the method of conducting affairs. He had
a peculiar facility and elegance of expreffion in the numerous
letters he had occafion to write, in a moft extenlive correfpon-
dence which he carried on throughout the Church. No perfon
who applied to him for a favour from the remoteft parts of
the kingdom ever found the application treated with neglect ;
but, on the contrary, he was foon convinced, that Dr Drys-

DALE had made every practicable exertion in his behalf. With
fuch

MOP PoE REDE X. 47

fuch talents, and fuch difpofitions, it is not to be wondered at
that in a few years he fhould have had a very great influence
in the Church ; and that the party with which he was connect-
ed, fhould have derived effential advantage from his fteady ac-
tivity, prudence and popularity.

In the year 1773, Dr Drysp4Le’s numerous friends thought
it due time to raife him to the dignity of Moderator of the Ge-
neral Afflembly, the greateft mark ef refpe@t which an eccle-
fiaftical commonwealth can beftow on any of its members ;
and being accordingly chofen without oppofition, he difcharged
. the duties of the office with great fatisfaction to the Venerable
Court, and credit to himfelf.

Arter this period, his influence among the minifters and
elders of the Church {till continued to increafe, while he per-

fevered in feizing every opportunity to do all the fervice in his
power, either to the Church in general, or to its members as:

individuals. When his venerable colleague Dr WisHartT be-
gan to feel the approaches of old age, and the difcharge of the
duty of clerk to the General Aflembly was growing burden-
fome to him, Dr DryspALeE was always at hand to affift and

tu relieve him; till at laft, during the Affembly 1778, Dr
WIsHART gave in a reprefentation to the Court, exprefling his.

defire to refign the clerkfhip, in order that he might be re-ele<t-
ed, in conjunction with another perfon, on whom he might,

under the infirmities of age, devolve the laborious part of the:

duty. Next day, the Aifembly having con‘idered this propofal,

accepted of Dr WisHaArtT’s relignation, and then unanimoutfly
re-elected him, in conjunction with Dr DrysDA te, in the way

in which he had defired.

In the year 1784, it was apprehended, that the choice of a:
Moderator of the General Alfembly might occafion a difpute:

betwixt the two great parties in the Church. After delibera-

tion,,

Account of
Dr Dryfdale.

Account of
Dr Dryfdale.

48 HISTORY of: th SOCIETY.

tion, the leaders on the moderate fide pitched upon Dr Drys-
DALE as their candidate, thinking that of all others he was
moft likely to defeat the views of their antagonifts. But they
found great difficulty in prevailing on him to comply with their
wifhes. His modefty difpofed him to decline the honour of the
Moderatorfhip a fecond time, and he was afraid that his con-
ftitution, which never was robuft, and now much weaker than
when he held that office eleven years before, might not be equal
to the fatigues in which he would neceflarily be involved. Be-
fides, he was extremely unwilling to put his friends to the
trouble of coming from the remote parts of the country on
his account. By earneft folicitation, and particularly when it
was ftrongly ftated to him, that he ought not to confider this
as his own caufe only, but the caufe of the friends with whom
he had always acted, his objections at laft were removed ; and
as it was a maxin of his never to do things by halves, he de-
termined to. ufe his utmoft exertions in collecting fuch a fup-
port as might juftify the favourable opinion that had been
formed of him. Accordingly, on the meeting of the Affem- -
bly, though a moft refpectable clergyman was named as the

other candidate, Dr DryspaLe, by a very great majority of

votes, was feated a fecond time in the Moderator’s chair.

Tuts was the laft great exertion which he made. His
friend Dr Rospertson had, fome years before, declined all
concern in the public affairs of the Church; fince which time
it was fuppofed, that Dr Dryspate potleffed more influence
among his brethren than any other individual ; and this Affem-
bly afforded a clear proof of it. No perfon had appeared fo
eloquent, or pofleffed of talents fo fit for a leader in the Aflem-
bly, as Dr Ropertson. But after he withdrew, the conduc
of the debates in that houfe feemed to be ihared among a num-
ber of {peakers ; and while the claim of no fingle perfon was
admitted to be the oftenfible leader, it was weil known, that
the prudence and the influence of Dr Dayspate had the great-

I eft

APPENDIX. 49

eft fhare in guiding all the meafures of his party, while he
himfelf claimed no merit, and had no pretenfions.

He had been for a long time fo well acquainted with the
ftate of the two parties in the Church, that he ufed to calculate,
with furprifing exa¢tnefs, what the iffue of the votes would be
in almoft all the great queftions that came before the Affembly.
He would often, with that good humour which marked all his
converfation, tell his acquaintance of the oppofite party, by
how many votes they would lofe the queftion ; and however
fanguine at firft they might be, they knew him fo well, that
they feldom difputed his accuracy.

His health was now greatly on the decline. So long before
as the end of the year 1773, his conftitution had received a
fhock, which, though vifible to his own family, did not yet ap-
- pear to his other friends. Death had deprived him of feveral
of his children; and being a moft affectionate parent, he was
always extremely affected with the lofs of them: And that year
added to his former diftrefles the death of his youngeft daugh-

ter, a moft beautiful and promifing child. With this he conti- -

nued to be fo much affected, that feveral years afterwards, when
he was inculcating upon his audience the important leffon,
“That man knows not what is good for him in this life ;’’ and
was obferved, in one part of his difcourfe, to be agitated with
uncommon emotion, -it was evident to his friends, that he al-
luded to his own fituation.

Tuovuen his conftitution continued to be gradually en-
feebled, he ftill difcharged the public duties of his miniftry
with little intermiffion ; and it was obferved, that the annual
approach of the General Affembly always infpired him with
unufual animation. For feveral years, he had taken upoa him
the whole duty of the clerkfhip, exerting himfelf alfo, in eve-
ry other refpect, for the relief of Dr Wisuart, his venerable
colleague, now far advanced in life, till, in the year 1785, he

Vou. Il. (G) loft

Account of
Dr Dryfdale.

Account of
Dr Dryfdale.

50 HISTORY of the SOCIETY.

loft that truly refpectable and valuable friend. He preached a
fermon on that occafion from the following words: Let me die
the death of the righteous, and let my laft end be like his; and

though, by that time, his powers of compofition, and the

energy of his delivery, were much abated, he paid an affec-
tionate tribute to the memory of the much-refpected partner —
of his labours, whofe character, in defcribing that of the
righteous man throughout the firft part of the difcourfe, he
plainly alluded to, and in the conclufion delineated in direct
terms.

AFTER this time, it was evident, not only to his particular
friends, but alfo to his hearers, that the ftrength both of his
mind and body was confiderably impaired. The decline of
his health was much accelerated by a fevere cough, to which
he had long been fubject. He continued, however, occafion-
ally to preach, though his difcourfes wanted that energy, both
in compofition and delivery, which ufed to diftinguifh them.

For fome years during the fitting of the General Affem-
blies, when he felt the difcharge of the duty of Principal
Clerk at times too fatiguing for him, he was allowed to retire,
and one of the affiftant clerks officiated in his ftead. -At the
meeting of the Affembly in May 1788, he appeared in his
place, and aéted as Principal Clerk the firftt day; but finding
his ftrength unequal to the remaining parts of the duty, on
the fecond day he requefted permiffion of the Court to be af-
fitted by his friend and relation *, who now pays this willing
tribute to his memory, and his requeft was unanimouily
granted.

Bur he did not long furvive the Affembly of that year:
Early in the month of June, his cough attacked him with ex-
traordinary violence, and foon weakened him fo much, that he
could no longer rife from his bed. He {till however retained

3 his

* The hufband of his eldeft daughter.

MEP EP IN. ERP OX, 5t

his wonted endearing manner to his family,—only lefs animated,
but affecting in the utmoft degree. Thus he continued to
grow weaker and weaker, until his conftitution at laft feemed
to be quite worn out; and in him the Church of Scotland loft
one of her greateft ornaments, on the 16th of June 1788.

Sucu was the conclufion of the well-fpent life of this ex-
cellent perfon ; whofe integrity was inflexible, whofe amiable
converfation and manners were expreflive of the extreme worth
and benevolence of his heart, whofe refpectable character
adorned his facred profeflion, and who was the delight of his
friends and of his family. Though gentle, unfufpicious and
candid, in an extraordinary degree, yet, as his foul was in-
fpired with that noble elevation which arifes from confcious
virtue and freedom from all deceit, his indignation was excited
whenever he detected in others any duplicity in condu@, or
any deviation from the road of honour. As in his public ap-
pearances, the energy and animation with which he delivered
and enforced his inftru¢tions, carried a conviction that they
flowed directly from the heart; fo it was univerfally allowed by
all thofe who were acquainted with his private life, that never
any man more fuccefsfully illuftrated what he taught by his
own conduct and manners. His charity to the indigent was as
extenfive as his circumftances would admit, and in fome cafes
went far beyond what ordinary men would deem to be con-
fiftent with prudence. He took the greateft pleafure in pro-
tecting, encouraging and bringing forward young men, who
feemed to him to be pofleffed of talents which promifed to be
ufeful in thofe fituations which were the objects of their purfuit
either in Church or State, and he was indefatigable in availing
himfelf of every opportunity to ferve them. He lived to have
the fatisfaction of feeing many of them fuccefsful in life; but
no one ever obferved him arrogating any merit to himfelf on
that account, or even betraying a fingle expreflion which might

(G2). feem

Account of
Dr Dryfdale:

Account of
Dr Dryfdale.

52 HISTORY of the SOCIETY.

feem to hint a claim on their gratitude. It is not therefore fur-
prifing that he was fo much beloved by his younger friends.
But Dr DryspALe continued alfo to enjoy the affection of
the friends of his youth. Mr Oswatp, Dr Smiru and Dr Ro-
BERTSON, have been already mentioned. Though his inter-
courfe with Dr Smitu‘ had been, in confequence of the di-
ftance of their fituation, lefs frequent for many years than they
could have wifhed, yet they ufed to meet occafionally in their
native town, to which they were always fondly attached; and
there, in company with Mr Oswatp, and fome other compa-
nions lefs known to fame, they fpent many of the moft pleafant
hours of their life. When afterwards Dr Smiru came to re-
fide in Edinburgh, they then affociated together with lefs inter-
ruption ; nor was there any one among all the numerous friends
and acquaintance of that excellent man whom he loved with
greater affection, or {poke of with greater tendernefs, than Joun
DryspALe. ‘Two other intimate friends of Dr DryspALE’s.
earlier years, and on whom he had fet a great value, died long
before him. Thefe were Mr W1LL1AM CLEGHORN and Dr Wit-
LIAM WILKIE; the former of whom was the immediate fuc-
ceffor of the late Sir Joun Princue in the Profeflorfhip of
Moral Philofophy in the Univerfity of Edinburgh, a young
man of great genius, and from whom much was expected ; but
he was cut off in the flower of youth: the latter known to the
public as the author of the Epigoniad, and Fables in Verfe,
was diftinguifhed alfo among a numerous circle of literary
friends for extenfive and profound erudition, for a copious and
inexhauftible flow of original, amufing and inftru@ting conver-
fation, and likewife for fome whimfical and diverting peculiari-
ties of character. With the family of the ApAms, whofe ge-~
nius and tafte in the elegant arts of architecture and defigning,
have vied with the talents of the poet, the hiftorian, and the.
philofopher, in reflecting luftre on their native land, Dr Drys- .

PALE long lived in a conftant reciprocation of good offices,
2 both

APPENDIX. 53

both as the much refpected relation, and as the intimate friend.
His wife Mary ApAm, and two daughters, compofe his furvi-
ving family. He has left likewife behind him a brother, whom
he loved with the moft ardent affeGion, Grorce Drys-

DALE, Efq; formerly Provoft of Kirkaldy, and now Colleétor of

the cuftoms in that town, the fteady and much-efteemed friend
alfo of the late Mr Oswaxup and Dr Smirn, and when they
vifited the place of their nativity, the companion of their focial
hours.

To thofe who were not intimately acquainted with the fub-
ject of the foregoing narrative, the language of eulogy may
feem to have been admitted to too great an extent; and exag-.
geration of praife may be fufpected, merely becaufe fuch vir-
tuous men as the late Dr DRysDALE are not often to be found.
Thofe, however, who knew him beft will give their cordial af-
fent to what has been faid; for in all that has been afferted,
truth has been amned at, and the language of panegyric may ac-
cord fometimes with the dictates of truth. -

Since Dr DrysDALE’s death, twc volumes of his fermons:
have been publifhed, which will be a lafting monument of his
admirable talents as a Preacher ; being, in the opinion of com-
petent judges, compofitions of the higheft excellence, and. evi-.

ently the productions of a mind of a fuperior order..

TIT... Ao:-

Account of

Dr Dryfdale.

‘
rr
en yak (pas
ame, tee a he : the
4 ‘ y . ¥

ene! is = aan “oenp sae id ah
hs piers as wears ih Ske aH ~ ‘ Se050 ’
Tots ses irl rade as oi “abaid x6 oz * eee etki} igs
i ee ys so i psi va alee a risen lat 5? nt

.

ol

‘ Hi

/ siitin’s Pie ie, aL.
alrite oh yer ee Ps

APPENDIX. 55

Ill. Accounr of the Lire and Writines of ADAM SMITH, LL.D.

[Read by Mr STEWART, Fan. 21. and March 18. 1793.]

SRC cPdk OeNit Ek

From Mr Smita’s Birth tall the Publication of the Theory of Moral
Sentiments.

. DAM SMITH, Author of the Inquiry into the Nature
and Caufes of the Wealth of Nations, was the fon of
Apam Smitu, Comptroller of the Cuftoms at Kirkaldy *, and
of MarGaretT Douvctas, daughter of Mr Douctas of Stra-
thenry. He was the only child of the marriage, and was born:
at Kirkaldy on the 5th of June 1723, a few months after the

death of. his father.
His.

* Mr Situ, the father, was a native of Aberdeenfhire, and in the earlier part
of his life praétifed at Edinburgh as a writer tothe Signet. He was afterwards pri<
vate fecretary to the Earl of Loudoun, (during the time that he held the offices of
principal Secretary of State for Scotland, and of Keeper of the Great Seal), and»
continued in his employment till 1713 or 1714, when he was appointed comptroller
of the cuftoms at Kirkaldy. He was alfo clerk to the courts martial and councils
of war for Scotland; an office which he held from 1707 till his death. As it is
now feventy years fince he died, the accounts I have received of him are very im-
perfect; but from the particulars already mentioned, it may be prefumed, that he
was 2 man of more than common abilities.

56 HISTORY of the SOCIETY.

matiorte His conftitution during infancy was infirm and fickly, and
required all the tender folicitude of his furviving’ parent. She
was blamed for treating him with an unlimited indulgence ;
but it produced no unfavourable effects on his temper or his
difpofitions :—and he enjoyed the rare fatisfaGtion of being able
to repay her affection, by every attention that filial gratitude
could dictate, during the long period of fixty years.

AN accident, which happened to him when he was about three
years old, is of too interefting a nature to be omitted in the account
of fo valuable a life. He had been carried by his mother to
Strathenry on a vifit to his uncle Mr DoucLaAs, and was one day
amufing himfelf alone at the door of the houfe, when he was ftolen
by a party of that fet of vagrants who are known in Scotland by
the name of tinkers. Luckily he was foon miffed by his uncle,
who hearing that fome vagrants had pafled, purfued them, with
what affitance he could find, till he overtook them in Leflie
wood; and was the happy inftrument of preferving to the
world a genius, which was deftined, not only to extend the
boundaries of fcience, but to enlighten and reform the com-
mercial policy of Europe.

Tue {chool of Kirkaldy, where Mr Smiru received the firft
rudiments of his education, was then taught by Mr Davip
Mixer, a teacher, in his day, of confiderable reputation, and
whofe name deferves to be recorded, on account of the eminent
men whom that very obfcure feminary produced while under his
direftions Mr Oswa tp of Dunikeir, whofe profound know-
ledge of finances raifed him afterwards to important employ-
ments in the State, and to a diftinguifhed rank as a Parliament-
ary fpeaker ; his brother, Dr Joun Oswa p, afterwards Bifhop
of Raphoe; and Dr Joun DryspDA.e, whofe talents and worth
are well known to this Society, were among the number of
Mr Smiru’s contemporaries.—One of his fchool-fellows is ftill
alive *;- and to his kindnefs I am principally indebted for

the

* GrorcGE DrysbDaLe, Efq; of Kirkaldy, brother of the late Dr Dryspate.

ALPAP, EEN, Dily Xoo: 57

the fcanty materials, which form the firft part of this narra-
tive.

AmonGc thefe companions of his earlieft years, ’Mr SmitTu
foon attracted notice, by his paflion for books, and by the
extraordinary powers of his memory. The weaknefs of-his,
bodily conftitution prevented him from partaking in their more
active amufements ; but he was much beloved by them on ac-
count of his temper, which, though warm, was to an uncom-
mon degree friendly and generous. -Even then he was re-
markable for thofe habits which remained with him through
life, of fpeaking to himfelf when alone, and of ab/ence in
company. -

From the grammar-fchool of Kirkaldy, he was fent, in
1737, to the Univerfity of Glafgow, where he remained till
1740, when he went to Balliol College, Oxford, as an exhibi-
tioner on SNELL’s foundation.

Dr Mactaine of the Hague, who was a fellow-ftudent of
Mr SmitTn’s at Glafgow, told me fome years ago, that his fa-
vourite purfuits while at that Univerfity were Mathematics and
Natural Philofophy ; and I remember to have heard my father
remind him of a geometrical problem of confiderable difficulty, -
about which he was occupied at the time when their acquaint-
ance commenced, and which had been propofed to him as an
exercife by the celebrated Dr Simpson.

THESE, however, were certainly not the fciences in which
he was formed to excel; nor did they long divert him from
purfuits more congenial to his mind. What Lord Bacon fays
of PLaTo may be juftly applied to him: “ I]lum, licet ad
“ rempublicam non accefliffet, tamen natura et inclinatione
-omnino ad res civiles propenfum, vires eo precipue intendifle ;
neque de Philofophia Naturali admodum follicitum efle; nifi
quatenus ad Philofophi nomen et celebritatem tuendam, et
ad majeftatem quandam moralibus et civilibus do@trinis ad-
dendam et afpergendam fufficeret*.” The ftudy of human
Vot. III. (H) nature

* Redargutio Philofophiarum.

Account of
Dr Smith.

58 HISTORY of the SOCIETY.

Accatnees nature in all its branches, more particularly of the political hi-
{tory of mankind, opened a boundlefs field to his curiofity and
ambition ; and while it afforded fcope to all the various powers
of his verfatile and comprehenfive genius, gratified his ruling
paffion, of contributing to the happinefs and the improvement
of fociety. To this ftudy, diverfified at his leifure hours by
the lefs fevere occupations of polite literature, he feems to have
devoted himfelf almoft entirely from the time of his removal
to Oxford; but he ftill retained, and retained even in advanced
years, a recollection of his early acquifitions, which not only
added to the fplendour of his converfation, but enabled him to
exemplify fome of his favourite theories concerning the natural
progrefs of the mind in the inveftigation of truth, by the hi-
{tory of thofe fciences in which the conneétion and fucceflion
of difcoveries may be traced with the greateft advantage. If I
am not miftaken too, the influence of his early tafte for the
Greek geometry may be remarked in the elementary clearnefs
and fulnefs, bordering fometimes upon prolixity, with which
he frequently ftates his political reafonings.— The letures of
the profound and eloquent Dr Hutcueson, which he had at-
tended previous to his departure from Glafgow, and of which
he always {poke in terms of the warmeft admiration, had, it
may be reafonably prefumed, a confiderable effect in directing
his talents to their proper objects.

I Have not been able to collect any information with re-
fpe& to that part of his youth which -was fpent in Eng-
land. I have heard him fay, that he employed himfelf fre-
quently in the practice of tranflation, (particularly from the
French), with a view to the improvement of his own ftyle:
and he ufed often to exprefs a favourable opinion of the utility
of fuch exercifes, to all who cultivate the art of compofition.
It is much to be regretted, that none of his juvenile attempts
in this way have been preferved ; as the few fpecimens which
his writings contain of his fkill as a tranflator, are fufficient to

fhew the eminence he had attained in a walk of literature,
which,

APPENDIX. 59

which, in our country, has been fo little frequented by men of
genius.

Ir was probably alfo at this period of his life, that he culti-
vated with the greateft care the ftudy of languages. The
knowledge he poffefled of thefe, both ancient and modern, was
uncommonly extenfive and accurate; and, in him, was fub-
fervient, not to a vain parade of taftelefs erudition, but to a
familiar acquaintance with every thing that could illuftrate the
inftitutions, the manners and the ideas of different ages and
nations. How intimately he had once been converfant with
the more ornamental branches of learning ; in particular, with
the works of the Roman, Greek, French and Italian poets, ap-
peared fufficiently from the hold which they kept of his me-
mory, after all the different occupations and enquiries in which
his maturer faculties had been employed *. In the Englifh lan-
guage, the variety of poetical paflages which he was not only
accu{tomed to refer to occafionally, but which he was able to
repeat with correctnefs, appeared furprifing even to thofe, whofe
attention had never been directed to more important acquifi-
tions.

AFTER a refidence at Oxford of feven years, he returned to
Kirkaldy, and lived two years with his mother; engaged in
ftudy, but without any fixed plan for his future life. He had
been originally deftined for the Church of England, and with
that view had been fent to Oxford ; but not finding the eccle-
fiaftical profeffion fuitable to his tafte, he chofe to confult, in
this inftance, his own inclination, in preference to the wifhes of
his friends; and abandoning at once all the fchemes which

{Ea}, their

* THE uncommon degree in which Mr SMITH retzined poffeffion, even to the
clofe of his life, of different branches of knowledge which he had long ceafed to
cultivate, has been often remarked to me by my learned colleague and friend, Mr
DatzeL, Profeffor of Greek in this Univerfity.x——Mr Daze. mentioned parti-
cularly the readineis and correctnefs of Mr SmiTu’s memory on philological fub-
jeéts, and the acutenefS and {kill he difplayed in various conv erfations with him on
fome of the minutie of Greek grammer.

Account of
Dr Smith.

Account-of
Dr Smith.

60 HISTORY of the SOCIETY.

their prudence had formed for him, he refolved to return to
his own country, and to limit his ambition to the uncertain
profpect of obtaining, in time, fome one of thofe moderate
preferments, to which literary attainments lead in Scotland.

In the year 1748, he fixed his refidence at Edinburgh, and
during that and the following years, read lectures on rhetoric
and belles lettres, under the patronage of Lord Kames. About
this time, too, he contracted a very intimate friendfhip, which
continued, without interruption, till his death, with Mr Auex-
ANDER WEDDERBURN, now Lord LoucusBorouGu, and with
Mr WILLIAM JOHNSTONE, now Mr PuLTeENey.

AT what particular period his acquaintance with Mr Davip
Hume commenced, does not appear from any information that
I have received ; but from fome papers, now in the poffeffion
of Mr Hume’s nephew, and which he has been fo obliging as
to allow me to perufe, their acquaintance feems to have grown
into friendfhip before the year 1752. It was a friendfhip on
both fides founded on the admiration of genius, and the love
of fimplicity; and which forms an interefting circumftance in
the hiftory-of each of thefe eminent men, from the ambition
which both have fhewn to record it to pofterity.

In 1751, he was eleéted Profeflor of Logic in the Univerfity
of Glafgow; and, the year following, he was removed to the

Profefforfhip of Moral Philofophy in the fame Univerfity, upon

the death of Mr Tuomas CratGie, the immediate fucceflor of
Dr Hurcueson. In this fituation, he remained thirteen years ;
a period he ufed frequently to look back to, as the moft ufeful
and happy of his life. It was indeed a fituation in which he
was eminently fitted to excel, and in which the daily labours of
his profeffion were conftantly recalling his attention to his favour-
ite purfuits, and familiarifing his mind to thofe important {pecu-
lations he was afterwards to communicate to the world. In this
view, though it afforded, in the mean time, but a very narrow
fcene for his ambition, it was probably inftrumental, in no incon-
fiderable degree, to the future eminence of his literary character.
Or

AP POR: Ga Ny Di T'S: 61

Or Mr Smitu’s leG@tures while a Profeflor at Glafgow, no

part has been preferved, excepting what he himfelf publifhed
in the Theory of Moral Sentiments and in the Wealth of Na-

tions. The Society therefore, 1am perfuaded, will liften with _

pleafure to the following fhort account of them, for which I

am indebted to a gentleman who was formerly one of Mr .

SmitH’s pupils, and who continued till his death to be one of
his moft intimate and valued friends.

“‘ In the Profeflorfhip of Logic, to which Mr Smiru was
appointed on his firft introdution into this Univerfity, he foon
faw the neceflity of departing widely from the plan that had
been followed by his predeceflors, and of dire@ting the atten-
tion of his pupils to ftudies of a more interefting and ufeful
nature than the logic and metaphyfics of the fchools. Accord-
ingly, after exhibiting a general view ‘of the powers of the
mind, and explaining fo much of the ancient logic as was re-
quifite to gratify curiofity with refpect to an artificial method
of reafoning, which had once occupied the univerfal attention
of the learned, he dedicated all the reft of his time to the de-
livery of a fyftem of rhetoric and belles lettres. The beft me-
thod of explaining and illuftrating the various powers of the
human mind, the moft ufeful part of metaphyfics, arifes from
an examination of the feveral ways of communicating our
thoughts by fpeech, and from an attention to the principles of
thofe literary compofitions, which contribute to perfuafion or en-
-tertainment. By thefe arts, every thing that we perceive or feel,
every operation of our minds, is exprefled and delineated in
fuch a manner, that it may be clearly diftinguifhed and remem-
bered. There is, at the fame time, no branch of literature
more fuited to youth at their firft entrance upon philofophy
than this, which lays hold of their tafte and their feelings.

“ Iv is much to be regretted, that the manufcript contain-
ing Mr Smrru’s lectures on this fubject was deftroyed before
his death. The firft part, in point of compofition, was highly

~~ finifhed ;

Actoungé of
Dr Smith.

Account of
Dr Smith.

62 HISTORY of the SOCIETY.

finifhed ; and the whole difcovered ftrong marks -of tafte and
original genius. From the permiflion given to ftudents of
taking notes, many obfervations and opinions contained in
thefe leCtures, have either been detailed in feparate diflertations,
or ingroffed in general colletions, which have fince been given
to the public. But thefe, as might be expected, have loft the
air of originality and the diftin@ive character which they re-
ceived from their firft author, and are often obfcured by that
miultiplicity,of common-place matter in which they are funk
and involved.

‘¢ Agour a year after his appointment to the Profefforfhip of
Logic, Mr Smiru was elected to the chair of Moral Philofophy.
His courfe of lectures on this fubjeét was divided into four parts.
The firft contained Natural Theology ; in which he confidered
the proofs of the being and attributes of Gop, and thofe prin-
ciples of the human mind upon which religion is founded.
The fecond comprehended Ethics ftri€tly fo called, and confifted
chiefly of the doctrines which he afterwards publifhed in his
Theory of Moral Sentiments. In the third part, he treated at
more length of that branch of morality which relates to ju/lice,
and which, being fufceptible of precife and accurate rules, is,
for that reafon, capable of a full and particular explanation. -

‘“ Upon this fubject, he followed the plan that feems to be
fuggefted by MonTEsQuieEu ; endeavouring to trace the gradual
progrefs of jurifprudence, both public and private, from the
rudeft to the moft refined ages, and to point out the effects of
thofe arts which contribute to fubfiftence, and to the accumula-
tion of property, in producing correfpondent improvements or
alterations in law and government. ‘This important branch of
his labours he alfo intended to give to the public; but this in-
tention, which is mentioned in the conclufion of the Theory
of Moral Sentiments, he did not live to fulfil.

“ In the ‘laft part of his lectures, he examined thofe politi-
cal regulations which are founded, not upon the principle of

juftice,

APPENDIX. 63

— jJufiice, but that of. expediency, and which are calculated to in- = Account of
creafe the riches, the power and the profperity of a State. Un- conn
der this view, he confidered the political inftitutions relating
to commerce, to finances, to ecclefiaftical and military efta-
blifhments. What he delivered on thefe fubje@ts contained the:
fubftance of the work he afterwards publifhed under the title
of An Inquiry into the Nature and Caufes of the Wealth of
Nations.

“ ‘THERE was no fituation in which the abilities of Mr Smiru:
appeared to greater advantage than as a Profeffor. In deliver:
ing his lectures, he trufted almoft entirely to extemporary elo-
cution. His manner, though not graceful, was plain and un-.

‘affected ; and as he feemed to be always interefted in the fub-
ject, he never failed to intereft his hearers. Each. difcourfe:
confiftted commonly of feveral diftin@ propofitions, which he
fucceflively endeavoured to prove and illuftrate. Thefe propo-
fitions, when announced in general terms, had, from: their ex-
tent, not unfrequently fomething of the air of a: paradox. In
his attempts to explain them, he often appeared, at firft, not
to be fufficiently poffefled of the fubje@t, and {poke with fome
hefitation. As he advanced; however, the matter feemed to
crowd upon him, his manner became warm and animated, and:
his expreffion eafy and fluent. In points fufceptible of contro-
verfy, you could eafily difcern, that he fecretly conceived an
oppofition.to his opinions, and that he was led upon this ac-
count to fupport them with greater energy and vehemence..
By the fulnefs and variety of his illuftrations, the fubject gra-
dually fwelled in his hands, and acquired a dimenfion which,.
without a tedious repetition of the fame views, was calculated.
to feize the attention of his audience, and to afford them plea-
fure, as well as inftruction, in following the fame objedt,
through all the diverfity of fhades and afpects in which it was:
prefented, and afterwards in tracing it backwards to that ori--

ginal:

Account of
Dr Smith.

64 HISTORY of the SOCIETY.

ginal propofition or general truth, from which this beautiful
train of fpeculation had proceeded.

‘“‘ His .reputation as a Profeflor was accordingly raifed very
high, and a multitude of ftudents from a great diftance refort-
ed to the Univerfity, merely upon his account. Thofe branches
of fcience which he taught became fafhionable at this place,
and his opinions were the chief topics of difcuffion in clubs and
literary focieties. Even the fmall peculiarities in his pronun-
ciation or manner of fpeaking, became frequently the objects

of imitation.’’

Wut Mr Smitru was thus diftinguifhing himfelf by his
zeal and ability as a public teacher, he was gradually laying the
foundation of a more extenfive reputation, by preparing for

the prefs his fyftem of morals. The firft edition of this work

appeared in 1759, under the title of “ The Theory of Moral

Sentiments.” .
Hitruerto Mr Smitru had remained unknown to the world
as an author; nor have I heard that he had made a trial of his
powers in any anonymous publications, excepting in a periodi-
cal work called Lhe Edinburgh Review, which was begun in the
year 1755, by fome gentlemen of diftinguifhed abilities, but
which they were prevented by other engagements from carrying
farther than the two firft numbers. To this work Mr SmitrH
contributed’a review of Dr Jounson’s Dictionary of the Englith
Language, and alfo a letter, addreffed to the editors, con-
taining fome general obfervations on the ftate of literature
in the different countries of Europe. In the former of
thefe papers, he points out fome defects in Dr JoHNson’s plan,
which he cenfures as not fufficiently grammatical. ‘‘ The
“ different fignifications of a word (he obferves) are indeed
“ collected ; but they are feldom digefted into general cla(les,
“or ranged under the meaning which the word principally ex-
‘ preties: And fufficient care is not taken to diftinguifh the
3 “* words

APPENDIX. 6s

“* words apparently fynonymous.”’ To illuftrate this criticifm,
he copies from Dr JouNson the articles Bu'r and yuMouUR,
and oppofes to them the fame articles digefted agreeably to his
own idea. The various fignifications of the word suT are
very nicely and happily difcriminated. The other article does
not feem to have been executed with equal care.

Tue obfervations on the ftate of learning in Europe are
written with ingenuity and elegance; but are chiefly intereft-
ing,as they fhew the attention which the Author had given to the
philofophy and literature of the Continent, at a period when
they were not much {tudied in this ifland.

In the fame volume with the Theory of Moral Sentiments,
Mr Smiru publifhed a Differtation “ on the Origin of Lan-
guages, and on the different Genius of thofe which are origi-
nal and compounded.’’ The remarks I have to offer on thefe
two difcourfes, I fhall, for the fake of diftinctnefs, make the
fubject of a feparate fection.

SB i ed GIN: oo ET.

Of the Theory of Moral Sentiments, avd the Differtation on
the Origin of Languages.

HE fcience of Ethics has been divided by modern
writers into two parts; the one comprehending the
theory of Morals, and the other its practical doArines. The
queftions about which the former is employed, are chiefly the
two following. f7r/ff, By what principle of our conftitution
are we led to form the notion of moral diftinctions ;—whether
by that faculty which perceives the diftinction between truth
Vor. III. (1) and

Account of
Dr Smith.

Account of ~
Dr Smith.

66 HISTORY of the SOCIETY.

and falfehood; or by a peculiar power of perception, which
is pleafed with one fet of qualities, and di/pleafed with another?
Secondly, What is the proper objeQ of moral approbation ; or,
in other words, what is the common quality or qualities belong-
ing to all the different modes of virtue? Is it benevolence; or
a rational felf-love ; or a difpofition to a fuitably to the dif-
ferent relations in which we are placed? Thefe two queftions
feem to exhauft the whole theory of morals. The feope of the
one is to afcertain the origin of our moral ideas; that of the
other, to refer the phenomena of moral perception to their moft
fimple and general laws.

Tue practical doctrines of morality comprehend all thofe
rules of conduct which profefs to point out the proper ends
of human purfuit, and the moft effectual means of attain-
ing them; to which we may add all thofe literary compofi-
tions, whatever be their particular form, which have for their
aim to fortify and animate our good difpofitions, by delineations
of the beauty, of the dignity, or of the utility of Virtue.

I sHALL not enquire at prefent into the juftnefs of this divi-
fion. I fhall only obferve, that the words Theory and Practice
are not, in this inftance, employed in their ufual acceptations.
The theory of morals does not bear, for example, the fame re-
lation to the practice of morals, that the theory of geometry
bears to practical geometry. In this laft fcience, all the practi-
cal rules are founded on theoretical principles previoufly efta-
blifhed : But in the former fcience, the praCiical rules are obvi-
ous to the capacities of all mankind; the theoretical princi-
ples form one of the moft difficult fubjects of difcuflion that
have ever exercifed the ingenuity of metaphyficians.

In illuftrating the dofrines of practical morality, (if we
make allowance for fome unfortunate prejudices produced or
encouraged by violent and oppreflive fy{tems of policy), the an-
cients feem to have availed themfelves of every light furnifhed
by nature to human reafon; and indeed thofe writers who, in

later

AXPHP ENN \Didy X: 64

later times, have treated the fubject with the greateft fuccefs,
are they who have followed moft clofely the footfteps of the
Greek and the Roman philofophers. The theoretical queftion,
too, concerning the eflence of virtue, or the proper object of mo-
ral approbation, was a favourite topic of difcuffion in the an-
cient fchools. The queftion concerning the principle of moral
approbation, though not entirely of modern origin, has been
chiefly agitated fince the writings of Dr Cupworru, in oppo-
Gtion to thofe of Mr Hosses; and it is this queftion accord-
ingly, (recommended, at once, by its novelty and difficulty to
the curiofity of fpeculative men), that has produced moft of
the theories which characterife and diftinguifh from each other
the later fyftems of moral philofophy.

It was the opinion of Dr Cupworts and alfo of Dr Clarke,
that moral diftinctions are perceived by that power of the mind
which diftinguifhes truth from falfehood. This fyftem it was
one great object of Dr Hurcnetson’s philofophy to refute, and
in oppofition to it, to fhew, that the words Right and Wrong
exprefs certain agreeable and difagreeable qualities in actions,
which it is not the province of reafon but of feeling to per-
ceive ; and to that power of perception which renders us fuf-
ceptible of pleafure or of pain from the view of virtue or of
vice, he gave the name of the Moral Senfe. His reafonings
upon this fubject are in the main acquiefced in, both by Mr
Hume and Mr Smiru; but they differ from him in one im-
portant particular.—Dr Hutcueson plainly fuppofing, that the
moral fenfe is a fimple principle of our conftitution, of which
no account can be given; whereas the other two philofophers
have both attempted to analyfe it into other principles more ge-
neral. Their fyftems, however, with refpect to it are very
different from each other. According to Mr Hume, all the
qualities which are denominated virtuous, are ufeful either to
ourfelves or to others, and the pleafure which we derive from
the view of them is the pleafure of utility. Mr Smirs, with-

(I 2) out

Account of
Dr Smith.

68 | AISCORTV oi ROCs & fr.

es out rejecting entirely Mr Hume’s doctrine, propofes another of
his own, far more comprehenfive ; a doétrine with which he
thinks all the moft celebrated theories of morality invented by
his predeceffors coincide in part, and from fome partial view
of which he apprehends that they have all proceeded.

OF this very ingenious and original theory, I fhall endeavour
to give a fhort abftract. To thofe who are familiarly acquaint-_
ed with it as it is ftated by its Author, I am aware that the at-
tempt may appear fuperfluous ; but I flatter myfelf that it will
not be wholly ufelefs to fuch as have not been much cunverfant
in thefe abftra&t difquifitions, by prefenting to them the lead-
ing principles of the fyftem in one connected view, without
thofe interruptions of the attention which neceflarily arife from
the Author’s various and happy illuftrations, and from the
many eloquent digreflions which animate and adorn his compo-
fition.

Tue fundamental principle of Mr Smiru’s theory is, that the
primary objects of our moral perceptions are the actions of
other men; and that our moral judgments with refpeé to our
own conduct are only applications to ourfelves of decifions
which we have already paffed on the conduc of our neigh-
bour. His work accordingly confifts of two parts. In the
former, he explains in what manner we learn to judge of the
conduét of our neighbour; in the latter, in what manner,
by applying thefe judgments to ourfelves, we acquire a fenfe -
of: duty.

Our moral judgments, both with refpect to our own conduét
and that of others, include two diftin@ perceptions: fir/f, A
perception of conduct as right or wrong ; and, /econdly, A per-
ception of the merit or demerit of the agent. To that quality
of conduct which moralifts, in general, exprefs by the word
ReAitude, Mr Smiru gives the name of Propriety ; and he be-

gins

MOP By. DUBS. 69

gins his theory with enquiring in what it confifts, and how we
are led to form the idea of it. The leading principles of his
doctrine on this fubject are comprehended in the following pro-
pofitions. |

1. Ir is from our own experience alone, that we can form
any idea of what paffes in the mind of another perfon on any
particular occafion ; and the only way in which we can form
this idea, is by fuppofing ourfelves in the fame circumftances
with him, and conceiving how we fhould be affected if we
were fo fituated. It is impoffible for us, however, to conceive
ourfelves placed in any fituation, whether agreeable or other-
wife, without feeling an effect of the fame kind with what
would be produced by the fitwation itfelf ; and of confequence

the attention we give at any time to the circumftances of our

neighbour, muft affeét us fomewhat in the fame manner, al-
though by no means in the fame degree, as if thefe circum-
{tances were our own.

TuaT this imaginary change of place with other men, is
the real fource of the intereft we take in their fortunes, Mr
SMITH attempts to prove by various inftances. ‘‘ When we

** fee a {troke aimed, and juft ready to fall upon the leg or arm:

*“ of another perfon, we naturally fhrink and draw back our
“ own leg or our'own arm; and when it does fall, we feel it
** in fome meafure, and are hurt by it as well as the fufferer.
** The mob, when they are gazing at a dancer on the flack rope,

*€ naturally writhe and twift and balance their own bodies, as.
“ they fee him do, and as they feel that they themfelves muft
© do if in his fituation.’”? The fame thing takes place, accord:.
ing to Mr Smiru, in every cafe in which our attention is: turn--

ed to the condition of our neighbour. “ Whatever is the paf-
*€ fion which arifes from any object in the perfon principally
** concerned, an analogous emotion fprings up, at the thought

“ of his fituation, in the breaft of every attentive fpectator..

“In every paffion of which the mind of man is fufceptible,
“ the

Accaunt of

Dr Smith.

_ Account of
Dr Smith.

70 HISTORY of the SOCIETY.

‘“ the emotions of the by-ftander always correfpond to what,
“ by bringing the cafe home to himfelf, he 1 dina fhould be
“ the fentiments of the fufferer.”’

To this principle of our nature which leads us to enter into
the fituations of other men, and to partake with them in the
paffions which thefe fituations have a tendency to excite, Mr
SMITH gives the name of /ympathy or fellow-feeling, which two
words he employs as fynonymous. Upon fome occafions, he
acknowledges, that fympathy arifes merely from the view of a
certain emotion in another perfon ; but in general it arifes, not
fo much from the view of the emotion, as from that of the fi-
tuation which excites it.

2. AsympaTuy or fellow-feeling between different perfons
is always agreeable to both. When I am in a fituation which
excites any paflion, it is pleafant to me to know, that the fpec-
tators of my fituation enter with me into all its various circum-
ftances, and are affected with them in the fame manner as I
am myfelf. On the other hand, it is pleafant to the {pectator
to obferve this correfpondence of his emotions with mine.

3. Wen the fpeftator of another man’s fituation, upon
bringing home to himfelf all its various circumftances, feels
himfelf affected in the fame manner with the perfon principally
concerned, he approves of the affection or paflion of this per-
fon as juft and proper and fuitable to its obje@t. The excep-
tions which occur to this obfervation are, according to Mr
SmiTH, only apparent. “ A ftranger, for example, pafles by
“usin the ftreet with all the marks of the deepeft affliction ;
“* and we are immediately told, that he- has juft received the.
““ news of the death of his father. It is impoffible that, in this
“‘ cafe, we fhould not approve of his grief; yet it may often
“‘ happen, without any defect of humanity on our part, that,
‘‘ fo far from entering into the violence of his forrow, we
“‘ fhould fcarce conceive the firft movements of concern upon
“‘ his account. We have learned, however, from experience,

3 . * that

APPENDIX. 7

“ that fuch a misfortune naturally excites fuch a degree of for-
“ row; and we know, that if we took time to examine his fi-
*« tuation fully and in all its parts, we fhould, without doubt,
* moft fincerely fympathize with him. It is upon the confci-
‘ oufnefs of this conditional fympathy that our approbation
“ of his forrow is founded, even in thofe cafes in which that
fympathy does not actually take place; and the general rules
“ derived from our preceding experience of what our fenti-
“ ments would commonly correfpond with, corre upon this,
“as upon many other occafions, the impropriety of our prefent
«¢ emotions.”’

By the propriety therefore of any affection or paflion exhi-
bited by another perfon, is to be underftood its fuitablenefs to
the obje@t which excites it. Of this fuitablenefs I can judge
only from the coincidence of the affe@tion with that which I
feel, when I conceive myfelf in the fame circumftances; and
the perception of this coincidence is the foundation of the fen-

timent of moral approbation.
4. ALTHOUGH, when we attend to the fituation of another

perfon, and conceive ourfelves to be placed in his circumftances,

an emotion of the fame kind with that which he feels, natu-
rally arifes in our own mind, yet this fympathetic emotion
bears but a very fmall proportion, in point of degree, to what
is felt by the perfon principally concerned. In order, there-
fore, to obtain the pleafure of mutual fympathy, nature teaches

the fpectator to ftrive as much as he can to:raife his emotion to.

a level with that which the object would really produce; and,
on the other hand, fhe teaches the perfon whofe paflion this ob-
ject has excited, to bring it down, as much as he can, to a level
with that of the fpectator.

‘5s, Upon thefe two different efforts are founded two different
fets of virtues. Upon the effort of the fpeCtator to enter into
the fituation of the perfon principally concerned, and to raife

his fympathetic emotions to a level with the emotions of the
actor,

Account of
Dr Smith,

Account of
Dr Smith,

rE HISTORY of the SOCIETY.

actor, are founded the gentle, the amiable virtues; the virtues
of candid condefcenfron and indulgent humanity. Upon the
effort of the perfon principally concerned to lower his own emo-
tions, fo as to correfpond as nearly as poflible with thofe of the
f{pectator, are founded the great, the awful and refpedtable virtues ;
the virtues of felf-denial, of felf-government, of that command of
the paffions, which fubjects all the movements of our nature to
what our own dignity and honour, and the propriety of our
own. conduct, require.

As a farther illuftration of the foregoing do@rine, Mr Smitu
confiders particularly the degrees of the different paffions which
are confiftent with propriety, and endeavours to fhew, that in
every cafe, it is decent or indecent to exprefs a paffion ftrongly,
according as mankind are difpofed or not difpofed to fympa-
thize with it. It is unbecoming, for example, to exprefs ftrongly
any of thofe paflions which arife from a certain condition of
the body ; becaufe other men, who are not in the fame condi-
tion, cannot be expected to fympathize with them. It is un-
becoming to cry out with bodily pain; becaufe the fympathy
felt by the {pectator bears no proportion to the acutenefs of what
is felt by the fufferer. The cafe is fomewhat fimilar with thofe
paffions which take their origin from a particular turn or habit
of the imagination.

In the cafe of the unfocial paffions of hatred and refent-
ment, the fympathy of the fpectator is divided between the
perfon who feels the paflion, and the perfon who is the object
of it. ‘* We are concerned for both, and our fear {for what
‘‘ the one may fuffer damps our refentment for what the other
“¢ has fuffered.’”? Hence the imperfect degree in which we fym-
pathize with fuch paffions; and the propriety; when we are
under their influence, of moderating their expreflion to a
much greater degree than is required in the cafe of any other
emotions. |

2 THE

2 PPE N. Det x. a5

‘Tue reverfe of this takes place with refpect to all the focial
and benevolent affections. The fympathy of the fpeCtator with
the perfon who feels them, coincides with his concern for the
perfon who is the object of them. It is this redoubled fympa-
thy which renders thefe affections fo peculiarly becoming and
agreeable.

Tue felfifh emotions of grief and joy, when they are con-
ceived on account of our own private good or bad fortune,
hold a fort of middle place between our focial and our unfocial
paffions. They are never fo graceful as the one fet, nor fo
odious as the other. Even when exceflive, they are never fo
difagreeable as exceflive refentment ; becaufe no oppofite fym-
pathy can ever intereft us againft them: And when moft fuit-
able to their objects, they are never fo agreeable as impartial
humanity and juft benevolence; becaufe no double fympathy
can ever intereft us for them.

Arrer thefe general fpeculations concerning the propriety
of actions, Mr SmirH examines how far the judgments of
mankind concerning it are liable to be influenced in particu-
_ lar cafes, by the profperous or the adverfe circumftances of the
agent. The fcope of his reafoning on this fubject is directed
to fhew, (in oppofition to the common opinion), that when
there is no envy in the cafe, our propenfity to fympathize with
joy is much ftronger than our propenfity to fympathize with
forrow ; and, of confequence, that it is more eafy to obtain
the approbation of mankind in profperity than in adverfity.
From the fame principle he traces the origin of ambition, or of
the defire of rank and pre-eminence ; the great object of which
paffion is, to attain that fituation which fets a man moft in the
view of general fympathy and attention, and gives him an eafy
empire over the affections of others.

Havine finifhed the analyfis of our fenfe of propriety and of
itipropriety, Mr Smit proceeds to confider our fenfe of merit
VoL. III. (K) and

Account of
Dr Smith

74 HISTORY of the SOCIETY.

Account of and demerit; which he thinks has alfo a reference, inthe firft in-
— {tance, not to our own characters, but to'the characters of our
neighbours. In explaining the origin of this part of our mo-

ral conftitution, he avails himfelf of the fame principle of fympa- »
thy, into which he refolves the fentiment of moral approbation.

Tue words propriety and impropriety; when applied to an af-
feGtion of the mind, are ufed in this theory (as has been al-
ready obiferved) to exprefs the fuitablenefs or unfuitablenefs of
the affection to its exciting caufe. The words merit and demerit
have always a reference (according to Mr Smirn) to the effed
which the affection tends to produce. When the tendency of
an affection is beneficial, the agent appears to us a proper ob-
ject of reward ; when it is hurtful, he appears the proper object
of punifhment.

THE principles in our nature which moft dire@ly prompt us
to reward and to punifh, are gratitude and refentment. To fay
of a perfon, therefore, that he is deferving of reward or of pu-
nifhment, is to fay, in other words, that he is a proper object of
gratitude or of refentment; or, which amounts to the fame
thing, that he is to fome perfon or perfons the object of a gra-
titude or of a refentment, which every reafonable man is ready
to adopt and fympathize with.

Ir is however very neceflary to obferve, that we do not tho-
roughly fympathize with the gratitude of one man towards
another, merely becaufe this other has been the caufe of his
good fortune, unlefs he has been the caufe of it from motives
which we entirely go along with. Our fenfe, therefore, of the
good defert of an action, is a compounded fentiment, made up
of an indirect fympathy with the perfon to whom the action is
beneficial, and of a direct fympathy with the affections and
motives of the agent.——The fame remark applies, mutatis.
mutandis, to our fenfe of demerit, or of ill-defert.

From thefe principles, it is inferred, that the only aétions

which appear to us deferving of reward, are actions of a bene-
ficial

-

APPENDIX, m6

ficial tendency, proceeding from proper motives ; the only ac-
tions which feem to deferve punifhment, are actions of a hurt-
ful tendency, proceeding from improper motives. A mere
want of beneficence expofes to no punifhment; becaufe the
mere want of beneficence tends to do no real pofitive evil. A
man, on'the other hand, who ts barely innocent, and contents
himfelf with obferving ftridtly the laws of juftice with refpect
to others, can merit only that his neighbours, in their turn,
- fhould obferve religioufly the fame laws with refpect to him.
‘THESE obfervations lead’ Mr Smiru to anticipate a little the
fubject of the fecond great divifion of his work, by a fhort
enquiry into the origin of our fenfe of juftice as applicable to
our own conduct; and alfo of our fentiments of remorfe, and of
good defert.
Tue origin of our fenfe of juftice, as well as of all our
other moral fentiments, he accounts for by means of the prin-
ciple of fympathy. When I attend only to the feelings of my
own bréaft, my own happinefs appears to me of far greater
confequence than that of all the world befides. But I am con-
feious, that in this exceflive preference, other men cannot pof-
fibly fympathize with me, and that to them I appear only one
of the crowd, in whom they are no more interefted than in
any other individual. If I wifh, therefore, to fecure their
fympathy and approbation, (which, according to Mr Smitn,
are the objects'of the ftrongeft defire of my nature), it is ne-
ceflary for me to regard my happinefs, not in that light in
which it appears to myfelf, but in that light in which it ap-
pears to mankind in general. If an unprovoked injury is of-
fered to me, I know that fociety will fympathize with my re-
fentment; but if I injure the interefts of another, who never
injured ‘me, merely becaufe they ftand in the way of my own,
I perceive evidently, that fociety will fympathize with dis re-
fentment, and that I fhall become the object of general indig-
nation.

(K 2) jf ) Warew,

Account of
Dr Smith.

Account of’
Dr Smith,

76 HISTORY of the SOCIETY.

WHEN, upon any occafion, I am led by the violence of paf-
fion to overlook thefe confiderations, and, in the cafe of a com-
petition of interefts, to act according to my own feelings, and
not according to thofe of impartial fpectators, I never fail to:
incur the punifhment of remorfe. When my paflion is.grati--
fied, and I begin to reflect coolly on my condu@, I. can: no:
longer enter into the motives from which it proceeded; it ap--
pears as improper to. me as to the reft of the world; I lament:
the effects it has produced ; I pity the unhappy fufferer whom.
I have injured ; and I feel myfelf a juft object of indignation.

- to mankind. ‘“ Such, fays Mr Smits, is the nature of that

“‘ fentiment which is properly called remorfe. It is made up:

of {hame from the fenfe of the impropriety of paft condu&;
of grief for the effects of it; of pity for thofe who fuffer by.
it; and of the dread and terror of punifhment from the:
con{cioufnefs of the juftly provoked refentment. of all ra--
tional creatures.”

Tue oppofite behaviour of him who, from proper motives,.
has performed a generous action, infpires, in a fimilar manner,.
the oppofite fentiment of confcious merit, or of deferved re-
ward.

Tue foregoing obfervations contain a general fummary of
Mr SMITH’s principles with refpeét to the origin of our moral
fentiments, in fo far at leaft as they relate to. the conduct of
others. He acknowledges, at the fame time, that the fenti-
ments of which we are confcious, on particular occafions, da:
not always coincide with thefe principles; and. that they are
frequently modified by other confiderations very different from .
the propriety or impropriety of the affections of the agent, and
alfo from the beneficial or hurtful tendency of thefe affections.
The good or the bad confequences which accidentally follow
from an action, and which, as they do not depend on the
agent, ought undoubtedly, in point of juftice, to have no in-
fluence on our opinion, either of the propriety or the merit
of

Per ENDO: X. id 3

of his condud, fearcely ever fail to influence confiderably our
judgment with refpect to both; by leading us to form a good.
or a bad opinion of the prudence with which the action was
performed, and by animating our fenfe of the merit or deme-

rit of his defign. Thefe facts, however, do not furnifh any’
objections which are peculiarly applicable to Mr Smitn’s.

theory ; for whatever hypothefis we may adopt with refpect
to the origin of our moral perceptions, all men muft acknow-
ledge, that in fo far as the profperous or the unprofperous. event:
of an action depends on fortune or on accident, it ought nei-
ther to increafe nor to diminifh our moral’ approbation or dif-
approbation of the agent. And accordingly it Has, in all ages
of the world, been the complaint of moralifts, that the actual

fentiments of mankind fhould fo often be in oppofition to this.

- equitable and indifputable maxim. In examining, therefore,

this irregularity of our moral fentiments, Mr SmiTH is to be:

confidered, not-as obviating an objection peculiar to his own.

Accountof
Dr Smith.

fyftem, but as-removing a difficulty which is equally connected °

with every theory on the fubject which has ever been propofed.
So far as-I know, he is the firft philofopher who has been fully
aware of the importance of the difficulty, and he has indeed
treated it with great ability and fuccefs. The explanation.
which he gives of it is not warped in the leaft by any pecu-
liarity in his own fcheme ; and, I muft own, it appears to me
to be the moft folid and valuable improvement he has made
in this branch of fcience. It is impoflible to give any abftract
of itin a fketch of this kind; and therefore I. muft content
myfelf with remarking, that it confifts of three parts. The
firft explains. the caufes of this irregularity of fentiment; the
fecond, the extent of its influence; and the third, the im-
portant purpofes to which it is fubfervient. His remarks. on.
thie laft of thefe heads are more particularly ingenious and
pleafing ; as their objet is to fhew. in oppofition to what we
fhould.be difpofed at firft to apprehend, that when nature im-

i planted

Account of
Dr Smith,

78 HISTORY of the SOCIETY.

planted the feeds of this irregularity in the human breaft, her
leading intention was, to promote the happinefs and perfection

of the fpecies.

‘THE remaining part of MrSmirn’s theory is employed in
fhewing, in what manner our /enfe of duty comes to be formed,
in confequence of an application to ourfelves of the judgments
we have previoufly pafled on the conduct of others.

In entering upon this enquiry, which is undoubtedly the
moft important in the work, and for which the foregoing fpe-
culations are, according to Mr Smirn’s theory, a neceflary pre-
paration, he begins with ftating the act concerning our con-
{cioufnefs of merited praife or blame; and it muft be owned,
that the firft afpect of the fact, as he himfelf ftates it, ap-
pears not very favourable to his principles. That the great
objeé&t of a wife and virtuous man is. not to aé in fuch a
manner as to obtain the actual approbation of thofe: around’
him, but to ad fo as to render himfelf the ju// and proper ob-
ject of their approbation, and that his fatisfaction with his own.
conduct depends much more:on the confcioufnefs of deferving
this approbation than from that of really enjoying it, he can-
didly acknowledges ; but ftill he infifts, that although this may:
feem, at firft view, to intimate the exiftence of fome moral fa-
culty which is not borrowed from without, our moral fenti-
ments have always fome fecret reference, either to what are,
or to what upon a certain condition would be, or to what we
imagine ought to be, the fentiments of others; and that if it
were poflible, that a human creature could grow up to manhood
without any communication with his own fpecies, he- could no
more think of his own character, or of the propriety or deme-
rit of his own fentiments and conduct, than of the beauty or
deformity of his own face. There is indeed a tribunal within
the breaft, which is the fupreme arbiter of all our actions, and

2 which

APPENDIX. 79

which often mortifies us amidft the applaufe, and fupports us
under the cenfure of the world; yet ftill, he contends, that
if we enquire into the origin of its inftitution, we fhall find,
that its jurifdiction is, in a great meafure, derived from the

authority of that very tribunal whofe decifions it fo often and.

fo juftly reverfes.

Wuewn we firft come into the world, we, for fome time;
fondly purfue the impofhible project of gaining the good-will
and approbation of every body. We foon however find, that
this univerfal approbation is unattainable; that the moft equi-

table condud& muft frequently thwart the interefts or the incli-
nations of particular perfons, who will feldom have candour
enough to enter into the propriety of our motives, or to fee
that this condudt, how difagreeable foever to them, is perfectly
fuitable to our fituation. In order to defend ourfelves from

fuch partial judgments, we foon learn to fet up in our own.
minds, a judge between ourfelves and thofe we live with. We:
conceive ourfelves as acting in the prefence of a perfon; who:

has no particular relation, either to ourfelves, or to'thofe whofe

interefts are afleCted ‘by our conduct ; and we ‘tudy to a@ in

fuch a manner as to obtain the approbation of this fuppofed
impartial fpectator. It is only by confulting him, that we can
fee whatever relates to ourfelves in its proper fhape and dimen-
fions.

THERE are two different occafions, on which we examine.

our own conduct, and endeavour to view it in the light in

which the impartial fpeStator would view it. Firft, when we
are about to act; and, fecondly, after we have acted. In both.

cafes, our views are very apt to be partial.

WHEN we are about to att, the eagernefs of paffion feldom:

allows us to conftder what we are doing with the candour of
an indifferent perfon. When the action is over, and the paf-
fions which prompted it have fubfided, although we can un-
doubtedly enter into the fentiments of the indifferent {pectator.

much

Account of:
Dr Smith.

Account of
Dr Smith.

$0 HISTORY of the SOGIETY.

much more coolly than before, yet it is fo difagreeable to
us to think ill of ourfelves, that we often purpofely turn away
our view from thofe circumftances which might render our

judgment unfavourable-—Hence that felf-deceit which is the

fource of half the diforders of human life.
In order to guard ourfelves againft its delufions, ‘nature leads
us to form infenfibly, by our continual obfervations upon the

conduct of others, certain general rules concerning what is fit

and proper either to be done or avoided. Some of their actions
fhock all our natural fentiments; and when we obferve other
people affected in the fame manner with ourfelves, we are con-
firmed in the belief, that our difapprobation was juft. We na-
turally therefore lay it down as a general rule, that all fuch ac-
tions are to be avoided, as tending to render us odious, con-
temptible or punifhable; and we endeavour, by habitual re-
flection, to fix this general rule in-eur minds, in order to cor- .
rect the mifreprefentations of felf-love, if we fhould ever be
called on to act in fimilar circumftances. The man of furious
refentment, if he was to liften to the dictates of that paffion,
would perhaps regard the death of his enemy as but a {mall
compenfation fora trifling wrong. But his obfervations on
the conduct of others have taught him how horrible fuch fan-
guinary revenges are; and he has impreffed it on his mind as
an invariable rule, to abftain from them upon all occafions.
‘This rule preferves its. authority with him, checks the impetuo-
fity of his paflion, and corrects the partial views which felf-
love fuggefts ; although, if this had been the firft time in which
the confidered fuch an action, he would undoubtedly have de-
termined it to be juft and proper, and what every impartial
f{pectator would approve of.—A regard to fuch general. rules of
morality conftitutes, according to Mr Smiru, what is properly

called the fenfe of duty.
I perore hinted, that Mr Smiru does not reject entirely
from his fyftem that principle of utzlity, of which the percep-
I tion

WA POPR., Bs No DF. Xx. St

tion in any action or character conftitutes, according to Mr
Hume, the fentiment of moral approbation. That no quali-
ties of the mind are approved of as virtuous, but fuch as are

ufeful or agreeable, either to the perfon himfelf or to others, he -

admits to be a propofition that holds univerfally ; and he alfo
admits, that the fentiment of approbation with which we re-
gard virtue, is enlivened by the perception of this utility, or,
as he explains the fact, it is enlivened by our fympathy with
the happinefs of thofe to whom the utility extends: But {till he
infifts, that it is not the view of this utility which is either the
firft or principal fource of moral approbation.

To fum up the whole of his dodtrine in a few words.
‘© When we approve of any chara¢ter or action, the fentiments
_ “ which we feel are derived from four different fources. — Firft,
we fympathize with the motives of the agent; fecondly, we
enter into the gratitude of thofe who receive the benefit of
* his actions ; thirdly, we obferve that his condu€t has been
‘* agreeable to the general rules by which thofe two fympathies
generally act; and, laftly, when we confider fuch ations as
making a part of ayftem of behaviour which tends to pro-
mote the happinefs, either of the individual or of fociety,
they appear to derive a beauty from this utility, not un-
like that which we afcribe to any well-contrived machine.”
Thefe different fentiments, he thinks, exhauft completely, in
every inftance that can be fuppofed, the compounded fentiment
of moral approbation. “ After dedudting, fays he, in any one
“ particular cafe, all that muft be acknowledged to proceed
from fome one or other of. thefe four principles, I fhould be
glad to know what remains; and 1 fhall freely allow this
overplus to be afcribed to a moral fenfe, or to any other pe-
culiar faculty, provided any body will afcertain precifely what
this overplus is.” |
MO be MLNS is as tt isiesi ~aistiGd Mr

Accofiiit of
Dr Seuith,

Account of
Dr Smith.

82 HISTORY of th. SOCIETY.

Mr Smitu’s opinion concerning the nature of Virtue, is in-
volved in his Theory concerning the principle of moral appro-
bation. The idea of virtue, he thinks, always implies the idea
of propriety, or of the fuitablenefs of the affection to the obje&
which excites it ; which fuitablenefs, according to him, can be
determined in no other way than by the fympathy of impartial
{pectators with the motives of the agent. But ftill he appre-
hends, that this defcription of virtue is incomplete; for al-
though in every virtuous action propriety isan effential ingre-
dient, it is not always the fole ingredient. Beneficent ations
have in them another quality, by which they appear, not only
to deferve approbation, but recompenfe, and excite a fuperior
degree of efteem, arifing from a double fympathy with the mo-
tives of the agent, and the gratitude of thofe who are the objects
of his affeGtion. In this refpe&t, beneficence appears to him to
be diftinguifhed from the inferior virtues of prudence, vigilance,
circumfpection, temperance, conftancy, firmnefs, which are al-
ways regarded with approbation, but which confer no merit.
This diftinGtion, he apprehends, has not been fufficiently at-
tended to by moralifts ; the principles of fome affording no ex-
planation of the approbation we beftow on the inferior virtues ;
and thofe of others accounting as imperfectly for the peculiar
excellency which the fupreme virtue of beneficence is acknow-
ledged to poflefs.

Sucu are the outlines of Mr Smirn’s Theory of Moral Sen-
timents ; a work which, whatever opinion we may entertain of
the yuftnefs of its conclufions, muft be allowed by all to be a
fingular effort of invention, ingenuity and fubtilty. For my own
part, I muft confefs, that it does not coincide with my notions
concerning the foundation of Morals; but I am convinced, at
the fame time, that it contains a large mixture of important
truth, and that, although the author has fometimes been mifled
by too great a defire of generalizing his principles, he has had

3 the

APPENDIX © roe

the merit of direting the attention of philofophers to a view of
human nature which had formerly, in a great meafure, efcaped
their notice. Of the great proportion of juft and found rea-
foning which the theory involves, its ftriking plaufibility is a
fufficient proof; for as the author himfelf has remarked, no
fyftem im morals can well gain our affent, if it does not bor-
der, in fome refpects, upon the truth. “ A fyftem of natural
** philofophy, (he obferves), may appear very plaufible, and be
for a long time very generally received in the world, and yet
have no foundation in nature; but the author who fhould
affign'as the caufe of any natural fentiment, fome principle
which neither had any connection with it, nor refembled any
other principle which had fome fuch conneétion, would ap-
pear abfurd and ridiculous to the moft injudicious and un-
experienced reader.’’ The merit, however, of Mr Smitn’s
performance does not reft here. No work, undoubtedly, can
be mentioned, ancient or modern, which exhibits fo complete a
view of thofe facts with refpect to our moral perceptions, which
it is one great object of this branch of {cience to refer to their
general laws; and upon this account, it well deferves the care-
ful ftudy of all whofe tafte leads them to profecute fimilar en-
quiries. Thefe facts are indeed frequently exprefled in a lan-
guage which involves the author’s peculiar theories: But they
are always prefented in the moft happy and beautiful lights ;
and it is eafy for an attentive reader, by ftripping them of hy-
pothetical terms, to ftate them to himfelf with that logical pre-
cifion, which, in fuch very difficult difquifitions, can alone con-
duét us with certainty to the truth.

Ir is proper to obferve farther, that with the theoretical doc-
trines of the book, there are every where interwoven, with fin-
gular tafte and addrefs, the pureft and moft elevated maxims
concerning the practical condué of life; and that it abounds
throughout with interefting and inftrudtive delineations of cha-
racters and manners. A confiderable part of it too is employe

(L 2) } in

€¢

nw

Account of
Dr Smith,

84 HISTORY of the SOCIETY.

Act z in collateral enquiries, which, upon every hypothefis that can
be formed concerning the foundation of morals, are of equal
importance. Of this kind is the fpeculation formerly men-
tioned, with refpect to the influence of fortune on our moral
fentiments, and another fpeculation, no lefs valuable, with re-
{pet to the influence of cuftom-and fafhion on the fame on
of our conftitution.

Tue ftyle in which Mr Suiru has conveyed the fundamental
principles on which his theory ‘refts, does not feem to me to be
fo perfectly fuited to the fubjeét as that which he employs on
moft other occafions. In communicating ideas which are ex-
tremely abftract and fubtile, and about which it is hardly poffi-
ble to reafon correctly, without the fcrupulous ufe of appro-
priated terms, he fometimes prefents to us a choice of words,
by no means ftrictly fynonymous, fo as to divert the attention
from a precife and fteady conception of his propofition ; and a
fimilar effect is, in other inftances, produced by that diverfity
of forms which, in the courfe of his copious and feducing
compofition, the fame truth infenfibly aflumes. When the fub-
ject of his work leads him to addrefs the imagination and the
heart; the variety and felicity of his illuftrations; the rich-
nefs and fluency of his eloquence; and the {kill with which he
wins the attention and commands the paffions of his readers,
leave him, among our Englifh moralifts, without a rival.

Tue Differtation on the Origin of Languages, which now
forms a part of the fame volume with the Theory of Moral
Sentiments, was, I believe, firft annexed to the fecond edition
of that work. It is an eflay of great ingenuity, and on which

the author himfelf fet a high value; but, in a general review
of

A Reb BN Deb X. 85

of his publications, it deferves our attention lefs, on account
of the opinions it contains, than as a fpecimen of a particular
fort of enquiry, which, fo far as I know, is entirely of modern
origin, and which feems, in a peculiar degree, to have interefted
Mr Smiru’s curiofity. Something very fimilar to it may be
traced in all his different works, whether moral, political, or li-
terary ; and on all thefe fubje¢ts he has exemplified it with the
happieft fuccefs.

WueEnw, in fuch a period of fociety as that in which we live,
“we compare our intelle€tual acquirements, our opinions, man-
ners, and inftitutions, with thofe which prevail among rude
tribes, it cannot fail to occur to us as an imterefting queftion,
by what gradual fteps the tranfition has been made from the
firtt fimple efforts of uncultivated nature, to a flate of things
fo wonderfully artificial and complicated. Whence has arifen
that fyftematical beauty which we admire in the ftructure of a
cultivated language; that analogy which runs through the
texture of languages fpoken by the moft remote and unconnect-
ed nations ; and thofe peculiarities by which they are all di-
ftinguifhed from each other? Whence the origin of the diffe-
rent fciences and of the different arts; and by what chain has
the mind been led from their firft rudiments to their laft and
moft refined improvements? Whence the aftonifhing fabric of
the political union ; the fundamental principles which are com-
mon to all governments; andthe different forms which civi-
lized fociety has afflumed in different ages of the world? On
moft of thefe fubjects very little information is to be expected
from hiftory ; for long before that flage of fociety when men
begin to thik of recording their tranfaGtions, many of the

moft important fteps of their progrefs have been made. A few

infulated facts may perhaps be collected from the cafual. obfer-
vations of travellers, who have viewed the arrangements of rude

nations ; but nothing, itis evident, can be obtained in this way,
which

Account of
Dr Smith.

Account of
Dr Smith,

86 HISTORY of the SOCIETY.

‘which approaches to a regular and conneéted detail of human

improvement.

In this want of direct evidence, we are under a neceflity of
fupplying the place of fact by conjecture; and when we are
unable to afcertain how men have actually conducted them-
felves upon particular occafions, of confidering in what manner
they are likely to have proceeded, from the principles of their
nature, and the circumftances of their external fituation. In
fuch enquiries, the detached faéts which travels and voyages
afford us, may frequently ferve as land marks to our fpecula-
tions; and fometimes our conclufions a priori, may tend to con-
firm thé*credibilit¥of facts, which, on a fuperficial view, ap-
peared to be doubtful or incredible.

Nor are fuch theoretical views of human affairs fubfervient
merely to the gratification of curiofity. In examining the hi-
ftory of mankind, as well as in examining the phenomena of
the material world, when we cannot trace the procefs by which an
event has been produced, it is often of importance to be able to
fhew how it may have been produced by natural caufes. Thus,
in the inftance which has fuggefted thefe remarks, although it
is impoflible to determine with certainty what the {teps were by
which any particular language was formed, yet if we can fhew,
from the known principles of human nature, how all its various
parts might gradually have arifen, the mind is not only toa
certain degree fatisfied, but a check is given to that indolent phi-
lofophy, which refers to a miracle, whatever appearances, both
in the natural and moral worlds, it is unable to explain.

To this fpecies of philofophical inveftigation, which has no
appropriated name in our language, I fhall take the liberty of
giving the title of Theoretical or Conjectural Hiffory; an expref-
fion which coincides pretty nearly in its meaning with that of
Natural Hiftory, as employed by Mr Hume*, and with what
fome French writers have called Hi/foire Raifonée.

THE
* See his Natural Hiftory of Religion.

APPENDIX, 87

THE mathematical fciences, both pure and mixed, afford, in
many of their branches, very favourable fubjeéts for theoreti-
cal hiftory ; and a very competent judge, the late M. d’ALem-
BERT, has recommended this arrangement of their elementary
principles, which is founded on the natural fucceffion of inven-
tions and difcoveries, as the beft adapted for interefting the
curiofity and exercifing the genius of ftudents. The fame au-
thor points out as a model a paflage in Montucra’s Hiftory
of Mathematics, where an attempt is made to exhibit the gra-
dual progrefs of philofophical {peculation, from the firft con-
clufions fuggefted by a general furvey of the heavens, to the
do@trines of Copernicus. It is fomewhat remarkable, that
a theoretical hiftory of this very fcience, (in which we have,
perhaps, a better opportunity than in any other inftance what-
ever, of comparing the natural advances of the mind with the
actual fucceflion of hypothetical fyftems), was one of Mr
SmiITH’s earlieft compofitions, and is one of the very fmall
number of his manufcripts which he did not deftroy before his
death.

I ALREADY hinted, that enquiries perfectly analogous to
thefe may be applied to the modes of government, and to the
municipal inftitutions which have obtained among different na-
tions. Itis but lately, however, that thefe important fubjects

have been confidered in this point of view; the greater part of

politicians before the time of Montesquieu, having content-
ed themfelves with an hiftorical ftatement of faéts, and with a
vague reference of laws to the wifdom of particular legiflators,
or to accidental circumftances, which it is now impoflible to af-
certain. Montesquieu, on the contrary, confidered laws as
originating chiefly from the circumftances of fociety ; and at-
tempted to account, from the changes in the condition of man-
kind, which take place in the different ftages of their progrefs,
for the correfponding alterations which their inftitutions un-

dergg.

Account of
Dr Smith.

Account of
Dr Smith.

88 HISTORY of the SOCIETY.

dergo. It is thus, that in his occafional elucidations of the Ro-
man jurifprudence, inftead of bewildering himfelf among the
erudition of fcholiafts and of antiquaries, we frequently find
him borrowing his lights from the moft remote and unconneét-
ed quarters of the globe, and combining the cafual obfervations
of illiterate travellers and navigators, into a philofophical com-
mentary on the hiftory of law and of manners.

Tue advances made in this line of enquiry fince MonrTEs-
QUIEU’s time have been great. Lord Kames, in his Hiftorical
Law Traéts, has given fome excellent fpecimens of it, particu-
larly in his Eflays on the Hiftory of Property and of Criminal
Law, and many ingenious fpeculations of the fame kind occur
in the works of Mr Mitiar. .

In Mr SmitTu’s writings, whatever be the nature of his fub-
ject, he feldom miffes an opportunity of indulging his curiofity,
in tracing from the principles of human nature, or from the
circum{tances of fociety, the origin of the opinions and the in-
ftitutions which he defcribes. I formerly mentioned a fragment
concerning the hiftory of aftronomy which he has left for publi-
cation ; and I have heard him fay more than once, that he had
projected, in the earlier part of his life, a hiftory of the other
{ciences on the fame plan. In his Wealth of Nations, various
difquifitions are introduced which have a like object in view ;
particularly the theoretical delineation he has given of the na-
tural progrefs of opulence in a country; and his inveftigation
of the caufes which have inverted this order in the different
countries of modern Europe. His lectures on jurifprudence
feem, from the account of them formerly given, to have a-
bounded in fuch enquiries.

I Am informed by the fame gentleman who favoured me with
the account of Mr Smitru’s lectures at Glafgow, that he had heard
him fometimes hint an intention of writing a treatife upon the

~ Greek and Roman republics. ‘‘ And after all that has been pu-

“ blithed on that fubje@, [am convinced, (fays he), that the
I “ obfervations

APPENDIX. 89

obfervations of Mr Smiru would have fuggefted many new
and important views concerning the internal and domeftic
circumftances of thofe nations, which would have difplayed
their feveral fyftems of policy, in a light much lefs artificial
than that in which they have hitherto appeared.”’

Tue fame turn of thinking was frequently, in his focial
hours, applied to more familiar fubjects ; and the fanciful theo-
ries which, without the leaft affectation of ingenuity, he was
continually ftarting upon all the common topics of difcourfe,
gave to his converfation a novelty and variety that were quite
inexhauftible. Hence too the minutenefs and accuracy of his
knowledge on many trifling articles, which, in the courfe of his
{peculations, he had been led to confider from fome new and

interefting point of view; and of which his lively and circum- |

ftantial defcriptions amufed his friends the more, that he feem-
ed to be habitually inattentive, in fo remarkable a degree, to
what was pafling around him.

I wave been led into thefe remarks by the Differtation on
the Formation of Languages, which exhibits a very beautiful
{pecimen of theoretical hiftory, applied to a fubje&t equally cu-
rious and difficult. The analogy between the train of thinking
from which it has taken its rife, and that which has fuggefted
a variety of his other difquifitions, will, I hope, be a fufficient
apology for the length of this digreflion; more particularly, as
it will enable me to fimplify the account which I am to give
afterwards, of his enquiries concerning political ceconomy.

I sHALu only obferve farther on this head, that when dif-
ferent theoretical hiftories are propofed by different writers, of
the progrefs of the human mind in any one line of exertion,
thefe theories are not always to be underftood as ftanding in op-
pofition to each other. If the progrefs delineated in all of
them be plaufible, it is poflible at leaft, that they may all have
been realized ; for human affairs never exhibit, in any two in-
ftances, a perfe& uniformity. But whether they have been reali-
zed or no, is often a queftion of little confequence. In moft cafes,

Net. II. . (M) it

Account of
Dr Smith.

Account of
Dr Smith.

90. HISTORY of the SOCIETY.

it is of more importance to afcertain the progrefs that is moft fim-.
ple, than the progrefs that is moft agreeable to fact; for, para-
doxical as the propofition may appear, itis iersainle true, that
the real progrefs i is not always the moft natural. It may have-
been determined by particular accidents, which are not likely
again to occur, and. which cannot be confidered as forming any.
part of that general provifion which. nature has. made for the:
improvement of, the race..

In order to make fome amends for the length (I'am afraid
may add for the tedioufnefs) of this fection, I fhall fubjoin to
it an original letter of Mr Hume’s, addrefled to. Mr Smiru,
foon after the publication: of his Theory. It is ftrongly mark-
ed with that eafy and affectionate pleafantry which diftinguith-
ed Mr Hume’s epiftolary correfpondence, and is: entitled to a.
place in this Memoir, on account of its connedtion with an im-
portant event of Mr Smiru’s life, which foon after removed
him into a.new-fcene, and influenced, to a confiderable degree,
the fubfequent courfe of his ftudies.—The letter-is dated from,
London, 12th April 1759..

“- T give you: thanks for the agreeable prefent of your
Theory. WEDDERBURN. and I made prefents of our copies to.
fuch of our acquaintances as we thought good judges, and pro-
per-to fpread the reputation.of the book. I fent one to the:
Duke of ARGYLE, to. Lord LytTrLeTon, Horace WALPOLE,
SoaME JENNYNS, and Burke, an Irifh Gentleman, who wrote.
lately a very pretty treatife on, the Sublime. Murrar defired.
my permiflion to fend one in your name to Dr WarBuRTON.
I have delayed writing to you till I could tell you fomething of |
the fuccefs of the book, and could prognofticate with fome pro-
bability, whether it fhould be finally damned to oblivion, or

X fhould

APPENDIX. of

fhould be regiftered in the temple of immortality. Though it
has been publifhed only a few weeks, I think there appear al-
ready fuch ftrong fymptoms, that I can almoft venture to fore-
tel its fate. It is in fhort this—————-._ But I have been in-
terrupted in my letter by a foolifh impertinent vifit of one who
has lately come from Scotland. He tells me that the Univer-
fity of Glafgow intend to declare Rovet’s office vacant, upon
his going abroad with Lord Hope. I queftion not but you
will have our friend FERGusON in your eye, in cafe another
project for procuring him a place in the Univerfity of Edin-
burgh fhould fail, FrERcuson has very much polifhed and
improved his treatife on Refinement *,’ and with. fome amend-
ments it will make an admirable book, and difcovers an elegant
and a fingular genius. The Epigoniad, I hope, will do; but it
is fomewhat up-hill work. As I doubt not but you confult the
Reviews fometimes at prefent, you will fee in the Critical Re-
view a letter upon that poem ; and I defire you to employ your
conjectures in finding out the author: Let me fee a fample of
your fkill in knowing hands by your guefling at the perfon. I
am afraid of Lord Kames’s Law Tracts. A man might as well
think of making a fine fauce by a mixture of wormwood and
aloes, as an agreeable compofition by joining metaphyfics and
Scotch law. However, the book, I believe, has merit; though
few people will take the pains of diving into it. But, to re-
turn to your book, and its fuccefs in this town, | muft tell
you-———-_ A plague of interruptions! I ordered myfelf to
-be denied ; and yet here is one that has broke in upon me again.
He is a man of letters, and we have had a good deal of literary
‘converfation. You told me that you was curious of literary
anecdotes, and therefore I fhall inform you of a few that have
come to my knowledge. I believe I have mentioned to you al-
ready Hetverius’s book de /’E/prit. It is worth your read-

: (M 2) ing;

+ Publithed afterwards under the title of “ An Eflay on the Hiftory of Civil

Society.”

Account of
Dr Smith,

Account of
Dr Smith.

92. HISTORY of the SOCIETY.

ing, not for its philofophy, which I do not highly value,
but for its agreeable compotition. I had a letter from him a
few days ago, wherein he tells me that my name was much
oftener in the manufcript, but that the Cenfor of books at
Paris obliged him to ftrike it out. WVorrarre has lately
publifhed a. fimall work called Candide, ou l’Optimi/me. I
fhall give you a detail of it But what is all this to my
book? fay you..—My dear Mr Smiru, have patience: Compofe
yourfelf to tranquillity : Shew yourfelf a philofopher in prac-
tice as well as profeflion: Think on the emptinefs, and rafh-
nefs, and futility of the common judgments of men: How
little they are regulated by reafon in any fubje&t, much more in
philofophical fubjeéts, which fo far exceed the comprehenfion
of the vulgar. ;

Non fi quid turbida Roma,
Elevet, accedas : examenve improbum in illa
Cafliges trutina: nec te quefiveris extra.

A wife man’s kingdom is his own breaft; or, if he ever looks
farther, it will only be to the judgment of a fele&t few, who
are free from prejudices, and capable of examining his work.
Nothing indeed can be a ftronger prefumption of falfehood
than the approbation of the multitude; and PHocioNn, you
know, always fufpected himfelf of fome blunder, when he was
attended with the applaufes of the populace.

‘“‘ SupposING, therefore, that you have duely prepared your-
felf for the worft by all thefe reflections, I proceed to tell you
the melancholy news, that your book has been very unfortu-
nate; for the public feem difpofed to applaud it extremely. It
was looked for by the foolifh people with fome impatience ; and
the mob of literati are beginning already to be very loud in its
praifes. Three Bifhops called yefterday at MiLLAr’s fhop in
order to buy copies, and to afk queftions about the author.

The

oad

4PiPEN DES. 93

The Bifhop of PErERBoroucs faid he had paffed the evening
in a company where he heard it extolled above all books in the
world. ‘The Duke of ARGYLE is more decifive than he ufes to
be, in its favour. I fuppofe he either confiders it as an exotic,
or thinks the author will be ferviceable to him in the Glafgow
elections. Lord Lytrreron fays, that RopERTSON and SmitTH
and Bower are the glories of Englifh literature. OswaLp pro-
te{ts he does not know whether he has reaped more inftru@tion
or entertainment from it. But you may eafily judge what re-
liance can be put on his judgment, who has been engaged all

his life in public bufinefs, and who never fees any faults in his.

friends. Mrixiar exults and brags that two thirds of the edi-
tion are already fold, and that he is now fure of fuccefs. You

fee what a fon of the earth that is, to value books only by the

profit they bring him. In that view, I believe it may prove a
very good book.

““ CHARLES TOWNSEND, who pafles for the clevereft fellow
in England, is fo taken with the performance, that he faid to
OswALpD he would put the Duke of BuccLeuGu under the Au-

thor’s care, and would make it worth his while to accept of

that charge. As foon as I heard this, I called on. him twice,
with a view of talking with him about the matter, and of con-
vincing him of the propriety of fending that young Nobleman
to Glafgow: For I could not hope, that he could offer you any
terms which would tempt you to renounce your Profeflorfhip :
But I miffed him. Mr Townsenp palles for being a little un-
certain in his refolutions ; fo perhaps you need. not build much:
on this fally.

“« In recompence for fo many mortifying things, which
nothing but truth could have extorted from me, and which I
could eafily have multiplied to a greater number, I doubt not
but you are fo good a Chriftian as to return good for evil; and.
to flatter my vanity by telling me, that all the godly in Scot-

land. —

Account of
Dr Smith,

Account of
Dr Smith,

94 HISTORY of the SOCIETY.

land abufe me for my account of Joun Knox and the Reforma-

tion. I fuppofe you are glad to fee my paper end, and that I
am obliged to conclude with

Your Humble Servant,
Davip Hume.”

YS EG Rh.iaeGiN shih

From the Publication of The Theory of Moral Sentiments, tz//
that of The Wealth of Nations.

FTER the publication of the Theory of Moral Senti-
ments, Mr Smiru remained four years at Glafgow,

-difcharging his official duties with unabated vigour, and with

Increafing reputation. During that time, the plan of his lec-

tures underwent a confiderable change. His ethical doétrines,

of which he had now publifhed fo valuable a part, occupied a

much fmaller portion of the courfe than formerly ; and _ ac-

cordingly,*his attention was naturally directed to a more com-
plete illuftration of the principles of jurifprudence and of po-
litical ceconomy.

To this laft fubje@, his thoughts appear to have been occa-
fionally turned from a very early period of life. It is proba-
ble, that the uninterrupted friendfhip he had always maintain-
ed with his old companion Mr Oswatp*, had fome tendency to
encourage him in profecuting this branch of his ftudies ; and
. the

* Since the firft fection was printed, I find that I have committed a flight inac-
curacy in mentioning Mr Oswatp and Mr Smiru as fchool-fellows. ~The former
was born in 1715; the latter in 1723. It appears, however, that their intimacy
had commenced before Mr Smitu went to the Univerfity.

APPENDIX. 98

the publication of Mr Hume’s political difcourfes in the year
1752, could not fail to confirm him in thofe liberal views of
commercial policy which had already opened to him in the
courfe of his own enquiries. His long refidence in one of the:
moft enlightened mercantile towns in this ifland, and the ha-
bits of intimacy in which he lived with the moft refpectable of
its inhabitants, afforded him an opportunity of deriving what

commercial information he ftood in need of, from the beft.
fources ; and it is a circum{tance no- lefs honourable to their:

liberality than to his talents, that notwithftanding the reluc-
tance fo common among men of bufinefs to liften to the con-

clufions of mere fpeculation, and the direct oppofition of his.

leading principles to:all the old maxims of trade, he was able,

before he quitted his fituation in the Univerfity, to rank fome’

very eminent merchants in the number of his profelytes.*..~

AmoncG the ftudents who attended his lectures, and whofe:
' minds were not previoufly warped by prejudice, the’ progrefs.
of his opinions, it may be reafonably fuppofed, was much.

more rapid. It was this clafs of his friends accordingly that
firft adopted his fyftem with eagernefs, and diffufed a know-

ledge of its fundamental principles over this part of the king-:

dom. | |
Towarps the end of 1763, Mr SmituH received an invita-

tion from Mr CuarxLes TOWNSEND to accompany the Duke of:
BuccLEuGH on his travels ; and the liberal terms in which the:

propofal was made to him, added to the {trong defire he had

felt of vifiting the Continent of Europe, induced him to refign.

his office at Glafgow. With the connection which he was led
to form in confequence of this change in his fituation, he had
reafon to be fatisfied in an uncommon degree, and he always
fpoke of it with pleafure and gratitude. To the public, it was

not perhaps a change equally fortunate; as it interrppted that.

ftudious

* I mention this fact on the refpectable authority of James Rircuie, Efq; of :

Glafgow. . o,

gis cond
>

Account of
Dr Smith,

095 HIS TORK ofite SOCLETT.
a {tudious leifure for which nature feems to have deftined him,
and in which alone he could have hoped to accomplifh thofe li-
terary projects which had flattered the ambition of his youthful
genius.

Tue alteration, however, which, from this period, took
place in his habits, was not without its advantages. He had
hitherto lived chiefly within the walls of an Univerfity ; and
although to a mind like his, the obfervation of human nature
on the fmalleft fcale is fufficient to convey a tolerably juft con-
ception of what paffes on the great theatre of the world, yet it
is, not to be doubted, that the variety of fcenes through which
he afterwards pafled, muft have enriched his mind with many
new ideas, and corrected many of thofe mifapprehenfions of
life and manners which the beft defcriptions of them can {carce-
ly fail to convey.—But whatever were the lights that his travels
afforded to him as a ftudent of human nature, they were pro-
bably ufeful in a ftill greater degree, in enabling him to perfect
that fyftem.of political ceconomy, of which he had already de-
livered the principles in his leCtures at Glafgow, and which it
was now the leading object of his ftudies to prepare for the pu-
blic. ‘The coincidence between fome of thefe principles and
the diftingnifhing tenets of the French Oeconomitfts, who were
at that very time in the height of their reputation, and the in-
timacy in which he lived with fome of the leaders of that fect,
could not fail to affift him in methodizing and digefting his
{peculations ; while the valuable collection of facts, accumu-
lated by the zealous induftry of their numerous adherents, fur-
nifhed him with ample materials for illuftrating and confirm-
ing his theoretical conclufions. _

ArTerR leaving Glafgow, Mr Smitru joined the Duke of
BuccLevuGH at London early in the year 1764, and fet out with
him for the Continent in the month of March following. At Do-
ver they were met by Sir James MAcDoNALD, who accompa-

nied them to Paris, and with whom Mr Smiru laid the foun-
2 dation

rad

APPENDIX. “97

dation of a friendfhip, which he always mentioned with great
fenfibility, and of which he often lamented the fhort duration.
The panegyrics with which the memory of this accomplifhed
and amiable perfon has been honoured by fo many diftinguifh-
ed characters in the different countries of Europe, are a proof
how well fitted his talents were to command general admira-
tion. The efteem in which his abilities and learning were
held by Mr Smiru, is ‘a teftimony to his extraordinary merit
of ftill fuperior value. Mr Hume, too, feems, in this inftance,
to have partaken of his friend’s enthufiafm. ‘“ Were you and
“‘ | together, (fays he in a letter to Mr Smitn), we fhould
“* thed tears at prefent for the death of poor Sir JAmEs Mac-
““ DONALD. We could not poffibly have fuffered a greater lofs

‘¢ than in that valuable young man.”
In this firft vifit to Paris, the Duke of Buccteven and Mr
SMITH employed only ten or peciye days *, after which they
proceeded.

* Tue day after his arrival at Paris, Mr Smitu.fent a formal refignation of his-
Profefforfhip to the Reétor of the Univerfity of Glafgow. “ I. never was more:
anxious (fays he in the conclufion of this letter) for the good of the College,
« than at this moment; and I fincerely with, that whoever is my fucceflor may not
* only do credit to the office by his abilities, but be a comfort: tothe very excel-
_ © lent men with whom he is likely to fpend. his life, by the probity of his heart,
- and the goodnefs of bis temper.”

Tue following extraét from the records of the Univerfity, which follows imme-
diately after Mr Sm1tu’s letter of refignation, is at once ateftimony to his affiduity
as a Profeffor, and a proof of the juft fenfe which that learned body entertained of.
the talents and worth of. the colleague they: had loft..

‘“‘ Tue Meeting accept of Dr Smitn’s refignation, in terms of the above letter;.
“and the office of Profeffor of Moral Philofophy in this Univerfity is therefore.
“hereby declared tobe vacant. The Univerfity, at the fame time, cannot help
“¢ expreffing their fincere regret at the removal of Dr Smitu, whofe diftinguilhed
‘© probity. and. amiable qualities procured. him the efteem and affection of his col-
“ leagues ; and whofe uncommon genius, great abilities, and extenfive learning, did
** fo much honour to this fociety ; his elegant and ingenious Theory of Moral Sen-
“ timents having spcrmaenied him to the efteem of. men of tafte and literature

Vou 1TD.. (N).: * throughout

Account of .
Dr Smith;

Acconnt of
Dr Smith.

98 HISTORY of the SOCIETY.

proceeded to Thouloufe, where they fixed their refidence for
eighteen months; and where, in addition to the pleafure of an

_ agreeable fociety, Mr Smita had an opportunity of-corre@ing

and extending his information concerning the internal policy of
France, by the intimacy in which he lived with fome of the
principal perfons of the Parliament. .

From Thouloufe they went, by a pretty extenfive tour, through
the fouth of France to Geneva. Here they paffed two months.
The late Earl Sranuope, for whofe learning and worth Mr
SMITH entertained a fincere refpeét, was then an inhabitant of
that repwhlic.

AsouT Chriftmas 1765, they returned to Paris, and remain-
ed there till O@ober following. The fociety in which Mr
Smiru fpent thefe ten months, may be conceived from the ad-
vantages he enjoyed, in confequence of the recommendations of
MrHume. Turcor, Quesnal, NeEcKER, d’ALEMBERT, HEL- .

veTius, MARMONTEL, Madame RiccoBonl, were among the

number of his acquaintances; and fome of them he continued
ever afterwards to reckon among his friends. From Madame
d’ANvVILLE, the refpectable mother of the late excellent and
much lamented Duke of RocHEroucauLp *, he received many
attentions, which he always recolleGted with particular grati-
tude.

It is much to be regretted, that he preferved no journal of
this very interefting period of his hiftory; and fuch was his

. } averfion
“throughout Europe. His happy talent in illuftrating abftraéted fubjeéts, and ~
“ faithful affiduity in communicating ufeful knowledge, diftinguifhed him as a Pro-

“ feffor, and at once afforded the greateft pleafure and the moft important inftru@tion
“to the youth under his care.”

* TuE following letter, which has been very accidentally preferved, while it
ferves as a memorial of Mr Smitn’s connection with the family of RocHEFovu-~
CAULD, is fo expreffive of the virtuous and liberal mind of the writer, that I am

- perfuaded it will give pleafure to the Society to record it in their Tranfactions.

“Paris,

APPENDIX. 99

.

averfion to write letters, that I fcarcely fuppofe any memorial
of it exifts in his correfpondence with his friends. The extent
and accuracy of his memory, in which he was equalled by few,

. made

“ Paris, 3. Mars 1778;

* Lr defir de fe rappeller 4 votre fouvenir, Monfieur, quand on a eu l’honneur
de vous connoitre, doit vous paroitre fort naturel; permettez que nous faififlions
pour cela, ma Mére et moi, l’occafion d’une €dition nouvelle des Maximes de la
Rochefoucaudd,dont nous prenons la liberté de vous offrir un exemplaire. Vous voyez
que nous n’avons point de rancune, puifque le mal que vous avez dit de lui dans la
Théorie des Sentimens Moraux, ne nous empeche point de vous envoier ce méme
ouvrage. Ils’en eft méme fallu de peu que je ne fiffe encore plus, car j’avois eu
peutétre la témérité d’entreprendre une tradution de votre Théorie; mais comme je
venois de terminer la premiere partie, j’al vu paroitre la traduction de M. l’Abbé
BLaveET, et j’ai été forcé de renoncer au plaifir que j’aurois eu de faire paffer dans
ma langue un des meilleurs ouvrages de la votre.

Ix auroit bien fallu pour lors entreprendre une juftification de mon grandpére.
Peutétre n’auroit-il pas été difficile, premierement de l’excufer, en difant, qu’il avoit
toujours vu les hommes a la Cour, et dans la guerre civile, deux théatres fur Jdef-
quels ils font certainement plus mauvais qu'ailleurs ;. et enfuite de juftifier par la con-

duite perfonelle de l’auteur, les principes qui font certainement trop généralifés dans _

fon ouvrage. Il a pris la partie pour le tout ; et parceque les gens qu’il avoit eu le
‘plus fous les yeux éto1ent animés par /’amour propre, il en a fait le mobile général
de tous les hommes. Au refte, quoique fon ouvrage merite a certains égards d’étre
combattu, il-eft cependant eftimable méme pour ie fond, et beaucoup pour la
forme.

* PERMETTEZ moi de vous demander, fi nous aurons bientét une édition com-
plette des euvres de votre illuftre ami M. Hume? Nous l’avons fincérement re-
gretté. .

«“‘ RECEVEZ, je vous fupplie, l’expreffion fincére de tous les fentimens d’eftime et
d’attachement avec lefquels j’ai ’honneur d’étre, Monfieur, votre trés humble et
trés obeiffant ferviteur,

Le Duc dela RocHErovcauLp.”

Mr Smitn’s laft intercourfe with this excellent man was in the year 1789, when
he informed him by means of a friend who happened to be then at Paris, that in
the future editions of his Zheory the name of RocuEFovcauLD fhould be no

(N 2) longer

Account of
Dr Smith..

Account of
Dr Smith.

Too HISTORY Of the SOCLET Y.

made it of little confequence to himfelf to record in writing
what he heard or faw; and from his anxiety before his death
to deftroy all the papers in his poffeflion, he feems to have with-

-ed, that no materials fhould remain for his biographers, but

what were furnifhed by the lafting monuments of his genius,
and the exemplary worth of his private life.

Tue fatisfaction he enjoyed in the converfation of TurcoT
may be eafily imagined. Their opinions on the moft effential
points of political ceconomy were the fame; and they were
both animated by the fame zeal for the beft interefts of man-
kind. The favourite ftudies, too, of both had directed their
enquiries to fubjects on which the underftandings of the ableft
and the beft informed are liable to be warped, to a great degree,
by prejudice and paffion; and on which, of confequence, a
coincidence of judgment is peculiarly gratifying. We are told
by one of the biographers of Turcot, that after his retreat from
the miniftry, he occupied his leifure in a philofophical corre-
fpondence with fome of his old friends ; and, in particular, that
various letters on important fubjects pafled between him and

Mr Smiru. I take notice of this anecdote chiefly as a proof of
‘the intimacy which was underftood to have fubfifted between
‘them ; for, in other refpects, the anecdote feems to me to be fome-+

what doubtful. It is fcarcely to be fuppofed, that Mr SmiTH
would deftroy the letters of fuch a correfpondent as TurGoT; and
ftill lefs probable, that fuch an intercourfe was carried on between
them without the knowledge of any of Mr Smiru’s friends.

From fome enquiries that have been made at Paris by a gentle-
man

longer claffed with that of MANDEVILLE. In the enlarged edition accordingly of
that work, publifhed a fhort time before his death, he has fuppreffed his cenfure of
‘the author of the Maxzmes ; who feems indeed (however exceptionable many of his
principles may be) to have been actuated, both in his life and writings, by motives
very different from thofe of ManpEviLLE. The real fcope of thefe maxims is
placed, I think, in a juft light by the ingenious author of the zotsce prefixed to the
edition of them publifhed at Paris in 17978.

A PrP EN Dal. X. 10%

man of this Society fince Mr Smiru’s death, I have reafon to
believe, that no evidence of the correfpondence exifts among
the papers of M. Turcor, and that the whole ftory has taken
its rife from a report fuggefted by the knowledge of their for-
mer intimacy. This circumftance I think it of importance to
mention, becaufe a good deal of curiofity has been excited by
the paffage in queftion, with refpe@ to the fate of the drppoted
letters.

Mr SmrtH was alfo well known to M. QuEsNAI, the pro-
found and original author of the Oeconomical Table; a man
(according to Mr Smirn’s account of him) “ of the greateft
“‘ modefty and fimplicity ;” and whofe fy{tem of political ceco-
nomy he has pronounced, “ with all its imperfections,’’ to be
‘“‘ the nearef{t approximation to the truth that has yet been pu-
“‘ blifhed on the principles of that very important {cience.”’
If he had not been prevented by Quesnar’s death, Mr Smitu
had once an intention (as he told me himfelf) to have infcribed
to him his ‘* Wealth of Nations.”

Ir was not, however, merely the diftinguifhed men who
about this period fixed fo fplendid an era in the literary hiftory
of France, that excited Mr Smita’s curiofity while he remain-
ed in Paris. His acquaintance with the polite literature both
of ancient and modern times was extenfive; and amidft his
various other occupations, he had never neglected to culti-
vate a tafte for the fine arts ;—lefs, it is probable, with a view
to the peculiar enjoyments they convey, (though he was by no
means without fenfibility to their beauties), than on account of
their connection with the general principles of the human
mind ; to an examination of which they afford the moft plea-
fing of all avenues. To thofe who fpeculate on this very deli-
cate fubject, a comparifon of the modes of tafte that prevail
among different nations, affords a valuable collection of facts ;
and Mr Smiru, who was always difpofed to afcribe to cuftom
and fafhion their full fhare in regulating the opinions of man-

kind

Account of
Dr Smith.

102, HISTORY of the SOCIETY.

rae 4 kind with refpect to beauty, may naturally be fuppofed to have
availed himfelf of every opportuuity which a foreign country
afforded him of illuftrating his former theories.

Some of his peculiar notions, too, with refpect to the
imitative arts, feem to have been much confirmed by his ob-
fervations while abroad. In accounting for the pleafure we
receive from thefe arts, it had early occurred to him as a fun-
damental principle, that a very great part of it arifes from the
difficulty of the imitation; a principle which was probably
fuggefted to him by that of the difficulté furmontée, by which
fome French critics had attempted to explain the effect of ver-
fification and of rhyme*. This principle Mr Smitu pufhed
to the greateft poffible length, and referred to it, with fin-
gular ingenuity, a great variety of phenomena in all the dif-
ferent fine arts. It led him, however, to fome conclufions,
which appear, at firft-view at leaft, not a little paradoxical ;
and I cannot help thinking, that it warped his judgment in
many of the opinions which he was accuftomed to give on the
fubjec&t of poetry.

THE principles of dramatic compofition had more particu-
larly attracted his attention; and the hiftory of the theatre,
both in ancient and modern times, had furnifhed him with
fome of the moft remarkable facts on which his theory of the
imitative arts was founded. From this theory it feemed to fol-
low as a confequence, that the fame circumftances which, in
tragedy, give to blank verfe an advantage over profe, fhould
give to rhyme an advantage over blank verfe ; and Mr Smiru
had always inclined to that opinion. Nay, he had gone fo far as.
to extend the fame doctrine to comedy ; and to regret, that thofe
excellent pictures of life and manners which the Englith ftage af-
fords, had not been executed after the model of the French:
fchool. The admiration with which he regarded the great dra-
matic authors of France tended to confirm. him in thefe opi-

nions ;

* See the Preface to VoLTaiRE’s Ocdipe, Edit. of 1729. ;

PR RaW Dk o% ae

nions ; and this admiration (refulting originally from the ge-
neral charaéter of his tafte, which delighted more to remark
that pliancy of genius which accommodates itfelf to eftablifhed
rules, than to wonder at the bolder flights of an undifciplined
imagination) was increafed to a great degree, when he faw the
beauties that had ftruck him in the clofet, heightened by the
utmoft perfection of theatrical exhibition. In the laft years of
his life, he fometimes amufed himfelf, at a leifure hour, in fup-
porting his theoretical conclufions on thefe fubjedts, by the
fa&ts which his fubfequent ftudies and obfervations had fug-
gefted ; and he intended, if he had lived, to have prepared the
refult of thefe labours for the prefs. Of this work he has left
for publication a fhort fragment ; the firft part of which is, in
my judgment, more finifhed in point of ftyle than any of his
compofitions; but he had mot proceeded far enough to apply
his doftrine to verfification and to the theatre. As his notions,
however, with refpect to thefe were a favourite topic of his
converfation, and were intimately connected with his general
principles of criticifm, it would have been improper to pafs
them over in this fketch of his life; and I even thought it
- proper to detail them at greater length than the comparative

importance of the fubje& would have juftified, if he had car-
ried his plans into execution. Whether his love of fyftem,
added to his partiality for the French drama, may not have led
him, in this inftance, to generalize a little too much his conclu-
fions, and to overlook fome peculiarities in the language and
verfification of that country, I fhall not take upon me to de-
_ termine. |

In Odtober 1766, the Duke of BuccLEuGu returned to Lon-
don. His Grace, to whom I am indebted for feveral particu-
lars in the foregoing narrative, will, Ivhope, forgive the liberty
I take in tranfcribing one paragraph in his own words: “ In
“© OGtober 1766, we returned to London, after having fpent
‘‘ near three years together, without the flighteft difagreement
" 66 or

Account of
Dr Smith.

Account of
Dr Smith.

: 65

104 HISTORY of the SOCIETY.

or coolnefs ;—on my part, with every advantage that could
be expected from the fociety of fuch a man. We continued
to live in friendfhip till the hour of his death; and I fhall
always remain with the impreffion of having loft a friend
whom I loved and refpected, not only for his great talents,
but for every private virtue.”’

THE retirement in which Mr Sirus paffed his next ten
years, formed a ftriking contraft to the unfettled mode of life
he had been for fome time accuftomed to, but was fo conge-
nial to his natural difpofition, and to his firft habits, that it was
with the utmoft difficulty he was ever perfuaded to leave it.
During the whole of this period, (with the exception of a few
vifits to Edinburgh and London), he remained with his mother
at Kirkaldy ; occupied habitually in intenfe ftudy, but unbend-
ing his mind at times in the company of fome of his old fchool-
fellows, whofe “ fober wifhes” had attached them to the place
of their birth. - In the fociety of fuch men, Mr Smita de-
lighted ; and tothem he was endeared, not only by his fimple
and unaffuming manners, but by the perfect knowledge they all
poffeffed of thofe domeftic virtues which had diftinguifhed him
from his infancy.

Mr Hume, who (as he tells us s himfelf ) confidered ‘* a town
“as the true fcene for a man of letters,” made many attempts
to feduce him from his retirement. In a letter, dated in 1772,
he urges him to pafs fome time with him in Edinburgh. “ I
‘“< fhall not take any excufe from your ftate of health, which
“< I fuppofe only a fubterfuge invented by indolence and love
“‘ of folitude. Indeed, my dear Smitu, if you continue to
‘¢ hearken to complaints of this nature, you will cut yourfelf
out entirely from human fociety, to the great lofs of both
parties.” In another letter, dated in 1769, from his houfe —
in James’s Court, (which commanded a profpect of the frith of
Forth, and of the oppofite coaft of Fife), “ I am glad (fays he) to
“« have come within fight of you ; but as I would alfo be-with-
“6 in.

66

(14

“~
n

ce

66

oP. PE N Dot &. 105

* in fpeaking terms of you, I wifh we could concert meafures
“ for that purpofe. Iam mortally fick at fea, and regard with
* horror and a kind of hydrophobia the great gulph that lies
*¢ between us. Iam alfo tired of travelling, as much as you
* ought naturally to be of ftaying at home. I therefore .pro-
** pofe to you to come hither, and pafs fome days with me in
“ this folitude. I want to know what you have been doing,
“ and propofe to exact a rigorous account of the method in
“‘ which you have employed yourfelf during your retreat. 1
“ am pofitive you are in the wrong in many of your fpecula-
“* tions, efpecially where you have the misfortune to differ from
“ me. All thefe are reafons for our meeting, and I wilh you
‘‘ would make me fome reafonable propofal for that purpofe.
*’ There is no habitation on the ifland of Inchkeith, otherwife
* J fhould challenge you to meet me on that fpot, and neither
“ of us ever to leave the place, till we were fully agreed on all
“ points of controverfy. I expect General Conway here to-
* morrow, whom I fhall attend to Rofeneath, and I fhall re-
‘¢ main there a few days. On my return, I hope to find a
* letter from you, containing a bold acceptance of this de-
“* fiance.”

Ar length (in the beginning of the year 1776) Mr Smitu
accounted to the world for his long retreat, by the publication
of his “ Inquiry into the Nature and Caufes of the Wealth of
Nations.” A letter of congratulation on this event, from Mr
Hung, is now before me. It is dated rft April 1776, (about
fix months before Mr Hume’s death) ; and difcovers an ami-
able folicitude about his friend’s literary fame. ‘* Euge! Belle!
“ Dear Mr SmitH: I am much pleafed with your perform-
* ance, and the perufal of it has taken me from a ftate of
“ great anxiety. It was a work of fo much expectation, by
‘* yourfelf, by your friends, and by the public, that I trembled
** for its appearance ; but am now much relieved. Not but
** that the reading of it neceffarily requires fo much attention,

Vou. III. (O) © and

/

Account of
Dr Smith.

Account of
Dr Smith.

106 HISTORY of the SOCIETY.

and the public is difpofed to give fo little, that I fhall ftill
doubt for fome time of its being at firft very popular. But
it has depth and folidity and acutenefs, and is fo much illu-
“* {trated by curious facts, that it muft at laft take the public
attention. It is probably much improved by your laft abode
in London. If you were here at my fire-fide, I fhould dif-
pute tome ek your priicipless sys 22-3 POC a. nu But
thefe, and a hundred other points, are fit only to be difcuf-
fed in converfation. I hope it will be foon; for I am in
a very bad {tate of health, and cannot afford a long de-
sy (ee ta}

Or a book which is now fo univerfally known as ‘* The
Wealth of Nations,’ it might be contidered perhaps as fuper-
fluous to give a particular analyfis ; and at any rate, the limits
of this effay make it impoflible for me to attempt it at pre-
fent. A few remarks, however, on the object and tendency
of the work may, I hope, be introduced without impropriety.
The hiftory of a Philofopher’s life can contain little more

' than the hiftory of his fpeculations ; and in the cafe of fuch

an author as Mr Smitu, whofe ftudies were fyftematically di-
rected from his youth to fubjects of the laft importance to
human happinefs, a review of his writings, while it ferves to
illuftrate the peculiarities of his genius, affords the moft faith-
ful picture of his character as a man. g

SECTION

APPENDIX. 10

SS

spl tl a ata

Of The Inquiry into the Nature and Caufes of the Wealth of
» Nations *.

N hiftorical review of the different forms under which
human affairs have appeared in different ages and na-

tions, naturally fuggefts the queftion, Whether the experience
of former times may not now furnifh fome general principles
to enlighten and direct the policy of future legiflators? The
difcuffion, however, to which this queftion leads is of fingular
difficulty ; as it requires an accurate analyfis of by far the moft
complicated clafs of phenomena that can poflibly engage our
attention, thofe which refult from the intricate and often the
imperceptible mechanifm of political fociety ;—a fubject of ob-
fervation which feems, at firft view, fo little commenfurate to
our faculties, that it has been generally regarded with the fame
paffive emotions of wonder and fubmiffion, with which, in the
material world, we furvey the effects produced, by the myfteri-
ous and uncontroulable operation of phyfical caufes. It is for-
tunate that upon this, as'on many other occafions, the difficul-
ties which had long baffled the efforts of folitary genius begin
to appear lefs formidable to the united exertions of the race;
and that in proportion as the experience and the reafonings of
different individuals are brought to bear upon the fame objeéts,
and are combined in fuch a manner as to illuftrate and to limit
ach other, the fcience of politics aflumes more and more that
(O 2) fy{tematical

* Tue length to which this Memoir has already extended, together with fome
other reafons which it is unneceflary to mention here, have induced me, in print-
ing the following feétion, to confine myfelf to a much more general view of the
fubjeét than I once intended.

Account of
Dr Smith.

Account of
Dr Smith.

108 HISTORY of the SOCIETY.

fyftematical form which encourages and aids the labours of
future enquirers.

In profecuting the fcience of politics on this plan, little af-
fiftance is to be derived from the fpeculations of ancient philo-
fophers, the greater part of whom, in their political enquiries,
confined their attention to a comparifon of different forms
of government, and to an examination of the provifions they
made for perpetuating their own exiftence, and for extending
the glory of the State. It was referved for modern times to
inveftigate thofe univerfal principles of juftice and of expedien-
cy, which ought, under every form of government, to regulate
the focial order ; and of which the object is, to make as equi-
table a diftribution as poffible, among all the different members
of a community, of the advantages arifing from the political
union.

Tue invention of printing was perhaps neceflary to prepare
the way for thefe refearches. In thofe departments of litera-
ture and of fcience, where genius finds within itfelf the mate-
rials of its labours ; in poetry, in pure geometry, and in fome
branches of moral philofophy ; the ancients have not only laid
the foundations on which we are to build, but have left great
and finifhed models for our imitation. But in phyfics, where
our progrefs depends on an immenfe collection of facts, and
on a combination of the accidental lights daily ftruck out in
the innumerable walks of obfervation and experiment ; and in
politics, where the materials of our theories are equally fcatter-
ed, and are collected and arranged with {till greater difficulty,
the means of communication afforded by the prefs have, in the
courfe of two centuries, accelerated the progrefs of the human
mind, far beyond what the moft fanguine hopes of our prede-
ceflors could have imagined.

Tue progrefs already made in this fcience, inconfiderable as
#t is in comparifon of what may be yet expected, has been fuf-
ficient to fhew, that the happinefs of mankind depends, not on

the

APPENDIX. 109

the fhare which the people poffefles, direQtly or indireétly, in
the enactment of laws, but on the equity and expediency of the
laws that are enacted. The fhare which the people poffefles in
the government is interefting chiefly to the fmall number of
men whofe object is the attainment of political importance ;
but the equity and expediency of the laws are interefting to eve-
ry member of the community; and more efpecially to thofe,,
whofe perfonal infignificance leaves them no encouragement,
but what they derive from the general fpirit of the government.
under which they live.

It is evident, therefore, that the moft important branch of
political fcience is that which has for its object to afcertain the
philofophical principles of jurifprudence; or (as Mr SmirTu ex-

preffes it) to afcertain “ the general principles which ought to.

“ run through and be the foundation of the laws of all. na-
*“‘ tions *.” In countries, where the prejudices of the peo-
ple are widely at variance with thefe principles, the political.
liberty which the conftitution beftows, only furnifhes them
with the means of accomplifhing their own ruin: And if it
‘were poflible to fuppofe thefe principles completely realized in.
any fyftem of laws, the people would have little reafon. to com-.
plain, that they were not immediately inftrumental in their.

enactment. The only infallible criterion of the excellence of-

any conftitution is to be found in the detail of its municipal:
code ; and the value which wife men fet on political freedom,
arifes chiefly from the facility it is fuppofed to afford, for the
introduction of thofe legiflative improvements which the general
interefts of the community recommend.—I cannot help adding,
that the capacity of a people to exercife political rights with:
utility to themfelves and.to their country, prefuppofes. a diffu--
fion of knowledge and of good morals, which can. only refult:
from the previous operation. of laws favourable to induftry, to»
order and to freedom.

Or

* See the-conclufion of his Theory of Moral Sentiments.

Account of
Dr Smith.

Account of
Dr Smith.

110 HISTOR ¥ ofthe SOCTETY.

Or the truth of thefe remarks, enlightened politicians feem
now to be in general convinced ; for the moft celebrated works
which have been produced in the different countries of Eu-
rope, during the laft thirty years, by SmMirH, QugesNnat, TuR-

GOT, CAMPOMANES, BEccaArtiA, and others, have aimed at the

improvement of fociety,—not by delineating plans of new con-
ftitutions, but by enlightening the policy of actual legiflators.
Such fpeculations, while they are more eflentially and more ex-
tenfively ufeful than any others, have no tendency to unhinge
eftablithed inftitutions, or to inflame the paffions of the multi-
tude. The improvements they recommend are to be effeéted
by means too gradual and flow in their operation, to warm the
imaginations of any but of the fpeculative few ; and in propor-
tion as they are adopted, they confolidate the political fabric,
and enlarge the bafis upon which it refts.

To direct the policy of nations with refpe& to one moft im-
portant clafs of its laws, thofe which form its fyftem of politi-

cal ceconomy, is the great aim of Mr Smirnu’s Inquiry: And

he has unqueftionably had the merit of prefenting to the world,
the moft comprehenfive and perfect work that has yet appeared,
on the general principles of any branch of legiflation. The
example which he has fet will be followed, it is to be hoped,
in due time, by other writers, for whom the internal po-
licy of ftates furnifhes many other fubjects of difcufflion no
lefs curious and interefting; and may accelerate the pro-
grefs of that fcience which Lord Bacon has fo well de-
{cribed in the following paflage: “ Finis et fcopus quem
“ leges intueri, atque ad quem juffiones et fandctiones fuas
‘* dirigere debent, non alius eft, quam ut cives feliciter de-
“‘ gant: id fiet, fi pietate et religione reCte inftitati; moribus
honefti; armis adverfus hoftes externos tuti; legum auxilio
adverfus feditiones et privatas injurias muniti; imperio et
magiftratibus obfequentes ; copiis et opibus locupletes et flo-
rentes fuerint. Certe cognitio ifta ad viros civiles proprie

3 ‘* {pectat ;

«e

&é

ce

ce

Aa PEP OW DG. III

{pectat ; qui optime norunt, quid ferat focietas humana,
quid falus populi, quid zquitas naturalis, quid gentium mo-
res, quid rerumpublicarum forme diverfe: ideoque poflint
de legibus, ex principiis et preceptis tam zquitatis naturalis,
quam politices decernere. Quamobrem id nunc agatur, ut
fontes juftitie et utilitatis publice petantur, et in fingulis
juris partibus character quidam et idea jufti exhibeatur, ad
quam particularium regnorum et rerumpublicarum leges
probare, atque inde emendationem moliri, quifque, cui hoc
cordi erit et cure, poflit.”” The enumeration contained in
the foregoing paflage, of the different objedts of law, coincides
very nearly with that given by Mr Smiru in the conclufion of
his Theory of Moral Sentiments; and the precife aim of the
political fpeculations which he then announced, and of which
he afterwards publifhed fo valuable a part in his Wealth of Na-
tions, was to afcertain the general principles of *juftice and of
expediency, which ought to guide the inftitutions of legiflators
on thefe important articles ;—in the words of Lord Bacon, to
_afcertain thofe leges legum, ‘* ex quibus informatio peti poflit,
“ quid in fingulis legibus bene aut perperam pofitum aut con-
“ ftitutum fit.”’

Tue branch of legiflation which MrSmiru has made choice of
as the fubject of his work, naturally leads me to remark a very
{triking contraft between the fpirit of ancient and of modern
policy in refpet to the wealth of nations*. The great object
of the former was to counteract the love of money and a tafte
for luxury, by pofitive inftitutions; and to maintain in the
great body of the people, habits of frugality, and a feverity of
manners. The decline of ftates is uniformly afcribed by the
philofophers and hiftorians, both of Greece and Rome, to the

é

influence of riches on national chara¢ter; and the laws of Ly-.

curcus, which, during a courfe of ages, banifhed the precious
metals

* Science de la Legiflation, par le Chev. Fitancrert, Liv. i. chap. 13.

Account of
Dr Smith,

Account of
Der Smith,

112 AISTORE. Of MASOCIET Ir.

metals from Sparta, are propofed by many of them as the moft
perfect model of legiflation devifed by human wifdom.—How
oppofite 'to this is the do@rine of modern politicians! Far from
confidering poverty as an advantage to a ftate, their great aim
is to open new fources of national opulence, and to animate
the activity of all claffes of the people by a tafte for the com-
forts and accommodations of life.

ONE principal caufe of this difference between the fpirit of
ancient and of modern policy, may be found in the difference
between the fources of nattonal wealth in ancient and in mo-
dern times. In ages when commerce and manufactures were
yet in their infancy, and among {tates conftituted like moft
of the ancient republics, a fudden influx of riches from
abroad was juftly dreaded as an evil, alarming to the mo-
rals, to the induftry, and to the freedom of a people. So
different, however, is the cafe at prefent, that the moft wealthy
nations are thofe where the people are the moft laborious,

and where they enjoy the greateft degree of liberty. Nay,

it was the general diffufion of wealth among the lower orders
of men, which firft gave birth to the fpirit of independence in
modern Europe, and which has produced under fome of its
governments, and efpecially under our own, a more equal
diffufion of freedom and of happinefs than took place under
the moft celebrated conftitutions of antiquity.

Wiruoor this diffufion of wealth among the lower orders,
the important effects refulting from the invention of printing
would have been extremely limited ; for a certain degree of
eafe and independence is neceflary to infpire men with the de-
fire of knowledge, and to afford them the leifure which is re-
quifite for acquiring it; and it is only by the rewards which
fuch a ftate of fociety holds up to induftry and ambition, that
the felfifh paffions of the multitude can be interefted in the in-
telleGtual improvement of their children. The extenfive pro-

2 pagation

APPENDIX, 113

pagation of light and refinement arifing from the influence of
the prefs, aided by the fpirit of commerce, feems to be the re-
medy provided by nature, againft the fatal effets which would
otherwife be produced, by the fubdivifion of labour accom-
panying the progrefs of the mechanical arts: Nor is any thing
wanting to make the remedy effectual, but wife inftitutions to
facilitate general inftruction, and to adapt the education of
individuals to the ftations they are to occupy. The mind of
the artift, which, from the limited {phere of his activity, would
fink below the level of the peafant or the favage, might receive
- in infancy the means of intelleCtual enjoyment, and the feeds of
moral improvement ; and even the infipid uniformity of his
profeffional engagements, by prefenting no object to awaken his
ingenuity or to diftract his attention, might leave him at liberty
to employ his faculties, on fubjeéts more interefting to himfelf,
and more extenfively ufeful to others.

TueseE effects, notwithftanding a variety of oppofing caufes
which ftill exift, have already refulted, in a very fenfible
degree, from the liberal policy of modern times. Mr
Hume, in his Effay on Commerce, after taking notice of the
numerous armies raifed and maintained by the fmall repu-
blics in the ancient world, afcribes the military power of
thefe ftates to their want of commerce and luxury. “ Few
‘“‘ artifams were maintained by the labour of the farmers, and
“‘ therefore more foldiers might live upon it.” He adds, how-
ever, that ‘‘ the policy of ancient times was VIOLENT, and con-
‘¢ trary to. the NATURAL courfe of things ;”—by. which, | pre-
fume, he means, that it aimed too much at. modifying, by the
force of pofitive inftitutions, the order of fociety, according to
fome preconceived idea of expediency ;,,without.trufting fufi-
ciently to thofe principles of the human conftitution, which,
wherever they,are. allowed free fcope,, mot only conduct man-
kind to happinefs, but Jay the foundation of a progreflive im-

Vieneilll. (P) provement

Account of
Dr Smith,

¢

Account of
Dr Smith.

11g HISTORY ofthe SOCTET YT.

provement in their condition and in their chara@ter. The ad-
vantages which modern policy pofleffes over the ancient, arifes
principally from its conformity, in fome of the moft important
articles of political ceconomy, to an order of things recom-
mended by nature; and it would not be difficult to fhew, that
where it remains imperfect, its errors may be traced to the re-
{traints it impofes on the natural courfe of human affairs. In-
deed, in thefe reftraints may be difcovered the latent feeds of
many of the prejudices and follies which infect modern man-
ners, and which have fo long bid defiance to the reafonings of
the philofopher and the ridicule of the fatirift.

Tue foregoing very imperfe@t hints appeared to me to form,
not only a proper, but in fome meafure a neceflary introduc-
tion to the few remarks I have to offer on MrSmitu’s Inquiry;
as they tend to illuftrate a connetion between his fyftem of
commercial politics, and thofe fpeculations of his earlier years,
in which he aimed more profeffedly at the advancement of hu-
man improvement and happinefs. It is this view of political
ceconomy that can alone render it interefting to the moralift,
and can dignify calculations of profit and lofs in the eye of
the philofopher. Mr Smrru has alluded to it in various paf-
fages of his work, but he has no where explained himfelf fully
on the fubje&t ; and the great ftrefs he has laid on the effects
of the divifion of labour in increafing its produ¢tive powers
feems, at firft fight, to point to a different and very melancholy
conclufion ;—that the fame caufes which promote the progrefs
of the arts, tend to degrade the mind of the artift; and, of
confequence, that the growth of national wealth implies a fa-
crifice of the character of the people. |

Tue fundamental do¢trines of Mr Smirn’s fyftem are now
fo generally known, that it would have been tedious to offer
any recapitulation of them in this place; even 1f I could have
hoped to do juftice to the fubjedt, within the limits which I have

prefcribed.

ny PoP EN, DEX 115

prefcribed to myfelf at prefent. A diftiné analyfis of his work
might indeed be ufeful to many readers; but it would itfelf
form a volume of confiderable magnitude. I may perhaps,
at fome future period, prefent to the Society, an attempt to-
wards fuch an analyfis, which I began long ago, for my own
fatisfaGtion, and which I lately made confiderable progrefs in
preparing for the prefs, before | was aware of the impoflibility
of connecting it, with the general plan of this paper. In the
mean time, | fhall content myfelf with remarking, that the
great and leading object of Mr Smiru’s f{peculations is to illu-
{trate the provifion made by nature in the principles of the hu-
man mind, and in the circumftances of man’s external fitua-
tion, for a gradual and progreflive augmentation in the means
of national wealth ; and to demontftrate, that the moft effeQual
plan for advancing a people to greatnefs, is to maintain that
order of things which nature has pointed out; by allowing
every man, as long as he obferves the rules of juftice, to pur-
fue his own intereft in his own way, and to bring both his in-
duftry and his capital into the freeft competition with thofe
-of his fellow-citizens. Every fyftem of policy which endea-
vours, either by extraordinary encouragements, to draw to-
wards a particular f{pecies of induftry a greater fhare of the ca-
pital of the fociety than what would naturally go to it; or, by
extraordinary reftraints, to force from a particular {pecies of
indu(try fome fhare of the capital which would otherwife be
employed in it, is, in reality, fubverfive of the great purpofe
which it means to promote.

Wuat the circum{ftances are, which, in modern Europe, have
contributed to difturb this order of nature, and, in particular,
to encourage the induftry of towns, at the expence of that of
the country, Mr Smiru has inveftigated with great ingenuity ;
and in fuch a manner, as to throw much new light on the hiftory

2 (P 2) of

Account of
Dr Smith.

Account of
Dr Smith,

a

116 HISTORY of the SOCIETY.

of that ftate of fociety which prevails in this quarter of the
globe. His obfervations on this fubje&t tend to fhew, that thefe
circumftances were, in their firft origin, the natural and the
unavoidable refult of the peculiar fituation of mankind during a
certain period; and that they took their rife, not from any general
fcheme of policy, but from the private interefts and prejudices.
of particular orders of men.

Tue ftate of fociety, however, whicls at firft arofe from a fin-
gular combination of accidents, has been prolonged much be-
yond its natural period, by a falfe fyftem of political ceconomy,
propagated by merchants and manufacturers ; a clafs of indi-
viduals, whofe intereft is not always the fame with that of the
public, and whofe profeffional knowledge gave them many ad-
vantages, more particularly in the infancy of this branch of.
fcience, in defending thofe opinions which they wifhed to en-
courage. By means of this fy{tem, a new fet of obftacles to
the progrefs of national profperity has been created. Thofe
which arofe from the diforders of the feudal’ ages, tended. di-
rectly to difturb the internal arrangements of. fociety, by ob-
ftructing the free circulation of labour and of ftock, from em-.
ployment to employment, and from place to place. The falfe-
fyftem of political ceconomy which has been hitherto preva-
lent, as its profeffed object has been to regulate the commercial
intercourfe between different nations, has produced its effeét.
in a way lefs dire@ and lefs manifeft, but equally prejudicial
to the {tates that have adopted it. )

On this fy{tem, as it took its rife from the prejudices, or rather:
from the interefted views of mercantile fpeculators, Mr Smit
beftows the title of the Commercial or Mercantile Sy{tem; and
he has confidered at great length its two principal expedients.
for enriching a nation; reftraints upon importation, and en-
couragements to exportation. Part of thefe expédients, he ob-
ferves, have been dictated by the fpirit of monopoly, and part

by

APPENDIX. ae,

by a fpirit of jealoufy againft thofe countries with which the
‘balance of trade is fuppofed to be difadvantageous. All of them
appear clearly, from his reafonings, to have a tendency unfa-
vourable to the wealth of the nation which impofes them.
—His remarks with refpect to the jealoufy of commerce are
expreffed in a tone of indignation, which he feldom affumes
in his political writings. :

In this manner (fays he) the fneaking arts of underling
“ tradefmen are erected into political maxims for the conduct
© of a great empire. By fuch maxims as thefe, nations have

“ been taught that their intereft contifted in beggaring all their.

“* neighbours. Each nation has been made to look with an in-
** vidious eye upon the profperity of all the nations with which
“ it trades, and to confider their gain as its own lofs. Com-
“ merce, which ought naturally to be among nations as among

‘“* individuals, a bond of union and friendfhip, has become the
“ moft fertile fource of difcord' and animofity. ‘The capricious:

- ambition of Kings and Minifters has not, during: the pre-

“* fent and the preceding century, been more fatal to the repofe:

‘“* of Europe, than the impertinent: jealoufy of merchants and

“ manufaCturers. The violence and injuftice of the rulers of.

* mankind is an ancient evil, for which perhaps the nature of

** human affairs can fcarce admit of aremedy. But the mean.

“ rapacity, the monopolizing fpirit of merchants and manu-
‘* faéturers, who neither are nor ought to be the rulers of man-
‘kind, though it cannot perhaps be corrected, may very eafi-
ly be prevented from difturbing the tranquillity of any body
* but themfelves.’’

Sucu are the liberal principles who, according to Mr Smiru,
ought to direct the commercial policy of nations; and of which
it ought to be the great object of legiflators to facilitate the efta-
blifhment. In what manner the execution of the theory fhould

be conducted in particular inftances, is-a queftion of a very dif-
I ferent

Account of
Dr Smith.

Account of
Dr Smith,

118 HISTORY Of. the SQCIETY.

ferent nature, and to which the anfwer muft vary, in different
countries, according to the different circumftances of the cafe.
In a f{peculative work, fuch as Mr Smirt.’s, the confideration
of this queftion did not fall properly under his general plan ;
but that he was abundantly aware of the danger to be. appre-
hended from aratfh application of political theories, appears,
not only from the general ftrain of his writings, but from fome
incidental obfervations which he has exprefsly made upon the
fubject. “ So unfortunate (fays he, in one paflage) are the
effeéts of all the regulations of the mercantile fyftem, that
they not only introduce very dangerous diforders into the |
{tate of the body politic, but diforders which it is often dif-
ficult to remedy, without occafioning, for a time at leatt,
ftill greater diforders.—In what manner, therefore, the na-
tural fyftem of perfect liberty and juftice ought gradually to
be reftored, we mutt leave to the wifdom of future ftatefmen
and legiflators to determine.” In the lait edition of his
Theory of Moral Sentiments, he has introduced fome remarks,
which have an obvious reference to the fame important doc-
trine. The following paflage feems to refer more particularly
to thofe derangements of the focial order which derived their
origin from the feudal inftitutions.

‘* Tue man whofe public fpirit is prompted altogether by
humanity and benevolence, will refpect the eftablifhed powers
and privileges even of individuals, and {till more of the
great orders and focieties into which the ftate is divided.
Though he fhould confider fome of them as in fome meafure
abufive, he will content himfelf with moderating,what he often
cannot annihilate without great violence. When he cannot
conquer the rooted prejudices of the people by reafon and
perfuafion, he will not attempt to fubdue them by force;
but will religioufly obferve what, by CrcerRo, is juftly called

the divine maxim of PLaTo, never to ufe violence to his
¢é

ce

nw

“é

n~
nn

Lay
n~

country

we Bie 2a: I Dee Xe, 119

country no more than to his parents. He will accommodate,
as well as he can, his public arrangements to the confirmed

habits and prejudices of the people; and will remedy, as

well as he can, the inconveniencies which may flow from the
want of thofe regulations which the people are averfe to fub-
mit to. When he cannot eftablifh the right, he will not dif-
dain to ameliorate the wrong; but, like Soron, when he

cannot eftablifh the beft fyftem of laws, he will endeavour

to eftablifh the beft that the people can bear.”
THESE cautions with refpect to the practical application of

general principles were peculiarly neceflary from the Author of
“The Wealth of Nations ;”’ as the unlimited freedom of trade,
which it is the chief aim of his work to recommend, is ex-
tremely apt, by flattering the indolence of the ftatefman, to
fuggeft to thofe who are invefted with abfolute power, the idea
of carrying it into immediate execution. “ Nothing is more

6

adverfe to the tranquillity of a ftatefman (fays the author of
an Eloge on the Adminiftration of CotBerrr) than a fpirit of
moderation ; becaufe it condemns him to perpetual obferva-
tion, fhews him every moment the infufficiency of his wif-

** dom, and leaves him the melancholy fenfe of his own im-

perfection ; while, under the fhelter of a few general prin-

‘ciples, a fyftematical politician enjoys a perpetual calm. By

the help of one alone, that of a perfect liberty of trade, he
would govern the world, and would leave human affairs to
arrange themfelves at pleafure, under the operation of the
prejudices and the felf-intereft of individuals. If thefe run
counter to each other, he gives himfelf no anxiety about the
confequence ; he infifts that the refult cannot be judged of
till after a century or two fhall have elapfed. If his contem-
poraries, in confequence of the diforder into which he has
thrown public affairs, are fcrupulous about fubmitting quietly

to the experiment, he accufes them of impatience. They
** alone,

Account of
Dr Smith.

120 AISTORY, of the SOCIETY.

Aceount of ** alone, and not he, are to blame for what they have fuffered +
Mea *« and the principle continues to be inculcated with the fame
“zeal and the fame confidence as before.” Thefe are the
words of the ingenious and eloquent author of the Eloge on
Co.BerT, which obtained the prize from the French Academy
in the year 1763; a performance which, although confined
and erroneous in its fpeculative views, abounds with juft
and important reflections of a practical nature. How far his
remarks apply to that particular clafs of politicians whom he
had evidently in his eye in the foregoing paflage, I fhall not
prefume to decide.
Ir is hardly neceflary for me to add to thefe obfervations,
that they do not detract in the leaft from the value of thofe
political theories which attempt to delineate the principles of a
perfect legiflation. Such theories (as I have elfewhere obferved *)
ought to be confidered merely as defcriptions of the u/timate ob-
jects at which the ftatefman ought toaim. The tranquillity of
his adminiftration, and the immediate fuccefs of his meafures, de-
pend on his good fenfe and his practical fkill . and his theoretical
principles only enable him to direct his meafures fteadily and
wifely, to promote the improvement and happinefs of mankind,
and prevent him from being ever led aftray from thefe important
ends, by more limited views of temporary expedience. “ In
“ all cafes (fays Mr Hume) it muft be advantageous to know
** what is moft perfect in the kind, that we may be able to
“¢ bring any real conftitution or form of government as near it
as poffible, by fuch gentle alterations and innovations as may
“© not give too great difturbance to fociety.”

Tue limits of this Memoir make it impoflible for me to exa-
mine particularly the merit of Mr Smiru’s work in point of
originality. ‘That his doctrine concerning the freedom of trade

and

ce

* Elements of the Philofophy of the Human Mind, p. 261:

a POPE: N DP. X. . Fae

and of induftry coincides remarkably with that which we find
in the writings of the French Oeconomifts, appears from the
flight view of their fyftem which he himfelf has given. But
it furely cannot be pretended by the warmeft admirers of that
fyftem, that any one of its numerous expofitors has approached
to Mr Smirtu in the precifion and perfpicuity with which he

has ftated it, or in the {cientific and luminous manner in which

he has deduced it from elementary principles. The awkward-
nefs of their technical language, and the paradoxical form in
which they have chofen to prefent fome of their opinions,
‘are acknowledged even by thofe who are moft willing to do
juftice to their merits; whereas it may be doubted with re-
fpeét to Mr SmituH’s Inquiry, if there exifts any book beyond
the circle of the mathematical and phyfical fciences, which is
at once fo agreeable in its arrangement to the rules of a found
logic, and fo acceflible to the examination of ordinary readers.
Abftracting entirely from the author’s peculiar and original fpe-
culations, I do not know, that upon any fubje&t whatever, a

work has been produced in our times, containing fo methodical,

fo comprehenfive and fo judicious 4 digeft of all the moft pro-
found and enlightened philofophy of the age. .

In juftice alfo to Mr Smitu, it muft be obferved, that al-
though fome of the ceconomical writers had the {tart of him
in publifhing their doctrines to the world, thefe doctrines ap-
pear, with refpect to him, to have been altogether original, and
the refult of his own reflections. Of this, I think, every per-
fon muft be convinced, who reads the Inquiry with due atten-
tion, and is at pains to examine the gradual and beautiful pro-
grefs of the author’s ideas: But in cafe any doubt fhould re-
main on this head, it may be proper to mention, that Mr
SMITH’s political leCtures, comprehending the fundamental
principles of his Inquiry, were delivered at Glafgow as early as.

the year 1752 or 1753; ata period, furely, when there exifted ~

Vou. IIL (Q.) no

Account of
Dr Smith.

Account of
Dr Smith.

122 HISTORY of th SOCIETY.

no French performance on the fubjeét, that could be of much
ufe to him in guiding his refearches*. In the year 1756, in

deed, M. Turcor (who is faid to have imbibed his firft no-
tions concerning the unlimited freedom of commerce from an

old merchant, M. Gournay) publifhed in the Encyclopedie, an

article which fufficiently fhews how completely his mind was
emancipated from the old prejudices in favour of commercial

regulations: But that even then, thefe opinions were confined

to a few f{peculative men in France, appears from a paflage in
the Mémoires fur la Vie et les Ouvrages de M. TurGorT ; in which,
after a fhort quotation from the article juft mentioned, the au-
thor adds: ‘‘ Thefe ideas were then confidered as paradoxical 5
“‘ they are fince become common, and they will one day be
** adopted univerfally.”’

Tue Political Difcourfes of Mr Hume were evidently of
breater ufe to Mr Smitu, than any other book that had ap-
peared prior to his lectures. Even Mr Hume’s theories, how-
ever, though always plaufible and ingenious, and in moft in-
{tances profound and juft, involve fome fundamental miftakes ;
and, when compared with Mr Smitun’s, afford a ftriking proof,
that, in confidering a fubje&t fo extenfive and fo complicated,
the moft penetrating fagacity, if directed only to particular
queftions, is apt to be led aftray by firft appearances ; and that
nothing can guard us effectually againft error, but a compre-
henfive furvey of the whole field of difcuffion, affifted by an
accurate and patient analyfis of the ideas about which our
reafonings are employed.—It may be worth while to add, that
Mr Hume’s Effay “ on the Jealoufy of Trade,’”’ with fome other

of his Political Difcourfes, received a very flattering proof of
M.

* In proof of this, it is fufficient for me to appeal to a fhort hiftory of the pro-
grefs of political ceconomy in France, publifhed in one of the volumes.of Ephemeri-
des du.Citoyen. See the firft part of the volume for the year 1769. The paper is
entitled, Notzce abrégée des différents Ecrits modernes, qui ont concouru en Feqnes a
former la ference de P économie politique.

APPENDIX. 123

M. Turcot’s approbation, by his undertaking the tafk of

tranflating them into the French language. _
_ I Am aware, that the evidence I have hitherto produced of
Mr Smirun’s originality may be objeéted to as not perfeétly de-
cifive, as it refts entirely on the recolleCtion of thofe ftudents
who attended his firft courfes of moral philofophy at Glafgow ;
a recollection which, at the diftance of forty years, cannot be
fuppofed to be very accurate. There exifts however fortu-
nately, a fhort manufcript, drawn up by Mr SmiruH in the year
1755, and prefented by him to a fociety of which he was then
a member; in which paper, a pretty long enumeration is given
of certain leading principles, both political and literary, to
which he was anxious to eftablifh his exclufive right; in order to
prevent the poffibility of fome rival claims which he thought he
had reafon to apprehend, and to which his fituation as a Profeffor,
added to his unreferved communications in private companies,
rendered him peculiarly liable. This paper is at prefent in my
poffeffion. It is expreffed with a good deal of that honeft and
indignant warmth, which is perhaps unavoidable by a man
who is confcious of the purity of his own intentions, when he
fafpects, that advantages have been taken of the franknefs of
his temper. On fuch occafions, due allowances are not always
made for thofe plagiarifms which, however cruel in their ef-
feéts; do not neceflarily imply bad faith in thofe who are guilty
of them; for the bulk of mankind, incapable themfelves of
original thought, are perfectly unable to form a conception of
the nature of the injury done to a man of inventive genius, by
encroaching on a favourite fpeculation. For reafons known to:
fome members of this Society, it would be improper, by the
publication of this manufcript, to revive the memory of private-
differences ; and I fhould not have even alluded to it, if I did.
not think it a valuable document of the progrefs of Mr Smit H’s,
political ideas at a very early period. Many of the moft im-
I (Q 2) ‘portant

Account of
Dr Smith.

Account of
Dr Smith.

ad

124 HISTORY of the SOCIETY.

portant opinions in the Wealth of Nations are there detail-
ed; but I fhall only quote the following fentences. ‘‘ Man

¢é

is generally confidered by ftatefmen and projeCtors as the
materials of a fort of political mechanics. Projeétors dif-
turb nature in the courfe of her operations in human af-
fairs; and it requires no more than to let her. alone, and
give her fair play in the purfuit of her ends, that fhe may
eftablifh her own defigns.”"—And in another paflage: “ Little
elfe is requifite to carry a ftate to the higheft degree of opu-
lence from the loweft barbarifm, but peace, eafy taxes, and
a tolerable adminiftration of juftice; all the reft being
brought about by the natural courfe of things. All govern-

> ments which thwart this natural courfe, which force things

into another channel, or which endeavour to arreft the pro-
grefs of fociety ata particular point, are unnatural, and to
fupport themfelves are obliged to be oppreffive and tyranni-
cal. A great part of the opinions (he obferves) enu-
merated in this paper is treated of at length in fome lec-
tures which I have ftill by me, and which were written in
the hand of a clerk who left my fervice fix years ago. They
have all of them been the conftant fubjects of my lectures
fince I firft taught Mr Crarcre’s clafs, the firft winter I
{pent in Glafgow, down to this day, without any confi-
derable variation. They had all of them been the fub-
jects of lectures which I read at Edinburgh the winter
before I left it, and I can adduce innumerable witnefles, both
from that place and from this, who will afcertain them fuffi-
ciently to be mine.”’

Arrer all, perhaps the merit of fuch a work as Mr Smitu’s

is to be eftimated lefs from the novelty of the principles it con-

tains, than from the reafonings employed to fupport thefe prin-
ciples, and from the fcientific manner in which they are un-
folded in their proper order and connection. General affer-

tions

A PoP EN Dat XX 125

tions with refpect to the advantages of a free commerce, may
be collected from various writers of an early date. But in
queftions of fo complicated a nature as occur in political ceco-
nomy, the credit of fuch opinions belongs of right to the au-
thor who firft eftablifhed their folidity, and followed them out
to their remote confequences ; not to him who, by a fortunate
accident, firft {tumbled on the truth.

BEsIpDEs the principles which Mr Smitu confidered as more
peculiarly his own, his Inquiry exhibits a fy{tematical view of the
moft important articles of political ceconomy, fo as to ferve the
purpofe of an elementary treatife on that very extenfive and
difficult fcience. The fkill and the comprehenfivenefs of mind
difplayed in his arrangement, can be judged of by thofe alone
who have compared it with that adopted by his immediate pre-
deceffors. And perhaps, in point of utility, the labour he has
employed in connecting and methodifing their f{cattered ideas,
is not lefs valuable than the refults of his own original fpecula-

tions: For it is only when digefted in a clear and natural or- |

der, that truths make their proper impreffion on the mind, and
that erroneous opinions can be combated with fuccefs.

Ir does not belong to my prefent undertaking (even if I were
qualified for fuch a tafk) to attempt a feparation of the folid
and important doctrines of Mr Smttu’s book from thofe opi-
nions which appear exceptionable or doubtful. I acknowledge,
that there are fome of his conclufions to which I would not be
underftood to fubfcribe implicitly ; more particularly in that

chapter, where he treats of the principles of taxation, and -

which is certainly executed in a manner more loofe and unfa-
tisfactory than the other parts of his fyftem.

It would be improper for me to conclude this fection with-
out taking notice of the manly and dignified freedom with
which the author uniformly delivers his opinions, and of the

3 fuperiority

“Account of
Dr Smith,

Account of
Dr Smith.

126 HISTORY of th SOCIETY.

_fuperiority which he difcovers throughout, to all the little paf-

fions connected with the factions of the times in which he
wrote. Whoever takes the trouble to compare the general tone
of his compofition with the period of its firft publication, can-
not fail to feel and acknowledge the force of this remiark.——
It is not often that a difinterefted zeal for truth has fo foon
met with its juft reward. Philofophets (to ufe an expreflion
of Lord BAcon’s) are “ the fervants of pofterity ;” and moft
of thofe who have devoted their talents to the beft interefts of
mankind, have been obliged, like Bacon, to “‘ bequeath their
fame” to a race yet unborn, and to confole themfelves with the
idea of fowing what another generation was to reap:

Infere Daphni pyros, carpent tua poma nepotes.

Mr SmITH was more fortunate; or rather, in this refpeét, his
fortune was fingular. He furvived the publication of his work
only fifteen years; and yet, during that fhort period, he had
not only the fatisfaction of feeing the oppofition it at firft ex-
cited, gradually fubfide, but to witnefs the practical influence
of his writings on the commercial policy of his country.

SECTION

APPENDIX. 129

a

SECTION VW.
Conclufion of the Narrative.

BOUT two years after the publication of “ the Wealth
“& of Nations,’? Mr Smiru was appointed one of the Com-
miffioners of his Majefty’s Cuftoms in Scotland; a preferment
which, in his eftimation, derived an additional value from its
being beftowed on him at the requeft of the Duke of Buc-
cLEUGH. The greater part of thefe two years he pafled at
London, in a fociety too extenfive and varied to afford him any
opportunity of indulging his tafte for ftudy. His time, how-
ever, was not loft to himfelf; for much of it was fpent with
fome of the firft names in Englifh literature. Of thefe no un-
favourable fpecimen is preferved by Dr BARNARD, in his well
known “ Verfes, addrefled to Sir Josuua REYNOLDs and his
friends.”

If I have thoughts, and can’t exprefs ’em,

Giszow fhall teach me how to drefs ’em
In words fele& and terfe :

Jones teach me modefty and Greek,

Smitu how to think, Burke how to fpeak,
And BEAvucLerc‘to converfe *,

In confequence of Mr Smitu’s appointment to the Board of
Cuftoms, he removed, in 1778, to Edinburgh, where he fpent
the laft twelve years of his life; enjoying an afHuence which
was more than equal to all his wants ; and, what was to him
of ftill greater value, the profpect of pafling the remainder of
his days among the companions of his youth.

His mother, who, though now in extreme old age, {till pof-

feffed a confiderable degree of health, and retained all her fa-.

culties unimpaired, accompanied him to town; and his coufin
Mifs
* See Annual Regifter for the year 1776.

Account of
Dr Smith.

Account of
Dr Smith.

128 HISTORY of the SOCIETY.

Mifs JANE Doucias, (who had formerly been a member of
his family at Glafgow, and for whom he had always felt the
affection of a brother), while fhe divided with him thofe ten-
der attentions which her aunt’s infirmities required, relieved

him of a charge for which he was peculiarly ill qualified, by

her friendly fuperintendence of his domeftic ceconomy.

THE acceffion to his income which his new office brought
him enabled him to gratify, to a much greater extent than his
former circumftances admitted of, the natural generofity of his
difpofition ; and the ftate of his funds at the time of his death,
compared with his very moderate eftablifhment, confirmed,
beyond a doubt, what his intimate acquaintances had often fu-
fpected, that a large proportion of his annual favings was al-
lotted to offices of fecret charity. A fmall, but excellent li-
brary, which he had gradually formed with great judgment in
the feleGtion ; and a fimple, though hofpitable table, where,
without the formality of an invitation, he was always happy to
receive his friends, were the only expences that could be confi-
dered as his own*.

Tue change in his habits which his removal to Edinburgh
produced, was not equally favourable to his literary purfuits.
The duties of his office, though they required but little exer-
tion of thought, were yet fufficient to wafte his fpirits and to
diffipate his attention ; and now that his career is clofed, it is
impofhible to reflect jon the time they confumed, without la-
menting that it had not been employed in labours more profi-
table to the world, and more equal to his mind.

Durinc the firft years of his refidence in this city, his ftu-
dies feemed to be entirely fufpended ; and his paffion for let-

ters

* SomE very affecting inftances of Mr Smitn’s beneficence, in cafes where he
found it impoflible to conceal entirely his good offices, have been mentioned to me
by a near relation of his, and one of his moft confidential friends, Mifs Ross, daugh-
ter of the late Patrick Ross, Efq; of Innernethy. They were all ona fcale much
beyond what might have been expected from his fortune; and were accompanied

with circumftances equally honourable to the delicacy of his feelings and the libe-
rality of his heart.

PAL NPP Se MDE NX: 129

ters ferved only to amufe his leifure, and to animate his conver-
fation. ‘The infirmities of age, of which he very early began
to feel the approaches, reminded him at laft, when it was too
late, of what he yet owed to the public, and to his own fame.
The principal materials of the works which he had announced,
had been long ago collected ; and little probably was wanting,
but a few years of health and retirement, to beftow on them
that fyftematical arrangement in which he delighted ; and the
ornaments of that flowing, and apparently artlefs ftyle, which
he had ftudioufly cultivated, but which, after all his experience

in compofition, he adjufted, with extreme difficulty, to his.

own tafte *.

Tue death of his mother in 1784, which was followed by
that of Mifs Dovcias in 1788, contributed, it is probable, to
‘fruftrate thefe projects. They had been the objects of his af-
fection for more than fixty years; and in their fociety he had
enjoyed, from ‘his infancy, all that he ever knew of the endear-
ments of a family. He was now alone, and helplefs; and,
though he bore his lofs with equanimity, and regained’ appa-
rently his former cheerfulnefs, yet his health and ftrength gra-
dually declined till the period of his death, which happened in
July 1790, about two years after that of his coufin, and fix af-
ter that of his mother. His Jaft illnefs, which arofe from a

Vou. III. (R) chronic

* Mr Situ obferved to me, not long before his death, that after all his practice
in writing, he compofed as flowly, and with as great difficulty, as at firft. He
added, at the fame time, that Mr Hume had acquired fo great a facility in this re-
fpect, that the laft volumes of his Hiftory were printed from his original copy,
with a few marginal corrections,

Ir may gratify the curiofity of fome readers to know, that when Mr Situ was
employed in compofition, he generally walked up and down his apartment, diéta-
ting to a fecretary. All Mr Hume’s works (I have been affured) were written
with his own hand. A critical reader may, I think, perceive in the different ftyles-
of thefe two claffical writers, the effects of their different modes of ftudy.

Account of
Dr Smith,

Account of
dr ouiith,

130 HISTORY of the SOCIETY.

chronic obftruction in his bowels, was lingering ‘and painful ;
but had every confolation to footh it which he could derive
from the tendereft fympathy of his friends, and from the com-
plete refignation of his own mind.

A vew days before his death, finding his end approach rapidly,
he gave orders to deftroy all his manufcripts, excepting fome de-
tached effays, which he entrufted to the care of his executors; and
they were accordingly committed to the flames. What were the
particular contents of thefe papers, is not known even to his moft
intimate friends ; but there can be no doubt that they confifted,
in part, of the lectures on rhetoric, which he read at Edinburgh
in the year 1748, and of the leCtures on natural religion and
on jurifprudence, which formed part of his courfe at Glafgow.
That this irreparable injury to letters proceeded, in fome de-
gree, from an exceflive folicitude in the author about his poft-
humous reputation, may perhaps be true; but with refpeé to
fome of his manufcripts, may we not fuppofe, that he was in-
fluenced by higher motives? It is but feldom that a philofo-
pher, who has been occupied from his youth with moral or

with political enquiries, fucceeds completely to his with in fta-

ting to others, the grounds upon which his own opinions are
founded ; and hence it is, that the known principles of an indi-
vidual, who has approved to the public his candour, his libe-
rality, and his judgment, are entitled to a weight and an
authority, independent of the evidence which he is able, up-
on any particular occafion, to produce in their fupport. A
fecret conf{cioufnefs of this circumftance, and an apprehenfion,
that by not doing juftice to an important argument, the pro-
grefs of truth may be rather retarded than advanced, have pro-
bably induced many authors to with-hold from the world the
unfinifhed refults of their moft valuable labours; and to con-
tent themfelves with giving the general fandction of their fuf-

3 frages

ee

=

APPENDIX. 13

frages to truths which they regarded as peculiarly interefting to
the human race *.

Tur additions to the Theory of Moral Sentiments, moft of
which were compofed under fevere difeafe, had fortunately been
fent to the prefs in the beginning of the preceding winter; and
the author lived to fee the publication of the work. The mo-
ral and ferious ftrain that prevails through thefe additions, when
connected with the circumftance of his declining health, adds
a peculiar charm to his pathetic eloguence ; and communicates
a new intereft, if poffible, to thofe fublime truths, which, in the
academical retirement of his youth, awakened the firft ardours
of his genius, and on which the laft efforts of his mind re-
pofed. !
vey (R 2) In.

_ * Since writing the above, I have been favoured by Dr Hutton with the fol-
lowing particulars.

© Some time before his Jaft illnefs, when Mr Smiru. had occafion to go to Lon-
don, he enjoined his friends, to whom he. had entrufted the difpoial of his manu-
Scripts, that in the event of his death, they fhould deftroy all the volumes of his
le@tures, doing with the reft of his manufcripts what they pleafed. When now he
had become weak, and faw the approaching period of his life, he {poke to his
friends again upon the fame fubject. They entreated him to-make his mind eafy,
as he might depend upon, their fulfilling his defire. He was then fatisfied. But

fome days afterwards, finding his anxiety not entirely removed, he begged one of |

them to deftroy the volumes immediately, This accordingly was done; and his
mind was fo much relieved, that he was able to receive his friends in the evening.
with his ufual complacency. |

“« Tuey had been in ufe to {up with him every Sunday; and that evening there
_ Was a pretty numerous meeting of them. Mr Smitu not finding himfelf able to
fit up with them as ufual, retired to bed before fupper ; and, as he went away, took
leave of his friends by faying, “ I believe we muft adjourn this meeting to fome:
other place.” He died a very few days afterwards.”

Mr RIDDELL, an intimate friend of Mr Smirn’s, who was-prefent at one of the
converfations on the fubjeét of the manufcripts, mentioned to me, in addition to
Dr Hurton’s note, that Mr Smiru regretted, “ he had done fo little.” “ But I
meant (faid he) to have done more; and there are materials in my papers, of
which I could have made a great deal. But that is now out of the queftion.”

THAT

Account of
Dr Smith.

“Account of
Dr Smith.

132 HISTORY of the SOCIETY.

In a letter addreffed, in the year 1787, to the Principal of
the Univerfity of Glafgow, in confequence of his being elected
Rector of that learned body, a pleafing memorial remains of
the fatisfaction with which he always recollected that period of
his literary career, which had been more peculiarly confecrated
to thefe important ftudies. “ No preferment (fays he) could have
“« given me fo much real fatisfaction. No man can owe greater
“* obligations to a fociety than I do to the Univerfity of Glaf-
‘“ gow. They educated me; they fent me to Oxford. Soon
“‘ after my return to Scotland, they elected me one of their
““ own members; and afterwards preferred me to another of-
‘© fice, to which the abilities and virtues of the never to be for-
“ gotten Dr Hurcueson had given a fuperior degree of illu-

“* {tration.

Tuart the idea of deftroying fuch unfinifhed works as might be in his pof-~

feffion at the time of his death, was not the effect of any fudden or hafty refolution,
appears from the following letter to Mr Hume, written by Mr SmituH in 1773,
at a time when he was preparing himfelf for a journey to London, with the profpett
of a pretty long abfence from Scotland.

.

My DEAR FRIEND, Edinburgh, 16th April 1773.
As I have left the care of all my literary papers to you, I muft tell you, that ex-

cept thofe which I carry along with me, there are none worth the publication, but .

a fragment of a great work, which contains a hiftory of the aftronomical fyftems
that were fucceflively in fafhion down to the time of Des Cartes. Whether that
might not be publifhed as a fragment of an intended juvenile work, I leave entire-
ly to your judgment, though I begin to fufpe& myfelf that there is more refinement
than folidity in fome parts of it. This little work you will find in a thin folio pa-
per bookin my back room. All the other loofe papers which you will find in
that defk, or within the glafs folding doors of a bureau which ftands in my bed-

room, together with about eighteen thin paper folio books, which you will likewife

find within the fame glafs folding doors, I defire may be deftroyed without any exa-

mination. Unlefs I die very fuddenly, I fhall take care that the papers I carry _

with me fhall be carefully fent to you.
I evER am, my dear Friend, moft faithfully your’s,
ADAM SMITH
To Davip Hume, Efq;
St Andrew’s Square.

— ae oe

* ftration. The period of thirteen years which I fpent as a
* member of that fociety, I remember as by far the moft ufe-
** fal, and therefore, as by far the happieft and moft honourable
“ period of my life; and now, after three and twenty years
“ abfence, to be remembered in fo very agreeable a manner by
“« my old friends and protectors, gives me a heart-felt joy
‘«¢ which I cannot eafily exprefs to you.”’

Tue fhort narrative which I have now finifhed, however
barren of incident, may convey a general idea of the genius
and character of this illuftrious Man. Of the intellectual gifts
and attainments by which he was fo eminently diftinguifhed ;—
of the originality and comprehenfivene(s of his views ; the extent,
the variety and the corre¢tnefs of his information ; the inex-
hauftible fertility of his invention; and the ornaments which
his rich and beautiful imagination had borrowed from claflical
culture ;—he has left behind him lafting monuments. To his
private worth the moft certain of all teftimonies may be found
in that confidence, refpect and attachment, which followed him
through all the various relations of life. The ferenity and
gaiety he enjoyed, under the preflure of his growing infirmities,
and the warm intereft he felt to the laft, in every thing con-
nected with the welfare of his friends, will be long remember-
ed by a fimall circle, with whom, as long as his ftrength per-
mitted, he regularly fpent an evening in the week; and to whom
the recolleGion of his worth ftill forms a pleafing, though me-
lancholy bond of union.

‘Tue more delicate and chara¢teriftical features of his mind,
it is perhaps impoffible to trace. That there were many pecu-
liarities, both in his manners, and in his intelle€tual habits, was
manifeft to the moft fuperficial obferver ; but, although to thofe
who knew him, thefe peculiarities detraéted nothing from the

refpect

Account of
Dr Smith.

Account of
Dr Smith.

134 HISTORY of the SOCIETY.

refpe&t which his abilities commanded ; and, although to his in-
timate friends, they added aninexpreflible charm to his conver-
fation, while they difplayed, in the moft interefting light, the
artlefs fimplicity of his heart; yet it would require a very {kil-
ful pencil to prefent them to the public eye. He was certainly
not fitted for the general commerce of the world, or for the bu-
finefs of ative life. The comprehenfive fpeculations with
which he had been occupied from his youth, and the variety of
materials which his own invention continually fupplied to his
thoughts, rendered him habitually inattentive to familiar objects,
and to common occurrences; and he frequently exhibited in-
ftances of abfence, which have fcarcely been furpaffed by the
fancy of BRuyERE. Evenin company, he was apt to be in-
groffed with his ftudies ; and appeared, at times, by the motion
of his lips, as well as by his looks and geftures, to be in the fer-
vour of compofition. I have often, however, been ftruck, at
the diftance of years, with his accurate memory of the moft
trifling particulars ; and am inclined to believe, from this and
fome other circumftances, that he poffefled a power, not perhaps
uncommon among abfent men, of recolle¢ting, in confequence
of fubfequent efforts of reflection, many occurrences which, at
the time when they happened, did not feem to have fenfibly at-
tracted his notice.

To the defect now mentioned, it was fae ae owing, in
part, that he did not fall in eafily with the common dialogue of
converfation, and that he was fomewhat apt to convey his own
ideas in the form of a lefture. When he did fo, however, it
never proceeded from a with to ingrofs the difcourfe, or to gra-
tify his vanity. His own inclination difpofed him fo ftrongly
to enjoy in filence the gaiety of thofe around him, that his.
friends were often led to concert little fchemes, in order to
bring him on the fubjeéts moft likely to intereft him. Nor do

I think I fhall be accufed of going too far, when I fay, that he
was

APPEN DT X&, 134

©)

was fcarcely ever known to ftart a new topic himfelf, or to ap-
pear unprepared upon thofe topics that were introduced by
others. Indeed, his converfation was never more amufing than
when he gave a loofe to his genius, upon the very few branches
of knowledge of which he only poflefled the outlines.

THE opinions he formed of men, upon a flight acquaintance,
were frequently erroneous ; but the tendency of his nature in-
clmed him much more to blind partiality, than to ill-founded
prejudice. ‘The enlarged views of human affairs, on which his
mind habitually dwelt, left him neither time nor inclination to
ftudy,; in detail, the uninterefling peculiarities of ordinary
characters ; and accordingly, though intimately acquainted with
the capacities of the intellect, and the workings of the heart,
and accuftomed, in his theories, to mark, with the moft delicate
hand, the niceft fhades, both of genius and of the paffions ;
yet, in judging of individuals, it fometimes happened, that his
ef{timates were, in a furprifing degree, wide of the truth.

THE opinions, too, which, in the thoughtleffnefs and confi-
dence of his focial hours, he was accuftomed to hazard on books,
and on queftions of fpeculation, were not uniformly fuch as
- might have been expected from the fuperiority of his under-
ftanding, and the fingular confiftency of his philofophical prin-
ciples. They were liable to be influenced by accidental cir-
cumftances, and by the humour of the moment ; and when re-
tailed by thofe who only faw him occafionally, fuggefted falfe
and contradiétory ideas of his real fentiments. On thefe, how-
ever, as on moft other occafions, there was always much truth,
as well as ingenuity, in his remarks; and if the different opi-
nions which, at different times, he pronounced upon the fame
fubject, had been all combined together, fo as to modify and li-
mit each other, they would probably have afforded materials for
a decifion, equally comprehenfive and juft. But, in the fociety
of his friends, he had no difpofition to form thofe qualified con-

clufions

Account of

De Smith.

Account of
Dr Smith.

136 HISTORY of the SOCIETY.

clufions that we admire in his writings ; and he generally con-
tented himfelf with a bold and matfterly fketch of the object,

from the firft point of view in which his temper, or his fancy, —

prefented it. Something of the fame kind might be remarked,
when he attempted, in the flow of his fpirits, to delineate thofe
characters which, from long intimacy, he might have been fup-
pofed to underftand thoroughly. The picture was always lively,
and expreflive ; and commonly bore a ftrong and amufing re-
femblance to the original, when viewed under one particular
afpect ; but feldom, perhaps, conveyed a juft and complete con-

~ ception of it in all its dimenfions and proportions.—In a word,

it was the fault of his unpremeditated judgments, to be too
fy{tematical, and too much in extremes.

But, in whatever way thefe trifling peculiarities in his man-
ners may be explained, there can be no doubt, that they were
intimately connected with the genuine artleffaefs of his mind.
In this amiable quality, he often recalled to his friends, the ac--
counts that are given of good LA FonTAINE; a quality which
in him derived a peculiar grace from the fingularity of its
combination with thofe powers of reafon and of eloquence
which, in his political and moral writings, have long engaged
the admiration of Europe.

In his external form and appearance, there was nothing un-
common. When perfectly at eafe, and when warmed. with
converfation, his geftures were animated, and not ungraceful 3.
and, in the fociety of thofe he loved, his features were often
brightened with a {mile of inexpreflible benignity. In the
company of ftrangers, his tendency to abfence, and perhaps ftill
more his confcioufnefs of this tendency, rendered his manner
fomewhat embarrafled ;—an_ effet which was probably not.a,
little heightened by thofe fpeculative ideas of propriety, which
his reclufe habits tended at once to perfect in his conception,
and to diminifh his power of realizing. He never fat for. his —

i picture 5.

APP BLN DT x, 137

picture ; but the medallion of Paisoee conveys an exact idea of Account of
his profile, and of the general expreflion of his countenance.

Tue valuable library that he had colleGted he bequeathed,
together with the reft of his property, to his coufin Mr Davip
Dovctas, Advocate. In the education of this young gentle-
man, he had employed much of his leifure; and it was only
‘two years before his death, (at a time when he could ill fpare
the pleafure of his fociety), that he had fent him to ftudy law
-at Glafgow, under the care of Mr Miriar ;—the ftrongeft
proof he could give of his difinterefted zeal for the improve-
ment of his friend, as well as of the efteem in which he held
- the abilities of that eminent Profeffor.

THE executors of his will, were Dr BLAcK and Dr Hutton;
with whom he had long lived in habits of the moft intimate
and cordial friendfhip ; 3 and who, to the many other teftimonies
which they had given him of their affection, added the mourn-
ful office of witnefling his laft moments.

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A PPE N DT X. 139

DONATIONS prefented to the Rovat Society of Edinburgh,
continued from the preceding Volume.

| From the Author.

On the Difeafes of the Lymphatic Glands, by ses Fobn-
fone, M. D. Worcefter. 1787.

From the Author.

Memoire fur\les Ifles Ponces, et Catalogue Raifonné des Produits de
P Etna, par M. le Commandeur de Dolomieux. Paris 1788.

From Colonel Hugh Montgomery of Skelmorly.

Drawings of a Stone found at Coilsfield in Ayrfhire, June 15.
1789. :
* From Lord Daer.

An Efquimaux Drefs. March I. 1790.

From Mr Somerville Wilfon, Surgeon to the Winterton Eaft
Indiaman.

Two Perfian MSS. in folio, and an Arabic MS. in quarto. On
the latter is this infcription: “‘ MS. of part of the Arabian
“ Nights Entertainments in Arabic, written by Moulla Mufta-
“* pha at Baffora, and refcued with the original MS. from the
* faid Muflapha’s houfe after his death of the plague in April
te 7733
From Colonel Macleod of Macleod.

Three MSS. in the Shanfcrit. No. 1. is a copy of the Gita,
which is tranflated by Mr Wilkins.
No. 2. is the Int BAGHAwaAr, or the Life of the Indian APoLto.
No. 3. the Cuanpr. See Afiatic Refearches, vol.i. p. 280.
Alfo a MS. of the Koran in folio. The above are all very —
beautifully illuminated. The three firft are in rolls.
(S 2) From

Lift of Dona-

tions,

140 HISTORY of the SOCIETY.

From the Author.

' Iraité Analytique des Mouvemens apparens des Corps Celeftes,

tom. ii. par M, du Seour.
| From the Author.

Memoire fur la Combuftion du Gas Hydrogene, par M. Seguin.
Paris F790.

From the Author.
Obfervations on the Difeafes of Fruit and Foreft Trees, by Mr
Forfyth, Kenfington gardens. Nov. 7. 1701.
From the Royal Society of London.
Philofophical Tranfactions, vol. lxxx. |

From the Author.
A treatife on the Angina Pectoris, by Dr Butter of London.

From the Literary and Philofophical Society at Manchefter.

Memoirs of the Society, vol. iii. and vol.iv. part 1.

| From the Author.
Annali di Chimica,tom, i. di L. Brugnatelli, Softituto alla Catedra
di Chemica nel univerfita de Pavia. 1790.
From the Author.

Experimental Inquiry concerning the Cheltenham Water, and
Cautions concerning the Poifon of Lead and Copper, by
A. Fothergill, M. es F. R..S. Lond: . 26.

From the Author.

Obfervations on Scrophulous AffeCtions, by Robert Hamilton,,

M.D. Lond. 1791.
From

Gere

~

APPENDIX. | 141

From James Byers, Efq;

_A Series of ancient Roman Weights of Bafaltes or Porphyry.

Dec. 19. 1791.

From the Author.

On Ele@tricity, with occafional Obfervations on Magnetifm, by
Hy) Pert, M. D.. 1791.

On the Properties of Matter and the Principles of Chemiftry,
by the fame. 1792.

On Electric Atmofpheres, by the fame. 1793.

From the Royal Society of Antiquaries in Scotland.
The Tranfactions of the Society, vol.1. 17092.

From Profeffor Heyne of Gottingen.

Befchreibung der Ebene von Troja, &c. being a tranflation of
M. Chevalier’s paper, [No. I. Lit. Cl. of this Vol.] made
under the eye of Profeflor Heyne. Leipfic 1792.

From the Royal Irifh Academy.

A Standard Thermometer, conftucted by Samuel Healy, Dublin.

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‘

POSTSCRIPT TO THE HISTORY.

ON Monday, the 4th of November 1793, Dr Hope, Pro-
feflor of Medicine in the Univerfity of Glafgow, read a paper,
entitled, 4n Account of a Mineral from Strontian, and of a peculiar
Species of Earth which it contains. Want of room, and the length

_of the differtation, prevent its appearance in the prefent volume.

But as the difcovery of a new earth cannot fail to be interefting,
it has been thought proper to trefpafs a little on the order of
time, and to infert here the following abftraét.

THE mineral is found in the lead-mine of Strontian in Argyle-
fhire. It was brought to Edinburgh about fix years ago in confi-
derable quantity. It was generally received as the aérated barytes.
At that time, Dr Hope had fome doubts of its being the barytic
f{par, and ufed, in his preleCtions, when he filled the chemical chair
in the Univerfity of Glafgow, to mention fuch of its diftin-
guifhing charadters as he had then difcovered. The Strontian
{par fometimes is colourlefs, oftener it has a greenifh or yel-
lowifh hue. Its texture is fibrous, and it frequently fhoots in-
to cryftals, which are flender fpicule or hexagonal columns.

_ The fpecific gravity of it goes from 3.650 to 3.720.

Tuis mineral is infipid, and requires nearly 800 times ‘its
weight of water to diffolve it. It effervefces with acids, and
during folution carbonic acid is difengaged to the amount of
30.2 grains per cent. When moderately heated, it crackles,
and lofes its tranfparency. By a very vehement heat, the car-
bonic acid is expelled, and the mafs lofes 38.79 per cent. of its
weight, and ceafes to effervefce with acids. - The calcined {par,
when water is poured on it, fwells. burfts, and becomes hot in
a greater degree, and with more rapidity, than lime. It is.

. acrid,

144 HISTORY of the SOCIETY. if

acrid, and-is foluble in water. The folution of it has a tafte
not unlike that of lime-water, changes to a green, paper ftain-

ed with the juice of violets or radifhes, and on expofure to the ©

air quickly acquires a cruft on its furface. The earth of
Strontian mineral, which Dr Hore denominates Strontites, re-
quires about 180 times its weight of water, at a low tempera-
ture, for its folution. In boiling water, it diflolves much more
abundantly, and is depofited during cooling in the form of
eryftals. Thefe cryftals are tranfparent and without colour, in
the fhape of quadrangular plates, fometimes fquare, more com-
monly oblong, with the margins cut like a wedge. Now and
then are feen folid parallelopepids and cubes. On expofure to
the action of the air, they become white, powdery and effer-
vefcent, lofing almoft +, of their weight. In a dull red
heat, they undergo the aqueous fufion, and a white refractory
powder remains. They contain 68 per cent. of humidity. Di-~
{tilled water, at temperature 60, diflolves them flowly, in the
proportion of 8.5 grains to the ounce. An ounce of water, at
a temperature fufficient to keep the folution boiling, diffolved
no lefs than 218 grains. This remarkable folubility affords a
difcriminating feature of this earth. An hundred parts of the
Strontian mineral confift, of earthy bafis 61.21, of carbonic
acid 30.20, and of water 8.509.

Dr Hope next details at great length the phenomena attend-
ing the action of fulphuric, nitric, muriatic, acetous, oxalic,
tartaric, fluoric, phofphoric, arfenic, fuccinic, boracic and car-
bonic acids on Strontian mineral in mafs and in fine powder,
and defcribes the properties of the refulting compounds in re-
gard to fenfible qualities, effets of air and of heat, and folubi-
lity in water. It may fuffice to extract only from what is faid
on the ation of nitric and muriatic acids. Strong nitric acid
{carcely attacks the fpar, unlefs affifted by heat. If duly di-
luted, it diffolves it rapidly and completely. The folution is
colourlefs and tranfparent, and having a pungent tafte, yields

3 cryftals

@iPPEWN DI xX. IAS

eryftals readily, which, when moft regular, are o¢tohedral,
confifting of two quadrangular pyramids, united at their bafes.
They efflorefce in a dry atmofphere, in a moift they deliquefce.
One ounce of diftilled water, at temperature 60, diffolves an e-
qual weight of this nitrate of Strontites; when boiling, one
ounce, feven drachms. fourteen grains. It deflagrates on hot
coals. Subjected to heat ina crucible, it decrepitates gently,
- melts and boiling lofes its acid. ‘The contact of a combuftible
body at this time caufes a deflagration, with a beautiful vivid
red flame.

Murratic acid affaults the Strontian mineral in a manner very
fimilar to the nitric. The folution is free from colour, has a pe-
netrating peculiar tafte, and affords cryftals freely. Thefe are
long flender fpiculz or hexagonal prifms. Muriate of Stron-
tites, in a very moift air, fhows a difpofition to attract humidi-
ty, contains 42 per cent. of water, and when heated, firft un-
dergoes the aqueous, then a true fufion, but without lofs of
acid, which may be expelled by a more vehement heat. One
ounce of diftilled water, at temperature 60, diffolved twelve
drachms, one fcruple ; when boiling above four ounces.

STRONTITES, and all its combinations, poflefs the remarkable
property of tinging flame of a red colour. The muriate has it in
the moft eminent degree, and its effects are well exhibited by put-
ting a portion of the falt on the wick of a candle, which is
thereby made to burn with a very beautiful blood-red flame.
The nitrate ftands next, then cryftallized Strontites, and after it
the acetite. The following combinations of little folubility
‘give comparatively a very feeble tinge: Tartrite, fulphate, ox-
alate, fluate, arfenicate, carbonate, phofphate, and borate. The
order of enumeration denotes their relative tinging powers.

A CERTAIN portion of humidity, either belonging to the
compofition or added, is neceffary to enable any of thefe Stron-
-titic falts to alter the hue of the flame. The muriate itfelf, de-
prived of moifture, produces no effect.

Noe. 11), ee: ALL

Ns

146 HISTORY of th SOCIETY.

Aux the folutions of Strontites in acids are decompofed by
the three alkalies in their effervefcent ftate, and. in part by vir+ _

tue of a double elective attraction. The artificial carbonate of

Strontites thus obtained, parts with its fixed air more readily .

than the native. Pure potafs feparates Strontites from nitric
and muriatic acids, but partially, and in a cryftalline form.
Neither pruffiate of potafs nor of lime caufea precipitate in any
of the folutions. |

STRONTITES generates a hepar with fulphur either in the hu-
mid or dry way. Its cryftals are fparingly diffolved by alco-
hol; a yellow coloured tincture refults.

Arter fini‘hing the detail of the properties of the Strontian
mineral and its earthy bafis, Dr Hope proceeds to enquire, whe-
ther this foffil and its earth are fimilar to any that are already

known. He concludes they are not.’ Strontian {par refembles —
moft the aerated terra ponderofa, and in feveral refpe&ts has a

{trong analogy with it; yet it eflentially differs.

Irs fpecific gravity is lefs, it parts with its carbonic acid
when urged by heat, fomewhat more readily, and without fuf-
fering fufion ; when calcined, it imbibes moifture with vaftly
greater avidity, fwelling and cracking with more heat and
noife. Strontites diffolves much more abundantly in hot wa-
ter than barytes, and the form of the cryftals of thefe pure
earths is very diffimilar. The compounds generated by Stron-
tites differ from thofe of barytes. It will fuffice to mention
the nitrate and muriate. This earth, united to nitric and mu-
riatic acid, forms falts that fuffer changes from expofure to air,
which do not happen to the nitrate and muriate of barytes.
They are likewife much more foluble in water, and shave cry-
ftals of a peculiar figure.

Tue combinations of Strontites with acids are not, like thofe
of barytes, meni is by pruffiate of lime or of. potafs.

STRONTITEs.

APPEN DI X. 147

SrRONTITEsS and its compounds tinge flame, which barytés
does not... Laftly, thefe earths difagree in the order of their
Rie aAtions:

From thefe confiderations, it is concluded, that the mineral -
is not aérated barytes.

Sometimes the Strontian foflil refembles calcareous fpar ; yet
they eflentially differ in property and compofition. That from
Strontian is much heavier, and retains its fixed air with more
obftinacy in the fire. The incomparably greater folubility of
the pure earth in hot than in cold water, and the cryftalline
form it affumes, fufficiently diftinguifh it from lime, which the
difpofition of the nitrate and muriate to cryftallize, no lefs tends.
to do. 2

Tue quality of colouring flame does not ferve here as a cir-
cumftance of difcrimination, as Dr Hope has difcovered, that
muriate of lime alfo tinges the flame of a red colour, but in a
‘lefs vivid manner. Strontites further differs from lime in the
order of its attractions.

No parallel is drawn between Srrahiedan mineral and other
earthy bodies, as they have not the fmalleft refemblance.

As the earthy bafis of the Strontian fpar poffeffes remarka-

ble qualities, that are peculiar to it, and forms with acids com-
binations unlike thofe generated: by the known earths, and dif-
fers from all of them in the order of its attractions, the author
_ of the paper concludes, that it is an earth /ui generis, a feparate
and diftin® genus, conftituting the fixth fimple earth, to which,
_ as above mentioned, the gives the appellation of Strontites.
Dr Hope afterwards details a long train of experiments to-
_ eftablifh the order of the attractions of this new earth; firft,
determining the order in which the principal acids attrac it,
and then fhowing the place due to its attraction among thofe
of other fubftances for acids. The tables that are fubjoined ex-
hibit thefe attractions:

Dr

148 HISTORY of the SOCIETY.

Dr Hort likewife read fome obfervations on the native car-
bonate of barytes or aérated terra ponderofa of Dr WiTHER-
ING. Thetwo following deferve moft to be noticed.

AFTER quoting the words of Dotors WiTHERING and —
PriEsTLEY, M. Sace, Fourcroy, PELLETIER, and of Mr
WeEpDGEWwooD junior, to fhow, that they all agree in afferting,
that the fixed air cannot be expelled by heat from this fubftance,
he mentioned feveral experiments, in which heat alone deprived
it of its carbonic acid, rendered the earth cauttic, and caufeda ~
‘lofs of weight equal to 23 per cent. He deferibed the qualities
of the calcined barytic fpar.

Tue fecond obfervation of importance relates to the cryftal-—
lization of the pure barytes, which fubftance he has obtained
in beautiful and regular cryftals ; the more obvious, as well as
chemical properties of which he at full length recounted.

TABLES fhewing the attraction of and for SrRONTITES.

TAB: 1. Ya 8. o.

StronTites. | Sulphuric Acid. Onalic. Tartarous. Fluorte. Nitric.
Sulphuric Acid.| Barytes Barytes Lime Lime | Barytes
Oxalic Strontités Lime ¢ Barytes Barytes . Potafs
Tartarous Potafs Strontites Strontites Strontites Soda
Fluoric Soda Potafs Potafs Potafs Strontites
Nitric Lime Soda Soda Soda Lime
Muriatic :
Pulte Muriatic. Arfeuie. Phofphoric. Boracic. Garboute,
A Barytes -Lime Lime Lime Ltme

cetous Potafs B B B B wit
‘Avie ota arytes arytes arytes arytes
Bacall Soda Strontites -Strontifes Strontites Strontites

: Stiontites Potafs Potafs Potafs - Potafs
Carbonic .
‘Lime Soda — Soda Soda Soda

The Brackets in Tab. II. denote, that it has not been difcovered how Strontites ftands |
with regard to Barytes and Lime, in its attra€tion for the acid below which this mark
is made, '

END OF THE HISTORYI

I.

PAPERS OF THE PHYSICAL CLASS.

I. ExPERIMENTS dnd OBSERVATIONS on the UNEQUAL RE-
- pRANGIBILITY of Licut. By ROBERT BLair, M.D.

: _ [Read Fan, 3. and April 4. 1791.]

Y the difcovery of the different refrangibility of light, Sir
Isaac Newton laid open the true caufe of the principal
imperfection of refracting telefcopes ; and having inferred from
the experiments which he made, that the refraction of the dif-
ferent rays compofing the prifmatic {pectrum, was always in a
given ratio to the refraction of the mean refrangible ray, this
great philofopher was led to conclude, that the imperfection
which he had difcovered in dioptrical inftruments was without
remedy.

Ir Sir Isaac NewrTon had been queftioned concerning the
poflibility of refracting light, without any divergency of the
heterogeneal rays, his reply without doubt would have been,
that all his experiments, whether by fingle refractions or by
oppofite refractions, tended to eftablifh the contrary conclufion.
But that he would have afflerted nothing beyond this, may fafe-
ly be inferred’ from his own memorable words: “ Although
“ the arguing from experiments and obfervations by induction
“ be no demonftration of general conclufions, yet it is the beft

fa rs ‘way

On th UNEQUAL

way of arguing which the nature of things admits of, and
may be looked upon as fo much the ftronger by how much
the induétion is more general; and if no exception occur
from phenomena, the conclufion may be pronounced gene-
rally; but if at any time afterwards any exception fhall
occur from experiments, it may then begin to be pronounced
with fuch exceptions as occur.”

Tus is the general dotrine which he lays down as applicable

in all experimental enquiries ; and fo far was he from confider- .

ing the particular cafe above mentioned as an exception to this

general rule, that from fome expreflions he makes ufe of, it

evidently appears, that he was not without fufpicion, of what

has fince been difcovered to be the truth.

In his fixth letter to Mr OrpensuRGH, dated from Cam-

bridge in the year 1662, he expreffeth himfelf in the following

“ce

words: ‘‘ Mr Hoox thinks himfelf concerned to reprehend

me for laying afide the thoughts of improving optics by re-
fraction. WhatI faid there was in refpect of telefcopes of
the ordinary conftrution, fignifying that their improvement
is not to be expected from the well figuring of glafles, as op-
ticians have imagined. But [-defpaired not of their im-
provement by other conftructions, which made me cautious
to infert nothing that might intimate the contrary. For al-
though fucceflive refractions which are all made the fame
way, do necefJarily more and more augment the errors of
the firft refra@tion, yet it feemed not impoflible for contrary
refractions fo to correct each others unequalities, as to make
their difference regular; and if that could be conveniently
effected, there would be no farther difficulty. Now to this
end I examined what may be done; not only by glafles alone,
but more efpecially by a complication of diverfe fucceflive
mediums ; as by two or more glaffes or cryftals, with water,
or fome other fluid, between them; all which together may
perform the oflice of one glafs, efpecially of the obje& glafs,

6¢ on

v Ores

REFRANGTBILMT Vwof \h1G HT. ¥

* on whofe conftruétion the perfection of the inftrument
** chiefly depends. But what the refults in theory or by trials
“ have been, I may poflibly find a more proper occafion to de-
‘i clare.’?: | .

In the year 1757, the late Mr Joun DoLionp, in confe-
quence of fome ftriCtures on Sir Isaac Newtown from abroad,
repeated the noted experiment of refracting a ray of light
through prifms of glafs and water, placed with their refracting
angles in oppofite directions, and fo proportioned to each other,
that the ray, after thefe oppofite refractions, emerged parallel to
the incident ray. According to the Newtonian do@trine, there
ought here to have been no divergency of the heterogeneal rays,
and no colour produced by thefe equal and oppofite refractions.
- Bur this was not the refult of the experiment. The ray was
coloured very fenfibly ; and the author of the experiment find-
ing that he could, by thefe oppofite refractions, produce colour,
_ notwithftanding the parallelifm of the incident and emergent
light, with reafon concluded that he might, by properly pro-
portioning the refracting angles of his prifms, effe@ an inclina-
tion of the refracted to the incident light, without any colour
or divergency. The event turned out as he expected.

PusuiNnG his experiments farther, he difcovered, fome time
afterwards, that a colourlefs refraction might be produced by
a combination of different kinds of glafs, as well as by a com-
bination of glafs and water, which feemed to remove complete-
ly the great obftacle to the perfection of the refracting telefcope,
difcovered by Sir Isaac NewTon.

As it was found foon afterwards, that the other principal im-
perfection which limits the performance of telefcopes, namely,
the aberration arifing from the {pherical figures of lenfes, might
be corrected by properly proportioning to each other the fphe-
ricities of the convex and concave lenfes, of which the com-
pound objet glafs is compofed ; it was expected by men of
{cience, that an increafe of the aperture and power of the in-

ftrument,

6 On the UNEQUAL

*

{trument, would be the neceffary confequence of fuch important
{teps, towards the perfection of its theory. Thefe expectations
have not hitherto been fully anfwered. P

Ir the theory of the achromatic telefcope is fo complete as it
has been reprefented, may it not reafonably be demanded,
whence it proceeds, that HucENtvus and others could execute
telefcopes with fingle object glaffes eight inches and upwards in
diameter, while a compound object glafs of half thefe dimen-
fions, is hardly to be met with? or how it can arife from any
defeét in the execution, that refle€tors can be made fo much
fhorter than achromatic refractors of equal apertures, when it
is well known that the latter are much lefs affected by any im-
perfeCtions in the execution of the lenfes compofing the object
glafs, than reflectors are by oat defeéts in the figure of the
great fpeculum?

Tue general anfwer made by artifts to enquiries of this kind,
is, that the fault lies in the imperfection of glafs, arid particu-
Jarly in that kind of glafs of which the concave lens of the
compound object glafs is formed, called flint-glafs.

Ir was in order to fatisfy myfelf concerning the reality of
this difficulty, and to attempt to remove it, that I engaged in
the following courfe of experiments. The refult of this inve-
ftigation I now do myfelf the honour of fubmitting to the
Royal Society.

THE imperfections of glafs for optical purpofes arife partly
from its want of perfect tranfparency, and from being more or
lefs affected with a tinge of fome particular colour, but princi-
pally from irregularities which are frequently found in its re-
fractive denfity. This laft imperfeCtion is fo conftant an at-
tendant upon flint-glafs, and every other kind of glafs which.
poffeffes the difperfive quality in a confiderable degree, that it
has been fufpected, not without appearance of reafon, to arife
neceflarily from that ‘ingredient in its compofition on which

this

REFRANGIBILITY of LIGHT. Y

this quality depends. It is certain that great labour and ex-
pence have been beftowed on this object without the defired
effect.

ConsiDERING therefore that it 1s not impoffible to introduce
a fluid medium to fupply the place of one of the lenfes, in the
compound achromatic object glafs, I was defirous of fearching
whether nature afforded fluids poffeffed of the requifite qua-
ities. -

It appears from the paflage tile eady quoted, that Sir Isaac
Newron not only fufpected that optical inftruments might
admit of improvement by a combination of folid and fluid me-
diums, but had actually made experiments on the fubje@t, and
confidered this as the moft likely means of carrying thefe inftru-
ments to their greateft perfection.

“Dr Davin Grecory, Savilian profeflor of aftronomy at
Oxford, entertained fimilar ideas on this. fubjeét, as appears
from his treatife, entitled, ‘‘ Catoptrice et Dioptrice. Sphericz
“ Elementa.” In this work, which was publifhed at Edinburgh
in the year 1713, he treats of optical inftruments, both by re-
fraction and reflection ; and, after fhewing the advantages of
the latter in theory, concludes his treatife with the following
words: “ Quod fi ob difficultates phyficas, in f{peculis idoneis
*torno elaborandis et poliendis, etiamnum lentibus uti opor-
** teat, fortaflis media diverfe denfitatis ad lentem objectivam
*“ componendam adhibere utile foret, ut a natura factum ob-
“ fervemus in oculi fabrica, ubi chriftallinus humor (fere ejuf-
** dem cum vitro virtutis ad radios lucis refringendos) aqueo et
vitreo (aquz, quoad refraCtionem, haud abfimilibus) conjun-
gitur, ad imaginem quam diftiné fieri potuit, a natura ni-
hil fruftra molienti, in oculi fundo depingendam: fed et
alii funt in animalis oculo, pradidi artificii uiiis, qui non
fant hujus loci.”
THIs coincidence of opinion of thefe great opticians refpect-
ing the ultimate perfeCtion attainable by the telefcope, deferves

to

ee On the UNEQUAL

to be remarked.- Various attempts of this kind have been made
by later philofophers and artifts. Indeed, the ftruCture of the
eye, compofed of folids and fluids varioufly combined, feems
to prefent fo obvious and inftru@ive a pattern for imitation,
that it is no wonder if the expectations entertained of the pro-
ductions of art, rofe in proportion as they could be made to
approach the conftruction of this exquifite model of Divine
workmanfhip.

Mr Dotionp’s firft experiments went no eile than to
prove to him, that glafs difperfes the heterogeneal rays of
light more than water, when the refraction-of the mean re-
frangible ray is equal in both mediums. With thefe fcanty
data, this able artift zealoufly went to work to conftruct tele-
{copes on this new difcovered principle. But on this occafion
his attempts were not attended with any degree of fuccefs.
This need not much be wondered at. Befides the difficulty he
‘mentions, arifing from the fpherical aberration, (which, by the
by, if he had confidered the matter more attentively, he would
have feen to be eafily furmountable) he would find between
plate-glafs and water, but an inconfiderable difference of dif-
perfive, power ; and if he made ufe of flint-glafs he would have
all thofe difficulties to ftruggle with, which his fucceflors have
not been able to remove, though fully apprized of their caufe.

Tuts want of fuccefs in his firft trials with fluids, and the
difcovery he foon after made of a difference in the difperfive
power of different kinds of glafs, which he was more fuccefs-
ful in applying to the improvement of telefcopes, feems to have
put an end to all thoughts of the ufe of fluids, nor has any
thing of that kind been fince attempted, as far as I have been
able to learn, fome unfuccefsful trials excepted, to conftruct
thofe fmall perfpectives called opera glaffes, on a plan fimilar to
that of Mr Dotionp, by including fpirit of wine between

two concave menifcufes of flint-glafs, the fluid fupplying the
place

REFRANGIBILITY of LIGHT. 9

place of crown-glafs, and the advantage propofed being a faving
of the light loft by refle¢tion. _

THE experiments of Mr DoLionp proved, that the difper-
five power of water is lefs than that of the glafs with which he
made his experiments; and it feems wonderful that this fhould
have been almoft the only attempt made to inveftigate this qua-
lity in fluid mediums. We find many tables afcertaining the
mean refractive denfity of fluids, from experiments made both
before the difcovery of DoLLoNnp and fince. But though fome
of the fluids examined were pofleffed of the difperfive quality
im a remarkable degree, this is pafled over unobferved, and it
would feem unfufpected, if we except the very ingenious con-
jecture of Mr Micuer; to whom it occurred, that the appa-
rent difference in the experiment above mentioned, made by Sir
Isaac NewTown, from the fame experiment repeated by Mr
DoLtonp, might arife from the former ufing, inftead of pure
water, a folution of Saccharum Saturni, which he mentions
his having fometimes made ufe of to increafe the refraétion. |
Mr Micuex fufpected that lead, even in this form, might
increafe the diffipative refra€tion, as it does in the compofition
of glafs. The refult of his experiments on this fubject may
be feen in the additions to Dr PriesTxLey’s Optics, at the end
of the fecond volume;

Of the methods employed for inveftigating the optical qualities of
different mediums.

In afcertaining the mean refractive and difperfive qualities
of fluids, I made ufe of two kinds of apparatus. Where the
properties of the fluids were entirely unknown, prifms were
employed to come to a grofs knowledge of their properties, and
thofe fluids which promifed to be of ufe in the practical part of
optics, were more critically examined by means of lenfes, where

Vou. Ill. B the

10 On the UNEQUAL

the effe@,. from being magnified, becomes more confpicu-
ous.

Tue prifmatic apparatus confifts of a {mall prifm- of brafs,
whofe three angles are equal. Through this prifm, and paral-
lel with one of its fides, are bored two holes at a {mall diftance
from each other, equal in fize to the pupil of the eye. The
fides of the prifm are ground flat, and there are two bits of
glafs with parallel fides, of the fame dimenfions as the fides of
the prifm. There are alfo prifms of the fame fize, and with
the fame angles of different kinds of glafs, and fome crown- _
glafs prifms, with fmaller angles, which, by being applied to
the large prifm, or to each other, vary the refraCting angle at
pleafure.

WHEN it is propofed to try the properties of any fluid, one
of the {mall plates of glafs is applied over the holes on the fide
of the brafs prifm. A few drops of the fluid are then dropped
into the hole ; and when it is full, the other plate is laid over
the holes upon the oppofite fide, and the whole is fecured by
tying a bit of pack-thread round the ends. One of the glafs
prifms is now to be applied to the brafs prifm, contiguous with
one of the parallel plates, the refracting angles of the two prifms
being placed in oppofite directions, fo as to form a fmall paral-
lelepiped.

Noruine farther is neceflary than to apply the eye to the
hole which contains the fluid, in “fuch a way as to obferve
through it any bright well defined object. ‘The bars of the
window anfwer the purpofe very well in the day-time, and the
moon, or a candle in the night. The intention of the two holes
is for the fake of greater expedition. - The properties of two
fluids may thus be examined and compared at the fame time. |

As the prifmatic portion of fluid and the glafs prifm have
equal refracting angles, and refract in oppofition to each other,
it will eafily be underftood, that if the object feen. through the

; 4 twa

REFRANGIBILITY of LIGHT. It

two prifms coincides with the fame obje& feen directly, the

mean refractive denfity of both mediums will be the fame.

When this is the cafe, if the object feen through thefe prifms

appears free from prifmatic colour, the difperfive power of the.
fluid medium is alfo the fame with the difperfive power of the

glafs prifm. But otherwife they will be.different.

TuoseE mediums, it is to be obferved, are faid to have the
fame mean refractive denfity, which, under equal obliquities of
incidence, equally refract the mean refrangible rays, and two
mediums are faid to have the fame difperfive power, which pro-
duce an equal inclination of rays of the fame colour, to the
mean refrangible ray, when the whole refraction of the mean
refrangible ray is equal in both.

WHEN an object, feen through the equal wedges of glafs and
fluid, appears coloured, one of the fmaller glafs wedges is to
be applied and fhifted till the object appears colourlefs. It is
eafy to diftinguifh, by the order in which the prifmatic colour
lies, whether the fmall prifm is to be applied in fuch a way as
to increafe the difperfion of the rays-occafioned by the fluid, fo
as to enable it to counterbalance that of the glafs; or whether
the refraGting angle of the glafs prifm requires to be enlarged,
to enable it to counteract the difperfion occafioned by the fluid.

By proceeding in this way to fhift the angles of the prifms,
till, firft, the direct and refracted images of an object coincide,
without regarding the colour; and, next, till the refracted
image appears colourlefs, without regarding the coincidence ;
the ratio of the mean refraftive and difperfive powers of that
kind of fluid, and that kind of glafs, with which the experi-
ments are made, will be obtained, from the angles of the prifms
“being given in both cafes.

In order to afcertain the abfolute refractive denfity of glafs,
or any other medium, that is to fay, the general ratio of the
fines of the angles of incidence to the fines of the angles of re-

B 2 fraction

12 On the UNEQUAL

fraction of the mean refrangible ray, which obtains in that mé-

dium, I took a direct method, fimilar in principle to that em-

ployed by Sir Isaac NewTon, and defcribed by him in the

feventh propofition of the firft book of his Optics, and likewife

in his Optical Lectures, p. 54. ; but which I may venture to fay
_will be found much eafier, and perfe@tly accurate.

INSTEAD of caufing the rays to pafs through the. fights of a
large and accurate quadrant, at the diftance of ten or twelve
feet, as directed by Sir IsAac Newton, I employed a Hap-
LEY’s quadrant, in the following manner:

Fic. 1.— I reprefents the index-glafs and H the horizon-
glafs of a HApLeEy’s quadrant. SI reprefents a folar ray, in-
cident on the index-glafs, thence reflected to the horizon-glafs.
H, and from it to the eye at E. The line sg reprefents another
folar ray, incident on thegprifm P, and through it refracted to
the eye at E. When the prifm is turned flowly round its axis,
till the {pe@trum G appears at its greateft height, this is its pro~
per pofition. The angle formed by the direct and refracted
ray is then the leaft poffible, and the angles of incidence and
emergence are equal. Let the prifm be fecured in this pofition.
A flight infpection of the figure will thew, that when the re-
flected and refracted images of the fun are made to coincide,
the angle marked by the index of the quadrant, is the fame
which the incident ray sg forms with the refracted ray PE
produced. For SZH is the angular diftance of the fun and
his doubly reflected image, marked by the index; and the an-
‘gle sgG, which the ray incident on the prifm forms with the
refracted ray produced, is equal to it; sg and SI being paral-
lel, and PZ and HZ being coincident.

THE manner in which the ratio of the fines of the angles of
incidence and refraction may be computed from the above an-
gle, and the refracting angle of the prifm being given, is fully
explained in the celebrated. works which have juft been quoted..

. Ir

REFRANGIBILITY of LIGHT. 13

Ir may be proper here to remark, that as it is the ratio of
refraction of the mean refrangible ray which is wanted, the
centre of the reflected image of the fun ought to be made to
coincide with the centre of the coloured fpectrum, as repre-
fented in the figure; and if, inftead of this, the coincidence
' 4s formed with the moft or leaft refrangible ray, or any of the
intermediate rays, it will be the ratio of refraction of thefe
‘ays, and not of the mean refrangible ray, which will be found
from the obfervation. Hence this method might be pra¢tifed
for determining the difperfive power, as well as thee mean re-
fractive denfity of any tranfparent fubftance, whether folid or
fluid; but I have preferred a combination of prifms or lenfes,
becaufe it is the relative ratios, more than the abfolute ratios,
which are moft immediately wanted.

Experiments on the difperfive powers of fluids.

I EXAMINED, by the prifmatic apparatus which has been de-
fcribed, the optical properties of a great variety of fluid medi-
ums. It will fuffice to mention the moft remarkable of thefe.
Many folutions of metals and femi-metals, in different forms,
were fubjected to trial, and thefe were always found to be more
difperfive than crown-glafs. The folution of fome falts in wa-
ter, as for inftance of crude fal ammoniacum, greatly increafes.
its difperfive power. The marine acid difperfes very confider-
ably, and this quality increafes with its ftrength. Hence I
found the moft difperfive fluids to be thofe in which the marine
acid and the metals are combined. The chemical preparation -
ealled caufficum antimoniale or butyrum antimonit, in its moft eons
centrated ftate, when it has juft attrated fufficient humidity
to render it fluid, poffeffes the quality of difperfing the rays in
fuch an aftonifhing degree, that three wedges of crown-glafs are
neceflary to remove the colour produced by one wedge of this

« fubftance,

14. On th UNEQUAL

fub{tance, of an equal refracting angle, oppofed to them. The
great quantity of the femi-metal retained in folution, and the
highly concentrated ftate of the marine acid, feem to be the
caufe of this fcarce credible effet. ~

™ Corrosive fublimate mercury, added to a folution of crude
al ammoniacum in water, poffeffes the next place to the butter ~

of antimony among the difperfive fluids which I examined.

It may be made of fuch a degree of flrength, as to require a
wedge of crown-glafs, of double the refracting angle, to re-

move the colour which a prifm of it produces. The mercury
and marine acid contained in this folution, are manifeftly the
caufe of its difperfive power. For neither the water nor the
volatile alkali, which are its other component parts, will be
found capable, if tried feparately, of contributing towards this
effect.

THE effential oils were found to hold the next rank to me-
tallic folutions, among fluids which poffefs the difperfive qua-
lity. The moft difperfive I found to be thofe obtained from
bituminous minerals, fuch as the native petrolea, pit-coal and
amber. When the refraction is without colour, the proportion
of the refracting angle of a prifm of thefe, to the refracting an-
gle of a prifm of crown-glafs acting in oppofition, is about
two tothree. The difperfive power of the effential oil of faffa-
fras, is not much inferior to thefe. The effential oil of le-
mons, when genuine, requires the refracting angles of the
prifms neceflary to produce ja colourlefs refraction, to be as
three to four. In oil of turpentine, this proportion is as feven
to fix; and the effential oil of rofemary is ftill lefs difperfive. ©

Some expreffed oils which were examined, were found not .
to differ fenfibly in difperfive power from crown-glafs, which
was alfo the cafe with reCtified fpirits, and with nitrous and vi-
triolic ether.

A

4

-REFRANGIBILITY of LIGHT. 15

A VARIETY of other fluids were examined in the fame way ;
but not having yet collected them into a table, Ihave only men-
tioned, in general terms, the moft remarkable.

-Havinc been thus fuccefsful beyond my hopes, in difcover-
ing fluids capable of removing the great imperfection of tele-
{copes, arifing from the different. refrangibility of light, the
next object was, to felect from this variety thofe which feemed
beft adapted to optical purpofes.

THERE can be no doubt that thofe aha which moft
difperfe the rays, are, ceteris paribus, to be preferred. It will
alfo be found, when the method of correcting thofe errors,
which arife from the fpherical figures of lenfes, comes to be
confidered, that there is apparently an advantage in ufing a dif-
perfive medium, whofe mean refractive denfity exceeds the mean
refractive denfity of crown-glafs.

As the antimonial cauftic pofleffes both thefe advantages, in a
degree far beyond what was to be expected in any fluid, I in-
cluded fome of it between two double convex lenfes of crown-
glafs, whofe radii of convexity, were as two to one. The leaft
convex fides of thefe were turned towards each other, and they
were kept at a proper diftance by means of a glafs-ring. The
cavity was then filled with the ftrongeft butter of antimony.
Here it is evident that there is a concave lens of the difperfive
fluid, ating in oppofition to the two convex lenfes of crown-
glafs, and that the proportion of the radii of thefe is the fame
which was found by the prifms to corre the colour, namely,
three wedges of crown-glafs, to one of the butter of anti-
mony.

TuHIs compound object-glafs’ being put into a tube, an eye-
glafs was applied, and, according to expectation, the colour
was found to be removed. But I was furprifed to find, on di-
recting the inftrument to a planet, and ufing a deep eyé-glafs,
that this fluid, in its highly concentrated ftate, was fubject, like

flint-

16 On the UNEQUAL

flint-glafs, to great irregularities in its denfity, difcoverable by e

ftreams of light, like comet’s tails, 1ffuing in different directions
from the difc of Venus, which was the planet obferved. By
fhaking the object-glafs, thefe might be, in a great meafure,
removed, but foon returned; and after ftanding all night,
broad veins, in different parts of the included fluid, were per-
ceptible to the naked eye. |

Ir was neceflary on this account to reject very denfe fluids.
The antimonial preparation I found might be reduced to a fuf-
ficient degree of fluidity, by mixing it with fpirit of wine or
vitriolic ether, into which a {mall quantity of the marine acid
had been previoufly dropped. This prevents any precipitation
of the femi-metal in the form of a calx. In this diluted form,
either this preparation, or the folution of corrofive fublimate
mercury alone, in fpirit of wine, or in water, with the addition
of crude fal ammoniacum, may be employed for producing
refraction without colour, and without being fubje&t to that
irregularity of denfity to which flint-glafs, and very denfe dif-
perfive fluids, are fubject.

Bur as folutions of faline fubftances in this diluted ftate do
not differ materially in difperfive power from the effential oils,
thefe two kinds of fluids may be ufed indifferently.

THERE is, however, a particular cafe, in which water or vi-
triolic «ther, impregnated with antimony or mercury, will
have the advantage, from being lefs denfe than effential oils ;
and that is, where it is required to produce a fingle refrac-
tion, in which there fhall be no difference of refrangibility of
heterogeneal light. As this expreflion may found {ftrange in the
ears of opticians, I fhall, before proceeding farther in the ap-
plication of the experiments which have been recited, explain
what is meant by it.

Cafes

REFRANGIBILITY of LIGHT. 17

Cafes of refraction in which the violet rays are leaft refrangible, and
the red rays moft refrangible; or in which all the rays are equally
refrangible; or in which the red rays are refracted from the per-
pendicular, and the violet rays towards the perpendicular, while

_ the mean refrangible rays fuger no refraction.

Ir has been mentioned, that when prifms of crown-glafs and
oil of turpentine refraét in oppofition, the tranfmitted light is
colourlefs, when the proportion of the refracting angles of thefe
prifms is as feven to fix. Hence, if oil of turpentine be in-
cluded between two double convex !enfes, the radii of whofe
convexities are as fix to one, and the deep fides of thefe be
placed inwards, fo as to be in contact with the fluid; in the re-
fraGtion through this compound lens, the aberration from
the difference of refrangibility will be removed. I can prove
the truth of what I write, by a compound objeé glafs of this
kind, which I have had in my poffeffion above four years. It
is twenty inches in focal length, and its performance as a tele-
fcope, with one inch and a half of aperture, is not contempt-
ible. Now, it has long ago been afcertained, that the mean
refractive denfity of oil of turpentine is lefs than that of glafs ;
and thence I affirm, that when light paffes from crown-glafs
into oil of turpentine, a confiderable refra€tion of the whole
pencil from the perpendicular takes place, and the violet rays
are, in this cafe, the leaft refrangible, and the red rays the moft
_ refrangible.

Tus is manifeft from the fa€ts which have juft been ftated.
In the objeét-glafs above mentioned, there are four refractions,
all of which are made in the fame direétion ; ‘namely, two re-
frations at the two external furfaces of the lenfes, which are in
contact with air, and two at the internal furfaces, which are in
contact with oil of turpentine. .

Vor. Ill. Gu | In

-

™

18 On the UNEQUAL

In the refractions which take place in the confine of glafs
and air, it has been put beyond all doubt, by Sir Isaac New-
TON’s experiments, that the red rays are leaft refracted, and the
violet rays moft refracted»; and it is equally clear, from what
has juft been mentioned to be the refult of trials with prifms,
and from the corre¢tion of colour in the above mentioned ob-
ject-glafs, that when light paffes obliquely out of crown-glafs
into oil of turpentine, it is refracted from the perpendicular,
and the red rays are moft refracted, and the violet rays leaft
refracted. If this were otherwife, the heterogeneal rays, which
are made to diverge in two refractions, which take place in the
confine of glafs and air, could never have this divergency re-
moved by the refractions made in the confine of glafs and the
fluid. It is manifeft, that if, in thefe laft mentioned. refrac-
tions, the feparation of the heterogeneal rays were in the fame
order as in the refraction from air into glafs, the colour and di-
vergency of the rays, inftead of being removed by hens moult
be increafed.

I sHALL not enter upon the application of this fact to the
beft received theories of refraction ; but it may be worth while
to remark the great importance of minute accuracy in obferving
the refults of experiments. Dr Hoox attempted to make ob-
ject-glaffes of telefcopes, by interpofing a fluid between a plano-
convex lens, and a piece of glafs, both fides of which were
plane and parallel. The convex fide of the lens; was turned_
inwards ; and the author feems to have had no other view in
this fcheme, but to obviate the difficulty which was found in
giving a good figure to lenfes ground to very long radii. The
refraction being thus reduced to that which takes place in the
confine of glafs and the fluid employed, may be diminifhed in

any proportion, and confequently the focal length of the obje@t-

glafs lengthened at pleafure. One of the fluids which he ap-
pears to have made ufe of, was oil of turpentine. The diffe- —
rence between the phenomena attending an object-glafs of this

conftruction

REFRANGIBILITY of LIGHT. t9

conftru@tion and a fimple lens, if they had been attentively ob-
ferved, would have led Dr Hoox to the truth; and a man of

his zeal and invention would not have failed to apply the dif-
covery to the improvement of optics, not to mention the tri-
umph it would have afforded the opponent and rival of New-
TON, to have afferted, and had it in his power to make good
his affertion, that in fome cafes the violet rays are the leaft re-
frangible, and the red rays the moft refrangible.

Even Mr Dottonp could not conceive that the prifmatic
colour could be correéted by refractions which are .all made
the fame way; and ftill lefs would he have admitted that fin-
gle refractions may take place without divergency or colour *.
As this continues to be the opinion of the beft informed opti-
cians of the prefent day, it will be neceflary to enter into a more
explicit inveftigation of the fubject.

Fic. 2. Let ABC reprefent a glafs prifm, and BCD a
prifm of water in contact with it; and let the angles of thefe

- prifins be fo proportioned to each other, that a ray of light SI,
which enters the glafs prifm perpendicularly, fhall, after being
refracted from the perpendicular at the point G, in pafling out
of the glafs into the water, emerge at K, perpendicular to the
fide C D of the water prifm, which is fuppofed to be confined: by
parallel plates of glafs. As the ray both enters and emerges
from the refrating mediums perpendicularly, it will fuffer no
refraction, excepting when it pafles from the glafs into the wa-

_ ter, where its incidence is oblique. Here it will be refracted
from the perpendicular, and. will emerge coloured, the violet
rays being moft refracted, and the red rays leaft refracted. _ .,

Let the water be now impregnated with antimony or mer-
cury, to increafe its difperfive power. As this will alfo increafe
its mean refraétive denfity, and occafion a diminution of the

C2 refraction

_* Philofophical Tranfaftions of London, vol.1. page 74°.

26 On the UNEQUAL

refraction in paffing into it from the glafs, conceive the angle
BCD to be diminifhed as the refraction diminithes, fo that the
refracted ray GK fhall ftill) emerge perpendicular to DC.
When the angles of the glafs prifm and prifm of difperfive
fluid bear to each other a certain proportion, the ray will be
found to emerge colourlefs ; and when this happens, it is evi-
dent that all the rays are equally refra@ted at the point G, in
paffing out of the glafs into the fluid. For they fuffer no other
refraction whatever.

Tus is a neceflary confequence of the glafs and fluid differ-
ing in their mean refractive denfity, and of the rarer medium
poffeffing the requifite degree of difperfive power.

Tus cafe of a fingle refraction taking place, without any
difference of refrangibility of the rays, may be uluftrated by
Sir Isaac NewrTon’s explication of refraction, by means of
attraction, in the following manner. He fuppofes refraction
to arife from an attracting force acting on light, in lines’ per-
pendicular to the furface of the medium ; and the caufe of one
kind of rays being more refracted than another, to arife from
their beng more attracted.

WHEN the medium is furrounded by a vacuum, the refrac-
tion will be proportioned to the whole attra@ting force of that.
medium. But when light paffes from one refracting medium
into another, it will only be attracted by the difference between
their attraGting forces, as they a€t in oppofition to each other.

Now, if the difference of attra€tion of the moft and leaft
refrangible rays were, in all mediems, proportioned to the
whole attraction of the mean refrangible ray, 1t would be im-
poffible to prea: refraction iene colour *, But fubfequent

experiments

* Tuts at leaft is true as to fenfe in thofe {mall refraGtions which take place in cm
{copes and microfcopes ; and it would be mathematically true in all cafes, if the angles
of incidence and refraction were proportional. But as it is not the angles themfelves
which are fo, but their fines, it is a miftake to fuppofe that colourlefs refraction cannot
be produced by large contrary refraftions of the fame medium, properly difpofed for
the purpofe.

REFRANGIBILITY of LIGHT. az

experiments have proved, that this fappofed general law of re-

_ fraction does not hold in nature.

In the inftance before us, if we fuppofe the force with which
glafs attracts the red, green and violet rays to be reprefented by
the numbers five, fx and feven ; then may the force with which
the difperfive fluid attracts thefe rays, be reprefented by the
numbers four, five and fix. For the reafon why all the rays are
equally refracted in their tranfition from one of thefe mediums
into the other, is becaufe the rare medium has the property of
refrafting the violet rays more, and the red rays lefs, than the
denfe medium, when the obliquity of incidence is fo propor-
tioned to their denfity, that the mean refrangible ray fhall fuffer
the fame refraction in both.

Now, in the cafe above ftated, the attraction of the rare
medium for the feveral rays, is fo proportioned to the attraction
of the denfe medium for thefe fame rays, that the difference of
thefe attractions is every where equal, and confequently the re-
fraction arifing from thefe differences of attraction is alfo equal.
Thus the green ray is attratted by the denfe medium with the _
force fix, and by the rare medium with.the force five, the dif-
ference of which is ome; and there is the fame difference be-
tween the attracting forces acting on the red and violet rays im
the two mediums, being in one cafe the difference between five
and four, and in the other between fix and feven; fo that the
difference of attracting force, and confequently the refraction
fuppofed to arife from it, is the fame in all the rays, being al-
ways that which will be produced by an attracting force, repre-
fented by unity. | Beef

IF the difperfive power of the rare medium, of which the
prifm BCD is formed, be ftill farther increafed, the red rays
will become the moft refrangible, and the violet rays the leaft
refrangible ; a law of refraction, which, as has been already
explained, obtains when light is refracted in the confine of

exown-glafs and oil of turpentine, and of many other fluids.
Te

ba) On the UNEQUAL

Ir the mean refraétive denfity of the difperfive fluid, con-
tained in the prifm BCD, be fo far increafed as to become
equal to the mean refractive denfity of the glafs prifm ABC,

_the mean refrangible ray will fuffer no refra@tion in pafling ob-
liquely from the one medium into the other at the point G, but
the violet ray will be refrafted towards the perpendicular, and
the red ray will be refracted from the perpendicular. The rea-
fon of which is, that the difperfive medium refracts the violet
ray more, and the red ray lefs than the other medium; fo that
the former may be confidered as an equally denfe medium with
the latter relative to the green ray, but more denfe relative to
the violet ray, and lefs denfe relative to the red ray.

Tus cafe of refraction takes place in the confine of crown-
glafs and butter of antimony, when the latter is fo far diluted as
to have the fame mean refractive denfity with crown-glafs ;
that is to fay, when both mediums equally refract the green ray,
under equal obliquities of incidence.

TuEsE varieties of refraction will poflibly be better compre-
hended by the affiftance of diagrams.

Frc. 3. reprefents a prifm of crown-glafs, which is entered
perpendicularly by a red, green and violet ray, moving parallel
with each other. As their incidence on the fecond furface of
_ the prifm is oblique, they will, in pafling from the glafs into
air, be refraéted from the perpendicular. This deflection of
the light from its rectilineal courfe, is fuppofed to be produced
by the perpendicular attracting forces, reprefented by the num-
bers five, fix and feven. The violet ray will therefore be moft
deflected, the green next, and the red ray leaft.

Fic. 4. reprefents a prifm of difperfive fluid, which the
three rays enter with the fame degree of obliquity which they
had before they emerged from the glafs prifm. The attraCting
forces of the fluid for the feveral rays, are reprefented by the

numbers

REFRANGIBILITY of-LIGHT. 23

numbers four, five, fix; and each of them. will be defleGed
towards the perpendicular, in a degree proportioned to the force
acting on it. |

Fic. 5. reprefents the two prifms in contadt, and the three rays
entering the glafs prifm perpendicularly, and emerging perpen-
dicularly from the fluid ; fo that the only refraction they fuffer
in their paflage, is in the confine of the two mediums.

Ar the point of contact, the rays will be acted on by both
mediums, with the fame forces which they exerted when fepa-
rate. But thefe forces will act in oppofition, and therefore the
rays will only be affected by their difference ; and as the dif-
ference of attraction of the two mediums is the fame in all the
rays, they will all be equally refracted. The red ray is attract-
ed towards the glafs by the difference between the forces four
and five, the green by the difference between five and fix, and the
violet by the difference between fix and feven, each of which
differences is equal to unity, as reprefented in the figure.

Ir the difperfive power of the fluid, contained in the prifma-
tic veffel, be diminifhed by decreafing the proportion of mer-
cury or antimony which it contains, the violet ray will begin
to be more refracted, and the red ray lefs refracted, than the
green ray. But if that quality be increafed, the contrary of
this will happen; the red ray now becoming the moft refrangi-
_ble, and the violet ray the leaft refrangible.

Ir the difperfive medium employed, be of that precife degree
of ftrength, which enables it to refrac the green ray in the
fame degree in which it is refracted by crown-glafs; in this
cafe it has been afferted, that when light paffes obliquely from
the one of thefe mediums into ‘the other, the green rays will
fuffer no refraction, but the red rays will be refracted from the
perpendicular, and. the violet rays towards the perpendicular.
The reafon of this will bee from 2 FRM the three follow-

ing diagrams.
Fic.

24 | On the UNEQUAL

Fic. 6. reprefents a prifm of crown-glafs, in which the red,
green and violet rays, at their emergenice into air, are attracted,
as before, with the forces five, fix and feven.

Fic. 7. reprefents a prifmatic veffel filled with butter of an-
timony, whofe mean refracting force is equal to that of the
crown-glafs, fo that the green ray is attracted by it with the
force fix. But in confequence of its great difperfive power,
the red and violet are attracted, (we fhall fuppofe for the fake
of sound numbers) with the forces four and eight.

Fic. 8. reprefents the two prifms in contact, and confequent-
ly ating in oppofition to each other. Now, the force with
which each of the mediums acts on the green ray, is reprefented
by fix; the difference between which being nothing, the green
ray will proceed in its reCtilineal courfe, as it would do in the
fame uniform medium.

Bur as the red ray is attraéted by the crown-glafs with a
force reprefented by five, and by the difperfive medium with a
force equal only to four, it will, in pafling out of the former

into the latter, be deflected towards the crown-glafs, by the dif-

ference between thefe forces, which is equal to unity.

Tue violet ray, on the contrary, is attracted by the crown-
glafs with the force feven, and by the difperfive medium with
the force eight, and will therefore be refracted towards the lat-
ter, in the fame degree in which the red ray is refracted from
it, as reprefented in the figure. It is'a circumftance worth re-
marking, that a particle of red light, and a particle of violet
- light, under precifely the fame circumftances of expofure to
the action of grofs bodies, fhould be urged in contrary direc-
tions.

I uAve tried thefe feveral cafes of refraction likewife with
compound objedt-glaffes, which fhew the effect better than the
prifms. Thus, if a plano-convex lens have its plane fide turn-

: ed

REFRANGIBILITY of LIGHT. 25

‘ed towards a diftant object, the rays will enter it, as to fenfe,
perpendicularly, and will therefore fuffer no refraction. If the
convex furface of this lens be brought in contact, with a fluid
. of lefs mean refractive denfity than the glafs, but exceeding it
in difperfive power, in that degree which occafions an equal re-
fra€tion of all the'rays, all thefe rays will then be converged to
the fame point, which are incident at the fame diftance from
the axis of the lens. The focal diftance of this compound lens
will be greater or lefs in proportion to its radius of cotivexity,
and to the difference of refraction between it and the fluid made
ufe of. While the fluid is confined on one fide by the plano-
convex lens, let the lens which is brought in contact with it on
the oppofite fide, have one of its fides ground convex, and the
other concave ; the radii of their fphericities being equal to the
focal diftance at which the rays are made to converge, by the
refraction which takes place, when light pafles from the plano-
convex lens into the fluid. It is manifeft that the light will
now both enter into this compound lens, and emerge from it
perpendicularly, and will therefore fuffer no refraction, except
in the confine of the convex fide of the plano-convex and the
difperfive fluid, where all the rays are equally refrangible. A
compound lens of this kind, is reprefented in the ninth figure,
which, after what has been faid, will require no farther expla-
Nation ; excepting only, that inftead-of being fpherical, it is re-
prefented with that curvature which converges homogeneal rays,
incident at all diftances from the axis, to the fame point.
If the required curvature could be given to lenfes with fuffi-
cient accuracy, this figure feems to réprefent as perfect a con-
ftruction of the object-glafs of a telefcope as can be defired.
But there is reafon to think that a fpherical figure may be com-
municated, not only much eafier, but with greater accuracy than
a {fpheroidal or hyperboloidal, which would be required ; and
even if this difficulty could be got over, there would ftill re-
main a fundamental fault in the theory. Before relating the

Vou. Ill D obfervations

ye On the UNEQUAL

obfervations by which this was detected, it will be requifite to
explain the method of removing the fpherical aberration, by a
combination of convex and concave lenfes. For next to the in-
diftinctnefs arifing from the unequal refrangibility of light,
this aberration, occafioned by the fpherical figures of lenfes, is
the great obftacle to the advancement of the powers of vifion.

Of the aberration from the [pherical figure.

Tuis fubject has been treated of in all the variety of cafes
which can occur in fingle glafs lenfes, by the great HuGENIUs,
in his Dioptrics, a pofthumous work. He there demonftrates
that the quantity of this aberration is very different in different
lenfes of the fame focal diftance, according to the convexities
or concavities. of their two fides, and the manner in which
thefe are expofed to parallel rays. |

In convex lenfes, thofe rays which pafs at a diftance from the
axis, are converged to a point nearer to the lens than its geome-
trical focus. The diftance between the point at which the ex-
ternal ray of a pencil incident on a lens, interfects its axis and
the geometrical focus, is called the linear aberration of that
lens.

HuceEntvus demonttrates, that when a plano-convex lens is
expofed to parallel rays, with its plane fide towards them, this
aberration will amount to four times and a half the thicknefs
of the glafs. By the thicknefs of a convex lens is meant its
greateft thicknefs in the middle, after fubtracting its thicknefs,
if it has any, at the outer edge; and by the thicknefs of a con-
cave lens, is meant its thicknefs at the external edge, after de-
ducting its thicknefs in the middle.

On turning the convex fide of the lens towards the light, the
linear aberration will only exceed the thicknefs of the lens by
one faxth part.

WHEN

4

=
‘= —

REFRANGIBILITY of LIGHT,

_ Wuen both fides of a lens are convex, and the proportion of
their convexities is as one to fix, if the moft convex fide be ex:
*pofed to parallel rays, the aberration will exceed the thicknefs
of the lens one fourteenth, which is the f{malleft poflible aber-
ration of any convex lens.

Ir it is required to increafe the aberration, this may be done
by grinding one fide of the lens convex, and the other fide con-
cave, toa longer radius. Such a lens, with its concave fide

turned towards parallel rays, will have more aberration than
any plano-convex or double convex lens of the fame focal di-
ftance.

HuceEntus proceeds to fhew, that the Bite aberration is pro-
duced by concave lenfes as by fimilar convex ones. When a
_ plano-concave lens is expofed to parallel rays, with its plane fide
outward, the external ray of the pencil, being produced back-
ward after refraction, will interfect the axis of the lens nearer
to it than its focus, by four times and a half the thicknefs of
the lens. But if its concave fide be expofed to the parallel rays,
the aberration will only exceed the thicknefs of the lens one
fourteenth part. A double concave, whofe radii are as one to
fix, with the moft concave fide turned outward, difperfes the
rays with the leaft aberration; and a concave menifcus, with

its convex fide outward, produces more aberration than any

plano-concave or double concave lens, of an equal focal di-

ftance..

THESE are fufficient data for cunning the aberration from
_ the fpherical figure, in cafes where both a convex and concave
lens are required, in the conf{truction of the compound object-
glafs.

cra. to. Let AB reprefent a convex lens receiving a pencil of
rays from the object S, and converging rays incident near the axis,
as ST, to the point F; and external rays, as SB, to the point
#04 ihe 2 res” D;

28 On th UNEQUAL

D; fo that DF reprefents the greateft linear aberration in this
cafe.

_ AGAIN, let GH (Fig. 11.) reprefent a concave lens, receiving
the parallel rays SH, RK, which it refraéts in the lines H X
and KV. This ray KV being produced backward, will interfect
the axis of the lens nearly at the point N,: which is called the
virtual focus of the concave; and the external ray HX
produced backward, will interfect the axis'in fome point P
nearer to the lens than its focus, P N being’ the linear’ aberra-
tion.
It may here be obferved, that the convex is in that pofition
which produces the leaft aberration, and the concave in the po-
fition which produces moft aberration. Hence, to render the
aberrations DF (Fig. 10.) and PN (Fig. 11.) equal, the fo-
cal diftance of the convex muft be much ‘fhorter than. that of
the concave; and if the diftances of the points F and N from
the convex and concave lenfes be required to be the fame, as
reprefented im the figures, then muft the object be placed much
nearer to the convex. Hence the image of the near objeét S,
is reprefented at the fame: diftance from the convex lens in: fi-
gure tenth, as the virtual focus of the concave in figure’ ele-
venth, where it is reprefented as receiving parallel: rays, which
are fuppofed to come from an infinitely diftant object.

Now, when the diftance between K and N, which is the
point from which parallel rays are made to diverge by the con-
cave lens, is equal to the diftance between T and F, which is
the point to which rays iffuing from S are made to converge by
the convex ; and when the aberrations DF and PN are alfo
equal ; I fay, that in this cafe, if the two lenfes be placed con-
tiguous, in the manner reprefented in the twelfth figure, parallel
trays, incident on thefe lenfes, will be:converged to the point S,.
without any aberration of the external ray.

For

a a ea

REFRANGIBILITY of LIGHT. 29

For it is an axiom in optics, that if a ray of light after re-
fraction be returned dire@tly back to the point of incidence, it
will be refracted in the line which was before defcribed by the
incident ray.

Ir therefore we conceive the whole of the light emitted from
the point S (Fig. 10.), and converged by the convex lens towards
the points D and F, to be returned dire@tly back from thefe
points, it will be accurately converged to the point S,- whence
it iffued. Now, the parallel rays SH, RK, (Fig. 11.) after
their emergence from the concave lens, in the lines HX, KV,
are precifely in the fame relative fituation, .as the rays fuppofed
to be returned dire@tly back from F and D are in, at their in-
cidence on the convex; and therefore, when thefe lenfes are
placed contiguous, in. the manner reprefented in the twelfth
figure, parallel rays incident on the concave lens, and immedi-
ately after their emergence from it, entering the convex lens,
- will be accurately SABNRTES to the point S, without any aber-
ration.

Tuis, atagh; is the He fimple cafe, will fuffice to explain
the nature of that aberration, which arifes from the {pherical
figures of lenfes, and a method of obviating it by combining
a convex and concave,

THE demonftration is perfect as far as regards the external
ray, which is here reprefented pafling from the external part
of the concave into the external part of the convex, in immedi-
ate contact with it; and if the furfaces of the two lenfes, which
re{pect each other, were either in contact or parallel, it would
be true with regard to all the rays. But as this is not the cafe,
there arifes a {mall fecondary aberration, the effect of which
only becomes fenfible in large apertures.

HENcE may be underftood the reafon why the indiftinétnefs
arifing from the fpherical figures of lenfes, may, in the com-
mon achromatic telefcope, be more nearly removed in thofe

conftructions of object-glaffes in which three lenfes are em-
ployed,

36 ” * On tbe NRO ad Te

ployed, than in thofe compofed only of two; and alfo the ad-
vantages in this refpect, which may be detived from introdu-
cing fluid mediums, which differ from glafs in their mean re-
fractive denfity, and in the quantity of aberration produced by
their refractions. For it will be found upon computation, that
when the-fluid medium is rarer than glafs, the aberration from
the fpherical figure is increafed, and becomes greater in pro~ '
portion as its denfity diminifhes. Now, by making the denfity
of the fluid medium approach nearer and nearer to the denfity
of the glafs with which it is in contact, we may increafe the
rarity of our refracting medium, or, which amounts precifely
to the fame thing, diminifh the difference of denfity of the
two mediums at pleafure.

Ir will appear from what has been explained, that the aber-
ration from the figure cannot be corrected by interpofing a dif-
perfive fluid between two convex lenfes, of a greater refractive
denfity than the interpofed fluid. For all the refractions being
made the fame way, tend to converge the external rays to
points nearer the lens than its geometrical focus. Hence, when
rare fluids are made ufe of to remove the aberration from the
difference of refrangibility, fome farther contrivance becomes
neceffary to correct the {pherical aberration.

Tue moft obvious way, and which on trial I found fuccefs-
ful, is to include the rare difperfive fluid between two glaffes,
ground concave on one fide and convex on the other, and thus
form fuch a concave as fhall be required. By combining this
with a convex, an achromatic object-glafs may be formed, as
reprefented in the fixteenth figure. _The objection to this con-
ftru@tion is, that one of the advantages arifing from the ufe of
fluids is given up, namely, the prevention of that lofs of light
by reflection, which is a confequence of the fluid being in
immediate contact with the glafs, whereas in the prefent cafe,

the {pace between the convex and concave is occupied by air.
| ON

REFRANGIBILIT roof: LIGHT. 31

Own this account I attempted to introduce a third medium, by
filling this vacancy with a fluid of the leaft difperfive kind, and
_ of lefs mean refraétive denfity than the difperfive fluid. For
this purpofe I employed fometimes rectified {pirit of wine, and
fometimes vitriolic ether ; and by giving to the lenfes the pro-
per degree of curvature, in which great variety may be intro-
duced, I fucceeded in forming object-glaffes, in which both
aberrations are removed, and hardly any more Hebe loft than
in a fimple object-glafs.

Havine gained this point, I now determined to try how
far the aperture of the obje¢t-glafs might be increafed, without
increafing its focal length, expecting, at leaft, to equal reflectors
in this refpect. But the firft trials to execute object-glafles on
this principle, though they left no reafon to complain of want
of fuccefs, when compared with fuch inftruments as are now in
ufe, furprifed me with new phenomena, and new obftacles to
the perfection of the theory of telefcopes, more unaccountable
and perplexing than any I had before encountered. Thefe I
fhall now proceed to give an account of.

Of the imperfect carrection of prifmatic colour which is obtained by a
_. combination of mediums of different difperfive powers.

I TooK a compound object-glafs of the conftruction laft
mentioned, compofed of three lenfes, two of them plano-con-
vex and the other a menifcus. The radius of convexity of one
; of the plano-convex lenfes is about four inches, and the con-
vex fide is turned towards the object. The radii to which both
fides of the menifcus are ground, are about five inches, one
fide being convex and the other fide concave. The concave fide
is made to refpect the plane fide of the above mentioned plano-
convex, and the vacancy between them is filled with vitriolic
ether. The third plano-convex lens is ground to a radius of fix

imches. Its convex fide is turned towards the. convex fide of
. the-

32 - On the UNEQUAL

the menifcus, and the vacancy between them is replenifhed by
a fluid of the requifite degree of difperfive power, which is
confined’ by means of a ring of glafs. Thefe lenfes are two’
inches and feven eighths of an inch in diameter, and the focal
length of the compound object-glafs is ten inches; the curva-
tures of the lenfes being fo proportioned, as nearly to correct
the aberration from the fpherical figure.

Tue fluid I employed to remove the colour arifing from the
different refrangibility of light, was an effential oil, whofe dif
perfive quality I could eafily increafe or diminifh, by mixing it
with others differing in their difperfive qualities, though of
nearly the fame mean tefrattive denfity ; by which means, the
correction of the error from the figure was not difturbed, by
varying the ftrength of the difperfive fluid. I now expected
perfectly to remove the colour, by adding a little of one or
other of the difperfive fluids, as occafion might require.

Berore relating the event of this trial, it will be proper to
explain the manner of examining the difperfive power of fluids
by means of lenfes, and of ea when the colour is
perfectly corrected.

WHEN the image of a lucid point is formed | in the focus of a
fimple lens, the violet rays are converged to a focus neareft to
the lens, and the deep red rays are converged to a focus at the
greateft diftance from it. The confequence of this is, that if
this image be examined by an eye-glafs nearer to the lens than
is required for diftinét vifion, it will appear furrounded with a
red fringe, which is the prevailing colour of the leaft refrangi-
ble rays ; and if the eye-glafs be placed at a diftance beyond
that which is required for diftiné vifion, it will be furrounded
with a blue fringe, which is the prevailing colour of the moft
refrangible rays.

Tue reafon of this will appear more clearly from infpecting
the thirteenth figure, where the red rays appear outermoft with-
in the focus at A, and the violet rays appear outermoft be-

yond

REFRANGIBILITY of LIGHT. 33

yond the focus at B. Thefe colours may alfo be feen, when
an image of any luminous object, as the fun, is formed by a
lens upon a white ground ; and they will be fo much the more
confpicuous, by how much the diameter of the lens is greater,
in proportion to its focal diftance.

Jusr the reverfe of this will happen in a compound objea-
- gilafs, if, im correcting the colour, the medium employed dif-
perfes more than it ought todo. A blue fringe will then ap-
pear round a luminous objeét, when the eye-glafs is pufhed in;
anda red fringe, when it is drawn out beyond what is neceflary
for diftiné vifion. :

In this way, the correction of the colour’ may be examined,
and the qualities of refracting mediums inveftigated,-to an ex-
treme degree of accuracy ; yet the effect will be rendered {ftill
more fenfible, by covering half the obje@t-glafs. For when
thisis done, the colour produced by the uncovered half of the
object glafs appears, without being mixed with that-of the op-
pofite fide, even when the eye-glafs is’ adjufted to diftina vi-
fion. Thus, in Fig. 13. the colours produced by both fides of
the lens, are mixed at the general focus F. But if the rays co-
ming from one fide be intercepted, thofe which are refra@ted
by the other fide will appear in their proper colours. By thefe
means, and by employing a very luminous object, furrounded
by a dark ground, and a high magnifying power, the leaft un-
corrected colour may be rendered fenfible. ¢

My firft obfervations, which clearly proved the correction “e
colour which is obtained by the combination of two mediums
differing in difperfive power, to be only partial, were made in
the fummer of the year 1787, at Merchifton.

IT wap, fome time before, found it impoffible to fucceed, in
this refpe@, with prifms compofed of crown and flint glafs.
- But as I neither was able to make’ the phenomena fo apparent
by this method as with lenfes, nor had a command of prifms
with that great variety of refraGing angles neceflary to put it

WoL. Ul. © re beyond

34 | On the UNEQUAL

beyond all doubt, that the colour obferved might not proceed
from the angles of the prifms not being precifely thofe, which
would render the correction of colour moft perfe&t, I paid no
farther attention to the fubjeé at that time.

In examining the object-glafs above mentioned, the objec
obferved was a {mall window ina white wall, at the diftance of
feveral hundred yards to the eaftward of my ftation, the fun
fhining upon the wall from the weft. The circumftances of
the phenomena, which [| have extracted from memorandums
written at the time of making the experiments, were as follow :

“ Fly 28. 1787. In conftruétion A, (by this is meant the
ten inch object-glafs above defcribed), when rendered as achro-
matic as poflible, a purplith hght appcoRnen ane fide the focus,
and a greenifh light on the other.”

In the next obfervation of this kind of incorrigible éolowtg:

the flame of ARGAND’s lamp was ufed as an object, the great
brilliancy of its light rendering the phenomena more confpi-
cuous. A cylinder of brafs was placed over the glafs-tube,

which intercepted all the light, excepting what pafled through .

a {mall round hole oppofite to the flame. I found no obje&
preferable to this for the purpofe, except the planet Venus, which
cannot always be commanded. My obfervation mentions, that
*‘ with the patent lamp, the colour is deep carmine within the
focus, and greenifh yellow without it.”

ANOTHER memorandum on this fubject runs thus: “ Con-
f{truGtion 10. (by this is meant another object-glafs, compofed,
like the former, of crown-glafs, an effential oil, and fpirit of

wine, inftead of ether, but a few inches longer than it, and

more perfect) difcovers a great deal of colour of fome kind,
in covering half the object-glafs. The object, though coloured,
is then more diftincé than upon uncovering the other half; the
colour is thus converted into miftinefs. On altering the difper-
fion of the fluid, the colour on one fide alters from purplifh

violet

a -

REFRANGIBILITY of LIGHT. 35

violet to reddifh violet, and on the other from greenifh orange
to greenifh blue. As the difperfion is diminifhed, the red
gains on the violet within the focus, and the greenifh blue up-
on the orange without it, and vice verfa; and there is a confi-
derable latitude, within which, varying the difperfion, makes
little difference in the diftin@inefs.”

As this laft obfervation put it beyond doabe that an invefti-
gation of the caufe of thefe appearances was of the laft im-
portance to the improvement of optics, I now began to reafon
concerning them.

Tue firft conjecture that offered was, that this colour might
fomehow proceed from the furfaces of the convex glafs lenfes,
and the concave lenfes of difperfive fluids, not correfponding
at different diftances from the centre, as the plane furfaces of
prifms every where do. In order to examine what effect this

might have, I procured two pieces of plate-brafs, with which
I could cover the whole of the objedt-glafs; and out of one of

thefe I caufed a ring, of a quarter of an inch in breadth, to be

cut towards the centre, and out of the other, a ring of the

fame breadth, clofe to the circumference. For I perceived that,

if the colour arofe from the caufe above mentioned, its appear-

ance ought to be different through thefe two rings, when there

is am accurate correction of colour in that part of the object-

glafs, which i is equi-diftant from the centre and the circumfe-

rence. But upon trying the experiment, the fame purple and

green colour appeared through both thefe rings, as through the

whole object-glafs, and the colours Jay in the fame order in both

cafes. My remark upon this experiment is in the following

words: ‘ Upon trying with a ring either external or internal,

the appearances remain the fame, as when the whole aperture
is ufed ; which feems to prove that this colour arifes from the

difperfion not being proportional, and not, as was fuppofed,

from the furfaces not correfponding. It is evidently the greateft

bar to increafing the aperture, and giving high powers; there
2 1S

36 On the UNEQUAL

is only a eueiat correction of colour; the peerisee esl sien
ble rays cannot all be converged to one focus.”

THE next method that_occurred to me of determining the
point in queftion was more decifive. This was to obferve whe-
ther any of this green and purple colour appeared through the
moft perfect kind of achromatic object-glafs above defcribed,
and reprefented in the ninth figure, in which there is only one
refraction. This 1 found to be the cafe; and therefore confi-
dered myfelf as in poffeffion of fufficient authority for concha-
ding, that the theory advanced by Mr Dozttonp, and gene-’
rally received, was defective. For with the large aperture and

_ high power made ufe of in thefe experiments, the colour that
appears in viewing a bright object is not weak and hardly fen-
fible, but a beautiful bright purple inclining to crimfon, anda
ftrong full green, and thefe in fuch a quantity as evidently to.
‘be the obftacle to increafing the aperture of the object-glafs..

Turs was the conclufion I was then led to, and which I have
found confirmed by numerous experiments made fince. But
before entering farther on the fubje&, it will be neceflary to
explain what is meant by different mediums not difperfing the
heterogeneal rays of light proportionally.

‘ Ler AB>vand CD (Figures 14- and 15.) reprefent the fur- —
faces of two mediums, both of which equally refraét the mean
refrangible ray. This we fhall fuppofe to be the green ray, —
though, in this explication, it is not material which is called

.the mean refrangible ray. The angles of incidence KGL,
MRN, will then be equal, and the angles of refraétion of the
green ray HGg, PRy, will. alfo be equal in both thefe me-
diums. |

Let one of thefe mediums CD exceed the other AB fo
much in difperfive power, as to make the difference of the
angles of refraction of the green ray, and extreme violet ray,
in the medium CD, double of what it isin the medium AB;
that is to fay, the angle »Ry double the angle yGg. Then ©

é if

-

REFRANGIBILITY of LIGHT. 37

if the difference of the angles of refraction of the green ray
and deep red ray, in the medium CD, be alfo double of the
_ difference of the angles of refraction of thefe rays in the me-
dium AB, that is to fay, the angle’ yRe double the angle gGr;
I fhould fay that the two mediums difperfed thefe three kinds
of rays, namely the red, green and violet rays proportionally.
But if, when the difference between the angles of refraction of
the green ray, and extreme violet ray, in the medium CD, is
double of what it is in the medium AB; the difference of the
angles of refraction of the green ray, and deep red ray in the
medium CD, fhall be found to exceed the difference between
the angles of refraction of thefe rays, in the medium AB, only
one half, for example ; then I would fay that the two mediums.
do not difperfe ‘thefe differently refrangible rays proportion-
ally.

For in this cafe the medium C.D difperfes or feparates the
green ray, and extreme, violet ray, twice as much as the me-
dium A B does; whereas the feparation of the green ray, and
deep red ray, in this fame medium CD, exceeds only by one
half their feparation in the medium AB.

It is farther manifeft, that the red, green and violet rays
cannot be rendered parallel by any combination of the refrac-
tions of the two mediums, upon the laft mentioned fuppofition.
The whole refraGtion, through a prifm compofed of the me-
' dium CD, may be fuch as to give exactly the fame inclination
of the red and violet rays, which a prifm compofed of the me-
dium AB does, when both rays fuffer a greater refra@ion
_ through the latter; and therefore both thefe rays may be
equally refracted and converged to the fame point by means of
a convex lens. of the leaft difperfive medium AB, and a concave
lens duly proportioned to it, formed of the moft difperfive me-
dium CD.

Bur if we now add to thefe the green ray, it is evident that
it too cannot be refra¢ted parallel with the red and violet rays..
. For

38 On the UNEQUAL

For when the whole refraction of the leaft difperfive me-
dium AB is fuch as juft to unite the red- and violet rays, the
green ray, which is more refracted by this medium AB, in
proportion to the whole refraCtion of the red and violet rays in
the medium A B, than it is refraéted by the difperfive medium
C.D, in proportion to the whole refraction of the red and violet
‘rays in the medium CD, will, when. the red and violet rays
are united by contrary refractions through thefe two mediums,
be refracted too much ; the balance of refra@tion being always,
in this cafe, in favour of the leaft difperfive medium; and
therefore the green light will emerge from this compound re-
fraction more refracted than the united red and violet light,
and the inclination of the emergent green light to the emergent
united red and violet light, will be greater or lefs according as
the ratio in which the red, green and violet light are feparated
by the refraétion of the two mediums, approaches more or
lefs to equality. What this inclination amounts to, in any par-
ticular inftance, muft be determined by experiment.

Hence if the cafe of unproportional difperfion, above fta-
ted, fhould be found to hold true in fa&t, we fhall arrive at
this new truth in optics, That though in the refration of a pen-
cil of folar light, made in the confine of any medium, and a
vacuum, the deep red rays are always the leaft refrangible, and
the violet rays are always the moft refrangible; yet it depends
entirely on the fpecific qualities of the medium, which fhall be
the mean refrangible ray; the very fame ray, which in the
refraction through one medium is the mean refrangible ray,

being found in others. among the lefs refrangible rays. For it —

is manifeft that the ray which bifeéts the angle formed by the

moft and leaft refrangible rays, and falls in the middle -of the

coloured fpectrum, is to be accounted the mean ieee

ray
Tuus, in Fig. 14. the green ray Gg is the mean refrangi-
ble. had in Fig. 15. the green ray Ry is — among the
lefs

REFRANGIBILITY of LIGHT. 39

lefs refrangible rays, and fome other ray, Rw, which is one of
the more refrangible rays in the medium AB, is the mean re-
frangible ray in this medium CD.

Tue moft obvious way of examining the Spoical properties
of different mediums, is by means of prifms. But I have not
found this method either fo eafy or fo accurate as that by means
of lenfes, which has been already explained. It has been fhewn, -
that the image of a lucid point (fee the thirteenth figure) is
every where, between the lens and that point where the rays
crofs, furrounded with a fringe of the colour of the leaft re-
frangible rays ; and that every where beyond the point of crof-
fing, the image is furrounded with a fringe of the colour of
the moft refrangibie rays; and that thefe colours appear more
diftinG@ly at the focus itfelf, when one half of the lens is co-
vered. Hence, in order to determine which rays are the moft
or leaft refrangible, after refraction through any lens, whether
fimple orc om pound, it is only neceflary to examine the colours
of thefe fringes, which is the more eafily done, as they are
greatly magnified by the eye-glafs.

In fingle lenfes, the fringe within the focus, which is com-
pofed of the leaft refrangible rays, will always be found to be
of a red colour, with a mixture of orange; and the fringe be-
yond the focus, compofed of the moft refrangible rays, will be
found to be of a blue colour. Thefe are the colours which, it
is well known, are produced by fimple refra€tion, made in the
confine of every known medium and a vacuum.

From what hath been already related, it appears, that colour
is likewife produced in what has been termed achromatic refrac-
tion, though it be lefs in quantity, in proportion to the whole
refraction ; and the rays which are found moft and leaft refran-
gible, in thefe two cafes, differ very widely.

In a compound object-glafs, formed of a concave, which dif
perfes the rays in a greater degree, and a convex, which dif- |
perfes the rays in a lefs degree, there was always found, when

the

>

405 On the UNEQUAL

the correétion of colour was rendered the moft perfect poflible,
_a fringe of purple within the focus, and a fringe of green be-
yond the focus; and thefe coloured. fringes appeared, whether

the concave confifted of flint-glafs, or of an effential oil. There- |

fore, in this kind of compound refraétion, the rays of light,
when their union is rendered the moft perfe@t poffible, emerge

differently refrangible ; and the rays which emerge moft re- ~

frangible, have the property of exciting in us the idea of a
green colour; and the rays which emerge leaft refrangible,

have the property of exciting in us the idea of a purple co-

lour.
Wuen, for the fake of ices I fpeak here, or elfewhere,

of the union of the red and violet rays, as if it were performed

by a fingle refraction, whereas, in general, the moft that can
be effected is to render them parallel by oppofite refractions,
I would be uhderftood to refer to the moft fimple and perfect
cafe of achromatic refraction, in which the extreme red and
violet rays are really equally refracted, and confequently united,
by a fingle refraction, as already explained in the references to
the fifth and ninth figures.

’ Tue fringe of purple light is formed in part by an union of ©

the red and violet rays, which in fimple refraction differ moft in
refrangibility, but which are here equally refrangible; and
partly of the united orange and indigo light, whiclr are alfo
united, and form the fecond order of coloured light in this fe-
condary {pectrum. |
Tue green fringe is compofed in pa of the homogeneal
green rays, which, in common refraction, are the mean re-

frangible, or nearly fo, but are now the moft refrangible of | P

all. The remainder of this green fringe is formed by an union.

of the yellow and blue rays, pak 6c 2 what may be ter med an:
heterogeneal green.

Ir will appear from the foregoing ftatements, in what man- _

_ ner this difpofition of the rays is a neceflary confequence of
the:

‘
~ »
—. | ._.

REFRANGIBILITY f LIGHT. Pe

the concave and convex lenfes being compofed of mediums
which do not difperfe the rays proportionally, as before ex-
plained. But the matter will be beft underftood, by recurring
to the cafe above mentioned, of fingle achromatic refraction.
Thus Ijcontinue to denominate it, though. the Society will per-
ceive that this term achromatic, is here ufed with manifeft im-
propriety, ; and will alfo make proper allowance for the fenfe
in ,whichJ have employed the term Aomogeneal light, in con:
formity to the common language of optics.
Ir was,formerly afferted, that when two mediums differ in
mean refractive, denfity, and the difperfive power of the rare
medium exceeds that of’ the denfe medium in a certain propor-
tion, light of. all colours will be equally refracted in the confine
of the two mediums; and it is true thatthe red and violet rays
will be equally refracted, and the rays of other colours as near-
ly fo as by any combination of two, mediums of different dif-
perfive powers. But on account of the two mediums not at-
tracting, and.confequently feparating the rays of different’ co=
lours in a given ratio, the fame green and purple-coloured
fringes appear in an object-glafs of this kind, as in one in which
oppofite refractions are employed; fo that in the refraction
which takes place in the confine of two fuch mediums, the rays
of light are ftill unequally refrangible. But inftead of the de-
gree of refrangibility being, as in) common refraction, accor-
ding to the order; of the colours, red, orange, yellow, green,
blue, indigo, violet, the prifmatic fpectrum is, as it were,
doubled, the rays being, at the fame time, comprefled nearer
to each other ;, and their degrees of refrangibility being now
according to the following order: Red and violet united, the
leaft refrangible;. next to thefe in: refrangibility, the orange and
indigo united ; then the united yellow and blue; and, laftly,
the homogeneal green rays, which are the moft refrangible.

ets Wi! Gay''ds ate be sia of
be

42 On the UNE situs

Of the perfect correction of the aberration arifi ng fom the unequal
refrangibility of light.

Tus fact now eftablithed on the fulleft evidence, that the
divergency of the heterogeneal rays is not to be removed by a
combination of crown-glafs with flint-glafs, or with thofe dif-
perfive fluids employed in the object-glaffes, with which the
experiments above related were made, difcovered a moft im-
portant problem in optics, namely, the entire removal of the
aberration from the difference of refrangibility of light, by any
combination of mediums whatever. * —

Tuts problem, it was evident, was only to be attempted by
again having recourfe to the volume of nature, and fearching
out the hidden ‘qualities of refraGing mediums. Though in
all the compound objeét-glaffes which were examined, after be-
ing rendered as achromatic as poflible, the fame colours ap-
peared, and in the fame order; yet every trial could only be
confidered as {peaking for itfelf, if the expreflion may be al-
lowed. The experiments were indeed numerous, and will, ¥
hope, be found to have been made with fufficient care and at-
tention ; yet to have formed from them any general conclufion,
that in every endeavour to unite the rays of all colours, by 2
combination of mediums differing in difperfive power, the
green rays will emerge moft refracted, and the red and violet
leaft refracted, as above explained, could only ferve to prevent
farther inveftigation, by reprefenting the perfeétion of the
theory of optical inftruments by refraction as a defperate at-
tempt. —

Tue order in which I proceeded farther to explore this fub-
jet was the following :

Havine found fringes of colour, as above defcribed, in
combinations of crown-glafs with the effential oils, and in com-
binations of crown-glafs and flint-glafs, when the refraction is

rendered
-

\

REFRANGIBILITY of LIGHT. 43

rendered as colourlefs as poflible, I began by trying other dif-
perfive mediums, which owe this property to different metallic
or faline particles with which they are impregnated, in hopes
of finding fome difperfive medium, which might feparate the
differently refrangible rays in the fame proportion in which
crown-glafs does, and thus afford a method of refracting all of
them alike, and confequently without colour. But I was dif-
appointed. The compound object-glafles, formed of a variety
of difperfive fluids and crown-glafs, exhibited green and purple
fringes, as before, which proved the difperfive gee of the
two mediums not to be proportional.

My next ftep was to vary the combination by. pajcathiy glafs
entirely as a refracting medium, and only employing it to con-
fine the fluids. As a fluid medium was here to be ufed as a
convex lens, thofe which had been found leaft difperfive, were
to be made choice of. Accordingly, water, {pirit of wine, ni-
trous and vitriolic ether, and all the limpid indifperfive fluids
I could come at, were made trial of. But ftill the refult was
the fame. The green and purple fringes rpepeanes. on covering
half the object-glafs.

I tuen fubftituted fome other of the more perfed indifper-
eee kinds of glafs inftead of crown-glafs; but with no better
fuccefs.

- Next 1 combined two effential ‘oils, both of them more dif-
perfive than crown-glafs, but differing fo confiderably in this
refpect between themfelves, that the lefs difperfive could be
ufed as a convex, while the other was fo difpofed as to perform
‘the office of a concave. For it will eafily be underftood, that
lenfes of any kind may be formed of fluid mediums, by in-
cluding them between glaffes, which have one fide formed
convex, and the other concave, to the fame radius, and thus
ferve merely to confine the fluids, without producing themfelves
any effect in refracting the light. If a flat fide is wanted, a
a of plain glafs with parallel fides muft be ufed, and in

F2 concave

44 | — On the UNEQUAL

concave lenfes of this kind, the: fii contrivance of a: 2 gla
ring to confine the fluid is required... ava

Tue effect of the above combination, which was of bat of

turpentine with a mineral ol, I immediately. perceived to be
different from what was obferved in the preceding trials. - The
green and purple fringes {till appeared, and they lay in the fame
order as before ; but their breadth was greatly diminifhed, I
judged about one half.

Turis new fa&t was the only fruit of this laft fet of experi-
-ments, which were attended with much trouble and Jofs of
time. For to make them with the requifite degree’ of preci-
fion,; pains muft be taken, not only to get the refraction as co-
lourlefs as the qualities of the mediums: will admit; but alfo:to
compute the error from the fpherical figure, and. procure lenfes
accurately ground to the fpheres which»are required: Unlefs
thefe points are duly attended, to, accuracy in the refults is not
to be expected.

I now: confidered how this Mirresbapasicen i the breadth: “oF
the coloured fringes, obferved in the laft mentioned experiment,
might beft be turned to account. In the firft place, it was ob-
vious, that an objedt-glafs, formed by a combination of the
mediums ufed in that experiment, would have an advantage
over others, in which the correction of the aberration from the
difference of refrangibility is more imperfe@t.. But as this
fault, though greatly diminifhed, would ftill prevent the ufe of
high magnifying powers, I weighed the circumftances more
attentively, and the matter appeared to me in the binwes
hight :

A convex lens, formed of the leaft difperfive of the two
effential oils, being fo combined with a concave lens, formed
of that which is moft difperfive,as to unite the red and violet
rays, leaves fringes of uncorrected colour, much narrower
than thofe produced by compound object-glafles of the fame
focal diftance, formed by a combination of either of thefe fluids

. with

.
rs “* -
Pe a —_ Say

—

oie gee -

. * ee -

———— se oe, ee ee

4
b.
a
‘
‘

REFRANGIBILITY of LIGHT. 45

with glafs. Hence I was led to conclude, that if I took an
achromatic convex lens, compofed of the two effential oils, and
combined it with an achromatic concave lens of a longer focal
diftance, compofed of crown-glafs and either of the effential
oils, I fhould be able, through fuch a double compound object-
glafs, to converge the rays to a focus, without any aberration
whatever fromthe difference of refrangibility of light. For if
the compound convex and compound concave are properly pro-
portioned to each other, the fecondary fpectrums, or fringes of
green and purple, may be rendered of the fame breadth in both
lenfes ; and from the obfervations before related, this will hap-
pen when there is a confiderable balance of refraction in favour
of the convex lens. For it 1s compofed ‘of materials which
form a much narrower fecondary fpectrum, under an equal re-
fraction of the whole pencil, than thofe mediums do, of which
the compound concave is formed». .
~'Tuis will be underftood, by attending to what takes place
in the refractions of light through the lenfes, without aia re-
a to ne more patie cafe of prifins.

Fie. 17: Tdiettis a <btoadad concave lens, formed of a
concave lens of glafs, and a concave lens of a difperfive fluid,
but of | a fhorter focus than the concave lens, and fo proportion-
ed as to produce a refraction as free from colour as can be ob-
tained by a combination of thefe two mediums. This lens
being expofed to parallel rays, will make them diverge, after re-
fraction, from its virtual focus, and the united red and violet
rays will be the leaft refraGted, and will be inclined in a certain
angle to the green rays which are moft refracted, as reprefented
in the figure

Fic. 18. reprefents a compound convex lens, formed of
a convex of an effential oil, which difperfes the rays in
i a Iefler degree, combined with a concave of an effential oil,
which

46 On the UNEQUAL

which difperfes the rays in a much greater degree. The
convexity of this compound lens is fuch, as to unite, at
a convenient diftance, rays. diverging as from the virtual
focus of the, compound concave. . The whole refraétion
through the convex is confequently much greater than through
the concave. But notwithftanding this, the angle formed by
the green ray with the united red and violet rays, is reprefented
equal in the two lenfes. For as the effeét of the mediums of
which the compound concave is formed, is to feparate the united
red and violet rays from the green rays, much more than thofe
‘of which the compound convex is formed, when the refraftion
of the pencil is equal, it becomes neceflary, in order to render
this feparation equal in both lenfes, to diminifh the refraction
through the concave. ¢
AN object-glafs formed of fuch a compound concave and
‘compound convex, appears more complicated than it is in rea-
lity. It may. be rendered complete without employing more
than two fluid mediums and three glafs lenfes, which were
found neceflary merely to correct the aberration from the fphe-
rical figure. Thus, in the nineteenth figure, the two compound
lenfes are reprefented in contact ; and it is manifeft, that the
pieces of plain glafs with parallel fides, which were neceflary to
confine the fluid when the lenfes were feparate, are now ufelefs ;
for it is the very fame fluid which is on both fides of thefe
plain pieces of glafs ; and as they produce no effect in refract-

ing the light, they are better removed, as reprefented in this

figure. f

PARALLEL rays incident on the concave lens, are here re-
prefented converged to a focus, without any aberration what-
ever. This is a neceflary confequence of what hath been re-

lated concerning the properties of the refracting mediums, of -

which this compound object-glafs is formed.
-In both the concave and convex, the red and violet rays are
united, and form the leaft refrangible rays, and in both, the
green

REFRANGIBILITY of LIGHT. —— 47

green rays are the moft refrangible. But as the angle formed
by thefe moft and leaft refrangible rays, would be much
greater in the concave if the whole refractions were equal, the
whole refraction is here reprefented to be precifely that which
is requifite for giving the fame inclination of the green rays to
.the united red and violet rays, which takes place after refrac-
tion through the convex. Hence, as thefe refractions are equal
_and oppofite, they deftroy each others effect. The rays proceed
after refraction without any divergency from unequal refrangi-
bility ; and the aberration from the fpherical figure being alfo
corrected by means of the concave glafs lens, which is more
denfe than either of the fluids, they are converged to the fame
point.

Tue conftruction reprefented in thefe figures, is not, how-
ever, the moft perfect and convenient for the purpofe. The
beft method is to divide the concave glafs neceflary for re-
moving the fecondary colour, by making two of the lenfes, or
all three of them, concave menifcufes. But throwing the
whole concave glafs into one lens, and exhibiting the compound
convex and compound concave lenfes feparately, anfwers beft
the prefent purpofe of explaining the principle on which the
aberration from unequal refrangibility may be totally removed.
On the fame account, the difference of the difperfive power of
the two fluids, is reprefented greater than it is in reality.

‘Havine completed an object-glafs of this kind, I carefully
examined whether any colour was yet difcernible. For though
_ the red and violet and green rays were now united, it was a
thing poflible, that. rays of other colours might {till have a {mall
anclination to thefe. But I could difcover no colour by the
moft rigid teft; and therefore conclude the refraction of all
the rays of the fpectrum to be now equal. If there be any de-
viation from this equality of refraction, it is infenfible; and
infenfible- errors, in thofe cafes where fenfe is the only judge,

may be accounted no errors at all. |
I

48 Dy LOn the UNEQUAL

I HAD now attained the objet I was in fearch of, namely, 4
imethod of refrafting equally all the rays of whgch light is
‘compofed. Nor was the conftruction of object-glafles for tele-
{copes, which it afforded, liable to any very material objection.
‘The principal inconvenience arofe from the neceflary depth of
’ the fpheres of the lenfes required, which was now the only re-

maining obftacle to ae the refraCling telefcope at plea-
fure. .

In the firft trials I made to difcover a eilditee medium
which fhould feparate the rays in the fame proportion in which _
glafs does, I was in hopes of perfect fuccefs, and therefore
not at all curious in obferving the breadths of the coloured
fringes, ftill hoping that the next trial might afford a refra@tion
without any colour whatever. I therefore thought it expedient
to repeat fome of them, with greater attention to that circum-
ftance.

Tue firft fluid I bapperied to make crial of, was a metallic
folution with a mixture of marine acid. _Upon comparing an
obje&t-glafs, rendered achromatic by this folution, with another
as nearly fimilar to it as poffible, in which an effential oil was
employed for that purpofe, the breadth of the coloured fringes
appeared indifputably much narrower in the former than the
latter *. I repeated the experiment frequently, to enable me to
judge of the proportion of focal diftance of a compound con+
cave, neceflary to correct this fecondary colour, upon the prin-
ciple which hath juft been explained. Upon a comparative
trial, I found it better to form the compound convex of a com-
bination of this fluid and glafs, than of a combination of two
effential oils. ‘The convex was not only fhorter itfelf, with the
fame depth of fpheres, but ae org a fhallower compound

| concave

* Tue caufe, at that time unknown, was,;that the folution happened to contain
an unufual proportion of the marine acid 3 as will be underftood oo what
follows.

REFRANGIBILITY of LIGHT. 49

concave lens to remove the colour entirely. The colour may be
totally removed, and the aberration from the figure corrected,
by a concave which lengthens the focal diftance af the convex |
only one third.

From what Ninth been explained refpe@ting the total correc-
tion of colour, it will be underftood, that if the concave
lengthens the focal diftance beyond what is required, fringes
of green and purple ought to begin to appear in an inverted
order. This, which may be ftyled the experimentum crucis in
this matter, I now had it in my power to try without difficulty.
The refult turned out exactly as I expeéted. Upon applying a
compound concave, which nearly doubled the length of the
compound convex, a fringe of green appeared within the focus,
and a fringe of purple beyond it, which fets the theory of the
correction of this fecondary colour in the moft fatisfactory
light.

THE compound concave in this and all the preceding experi-
ments, was formed of glafs and an effential oil.

_I now happened, merely with a view of diverfifying the
experiment, to apply a compound concave, formed of glafs
combined with the muriatic acid, which has been mentioned as
a fluid pofleffing a confiderable degree of difperfive power.
This opened a new and unexpected fcene. The colours ap-
‘ peared in the fame order as in the laft experiment, but the
fringes were fo very broad as greatly to furprife me, and create
a fufpicion that every thing was not as I had hitherto taken for
granted. Without delay I included fome of the marine acid
between two convex lenfes, whofe radii were duly proportioned
to the difperfive power of that fluid, for the purpofe of cor-
_reting the colour. Upon applying an eye-glafs I found my
fufpicion verified. ‘The fringes of green and purple appeared
nearly of the ufual breadth, but in an inverted order, there
_ being now a green fringe within the focus, and a purple fringe
beyond it. I was the better pleafed at being thus led to the

Vor. III, G detection

Sh On th UNEQUAL

detection of this fingular property of the acid of fea-falt, be-
caufe, in making the fame experiment before, this inverfion of
the order of the colours had entirely efcaped me. I was then
examining it, to find whether it difperfed the feveral orders of
rays, in the fame ratio in which glafs does ; and being fatisfied
that it did not, from obferving the green and purple fringes, as
in other combinations, a circumftance fo little looked for, as
the inverfion of the order of the colours, did not ftrike me.

Turis obfervation affords a remarkable exception to what I
had begun to confider as very probably a general law of -na-
ture. In the refraction which takes place in mediums of the
leaft difperfive kind, the green rays, or rather perhaps the rays
in the confine of green and. blue, are the mean refrangible, and
thefe fame rays, in the more difperfive mediums, were always
found among the lefs refrangible rays ; and hence when, by a
proper combination of two fuch mediums, the red and violet
rays are united, thefe united red and violet rays conftitute the
leait refrangible rays, and the green conftitute the moft: refran-
gible rays, as before explained.

But in the muriatic acid, the cafe is juft the devil of this.
Then the green rays, which in mediums that difperfe the leaft,
are the mean refrangible, and which in effential oils and metal-
lic impregnations are found among the lefs refrangible, appear
amongft the more refrangible. Whence in fuch a combination ‘
of the muriatic acid and an indifperfive medium as {fhall. unite:
the red and violet rays, thefe united red and violet rays emerge
moft refrangible, and the homogeneal green rays emerge leaft
refrangible, being juft the reverfe of what takes place in com-
binations of crown-glafs with flint-glafs, or with effential oils,
or faturated metallic folutions. .

Turis unufual property of the marine acid does not, how-
ever, feem to admit of any immediate application to the im-
provement of optical inftruments. It is true that, inftead of
having recourfe to a compound concave for correcting the fe-
condary

REFRANGIBILITY of LIGHT. — 51

condary colour, this may be effe@ed by a compound convex,
which, inftead of lengthening, will fhorten the focal diftance
of the compound object-glafs. But in a conftruction of this
kind, the correction of the fpherical aberration would be at-
tended with more difficulty.

Havine thus found an exception to the general refult of bay
former experiments, which was, that thofe rays which in the
leaft difperfive mediums conftitute the mean refrangible rays,
are in more difperfive mediums found amongft the lefs refran-
gible rays, it feemed not improbable that difperfive mediums
might exift, which would feparate the differently coloured rays
exactly in the fame proportion in pa they are feparated by
indifperfive mediums.

I HAD now indeed got hold of a pretty fure clue to lead me
j to mediums poffefied of this property. It will appear from
» what has been faid concerning attraction, that when in a me-
tallic folution or an effential oil, which feparate the red and
violet rays in the fame degree in which they are feparated by
the marine acid, the green rays are found amongft the lefs re-
frangible rays in the former fluids, and amongft the more re-
frangible in the latter fluid, the caufe of this difference mutt be,
that the green light is more attracted by the marine acid than
by effential oils or metallic folutions, when the attraction for
the red and violet light is the fame in all thefe mediums.

Hence it feemed reafonable to conclude, that in a medium
compounded in a due proportion of the particles compofing
thefe two kinds of difperfive mediums, the attraction for the
green rays would be in an intermediate degree, and might be
rgndered the fame, in proportion to the attraction for the red
and violet rays, which obtains in crown-glafs and other indif-
perfive mediums.

Ir might be found a matter of no fmall difficulty to unite
the effential oils with the marine acid, fo as to form a colour-

G 2, ; lefs

g2 On the UNEQUAL

lefs tranfparent fluid. But nothing can be better adapted for
this purpofe than metallic folutions.

I First made trial of butter of antimony, and found the
refult to be what I expected. On increafing the proportion of ©
’ muriatic acid, the fringes of green and purple grew narrower
and narrower till they entirely difappeared, and if more was
then added they re-appeared in an inverted order. I tried the
fame thing with a folution of crude fal ammoniac and mercury
fublimate. If the folution contains a certain proportion of
thefe two fubftances, the rays of all colours emerge from the
compound objeét-glafs equally refracted. If the proportion of
the ammoniacal falt, and confequently of the muriatic acid
which it contains, be increafed, the green rays, which were
the mean refrangible in the difperfive fluid, as well as in crown-
glafs, draw nearer to the violet, making a part of the more re-
frangible half of the fpectrum, and confequently emerge lefs ~
refracted than the united red and violet rays, and are converged
to a focus at a greater diftance from the obje¢t-glafs; fo that ~
the green fringe now appears within the focus, and the purple
fringe beyond it. But on increafing the proportion of mercu-
rial particles, thefe fame green rays fhift their fituation to the
lefs refrangible half of the fpectrum, which appears from their
now emerging moft refracted, and being converged to a point
nearer to the object-glafs than the united red and _ violet, whofe
refrangibility does not appear to be affected by thefe admixtures
which occafion fuch remarkable flu€tuations in the refrangibi-
lity of the green rays and other intermediate orders. It may
poffibly feem ftrange at firft view, that the green rays fhould
emerge moft refracted from the compound object-glafs, when
their refrangibility in the difperfive medium is diminifhed,
and leaft refraéted under the contrary circumftances. The
caufe of this is,-that the principal refraétion of the compound
object-glafs is performed by the indifperfive convex lens,

; 3 which
t

REFRANGIBILITY of LIGHT. 53

which is oppofite to the refraétion produced by the difperfive
concave. — |

Ir was formerly obferved, that in the confine of a rare dif-
perfive medium, and a denfe indifperfive medium, there may
be a fingle refraction, in which all the rays: are equally refran-
gible; and it has fince been explained with what limitation
this is to be underftood, in confequence of the unproportional
difperfion which generally takes: place in fuch mediums ; of
which I wasthen ignorant. The explanation which refers to the
fecond, third, fourth and fifth diagrams, and to the object-
glafs reprefented in the ninth figure, is to be confidered as ftrict-
ly juft, when, in the fluid employed, the metallic particles are —
fo far diminifhed, and the particles of marine acid fo far in-
ereafed, as to render the refraction of the feveral orders of rays
proportional in both mediums.

I HAVE got an object-glafs of this kind, which is reprefented
im the twentieth figure. There are two refractions in the con-
fine of glafs and the fluid, but not the leaft colour whatever.
Hence it is manifeft that in the refraction which takes place in
-the confine of glafs and this fluid, and which, on account of
the difference of their denfities, is-very confiderable, there is no
unequal refrangibility of light. The rays of different colours
are bent from their rectilineal courfe with the fame equality and
regularity as in reflection.

As cuftom has already appropriated the word nae to.
that kind of refraGtion in which there is only a partial cor-
reGtion of colour, in order to avoid confufion, I fhall beg per-
miffion to diftinguifh this entire removal of aberration by the
term aplanatic*, till a better can be thought of.

Berore clofing this enquiry concerning the optical proper-
ties of tranfparent fubftances, | examined more minutely than
I had done before, the qualities of the other mineral acids.
The nitrous acid, when of the fame mean refractive denfity as

the

* From the Greek « privative, and the verb TMaavdw»-

m4 » On the UNEQUAL

the marine acid, does not difperfe the red and violet rays quite
fo much. The green ray, as in the marine acid, is found
among the'more refrangible rays ; but it approaches nearer to
the place of the mean refrangible ray in the nitrous acid than
in the marine. The green ray is alfo nearer to the place of the
mean refrangible ray, than it is in effential oils or in faturated
metallic folutions ; and therefore the nitrous acid appears by
thefe experiments to difperfe the feveral orders of rays more
nearly in the fame proportion in which crown-glafs does, than
any uncompounded difperfive medium, and would, I have no
doubt, do fo exactly, if flightly apreeee with Ter any,
though this I have not tried.

THE vitriolic acid is fcarcely to be clafled among difperfive
mediums. The following experiment is the laft I made on the
fubjett. Ina very good object-glafs, of that kind before de-
fcribed, in which {fpirit of wine is one of the mediums em-
ployed, I fubftituted fucceflively for this fpirit the vitriolic
acid and. a folution of fixed alkaline falt, both of them of near-
ly the fame mean refractive denfity as the fpirit of wine. Thefe
three fluids, although they differ fo widely in their chemical
properties, have their optical properties fo nearly alike, that I
found it difficult to determine which was the medium em-
ployed. For when the fecondary colour is not corrected, as
was the cafe in this object-glafs, the change of colour produced
in the green and purple fringes to render it apparent, muft be
confiderable, a flight fhade of difference not being eafily di-
ftinguifhable.’ I therefore repeated the trial with an object-
glafs, in which this green and purple light is totally removeds
and then both the vitriolic acid, and the folution of fixed al-
kali, when of equal mean refractive denfity with fpirit of wine,
appeared very fenfibly more difperfive than the fpirit. The
difference in this refpect between the acid and the alkali was
{carcely to be diftinguifhed ; and the effect of a folution of

cauftic alkali appeared to be nearly the fame as that of mild
alkali

REFRANGIBILITY’ oP LIGHT. 55

alkali of equal denfity. . By fimilar trials, the phofphoric and
acetous acids were found to be confiderably more difperfive
than fpirit of wine.
- Attuoucs thefe experiments with compound Bbc glafles
of very large apertures, afford both the readieft and moft accu-
rate method of inveftigating the optical properties of refracting
mediums, it would be both amufing and inftrudtive to repeat
them with compound prifms. I could have wifhed in particu-
lar, had my prefent fituation been convenient for the purpofe,
to have taken the dimenfions of the fecondary {fpectrum, under
given angles of incidence and refraction. For by comparing
thefe with the dimenfions of the primary fpectrum, accurately
afcertained by Sir Isaac Newron, the degree of fuperiority
of an object-glafs compofed of crown and flint-glafs, over a
fimple object-glafs, and of one in which there is a regular re-
fraction of all the rays, over both, might be afcertained. At
prefent, I can only ftate the circumftances of a comparifon i
made between two compound object-glaffes of equal apertures,
but very unequal lengths. One was compofed of crown-glafs,
fpirit of wine and an effential oil. The focal length is about
fourteen inches, and the aperture two inches. The other ob-.
ject-glafs was of crown and flint- glafs ; its focal length thirty-
two inches, and its aperture two inches. I had it for a good
one of its kind, and upon examination found no ee de-
fect in its ftructure.
» Tue fhort telefcope has a manifeft advantage in the night,
efpecially in viewing fine objects, fuch as double ftars of infe-
rior magnitudes, where the uncorrected colour is lefs hurtfui.
Burt I was furprifed, on viewing an objet in bright fun-
fhine, to find confiderably more of that miftinefs which arifes
from the unequal refrangibility of light, than appeared in the
long telefcope. I therefore diminifhed the aperture of the
fhort one to one inch and a half, and comparing them again,

there mpPeatied no more of this mift in the one than in the
other.

56 On the UNEQUAL

other. i farther reduced the aperture of the fhort one to one
inch, when it became manifeftly clearer than the long one,
though, upon examining the coloured fringes, by covering half
the objedt-glafs, they {till appeared of eee a breadth as muft
neceflarily hurt the diftinétnefs,

I uAve_ here given the refult of this experiment asI findit

noted down. Being made with no view to the determination
of the point in queftion, the accuracy neceflary for that purpofe
was not obferved. It would appear, however, from this grofs
and indireét trial, that the aberration from unequal refrangibi-
lity would not differ very materially in thefe object-glaffes, fup-
pofing their apertures and focal diftances to be equal; though
in one the partial correction of colour is effected by a combina-
- tion of flint-glafs and crown-glafs, and in the other by a com-
bination of crown-glafs and fpirit of wine, with an effential
oil. If this aberration were exactly equal in both combina-
tions, the mifty indiftinétnefs proceeding from it ought to be
the fame in both objet-glafles, when the apertures and magni-
fying powers applied, are as the fquare roots of their refpedtive
focal lengths. °

Ir would appear that the aperture of an objed glafs, com-
pofed of crown and flint-glafs of thirty-two inches in focal
length, ought not to exceed two inches, and therefore that three
inches is too large an aperture for one of forty-two inches focal
length ; for the lengths in thefe two cafes ought to be as four
to nine. In fome telefcopes of this latter kind, I have obferved
a great deal of uncorrected colour, which prevents them from
bearing magnifying powers, in proportion to the aperture of
the object-glafs. “It is indeed but feldom that the union of the
differently refrangible rays is fo perfect as the conftruction ad-
mits. I have met with others in which the real aperture is fo ©
far contracted, by diaphragms placed within the tube, as
{carcely to exceed two inches,

From

REFRANGIBILITY of LIGHT. 37

/

- From infpecting the tables of the lengths and apertures of
telefcopes with fimple objeét-glafles, it will appear, that the re-
quired length for an aperture of two inches is about thirteen
feet. This exceeds two feet and an half, the length given to an
achromatic telefcope, whofe object-glafs is two inches in dia-
meter, between five and fix times. The length of the ftandard
‘Hugenian telefcope, whofe aperture is three inches, is thirty
feet. This is between eight and nine times the length of an
achromatic telefcope, the aperture of which is likewife three
inches, and its length three and a half feet. But if the aber-
ration from unequal refrangibility be diminifhed to the fame
degree as in the thirty inch telefcope, the length muft be in-
creafed, from three and a half feet to about five and a half.
For its length muft be to thirty inches, the length of the two
inch aperture, as the fquare of two to the fquare of three, and
then the telefcope with the fimple object-glafs will only exceed
“it in length between five and fix times as before.

Tue obfervations which have been mentioned put it beyond
a doubt, that the limit to the apertures and magnifying powers
of what have been improperly called achromatic telefcopes, is.
the very fame which limits the performance of telefcopes with
fimple object-glaffes, namely, the unequal refrangibility of
light; and it would feem, that the aberration from this caufe
may be diminifhed, by a combination of lenfes of crown and
flint glafs, between five and fix times.

Sir Isaac Newton, by accurate experiments, hath deter-
mined the diameter of the leaft circular fpace. within which
parallel rays of all kinds can be collected by-a fimple lens, to be
one fifty-fifth part of the diameter of the aperture of the lens.
If the aberration, from unequal refrangibility in a compound
object -glafs, vitiates the diftin¢tnefs lefs than in a fimple object-
glafs, in the proportion of one to fix, it may feem a reafonable
conclufion, that the leaft circular {pace within which parallel

rays of all kinds can be gathered by an objedt-glafs compofed
Vo. III. H . of

a: On the UNEQUAL

of crown and flint glafs, ought to be one fixth of one fifty-fifth
part of its aperture. The difference in the focal lengths of the
eye-glaffes will then render the indiftinétnefs nearly equal in
the two kinds of object-glafles with equal magnifying powers,
in all cafes where their apertures are equal, and their lengths as
one to fix. |

THERE is, oaeee a circumftance of the greateft moment.
to be taken into account before this conclufion can be admitted,
which is, that not merely the diameter of the circle of aberra-
tion is to be confidered, but alfo the fpiffitude of the rays, both
within that circle in general, and at different diflances from its
centre. The rarity of the light in the fimple fpe@trum is fuch,
that the aberration hurts much lefs than might be expeed.
But in the fecondary {pectrum, as two orders of coloured light
are united, the imperfect union of the rays by the compound
object-glafs, will hurt the diftinétnefs much more, in propor:
tion to the extreme divergency.

On this account, it is to be expected, that the proportional
lengths of the fpectrums, when the experiment comes to be pra-
perly made, will turn out lefs than as one to fix, notwithftand-
ing the degree in which the diftinétnefs is hurt in the two kinds
of telefcopes, from the unequal refrangibility aA light, may be
nearly in that proportion. -

THE principal improvement of refracting walthcous pointed
out by the preceding experiments, confifts in an entire removal
of this aberration from the unequal refrangibility of light. It
appears from the performance of the {mall telefcope above men-
tioned, in which the fecondary colour is not removed, that con-
fiderable advantages may alfo be expected from fubftituting a
more perfect medium for flint-glafs; from a more perfect cor-
rection of the aberration from the fpherical figure; from pre-
venting that lofs of light by reflection, which takes place when
light enters into, or emerges from denfe mediums furrounded

with

REFRANGIBILITY of LIGHT. | 59

with air; and from diminifhing thofe errors which arife from
faults in the workmanthip.

Tue difadvantages under which reflecting telefcopes labour,
arife from their requiring larger apertures to tranfmit the fame
quantity of light; from being found to be more affected by
imperfections of the atmofphere than refra¢ting telefcopes, and
being liable to tarnifh ; but {principally from imperfections in
the workmanfhip of the object fpeculum hurting their perform-
ance much more than equal imperfe¢tions in the object-glafs
hurt refradtors.

Tue deviation of a ray from its intended courfe, occafioned
by an imperfeétion in the figure of a reflecting {peculum, is to
its deviation, arifing from an equal imperfection in a lens, as
four to one, when the ray pafles from glafs into air, and in the
proportion of fix to one, when it pafles from air into glafs. At
a medium, therefore, it may be ftated as five to one. It follows
from hence, that fuppofing all other‘caufes of imperfection re-
moved but this of workmanfhip, and that the metal of {pecu-
lums were capable of as good a polifh as glafs, and of refleting
as much light as glafs tranf{mits, ftill the perfeCtion of the
images of objects formed by refraction would greatly exceed
thofe by refle@ion.

Sucu is the cafe in the refractions which take place in the
confine of glafs and air. But in the refractions made in the
confine of glafs, and mediums of greater denfity than air, the
difference is ftill much greater.

Tue proportion of the fine of the angle of incidence to the
fine of the angle of refraction of a ray in pafling out of one
medium into another medium, is compofed of the proportion
of the fine of the angle of incidence to the fine of the angle of
refraction out of the firft medium into any third medium, and
of the proportion of the fine of the angle of incidence to the
fine of the angle of refra€tion, out of that third, medium into
the fecond. medium. |
El -2 , THUS,

60 On the UNEQUAL

Tuus, if the fine of the angle of incidence of any ray, in
paffing out of glafs into air, be to the fine of its angle of re-
- fra€tion as twenty to thirty-one, and the fine of the angle of
incidence of the fame ray, in pafling from air into oil of tur-
pentine, be to the fine of its angle of refra€tion as twenty-five
to feventeen, the proportion of the fine of the angle of inci-
dence of that ray, ,to the fine of its angle of refraction, in paf-
fing out of glafs into oil of turpentine, will be as five hundred
to five hundred and twenty-feven.

Hence the point to which light is converged by the refrac-
tion of a {pherical fegment of glafs, furrounded with oil of tur-
pentine, will be found to be above eighteen femi-diameters of
the {phere from the apex of the lens, when light paffes from
oil of turpentine into glafs, and feventeen femi-diameters of the
{phere diftant from the fpherical fegment, when light .paffes
from glafs into oil of turpentine 3 whereas in glafs furrounded
by air, the focal diftance in thefe two cafes is only two femi-
diameters, and three femi-diameters; and when light is con-
verged to a point by a concave refleCting fpeculum, the focal
diftance is only half a femi-diameter of the {phere to which the
fpeculum is ground concave. Now, in all thefe cafes, the er-
rors of the rays arifing from imperfections in the workmanfhip
of object-glafles, or object-fpeculums, are as the focal diftances
to the radii of convexity; fo that what Sir Isaac NewTron
mentions, of his having nearly defpaired of reflecting telefcopes
from: this confideration, need not be wondered at.

THE great pains, however, which he took with his own.
hands, and the ingenious methods which he fuggefted, and

which have been fo ably profecuted fince his time, have — ;
gone farther than could be expected towards. obviating this-

fundamental. fault of reflectors. Whatever can be perform-

ed by reflection, may be expected from the long experience and.

indefatigable exertions of Dr HERscHEL, aided by the counte-
nance -

REFRANGIBILITY of LIGHT. 6x

nance and liberal fupport of the Royal Founder of our Society,
the general Patron of Science.

“WD Apprewenn there is a caufe which will render fhort ie.
{copes always more diftin@ than long ones, where all other cir-
cumftances are, as nearly as poflible, alike; and that it has
‘operated in favour of refleCting telefcopes.- It is well known.
that grofs bodies act on light at a diftance. Some phenomena
I have obferved, appear to me to put it beyond doubt, that light
alfo aéts upon light, in fuch a way as to propagate this action
of grofs bodies much farther than is imagined. But J muft
delay entering farther on this fubject ; and fhall only obferve,
that it was principally with an eye to this circumftance, that I
endeavoured in my attempts to execute objedt-glafles on the
above principles, to ftrgin the increafe of aperture to the ut-
mott. ene

Ir will. be underftood, that when the aberrations from the
difference of refrangibility of light, and from the fpherical fi-
gures of lenfes are removed, there remains no farther limit to
fhortening telefcopes, excepting from the requifite depth of the
{pheres and thicknefs of the glaffes.

I Finp that in {mall obje&t-glafles of about nine inches focal
length, the aperture may be increafed as far as three inches,
and hardly beyond this, on account of the quick increafe of
depth of the fpherical furfaces, and thicknefs of the glafs.
From the difficulty found in procuring good glafs of fufficient -
thicknefs, it may perhaps be better to. make the aperture for
common purpofes lefs than this. I fhall therefore ftate it at two
inches. Hence the lengths neceflary for increafed apertures
may readily be found, as the increafe of length is in the fame
ratio as the increafe of aperture, a double aperture requiring a
double length, and fo forth. Thefe lengths and apertures may
be compared with the lengths and apertures neceflary in fingle
lenfes, and in different kinds of reflectors, by the common.
tables...

Ir.

62 On the UNEQUAL

Ir appears from the preceding experiments, that in com-
pound: objedt-glaffles of crown and flint-glafs, there is only a
partial correction of the aberration from unequal refrangibi-
lity, and therefore in them, and others of that kind, the aper-
tures and magnifying powers muft only be increafed in a fub-
duplicate ratio of the increafe of length, as in fingle lenfes.

Iwitt not pretend to ftate with abfolute certainty the pre-.
cife aperture which an achromatic telefcope of a given length
ought to have. This muft be determined by experience. If
two inches be taken for the greateft aperture which ought to be
given to a telefcope of this kind two and thirty inches long,
then three inches will be too much for one of forty-two inches, —
as hath been already obferved. But whichfoever of thefe
lengths and apertures be taken as the ftandard, it is certain,
that if we would avoid a greater degree of that indiftinétnefs
which is occafioned by the aberration from difference of refran-
gibility, the aperture and magnifying power muft not be in-
creafed in a greater proportion than the fquare root of the in- -
creafed length. Befides, therefore, that this imperfect correc-
tion renders fuch telefcopes incapable of bearing high magni-
fying powers for thofe of moderate lengths, large inftruments,
if they were to be attempted, would {till be unmanageable, on _
account of their immoderate lengths. The focal length of an
obje@t-glafs of this kind, four feet in diameter, would require
to be upwards of fifteen hundred feet, m order to enable it to
bear the magnifying power adapted to that aperture, with the
fame diftinétnefs that is found in an object-glafs two inches in
diameter, and thirty-two inches in focal length. But when
the aberration from difference of refrangibility is totally re-
moved, the focal length of an objett-glafs four feet in diame-
ter, need not exceed twenty feet. |

Havine mentioned to fome friends the imperfect correction
of the aberration from difference of refrangibility, which is
obtained by the common combination of two mediums- which

differ -

REFRANGIBILITY of LIGHT. 63

differ in ‘difperfive power, I was informed, that fomething of the
fame kind had been obferved by fome foreign philofophers, and
in particular by the’ celebrated M. Crarraut and M. Bosco-
VicH. '

~Tuet obfervation of the former appears ina Omi of the
French Academy of Sciences, of fo old a date as the year 1757.
As the paflage relating to this fubject is fhort, and does great cre-
dit to the’author, as an accurate obferver of the refults of ex-
periments, I fhall ‘beg permiffion to tranfcribe it. “ Il y.a en-
«core un fait important que nos experiences nous ont appris,
‘< c’eft que les corrections des iris faites par les prifmes combi-
“ nés, ne font jamais auffi parfaites qu’on le croiroit d’apres
* Jes termes de M. Dottownp. Dans le cas du prifme de verre
* placé dans eau ; par example, aprés avoir fait varier les
_ © plaques qui determinent langle du prifme d’eau, jufqu’au
point ‘ou les objects viis 4 travers les deux prifimes, ne paroif-
“ fent point décolorés, du moins aux vies ordinaires, on trouve
* en plagant ces prifmmes dans la chambre-noire, qu’il refte toti-
* jours. quelque petit limbe de couleur vers les bordes de
“ image dw foleil, ‘ce qui vient fans doute de ce que les par-
* ties du {peCire que chaque matiere réfringente donne, ne font
** pas exactement proportionelles aux longueurs totales de ces
fpe&tres. Mais ces inégalités qui deminuent a mefure que
Jes angles des prifmes font? plus petits, doivent étre comme
“| infenfibles dans le cas des lentilles adoffées, vii la petitefle des
* angles de refringence qui ont lieu alors.” I fhall only re-
mark on this paflage, that M. Crarrauwt would have obferved
the uncorrected colour better, if he had made ufe of a much
fmaller pencil of light than he appears to have done, and would
not have concluded fo haftily, that this wncorrected aberration
was of little confequence to the performance of telefcopes, if he
had recollected, that the fmallnefs of ‘the angles of the lenfes is:
greatly overbalanced by the magnifying stint of the eye-.
glafs.

M.

64 I ‘On the UNEQUAL

‘M. Boscovicu formed an hypothefis concerning’ a- perfec
correction of colour, by a combination of mediums, which ap-
pears to have greatly mifled him. -As a combination of two
mediums is neceffary to unite two of the unequally refrangible
rays, he imagines three mediums neceflary to unite three, four —
to unite four, and, in fhort, that to effect a perfect union of the
rays of the fpectrum, as many mediums are required as there
are unequally refrangible rays compofing it, that is to fay, an *
indefinite number. He fuppofes, however, than an union of
three of the rays only, by means of three mediums, would
greatly improve telefcopes. This author feems to have founded -
his hypothefis on the fame kind of loofe analogical reafoning,
which had before led the celebrated EuLER into a fimilar mi-
ftake. | ab %&

TuE eye is compofed of three humours and feveral; coats ;
and M. Boscovicn takes it for granted, that. a more perfe@
union of the rays than what takes place ina combination of
crown and flint glafs, is effected by their means. But this is -
a fuppofition very remote from the truth indeed,,,, So far is this
fecondary colour from being corrected in the human eye, that
in the conftruction of this admirable organ, it hath been
deemed unneceflary to introduce any contrivance for the cor-
rection of the Newtonian aberration. Natura nihil agit fruftra.
The perfection of the Contriver equally appears from a mani-
feftation of his power, and of his ceconomical exertion of that
power. On account of the fhortnefs of the focal diftance of
the humours of the eye, in proportion to the aperture of the
pupil, the aberration from the {pherical figure would be enor-
mous ; and we find it obviated. by the very elaborate artifice of -
rendering the chryftalline humour more denfe towards the cen-
tre. The aberration from difference of refrangibility might
have been removed, by imparting a proper degree of difperfive
power to the vitreous humour. , But this, being unneceflary for
the common purpofes of life, is withheld.
Dr

REFRANGIBILITY of LIGHT. 6s

5) Dr MAsKELyYNneE has taken the pains to compute the quantity
of this aberration in the eye, and is of opinion that it is not
incompatible with diftinét vifion *. But as it has been juft-af-
’ ferted As a matter of fact, that the aberration from difference
of refrangibility is not corrected in the human eye, it will be
expected that the proofs on which this affertion is founded,
fhould be explained. Thefe are fo ample as to leave no caufe
_ of uncertainty ; nor are the neceflary experiments attended with
much trouble. For it happens that the humours are better
placed for the purpofe in the natural eye, than art could difpofe
them elfewhere.

Wuen I take the penknife which now lies before me, and
hold it between me and the fky, at the diftance to which the
eye is conformed for diftinct vifion; the blade appears diftinct,
and well defined. If the eye be now accommodated to a more
diftant object, the blade of the knife begins to be furrounded
with a penumbra ; and if this penumbra be carefully attended
to, it appears to be coloured, and the colour next to the knife is
red inclining to orange, which is the colour of the leaft refran-
gible rays.

Ir the eye be again accommodated to the diftance neceflary
- for feeing the knife diftinétly, the bars of the window, which |
is at a greater diftance than the knife, are furrounded with a
penumbra, and the colour of this penumbra is blue, which is
the prevailing colour of the moft refrangible rays. The fame
appearances will be obferved in all cafes where the confine of
a dark and luminous object is carefully examined, and will be
fo much the more confpicuous by how much the contraft of
light and darknefs is. flronger. It requires, however, a ca-
pacity of viewing with attention an object to which the eye is
- not conformed, which muft be acquired by habit. The fol-
lowing eafy experiment may be tried by any one. Shutting
one eye, obferve with the other the four well defined black pa-

Vot. III. I

rallel
* Philofophical Tranfaétions of London, Vol. Ixxix. p. 256.

66 On the UNEQUAL

rallel lines which denote four o’clock in the enamelled dial-plate
of a watch, and make the watch approach the eye very flowly.
So long as the eye can conform itfelf to the diftance, the black
lines will appear diftincét and of their proper colours. But when
the watch, continuing to approach, is brought too near for the
eye, by any effort, to fee the lines diftin@ly, the coloured
fringes will begin to make their appearance, and the {preading
of the lefs refrangible rays into the black ftrokes, and the more
refrangible rays into the white intervals, will make them appear
to change their colours from black and white to orange and
blue.

Ir any doubt fhould remain concerning the prifmatic colour
produced by the refraction of the humours of the eye, let the
obferver look at a bar of the window, where it is oppofed to
the fky, and holding his hand parallel with the bar, bring it
flowly over his eye, he will obferve, juft before the bar dif-
appears, one fide of it edged with red inclining to orange, and
the other with blue, and thefe colours in as great quantity as
would be produced by a prifm of a pretty confiderable refract-
ing angle. The application of thefe obfervations to what was
before faid of the fringes of colour produced by fimple and
compound lenfes, is obvious. If the aberration from difference
of refrangibility were perfe€tly corrected, no colour whatever
would appear, either in the penumbras, or on covering part of
the pupil. Had this been effected, it is probable that the vi-
treous humour would be found fufficiently difperfive to correct
the colour produced by the aqueous and cryftalline humours,
and that the ratio in which it feparated the rays which form the _
coloured fpetrum, would be the fame as in them. Such a
colourlefs refraétion might then be produced as has been found
to arife from a combination of crown-glafs with a fluid me-
dium, containing a due proportion of metallic particles and —

particles of marine acid,
$3

REFRANGIBILITY is LIGHT. 67

‘Ir the coloured penumbras, inftead of being red when the
eye is. conformed to a greater diftance than that of the object
_obferved, and blue when conformed to a lefs diftance, had been
purple in the former cafe, and green in the latter, it would be
reafonable to:conclude, that the vitreous humour was a difper-
five medium of the. fame kind with effential oils, and fuch as
owe this property to metalline particles with, which they are im-
pregnated.

Burt if the purple mine had sepearell round the sbicts
when the eye is conformed to too {mall a diftance for feeing it
diftin@ly, and with a green fringe under the contrary circum-
_ ftances, this would indicate a difperfive power in the vitreous
humour, fimilar to that of the muriatic acid.

In fome animals, and particularly in birds of prey, the
images of objects on the retina are required to be more perfect
than in the human eye. It would be an object of fome mo-
ment in comparative phyfiology, to determine whether there be
any partial or total correction of aberration from the difference
of refrangibility in the eyes of thefe animals, which, if found
neceflary, will without doubt be the cafe. In fome experiments |
which I once attempted with the vitreous humour, I found ir-

regularities arife in the refraction, from giving it a figure diffe-
rent from its natural one. Poflibly fuch difficulties might be
obviated by diluting the ‘humours with fome mild aie of
known optical properties.

Tue aberration from unequal refrangibility not being cor-
rected in the eye, is one caufe why vifion through a good tele-
{cope is more perfect, independent of magnifying power, than
naked vifion when moft perfect ; a fa@ which muft appear fo
extraordinary, that it can fcarcely be expected to be credited,
except by thofe who have convinced shiniag: ea of it by expe-
riences

In order to explain this, it muft be obferved, that the ulti-
mate effect required to be produced by a telefcope or microfcope,

I 2 is

68 On the UNEQUAL

is not a perfeét union of the rays at the focus of the objedt-glafs,
but at the retina. This is to be effeCted by fo difpofing the rays.
at their emergence from the eye-glafs, that the humours of the
eye fhall accurately converge each of the pencils to one. point of
the retina. If we conceive a point of the retina to become a

radiant point whence the rays iffue, the rays of different co-

lours, at their emergence from the cornea, will be inclined to.
each other in a certain degree, on account of their unequal re-
frangibility, and will continue to diverge, till they arrive, we
fhall fuppofe, at the eye-glafs. Now, this is exactly the ftate in

which rays emerging from the eye-glafs, and tending towards
the eye, ought to be, in order to infure their perfec union at
that point of the retina from which the above mentioned rays

were fuppofed to radiate.

ANOTHER caufe which operates in favour of telefcopic vifion,
is the fmallnefs of the pencil where it enters the eye. When
the diameter of the pencil is equal to that of the pupil, the
rays, in paffing the edge of the iris, are inflected, that is to.
fay, they are made to deviate from their re€tilineal courfe, fome:
of them being bent towards the iris, and others from it, and
thus throw a feattered light round the image on the retina:
The radiation of the bright fixed ftars proceeds partly from.
this caufe. This fource of indiftincinefs is totally removed in.
a telefcope, where the diameter of the pencil, at its entrance:
into the eye, is fo much lefs than the pupil, that none of the:
rays pafs near enough the iris to fuffer any infle@tion. The
fize of the pencil muft not, however, be diminifhed too far
for if this is done beyond a certain degree, the diftinctnefs will:
be quite deftroyed, as was firft obferved by HucEntus.

I SHALL now recapitulate, and prefent in one view, the con-
tents and fcope of this difcourfe.
Tue unequal refrangibility of light, as difcovered and fully

explained by Sir Isaac Newron, fo far ftands its ground un-
controverted,

REFRANGIBILITY of LIGHT. 69

controverted, that when the refraction is made in the confine
of any medium whatever, and a vacuum, the rays of different
colours are unequally refracted, the red-making rays being the
_ Teaft refrangible, and the violet-making rays the moft refran-
gible.

~ Tue difcovery of what has been called a different difperfive
power in different refractive mediums, proves thofe theorems of
Sir Isaac NEwTon not to be univerfal, in which he concludes
that the difference of refraction of the moft and leaft refrangi-
ble rays, is always in a given proportion to the refraction of the
mean refrangible ray. There can be no doubt that this pofi-
tion is true with refpect to the mediums on which he made his
experiments ; but there are many exceptions to it.

For the experiments of Mr Dottonp prove, that the diffe-
rence of refraction between the red and violet rays, in propor-
tion to the refraction of the whole pencil, is greater in fome
kinds of glafs than in water, and greater in flint-glafs than in
crown-glafs.

Tue firft fet of experiments above recited, prove, that the
quality of difperfing the rays in a greater degree than crown-
glafs, is not confined to a few mediums, but is pofleffed by a.
great variety of fluids, and by fome of thefe in a moft extraor-
dinary degree. Solutions of metals, effential oils, and mineral:
acids, with the exception of the vitriolic, are moft remarkable
in this refpect.

Some confequences of the combinations of mediums of dif-
_ ferent difperfive powers, which have not been fufficiently at-
tended to, are then explained. Although the greater refrangi-
bility of the violet rays than of the red rays, when light pafles
from any medium whatever into a vacuum, may be confidered
as a law of nature; yet in the paflage of light from one medi-
um into another, it depends. entirely on the qualities of the
mediums, which of thefe rays fhall be the moft refrangible, or
whether there fhall be any difference in their refrangibility.

THE

70 ) On th UNEQUAL

THE application of the demonftrations of HucEnivs to the
correction of the aberration from the {pherical figures of lenfes,
whether folid or fluid, is then taken notice of, as being the next
ftep towards perfecting the theory of telefcopes.

NEXT it appears from trials made with object-glaffes of very
large apertures, in which both aberrations are corre¢ted as far .
as the principles will admit, that the correction of colour which
is obtained by the common combination of two mediums
which differ in difperfive power, is not complete. The homo-
geneal green rays emerge moft refracted, next to thefe the uni- |
ted blue and yellow, then the indigo and orange united, and
laftly the united violet and red, which are leaft refraéted.

Ir this production of colour were conftant, and the length of
the fecondary fpetrum were the fame in all combinations of
mediums when the whole refraction of the pencil is equal,. the
perfect correction of the aberration from difference of refrangi-
bility would be impoffible, and would remain an infurmount-
able obftacle to the improvement of dioptrical inftruments.

Tue object of the next experiments is, therefore, to fearch,
whether nature affords mediums which differ in the degree in
which they difperfe the rays compofing the prifmatic fpe@trum,
and at the fame time feparate the feveral orders of rays in the
fame proportion. For if fuch could be found, the above men-
tioned fecondary fpeCtrum would vanifh, and the aberration
from difference of refrangibility might be removed. The re-
fult of this inveftigation was unfuccefsful with refpect to its
principal object. In every combination that was tried, the
fame kind of uncorrected colour was obferved, and it was
thence concluded, that there was no direét method of remo-
ving the aberration. .

BuT it appeared in the courfe of the experiments, that the
breadth of the fecondary fpectrum was lefs in fome combina-
tions than in others, and thence an indirect way opened, lead-
ing to the correction fought after; namely, by forming a com-

pound

- REFRANGIBILITY of LIGHT. 7%

pound concave lens of the materials which produce moft colour,
and combining it with a compound convex lens formed of the
materials which produce leaft colour; and it was obferved in
what manner this might be effected by means of three mediums,
though apparently four are required.

In fearching for mediums beft adapted for the above purpofe,
a very fingular and important quality was detefted in the mu-
riatic acid. In all the difperfive mediums hitherto examined,
the green rays, which are the mean refrangible in crown-glafs,
were found among the lefs refrangible, and thence occafion the
uncorrected colour which has been defcribed. In the muriatic
acid, on the contrary, thefe fame rays make a part of the more
refrangible; and in confequence of this, the order of the co-
lours in the fecondary fpectrum, formed by a combination of
crown-glafs with this fluid, is inverted, the homogeneal green
being now the leaft refrangible, and the united red and violet
the moft refrangible.

THis remarkable quality found in the marine acid led to
complete fuccefs in removing the great defect of optical inftru-
ments, that diffipation or aberration of the rays, arifing from
their unequal refrangibility, which has rendered it impoffible
hitherto to converge all of them to one point, either by fingle
or oppofite refractions. A fluid in which the particles of ma-
rine acid and metalline particles hold a due proportion, at the
fame time that it feparates the extreme rays of the {fpeétrum much
more than crown-glafs, refracts all the orders of rays exactly in

the fame proportion as the glafs does; and hence rays of all co-

lours, made to diverge by the refraétion of the glafs, may ei-
ther be rendered parallel by a fubfequent refraction made in the
confine of the glafs and this fluid, or by weakening the refrac-
tive denfity of the fluid, the refraCtion which takes place in
the confine of it and glafs, may be rendered as regular as re-
fieCtion, while the errors arifing from unavoidable imperfec-
tions of workmanfhip, are far lefs hurtful than in reflection,

and

92 On the UNEQUAL

and the quantity of light tranfmitted by equal apertures of the
telefcopes much greater. .

Sucu are the advantages which the theory prefents. In re-
ducing this theory to practice, difficulties muft be expected in
the firft attempts. Many of thefe it was neceflary to furmount
before the experiments could be completed. For the delicacy of
' the obfervations is fuch, as to require a confiderable degree of
perfection in the execution of the objeét-glafles, in order to ad-
mit of the phenomena being rendered more apparent by means
of high magnifying powers. Great pains feem to have been
taken by mathematicians to little purpofe in calculating the ra-
dii of the fpheres requifite for achromatic telefcopes, from
their not confidering that the objeét-glafs itfelf is a much nicer
teft of the optical properties of refracting mediums than the
grofs experiments made by prifms, and that the refults of their
demonftrations cannot exceed the accuracy of the data, however
much they may fall fhort of it. .

I st1axz conclude this paper, which has now greatly exceed-
ed its intended bounds, by enumerating the feveral cafes of
unequal refrangibility of light, that their varieties may at once
be clearly apprehended.

In the refraction which takes place in the confine of every
known medium and a vacuum, rays of different colours are
unequally refrangible, and the red-making rays are leaft re-
frangible, and the violet-making rays are moftrefrangible.

Tus difference of refrangibility of the red and violet rays
4s not the fame in all mediums. Thofe mediums in which the
difference is greateft, and which, by confequence, feparate or
difperfe the rays of different colours moft, have been diftin-
guifhed by the term d/per/ive, and thofe mediums which fepa-
rate the rays leaft have been called indi/perfive. Difperfive me-
diums differ from indifperfive, and {till more from each other,
an another very eflential circumftance. |

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REFRANGIBILITY of LIGHT. "3

fr appears from the experiments which have been made on
indifperfive mediums, that the mean refrangible light is always
the fame, and of a green colour.

Now, in by far the largeft clafs of difperfive mediums, ii-
cluding flint-glafs, metallic folutions, effential oils, the green
light is not the mean refrangible order, but forms one of the
lefs refrangible orders of light, being found in the prifmatic
fpectrum nearer to the deep red than the extreme violet.

In another clafs of difperfive mediums, which includes the
muriatic and nitrous acids, this fame green light becomes one
of the more refrangible orders, being now found nearer to the
extreme violet than the deep red.

TueEse are the varieties in the refrangibility of light, when
the refraction takes place in the confine of a vacuum; and the
phenomena will fcarce differ fenfibly in refraGions made in the
confine of denfe mediums and air. !

But when light paffes from one denfe medium into another,
the cafes of unequal refrangibility are more complicated.

Iw refraétions made in the confine of mediums which differ
only in ftrength, not in quality, as in the confine of water and
crown-glafs, or in the confine of the different kinds of difper-
five fluids more or lefs diluted, the difference of refrangibility
’ will be the fame as above ftated in the confine of denfe medi-
ums and air, only the whole refraction will be lefs.

In the confine of an indifperfive medium, and a rarer me-
dium belonging to either clafs of the difperfive, the red and
violet rays may be rendered equally refrangible. If the dif-
perfive power of the rare medium be then increafed, the violet
rays will become the leaft refrangible, and the red rays the moft
tefrangible. If the mean refractive denfity of the two medi-
ums be rendered equal, the red and violet rays will be- refract-
ed in oppofite directions, the one towards, the other from the
perpendicular.

Vot. I.. K THUS

74 On the UNEQUAL

_Tuus it happens to the red and violet rays, whichfoever

_ clafs of difperfive mediums be employed. But the refrangibi-_ .

lity of the intermediate orders of rays, and efpecially of the
green rays, will be different when the clafs of difperfive medi-
ums is changed.

Tuus in the firft cafe, where the oa and violet rays are ren-
dered equally refrangible, the green rays will emerge moft re-
frangible, if the firft clafs of difperfive mediums is ufed, and
leaft refrangible if the fecond clafs is ufed. And in the other
two cafes, where the violet become leaft refrangible, and’ the
red moft refrangible, and where thefe two kinds of rays are re-
fracted in oppofite directions, the green rays will join the red, —
if the firft clafs of difperfive mediums be employed, and will
arrange themfelves with the violet, if the fecond clafs be made
ufe of.

ONLY one cafe more of unequal refrangibility remains to be
{tated ; and that is, when light is refracted in the confine of -
mediums belonging to the two different clafles of difperfive
fluids. In its tranfition, for example, from an effential oil, or
a metallic folution, into the muriatic acid, the refra€tive denfity
of thefe fluids may be fo adjufted, that the red and violet rays
fhall fuffer no refraction in pafling from the one into the other,
how oblique foever their incidence be. But the green rays will
then fuffer a confiderable refraction, and this refraction will be
from the perpendicular, when light pafles from the muriatic
acid into the effential oil, and towards the perpendicular, when
it paffes from the effential oil into the muriatic acid. The other
orders. of rays will fuffer fimilar refractions, which will be
greateft in thofe adjoining the green, and will diminifh as they
approach the deep red on the one hand, and the extreme violet
on the other, where the refraction ceafes entirely.

Tue manner of the production of thefe effects, by the at-

traction of the feveral mediums, may be thus explained.
WE

REFRANGIBILITY of LIGHT. 76

- We fhall fuppofe the attraGtive forces, which produce the re-
fractions of the red, green and violet light, to be reprefented
by the numbers eight, twelve and fixteen, in glafs; fix, nine,
fourteen, in the metallic folution; fix, eleven, fourteen, in the
muriatic acid; and fix, ten, fourteen, in a mixture of thefe two
fluids. The excefs of attraction of glafs for the red and violet
light is equal to two, whichfoever of the three fluids be em-
ployed. The refraction ofthefe two orders of rays will therefore
be the fame in all the three cafes. But the excefs of attraction
for the green light is equal to three, when the metallic folution
is ufed, and therefore the green light will be more refracted
than the red and violet, in this cafe. When the muriatic acid
is ufed, the excefs of attraction of glafs for the green light is
only one, and therefore the green light will now be lefs refract-
ed than the red and violet. We fhall next fuppofe the metallic
folution and the acid to adjoin each other. The attractions of
both thefe mediums, for the red light being fix, and for the’
violet light fourteen, thefe two orders of rays will fuffer no
refraction in the confine of the two fluids, the difference of
their attractions being equal to nothing.

Bur the attractive force of the metallic folution for the green
ray being only nine, and that of the muriatic acid for the fame
ray being eleven, the green light will be attra¢ted towards the
muriatic acid with the force two; and therefore the difference
between the refraction of the green light and the unrefracted
red and violet light which takes place’ in the confine of thefe
fluids, will greatly exceed the difference of refraction of the
green light, and equally refracted red and violet light, which is
produced in the confine of glafs and either of the fluids. |

LASTLY, in amixture of the two kinds of fluids, the attrac-
tion for the red. green and violet rays, being fix, ten and four-
teen, and that of the glafs, eight, twelve and fixteen, the excefs
of the attraction of the glafs for the green rays, is the fame

| APE which

76 On th UNEQUAL, &c.

which it is for the red and violet rays. Thefe three orders of ©
rays will therefore fuffer an equal refraction, being each of
them attracted towards the glafs with the force two; and when
this is the cafe, it appears from the obfervations, that the inde-
finite variety of rays of intermediate colours and fhades of co-
lours, which altogether compofe folar light, will alfo be regu-
larly bent from their rectilinear courfe, conftituting what has
been termed aplanatic refraction.

- Tuese cafes of attraction might be farther illuftrated by
means of diagrams. But after the explanation already given
of the fecond, third, fourth, fifth, fixth, feventh and eighth fi-
gures, this would be unneceflary. And it need fcarcely here be
obferved, that the above rough ftatements in round numbers,
are intended to give a clear idea of the nature of the various
cafes of unequal refrangibility, and not to afcertain its quantity
in any particular cafe. A full inveftigation of the fubject, and
an account of fome digreffions lefs immediately connected
with the principal object which occurred in the courfe of the
enquiry, could not be brought within the comipals:of of the pre-
fent communication.

Hi,

Hi. OsservATIons on GRANITE. By FAMES HUTTON, M.D.
F.R.S. Epin. and Member of the as Academy of Agri-
culture at PARIS.

[Read Fan. 4. 1790.)

‘INCE reading the paper upon the theory of the earth*, I have
been employed in examining many parts of this country,
in order to enquire into the natural hiftory of granite. In this
undertaking, I have fucceeded beyond my moft flattering ex-
pectations ; and | am now to communicate to this Society the
refult of my obfervations.
_ In the paper juft referred to, it was maintained, from many
different arguments, that all the folid ftrata of the earth had
been confolidated by means of fubterraneous heat, foftening
the hard materials of thofe bodies ; and.that in many places,
thofe confolidated ftrata had been broken and invaded by huge
maffes of fluid matter fimilar to lava, but, for the moft part,
perfectly diftinguifhable from it. Granite alfo was confidered
there as a body which had been certainly confolidated by heat ;
and which had, at leaft in fome parts, been in the ftate of per-
fect fufion, and certain fpecimens were produced, from which I
drew an argument in fupport of this conclufion.

Ar that time, however, I was not perfectly decided in my opi-
nion concerning granite; whether it was to be confidered as a
body which had been originally ftratified by the colleétion of its
different materials, and afterwards confolidated by the fufion of

thofe

* Vid. Tranf, R..S, Edin. vol. I. p.209. Phyf. Cl.

78 OBSERVATIONS

thofe materials; or whether it were not rather a body tranf-
fufed from the fubterraneous regions, and made to break and
invade the ftrata, in the manner of our whinftone or trapp,
and of porphyries, into which the whinftone often graduates.

Ir was not that I doubted of there being fuch a thing as ftra-
tified granite ; the granit feuilleté or granit veiné, which M. pr
Saussure has defcribed in his Voyages dans les Alpes, is cer-
tainly a ftratified granite ; and this is very well diftinguifhed
by that author, as is the granit en maffe, the hiftory of which
we are now enquiring after. I had alfo fpecimens of a fimilar
veined granite from the North-weft Highlands, that is, from
beyond Fort William and the lakes ; and this veined granite is
{tratified along with the quartzy, micaceous and Alpine ftrata.

But my object was to know if the granite that is’ found in
maffes has been made to flow in the bowels of the earth, in like
manner as thofe great bodies of our whinftone and porphyry,
which may be confidered as fubterranean lavas. Now, this
queftion could only be determined by the examination of that
fpecies of granite upon the fpot, or where it is to be found in
immediate connection with thofe bodies which are evidently
{tratified ; bodies, confequently, whofe natural hiftory we have
fome means of tracing.

In ftratified bodies, we have not only the means of diftin-
guifhing thofe which, in point of time or fucceffion of opera-
tion, have been formed prior and pofterior, we may alfo, with
regard to the manner of operation, diftinguifh thofe ftratified
bodies from others which had been introduced among them in
a forcible manner, or with marks of violence inconfiftent with
the regular procefs of ftratification. Now, the evidence of this
muft be found in the broken, feparated and diftorted parts of
thofe regularly formed bodies, the natural hiftory of which we
fo far know. wi

Tuts was the queftion, with regard to granite, that I wanted
to have refolved by means of the conneétion of that maf with

the

On GRANITE. ~ "9

_ the Alpine ftrata ; that is to fay, I wanted to fee, whether the
granite mafs, in point of time, had been prior or pofterior to
thefe water-formed bodies ; and, as to the manner of operation,
_ I particularly defired to know, if that granite had been made to
flow, in the ftate of fufion, among the broken: and diflocated
{trata.

Havine thus fufpended my opinion, until I fhould have an.
opportunity of finding fome decifive appearance, by which
this important queftion might be determined with certainty, I
confidered where it might be moft likely to find the jun@tion of
the granite country with the Alpine ftrata. Mr Crerx of Eldin
and I had an engagement to vifit the Duke of ATHOL, at Blair.

‘I concluded, that from Blair it could not be far before the great
mafs of granite, which runs fouth-weft from Aberdeen, would
be met with, in afcending the river Tilt, or fome of its branches.
Mr Crerk and I were, however, refolved to find it out, to what-
ever diftance the purfuit might lead us among the mountains of
this elevated track. Little did we imagine that we fhould be
fo fortunate as to meet with the object of our fearch almoft upon
the very {pot where the Duke’s hunting-feat is fituate, and where

_ we were entertained with the utmoft hofpitality and ele-

gance. |

Ir is in Glen Tilt, and precifely in the bed of the river, that
this junction is formed of the granite with the Alpine ftrata.
But this circumftance, of being in the bed of the river, where
the rocks are often wafhed bare, is of fuch importance, that
had this junction been only to be found in the mountains co-
_-vered with heath and mofs, we might have been upon the fpot,
and yet been ignorant of the moft material circumftances of the
fact, which we wanted to explore.

I were had every fatisfaGtion that it was poffible to defire,
having found the moft perfeé& evidence, that the granite had been
made to break the Alpine ftrata, and invade that country in a
fluid ftate. This correfponded perfeétly with the conclufion

which

80 hs OBSERVATIONS

which I had drawn from the fingular fpecimen of the Portfoy
granite *. . Ly

Ir was in the year 1785, that-we were thus gratified by a fight
of the jun¢tion of the granite with the Alpine fchifte, or primary
{trata, as they may be called, of the north country. We now
were eager to fee the junction of the granite country, which I
knew to be at the head of Loch Dune, with the fchiftus ftrata
of the fouth of Scotland. In the year 1786, therefore, Mr
CrerK and | fet out by the fhire of Ayr, to fearch round the
coaft of Galloway, in order to find the junction of the granite
mountains with the fchiftus or vertical ftrata, of which 1 knew
that Galloway confifted.

WE were extremely fortunate in finding what we looked for, —
in two different places in Galloway ; firft, in the mountain of
Cairn’s muir, between two and three miles from the Ferry-town of
Cree ; and, fecondly, in a little bay upon the fea-fide, about
mid-way between Covend and Saturnefs point on the Solway
frith. Here we were as much fatisfied, as we had been the year
before, that the granite had invaded the fchiftus or Alpine
ftrata, having not only broken and floated the fchiftus in every
way poflible, but in the laft of thofe two places, we found the
granite introduced, for fome length, in fmall veins between the
ftratified bodies, giving every mark of the moft fluid injection
among the broken and diftorted ftrata.

In Auguft 1787, I fet out for Arran. Mr Crerx could not
go at that time, and Mr Joun CLerKk, junior, was fo kind as
‘to accompany me. We had exceeding good weather for ex-
ploring the lofty mountains of that ifland, and returned ex-—
tremely fatisfied with our expedition.

I PROPOSE to give a particular account of the conftruction

of Arran, or a mineralogical hiftory of it; therefore it will here — g
only be necefflary to fay, that I found my former conclufions
- fully confirmed by all the appearances in this moft interefting __

ifland ; and I brought fpecimens with me, fome of them of great

fize,
* 'Tranf. R. S. Edin. vol. Ll. p. 255. Phyf Cl.

On GRANITE. Sr

fize, which to every perfon who has feen them, leave no manner
of doubt with regard to the propofition which I have main-
tained.

We are now fully affured that granite has been made to
break, difplace and invade the Alpine fchiftus or primary ftrata
having been previoufly forced to flow in the bowels of the
earth, and reduced into a ftate of fufion. From this too we are
to draw the following conclufion :

Grantre, which has been hitherto confidered by naturalifts
as being the original or primitive part of the earth, is now
found to be pofterior to the Alpine fchiftus ; which fchiftus,
being ftratified, is not itfelf original ; though it may be confi-
dered, perhaps, as primary, in relation to other ftrata, which
are evidently of a later date.

_ Tue fucceffive operations of the globe, in producing, deftroy-

ing and replacing ftrata, for the purpofe of land, are a fub-
jet of natural hiftory moft interefting to every theory of the
earth. The view of granite which has now been given, forms
one great ftep in this enquiry ; and it is connected with fome
other very important facts with regard to the fucceffions of
ftrata, or a certain order of geological periods, which may be
afcertained by the natural hiftory of our minerals. Of this I
fhall alfo treat in another place ; and I wifh what I now lay be-
fore the Society, to be confidered merely as a notice given of
certain new facts and obfervations, which I mean fully to de-
fcribe and explain hereafter. -

We Voz. Ith. L, [Read

82 - OBSERVATIONS

[Read Aug. 1. 1791.]

SINCE reading the mineralogical notice in this Society with
regard to granite, | have found that the fame curious appear-
ance, which had occurred in the granite of Portfoy, (defcribed
in the firft volume of thefe TranfaCtions, and referred to above),
has been obferved in a very diftant part of the world. In the
Journal de Phyfique, Avril 1791, M. Patrin defcribes a granite
mountain in the eaftern part of Siberia, where we meet with
the following account :

“‘ EnFIN, l’on trouve dans les parois de ce filon, cette efpéce

“ finguliére de roche qu’on a nommée fierre graphique: c’eft
‘* un feld-fpath dans lequel fe trouvent une multitude de petits
criftaux quartzeux, tous a-peu-prés du méme volume, et
** placés dans le méme fens, avec une forte de regularité. Ces
** criftaux n’ont de quartz que la carcafle; l’interieur eft de
“ feld-fpath: le plus fouvent méme. il manque plufieurs faces’
** des criftaux; de maniére que quand on coupe la pierre tranf-
verfalement, elle prefente une fuite de figures qui font des
“* portions d’hexagones, ce qui ne reflemble pas mal a de 1’écri-
ture. J’en ai un échantillon qui imite fi bien les caraétéres
Hebrarques, que quelqu’un a dit en la voyant, que certaine-
““ ment c’étoit un morceau des tables de Moyse.
‘“* On trouve la méme pierre aux environs d’Ekaterinbourg,
** dans les Monts Oural, qui fert également de lifiére a un filon
** de topafes; ce qui me feroit foupgonner qu’elle eft un indice
** de cette gemme. J’ai vu a Paris, dans la belle collection de
“‘ M. Besson, des échantillons de pierre graphique, venant de
* Corfe ;:

On GRANITE. 84

* Corfe *; peut-etre y trouvera-t-on quelque jour des to-
“* pafes.”’

M. PaTRin has reprefented this fpecies of cryftalization in
a different light from that by which I had endeavoured to ex-
plain the appearance of this ftone. Fle confiders the quartz as
cryftalizing in its natural hexagonal fhape, and thus including
bodies of feld-fpar; whereas I think that it is the fparry ftruc-
‘ture of the laf that had induced a certain form upon the quartz,
a form which is neither the natural fhape of the cryf{talization
of that filiceous fubftance, nor an accidental fhape, that had
arifen from preceding caufes, but a fhape determined by the
concretion of this mixed body cryftalizing from the fluid ftate
of fufion. Indeed, I fee nothing in the fpecimens which we
poffefs, that can juftify M. Parrin’s fuppofition ; on the con-
trary, almoft every appearance is inconfiftent with it. I fhall
mention only one.
Ir the figuring caufe, which proceeds longitudinally through
the ftone, were that of the filiceous cryftalization, then the
tranfverfe fection would exhibit hexagonal figures of quartz,
inclofing bodies of feld-fpar. Now, M. Patrin fays, that fe-
veral of thofe fides of the hexagons are wanting; but then
what remains fhould be conformable to that hexagonal figure of
which it was a part. ‘This, however, I think, is not the cafe;
and in the fpecimens which I have, the rhombic angles of the
feld-{par feem fo prevalent in the figures, and thefe Hedvew or
rather Runic characters are fo regularly directed by two lines
correfponding with the rhombic angle, that I cannot help
afcribing this regular figure to that caufe, and not confidering
it as produced by the obtufe angles of imperfect hexagons. It
L2 is
* I am inclined to believe that this fpecimnen, ack is here reprefented as coming

from Corfica, is no other than the granite of Portfoy which I have deferibed. I imagine
that here is only a graphic error, in writing de Corfe, in place of d’Eco/f.

84 OBSERVATIONS

is true indeed that there are many of thefe angles obtufe; but
there are an equal number, which are as much lefs than the
right-angle, as the others are greater. °

In whichfoever of thefe two lights we are to take the explana-
tion of this mineral appearance, my argument, viz. that thefe
two fubftances had concreted together from a fluid ftate of fu-
fion, is equally fupported. For whether cryftalizing quartz
fhall inclofe a body of feld-fpar, or concreting feld-fpar deter-
mine the fhape of fluid quartz; particularly, if we have, as is
here alfo the cafe, two folid bodies mutually including and in-
cluded by each other, it amounts to a demonftration, that thofe
bodies had concreted from the fluid ftate of fufion, and had:
not cryftalized in the manner of falts from a folution. There-
fore, here is the te{timony of granite from three different places
of the earth, viz. from the Daouri, from the Oural Mountains,
and from Scotland, by which this truth is manifefted.

Ir would feem that the circumftances, neceflarily concurring
in order to produce this particular effect, are rarely to be found ;
and the external circumftances which attend it in the eaft, do
not appear to accompany it in the weft of Europe. In Scot-
land, this {tone neither forms the walls of a vein, nor are to-
pazes found connected with it, as M. Parrin found it in the
eaft. The internal circumftances, therefore, which, in the
mafs of granite, determine this particular conftruction of the
ftone, are to us unknown. :

Ir is not, however, confined to any particular place or fituation ;
it is found both at the level of the fea, and upon the higheft parts. _
of the earth, and in countries extremely diftant from each other.
Now, confidering that nothing is more general in minerals than.
granite, it is furprifing that this particular modification of its.
conftituent parts has been fo little obferved. But, as it would.
feem to take place only in fmall portions of the granite mafs,
there may be fimilar examples in many mafles, or in moft gra-

nite.

On GRANITE. 85

nite countries, without their having as yet appeared to the view
of naturalifts ; and I am perfuaded, that many will be difco-
covered, if it fhould be made an object for the enquiry of
thofe who have the opportunity of examining this fubject.

IV.

III. Of the Fuexipizity of the BRAZILIAN STONE. By
¥ames Hutton, M.D. F.R.S. Eprn. and Member of
the Royal Academy of Agriculture at PARIS.

[Read Feb. 7. 1791+]

O quality is more inconfiftent with the character of a ftone
than flexibility. A flexible ftone, therefore, prefents an
idea which naturally ftrikes us with furprife. For though
among mineral bodies, we find flexible fubftances of the ftony
kind, fuch as mica, mountain leather, and amianthus, thefe
minerals owe their flexibility, either to their thinnefs, or to the ~
fibrous ftru@ture of their parts. Therefore, when a ftone of
any confiderable thicknefs is faid to have flexibility, we are led
to think that here is fomething very extraordinary ; and we wifh
to know upon what depends that quality, nowife proper to a
ftone.

Sucu, however, is the ftone from Brazil, of which the Baron
de Dierricu read a defcription in the Royal Academy of
Sciences, in January 1784. There is alfo at prefent, in the pof- |
fefion of Lord GARDENSTON, a fpecimen of ftone, which
correfponds with that defcription, inferted in the Journal de
Phyfique for the year. 1784*. The length of the {tone which I
have examined is twelve inches, the breadth about five, and
the thicknefs half an inch. When this ftone is fupported by

.~ the

* Tom. xxiv. Pp 275, 276.

Of the FLEXIBILITY of, &c. | 84

the two ends in a horizontal pofition, the middle part bends by
its own weight more than a quarter of an inch from the ftraight
line. This fpecies of flexibility may certainly be made a pro-
per object of fcientifical inveftigation. Iam therefore induced
to lay before this Society what has occurred to me upon the
fubject. ,

Harp bodies are either on the one hand friable, or on the
other ductile. If they are friable, they are elaftic; if dudtile,
again, they preferve the change which has been forcibly induced
upon their form, confequently are not in that fenfe elaftic. Bo-
dies, indeed, may be either friable or ductile in various degrees ;
but, fo far as friable, they are not ductile; and, fo far as duc-
tile, they cannot be faid to be elaftic. But compound bodies
may be flexible, without being either dudtile or elaftic; fuch
are jointed bodies. In that cafe, however, it is not to the na-
ture of the fubftance that the body owes its flexibility, but
more properly to its mechanical conftruction. Of this kind,
certainly, is the body which we have now under confideration ;
for it has a certain flexibility, to which neither the terms ductile
nor ¢elafiic, will properly apply ; although, having no degree of
ductility from the nature of its fubftance, it cannot, in like
manner, be faid to have no elafticity. The flexibility of. this
{tone is fo eafy, compared with the rigidity of its fubftance,
and its elafticity fo {mall, compared with its flexibility, that
there muft be in this body fome mechanical flructure, by which
this unnatural degree of flexibility is produced ; that is to fay,
a flexibility which is not inherent in the general fubftance of the
body.

Now, the fubftance of this ftone being chiefly quartz, the
moft rigid and inflexible of all materials, and the ftone, at the
fame time, bending in fuch an eafy manner, there is reafon to:
conclude, that this arifes from no principle of flexibility in the
general fubftance of the ftone, but from fome fpecies of articula-
tion in the ftructure of it, or among its conftituent parts ; which

articulation

88 Of the FLEXIBILITY o

articulation, while it preferves the component particles in one
entire mafs, fuffers the parts to move a certain fpace in relation -
to each other. | |

Burt before diffeCting this ftone, in order to fee upon
what principle i it holds its flexibility, it may be proper to form
a diftiné idea with regard to that inflexibility or Basen: which
is to be found in other ftrata.

WE do not now enquire into the means employed by nature
for uniting the incoherent particles of which our ftrata have
been compofed ; it is enough to krow this faét, That ftrata are
thus actually found, with their particles united in every poflible
degree, from the flighteft conta to the moft abfolute confu-
fion ; that is to fay, from a mafs of incoherent particles, they
become bodies of the mott perfect folidity, and may be found
in every fenfible ftage of that progrefs. If they are flightly ce-
mented, the {tone is tender and extremely friable; if much
confolidated, the ftone is ftrong, but inflexible, that is to fay,
with no more flexibility than the nature of the fubftance and
the thinnefs of the body will admit of. It will here be evi-
dent, that with the fame degree of cementation or confolidation,
and with the fame fubftance, the ftrength of the ftone will de-
pend upon the figure of the particles of which it is compofed ;
the {pherical being that in which the particles are leaft difpofed
to be firmly united. But of whatever form the particles may
be, or in whatever degree they may be cemented, fo long as
their parts, which are in’conta@, are united, and fo long as
thofe particles are rigid, no flexibility, at leaft of that kind ~
which is the fubject of the ghee examination, can take
place.

TuHus we may fee, that in order to give any degree of the
prefent flexibility, it is neceflary the particles fhould not be all
equally united, but be united in fome parts, and difunited in

others. By this means, a certain fpecies of articulation may be _

formed; an articulation which muft be of a complicated na-

turé, a

Th BRAZILIAN STONE. 89

ture, depending upon many circumftances; and one which it
‘may be very difficult to inveftigate among the {mall particles of
this {tone.

WE are now to endeavour to alitdower the peculiar pee aaind
or conftitution of this Brazilian ftone, by examining, as mi-
nutely as we can, the form and fubftance of its conftituent
parts, and that particular texture by which they are united.

Upon the upper and under furfaces of this thin ftratum of
ftone, there is to be perceived a certain ftructure, which has a
refemblance to a fibrous ftructure, but which is truly HOt f=
brous. From more accurate infpection, it appears to arife from
the refleGtion of longitudinal fpecular plates, which are all re-
gularly arranged in one direction, confequently are parallel to
each other. This gives fome refemblance to a fibrous ftruc-
ture.

WueEn I examined thefe places with a microfcope, I could
perceive nothing like mica in them ; but they feemed to me to
be the impreffion of mica which had fo formed the tranfparent
fubftance of the ftone. In examining the tranf{verfe fection of
the ftone, there appears nothing heterogeneous in its confti-
tution, nothing micaceous, nor any diftinét mark of ftratifica-
tion. The ftone is porous or fpungy, feemingly compofed of
nothing but pure tranfparent quartz, and fhows neither a fi-
brous nor a laminated ftructure. It refembles nothing fo much
as a compreffed ftratum of fnow. I now almoft gave up every
fufpicion of mica in the compofition of this ftone; and this
» will ferve to fhow how deceitful may be certain appearances.

My next operation was to fplit this {tone in the direction of
its ftratification, by prefling in the point of a knife. Here I
found that this ftratified body has truly a foliated ftructure, and
a certain tenacity in the direction of its ftratification, which
admits of flexure before it breaks. The fame ftriated appear-
ance is here to be perceived in the internal horizontal feétion,
as was obferved upon the upper and under furfaces of this ftra-

Vou. IL M : tum ;

dagen Of the FLEXIBILITY of

tum ; and this appearance likewife proceeds from the fame kind

of {pecular longitudinal plates, arranged in the fame order.

I now beftowed fome pains in endeavouring to difcover, by
the power of the lens, what was the nature of thofe reflecting
fpecular laminz ; but I could not fay affyredly, that there were

two different fubftances in the conftrution of this ftone. The

irregular quartzy particles, and thefe fpecular bodies, feemed
both to be of a perfectly tranfparent cryftalline-like matter. I
then had recourfe to the blow-pipe, in order to refolve my
doubts ; and this indeed foon made a diftin€@tion of the diffe-
rent fubftances contained in this ftratum. Where the fragment
of the ftone had received the intenfe heat of the flame, the fo-
_ hated fpecular ftructure totally difappeared ; and here the irre-

gular quartzy particles remained feemingly without change.’

In the other part of the fragment, which had been heated to
incandefcence, the doubt with regard to the fpecular bodies
was entirely removed, and the tranfparent mica had now af-
fumed its natural appearance ; it had become opake with regard
to the tranfmiffion of light, at leaft comparatively, and it gave
an argentine appearance by reflection, as may be perceived in
the fpecimens which I have here laid before the Society.

I now could fee, moft evidently, the connection of the ir-
‘regular ftructure of the quartzy particles, with thofe ftratified
parallel plates of mica; and I alfo underftood the reafon why
I could not before diftinguifh the proper connection of-thofe
two fubftances, which was no other than their perfect tranfpa-
rency. But being thus fatisfied of the thin flexible’ plates of
mica, we may now confider the particles of quartz, which
have little cohefion, as being bound together by thefe thin
plates of tranfparent mica; and thefe connecting plates being
flexible, this allows a certain motion of the rigid particles
‘among themfelves, without the fraqure or general feparation —
of the ftone.

WERE

Th BRAZILIAN STONE. gi

Were I to form a conjecture in relation to the natural hi-
fMtory of this flexible Brazilian ftone, I would fuppofe, that it
had been originally, like many fimilar ftrata, attendant upon
the Alpine limeftones, confolidated with calcareous fpar ; and
that the confolidating fubftance had been afterwards diffolved
out, as it always is in ftones fufficiently expofed to the in-
fluences of the atmofphere. This fuppofition is alfo countenanced
_ by the report, which I have received, with regard to the fitua-
tion in which this folitary ftone was found. It is faid to
- have been in the foil or upon the furface of the earth. But
without allowing ourfelves to be led into any hypothetical f{pe-
culations upon the fubject, we may now reafon from what ap-
pears more evident in the conftruction of this mineral.

NOTHING is more common in our north Alpine country, as
well as in every other extenfive country of the fame kind, than
{trata of granular quartz and mica; and in our low country,
we have many micaceous fand-ftones ; yet {tones of that kind,
with palpable flexibility, have not been obferved. Therefore
we have reafon to believe, that it requires many conditions,
feldom to be found together, in order to produce that flexibi-
lity which is fo remarkable in this Brazilian ftone. It is not
enough to be compofed of filiceous particles and plates of mica ;
thefe muft be duly proportioned and properly arranged. But
when all the materials fhall be juftly proportioned and perfeét-
ly arranged, perhaps the moft difficult part is ftill to come;
that is, the giving a proper union to the parts, fo as to
form a cohering ftone, at the fame time thatthe proper fepara:
tion among thofe parts is fo preferved as to allow them to move.
in relation to each other. Were all the particles united or ce-.
mented where they are in contact, it is plain that the flexibility
of this ftone would be loft; and were there no union among
the component particles; it would ceafe to be a ftone; aterm
which implies a certain degree of confiftency or ftrength. But
between thofe two extremes, there are not only many degrees,

M 2 bur

92 Of the FLEXIBILITY of

but alfo a certain variety, arifing from different modifications of
thofe conditions. Thus, for example, the plates of mica may
be united with the particles of quartz, while thefe inflexible

- particles are not united with each other. Here is a modification

which may alfo take place in various degrees ; for part of the
quartzy particles may be cemented, while there is fufficient fe-
paration upon the whole, to admit of all the flexure which is
here perceived.

I MAKE little doubt that fomething of this kind is the cafe |

with the prefent example ; that is to fay, that there is a fuffi-
cient connection among the parts to preferve the proper con-
fiftency of a ftorte, and a fufficient laxity in the compofition to
admit of many of its parts moving in relation to each other, at
the fame time that the whole is connected.

But if among the indefinite variety that may happen in the
difpofition of thofe materials, and in the {till more various de-
grees in which the cementing or confolidating operation may
proceed, there is but one in which the greateft degree of flexi-
bility may be admitted of, we fhall find reafon to conclude,
that while an example equal to the prefent may be extremely
rare, yet that upon accurate obfervation, many {tones of that
kind may be found to poffefs {mall degrees of this fpecies of
flexibility, fuch as might pafs unnoticed by common obferva-
tion.

TuE /ftellften or geftelifiein of the Swedes and Germans,
which they employ for the building of furnaces, is a ftone of
this kind, being, according to CRONsTEDT, compofed of quartz
and mica. Let us now confider what is the quality in a ftoné
which, befides being apyrous, is required in order to adapt it
to that purpofe, of being durable in a furnace. It is precifely
the fame quality that would procure a certain degree of flexibi-
lity to the ftone. In proportion as a ftone 's ‘olid and friable,
it is improper for that purpofe. But in a porous ftone, there
is alfo a certain texture that adapts it for refifting the alternate

operations

< *

The BRAZILIAN STONE. 94

operations of heat and cold, or the effeéts of frequent expan-
fions and contractions, partially applied. Now, it is precifely
the fame ftructure which is required for thofe two purpofes,
that of procuring flexibility, and that of refifting fraCure by
the partial application of heat and cold; and the two things
here compared, the ftellften and the Brazilian ftone, are of the
fame conftruction, fo far as compofed of quartz and mica in
the ftratified ftructure of a {chiftus.

Now, though in comparing the common ftellften, or quartzy
-micaceous ftrata of the Alpine countries, with this Brazilian
{tone, the one may be faid to be flexible and the other inflexi-
ble, this is but faying that the one of thefe is not fenfibly flexi-
ble, as is the other. But how many degrees of flexibility may
actually take place between that which may be fenfible to com-
mon obfervation, and that at which flexibility muft ceafe?

THEREFORE, in feeing the principle upon which the Brazi-
lian ftone poffeffes its flexibility, we may underftand the qua-
lity of the ftellftein which renders it fo proper for the conftruc-
tion of furnaces ; and, converfely, in underftanding the ftruc-
ture of the ftellften, we may fee the principle upon which
the Brazilian foffil poffeffes flexibility in fo eminent a degree.

BuT it would appear, that this is not the only {pecies of ftone
which may have this remarkable degree of flexibility. M. le
Baron de DietTRicu obferves, that the marble tables, preferved
in the Borghefé Palace at Rome, under the name of Pietra ela-
Jfiica, feem to have the fame property. Now, M. FERBER
found, that thofe tables were of a true antique white marble,
the grains of which have but little cohefion ; and the P. Ja-
qurer obferved, among the grains of the marble, particles
of talc. But among the Alpine ftrata, we find both thofe that
are compofed of granulated quartz and mica, and thofe that
are compofed of granulated calcareous fpar and. mica, fo much
refembling each other, that, without trying their hardnefs or
their folubility in acids, it would be difficult to diftinguifh

J them:

04 - Of ithe FL EXTBILALY; bc.

them. | w hile, therefore, the flexibility of thofe ftratified bee ::
dies is confidered as arifing from a certain mechanical conftruc- —
tion, in which flexible plates of talc or mica are united with —
the granulated body of the ftone, it is of no confequence of |
what fubttance the rigid particles of the {tone fhall confift, fince —
they do not alter their form during the flexure, but only move |

an relation to each other.

IV. dn Anatysis of the WaTeERS of fome Hor Sprincs 7”
IceELanD. By FosEPH BLack, M.D. Profeffor of Me-
dicine and Chemifiry in the Univerfity of Edinburgh, Firft
Phyfician to his Majefty for Scotland, Fellow of the Royal
College of Phyficians, and of the Royal Society of Edinburgh;
Member of the Academy of Sciences and of the Society of Me-
dicine of Paris, of the Imperial Academy of St Peterfburgh;
&e. &e.

[Read Fuly 4. 17916]

IR Josepn Banks, to whofe indefatigable ardour for the
advancement of natural hiftory, the philofophical world

is fo much indebted, made a voyage to Iceland in the year
1772, to enquire into the productions of that remote part of
the world, and particularly into thofe of its famous volcano.
When he returned, he brought from thence, among many other
natural productions, fome petrified vegetables, and incrufta-
tions, formed by the waters of the boiling fprings; and he was
fo good as to prefent a part of them to his friends here, who
were furprifed to find them compofed of filiceous earth. As
this was the firft example obferved, of water containing this
earth in fuch quantity as to form filiceous petrifactions, it raifed
a ftrong defire to have an opportunity of examining the water,
and of learning by what means this filiceous matter was dif-
folved in it; and this opportunity was at laft given us by
Joun Tuomas STANLEY, Efq; who, excited by motives fimi-
lar to thofe of Sir JosepH BaNkKs, equipped likewife a veffel,
and made a voyage to Iceland, during the fummer 1789. He
, brought

=

96 | fa ANALYSIS of

brought from thence, and from the Faro Iflands, a number of _
fine fpecimens of volcanic and other foflil productions, and
along with them, a quantity of the water of the two moft re-
markable boiling and exploding fprings of Iceland, called by
the natives Geyzer and Rykum; and having favoured me with a
portion of thefe waters, and exprefled his defire that I would
examine them, I have accordingly made a number of experi- _
ments with them, an account of which I fhall now.fubmit to ~
the Society. If the detail of it fhould appear tedious; if I] _
fhall be thought to have given much attention to very fmall
matters ; it muft be confidered, that the nature of the fubjec&t
~ requires exactnefs. The quantities of the materials which are
to be examined in fuch experiments, are but fmall, though it —
ofteri happens, that thefe {mall quantities of matter, acting in
nature for a great length of time, produce accumulations, and.
other effects, that appear very furprifing and worthy of atten-
tion. I mutt alfo confefs, that | took pleafure in promoting, as
far as I could, the information concerning I[celand, which the
philofophical zeal and fpirit of the Gentlemen I mentioned, —
have procured for us. * .

Boru thefe waters had a weak fmell of the Hepatic Gas, or
a {mall degree of the odour, which is well known in Harrow-
gate, and other fulphureous waters. The quantity, however,
of this fulphureous matter in them was fo very fmall, that I
was not able, by any experiments, to obtain it in a feparate —
{tate, or bring it into view in any form whatever. I therefore
could not make any attempt to eftimate the quantity of it. &

THose who are acquainted with fulphureous waters, know
that an incredibly fmall quantity of their volatile fulphureous —
matter is fufficient to give a perceptible odour; and it is fo liable
to be decompounded and changed, while we attempt to feparate
it from water, that fuch an attempt never fucceeds when the —
quantity of itis fmall. There was alfo reafon to believe, that .
fome part of it had already been loft or changed during the

voyages, —

~

WATERS from ICELAND. 97

voyage, this matter being one of thofe volatile ingredients of
mineral waters, which are the moft liable to be evaporated or
changed by the action of the air and other caufes. I therefore
think it fufficient to mention, that thefe waters contained a {mall
quantity of this fubftance.

I BEGAN by making a few preliminary trials, to acquire fome
notion of the nature of thefe waters. I

1. AN equal quantity of lime-water being added to the Ice-
land waters, there was a little diminution of tranfparency, but
only in the fmalleft degree, and no fediment was formed.

2. Mitp volatile alkali produced no effect whatever. _

3. Paper ftained blue with the March violet, being dipped
into the water and dried, had its colour changed a little towards
a green.

4. CAmsric ftained to a bluifh purple, with infufion of
litmus, affumed a more perfect blue colour, when dipped into
the water and dried.

5-. Acip of fugar did not produce a perceptible muddinefs or
precipitation.

6. Nor did the folution gf corrofive fublimate.

4, Tue folution of fal faturni (plumbum acetatum) made
the water very muddy and white, but a {mall quantity of
diftilled vinegar rediffolved nearly the whole of the precipitate,
and made the water almoft perfectly clear again.

8. Tue folution of barytes in muriatic acid made the water
become muddy, and depofite a fediment, which was not redif-
folved by adding purified nitrical acid.

9. THE folution of filver produced a ftrong muddinefs and
confiderable precipitation, which was not rediffolved by adding
purified nitrical acid.

Tue laft trial fhewed the prefence of the muriatic acid, and

_the one preceding it, that of the vitriolic acid in the compofition
of thefe waters; but by the 3d, 4th and 7th, I alfo learned,
that there was more than enough of alkaline matter to faturate

Vor. Hi. N both

98 Mn ANALYSIS of

both of them. The sth trial fhewed that the alkaline matter
was not calcareous earth, but alkaline falt; and the 6th, that
this alkaline falt was not the volatile, but one of the fixed al-
kalis. The 1ft trial fhewed, that this unfaturated fixed alkali
was not combined with air, or that if any was combined with
it, the quantity was fo {mall as to be fcarcely perceptible.

None of thefe trials gave any indication of the earthy matter
contained in thefe waters; and as my principal object was to
inveftigate the nature of their petrifying power, I now began
with the following experiment :

Evaporation of the Water.

I EVAPORATED 10,000 grains weight of each of thefe waters
to drynefs with a gentle heat, in feparate glafles. The dry ex-
tract of the water of Rykum weighed gr. 8.2 5, and that of
Geyzer, gr. 10.

THE evaporation was performed in cylindrical glafs veffels,
about 3 inches wide and 74 deep, which received heat from the
fteam of boiling water, not directly, but through the interven-
tion of white-iron cafes, which fitted the glafles, and in which
they hung. I have often ufed this apparatus in examining and
_ comparing different waters ; and the advantages of it are, that
-the greater part of the fixed matter is collected on a fmall fur-
face; that the glaffes are fo moderately heated, that they bear
water to be added, during the evaporation, without danger of
breaking ; and, laftly, when the whole water is evaporated, the
fixed matter, while it is thoroughly dried, by leaving it expofed
fome hours to the heat, never becomes fo hot as to fuffer the lof

of any part of the acid of the faline compounds which it may ~
contain, and when it is dry, the quantity of it is accurately de-

termined, by weighing it in the glafs, the weight of which can
be

WATERS from ICELAND. 99

be afcertained, both before the water is put into it, and after
the extract is taken out.

In the end of thefe evaporations of the Iceland waters, they
emitted an odour fimilar to that of alkaline leys, which contain
an alkali not very pure or well calcined, and afterwards, when
the evaporation was nearly completed, the refiduum affumed
the form of a tranfparent jelly, which had nearly the thicknefs
of halfa crown. ‘This jelly afterwards became divided by fif-
fures, into a great number of fmall portions, which, in drying,
contracted their fize, and greatly widened the fiffures, forming
at laft a number of fmall fragments of white cruft, unconneét-
ed with one another, and not adhering to the bottom of the
glafs. A fmall quantity only of this matter attached itfelf to
the fides of the glafs during the evaporation, and formed there
circles of an exceeding thin incruftation, which adhered ftrongly,

and required much patience to fcrape it off with a knife.
Turse phenomena are exactly fimilar to thofe which appear
in evaporating water which contains filiceous earth, diffolved in
it artificially by means of an alkaline falt. The colour of the
dry matter obtained from Rykum water, was almoft a pure
white, that of the water of Geyzer was a yellowith white.

Wuite thefe dry extracts were kept for fome time in the
glaffes, placed in a cold room, in the winter feafon,' they at-
tracted humidity, and the extra of Geyzer attra@ted the mott.
Fight grains of the extract of Rykum attra@ed in one week
four grains of humidity ; the fame quantity of the extra& of
Geyzer attracted in the fame time ten grains of humidity. My
_ attention, howéver, was turned for fome time from thefe expe-
riments ; but refuming them again after fome months, I found
_ that thefe extras remaining in the fame glaffes, and in the
fame room, had again become dry, and had loft the greater part -
of the weight which they had acquired at firit by attracting
humidity. This I imputed partly to the ftate of the atmo-
fphere, and partly to their having attracted fixed air, by their
| NZ) union

100 An ANALYSIS of

union with which they had loft their ftrong attraGion for
water. ns

Tue conftituent parts of thefe extracts were next to be inve-
ftigated. I foon perceived that they contained a portion of al-

kaline falt not faturated with acid, which became evident when -

a {mall quantity of them was wetted and applied to paper
- ftained with the juice of violets, or the colouring matter of the
common purple radifh ; the colour in either cafe was changed
toagreen, I further collected and fcraped thefe extracts out
of the glaffes, and placing each in a {mall filtre, I dropped di-
{tilled water on them repeatedly, until the water came away
from them infipid. The waters which had been thus filtrated
through them were put into china cups, and the greater part
evaporated with a gentle heat, the reft was allowed to evapo-
rate fpontaneoufly ina dry room. Thus, a number of {mall
faline cryftals were formed, which were partly regular cryftals
of common falt, and partly cryftals of an oblong and flatted
form, larger than thofe of the common falt. Thefe larger

cryftals were diftinguifhable, not only by their form, but by ~ j

fome of their properties. They became white, opaque and
| mealy in dry afr, and being taken out, and tafted and tried in
different ways, were found to contain fome of the foffil alkali
in a cryftalized ftate.

Tue undiffolved matter which had remained on the filtrating
paper, appeared by its properties to be totally or principally —
made up of filiceous earth. It was white and exceedingly
fpungy and light. A fmall portion of it was triturated, and
made into a pafte with water ; which pafte being laid on a piece
of charcoal and dried, was heated intenfely with the blowpipe.

No part of it was melted ; it was only contracted in its dimen-

fions, and acquired a weak degree of cohefion. Another {mall
portion was triturated dry, with an equal weight of aerated and —
exficcated foffil alkali; and being put into a {mall platina {poon, —
againtt the bottom of which the flame of the blowpipe was }

ftrongly —

WATERS from ICELAND. - 101

ftrongly directed, the mixture was foon melted into a tranfpa-
rent colourlefs glafs, which afterwards, by being digefted with
a {mall quantity of diftilled water, was completely diflolved,
and formed a liquor which had all the qualities of the liquor f-
licum. |
I NEED not take notice here of the quantity of the earth
and faline matter which were in fome meafure feparated
from one another in this experiment. I had reafon to fufped,
- that neither of them were obtained in this way without fome
lofs. The odour emitted by the water in the end of evapora-
tion, gave reafon to fufpect the lofs of fome part of the falts ;
and it was probable that a part of the earth would remain com-
bined with the alkali, in a foluble ftate, in the dry extra, and
would pafs through the filtre, when | diffolved and wafhed away
the faline matter.

I THEREFORE planned a fet of experiments, by which the
quantity of each ingredient in thefe waters might be more cer-
tainly known ; and began with the following

Experiments to invefligate the quantity of the un-neutralized alkaline

falt.

In making the experiments to decide this queftion, I made
ufe of an acid, which I had often employed before in experi-
ments to learn the quantity of pure or cauftic alkali, contained
in aerated alkalis, and in various barillas, kelps, and other fuch
heterogeneous mafles. This acid was a quantity of the vitriolic,
the power of which, in faturating pure alkalis, I had carefully
examined, and I was accuftomed to add it very gradually to fil-
“trated folutions of the above fubftances, until they were exaily
faturated ; and then, from the quantity of acid required to pro-
duce this effect, I learned the quantity of un-neutralized alkali
which thefe fubftances contained. The fpecific gravity of this

vitriolic

102 An ANALYSIS of

- vitriolic acid, compared with that of water, was as 1798 to 1000,
ina temperature of heat equal to 60 of FAHRENHE:T. When

I had ufed it on former occafions, I diluted fome of it, with |

four times its weight of diftilled water, and ufed this mixture
in place of the pure acid, that | might the more readily portion
it into fmall dozes ; but on this occafion, I made a mixture of
it, with about 100 times its weight of diftilled water; and ef-
faying this mixture afterwards, with great attention, I found
that 112 grains of it faturated one grain of the pure alkaline
part of the alkali of tartar, and 171.55 grains were required
for the faturation of one grain of eh pure or cauftic part of the
foffil alkali.

Wiru this largely diluted acid, the ftrength of which was
thus afcertained, I began to inveftigate the quantity of alkali
in the Iceland waters. 1 gave a pale purple or blue colour to a
portion of the Rykum water, by adding a few drops of an in-
fufion of litmus, the bluifh purple of which became more
blue when mixed with this alkaline water, and I began to add
very gradually fome of the largely diluted vitriolic acid, ex-
pecting to fee the colour change to a reddifh purple, when the
alkali became completely faturated. ‘This method, however,
did not fucceed fo well as I had fuppofed; for although I
changed the colour to a reddifh purple, or even to a pure red,
by adding an exceeding fmall quantity of the diluted acid, the
red thus produced was not permanent. Next day, I found it
returned again to the blue, and requiring a new addition of
acid; and this happened fo often, after repeated additions of-
acid, that this procefs appeared very tedious, and fcarcely ca- —
pable of being brought to a precife limit ; for in proportion as
I continued the procefs the longer time, or had made the more
numerous additions of acid, the time neceflary for the return of
the colour from red to blue was always’ the longer, = at laft
was no lefs than feveral weeks.

These ae

WATERS from ICELAND. 103

TueEse phenomena appear to me to have proceeded from the
very weak and flow aétion of the acid and alkali on one ano-
ther, in confequence of the exceflively diluted ftate in which
they were mixed together, the alkali at the fame time not being
pure, but combined with the filiceous earth, a fubftance for
which it has a confiderable attraction. I therefore fuppofed
that when [ added the {mall dofes of diluted acid, the acid par-
ticles remained for fome time difperfed through the liquor,
without joining the alkali, and the water contained, at the fame
time, a filicated alkali, if I may fo call it, and an unfaturated
acid ; but the colour of litmus being much more difpofed to
be affected and changed by acids than alkalis, it became red,
and retained this colour as long as any particles of the acid re-
mained unfaturated. Thefe, however, after fome time, being
all attraéted and faturated by the alkali, the colour was again |
changed by the remaining unfaturated alkali.

Ir may perhaps be fufpected, that a {mall quantity of fixed
air, detached from the alkali, might be the caufe of this tem-
porary red colour, and that the colour returned again to blue,
when the fixed air evaporated from the water: And I know
that a very fmall quantity of fixed air, contained in water, is
fufficient to change the colour of litmus, and that a confiderable
time is required for its evaporation from the water, fo that the
litmus may recover its natural tint; but it is equally true, that
the fixed air never requires fo long a time for its evaporation as
- feveral weeks, and that it has not the power to redden litmus,
when an alkali is prefent, except when the quantity of the al-
_ Kali is exceedingly fmall, and that of the fixed air incomparably

more than fufficient for faturating the alkali. In the prefent
cafe, the laft of thefe conditions never could take place, the
quantity of acid added at once being far too {mall to detach
enough of air, even although the alkali had been originally fa-
turated with air, which.it certainly was not ; it appeared rather
to be in a cauftic ftate, or very nearly cauftic. This reafoning
7 fuggefted

104 Un ANAL SIS: of

fugeefted to me Sri diahnadsie making the experiment, which |
fucceeded perfectly in a moderate time.

Tue foregoing experiments, and others which I made with 4
{mall quantities of the water, enabled me to form fome judg-

ment of the proportion of acid neceflary to faturate the alkali

which this water contained. I therefore added to 10,000 grains
of the Rykum water, 200 grains, accurately weighed, of the _
largely dilutéd vitriolic acid; which quantity I judged to be —
confiderably more than fufficient for faturating the alkali of this _
water ; and after the acid was poured in. the fmall and light
glafs in which it was weighed, was rinfed feveral times with di- —
{tilled water, which was added to the Rykum water. [alfo gave ~

ita pale tincture with fome drops of the infufion of litmus, and —

then boiled the water gently in a thin bottomed glafs, until it
was reduced to one fourth of its firft quantity. It ftill conti-
nued of a red colour, without the leaft tendency to a purplifh ©
hue, and fhewed that the acid was more than enough to faturate —
the alkali.
Ir was neceflary, in ‘the next place, to learn with certainty —
how much of the acid had been fuperfluous. With this inten-
tion, I added a largely diluted folution of alkali of tartar indi- _
{tilled water. In this folution, the pure alkali, confidered as —
diftin& from the air which was joined to it, conftituted one —
fortieth part of the weight of the fluid. I weighed 38.6 grains 3
of this folution; which quantity I knew, by the previous ex-_
periments, was exactly or nearly fufficient for faturating the fu- a
perfluous acid. I poured it at once into the hot water, and
rinfing the fmall and light glafs in which it was weighed two —
or three times with diftilled water, I poured in this alfo. A
little effervefcence appeared in the hot water. I therefore fet it —
again on the furnace to ‘boil, that the fixed air might be éx- ©
pelled, and Iadded now and then a little * diftilled water, to
prevent it from boiling down too much. In lefs than half an
hour’s boiling, the fixed air being all expelled, the colour
changed a

WATERS jrom ICELAND. 105

changed from red to purple, with a very fmall tendency to-
wards the red.. This fhewed that the quantity of falt of tartar,
which had been added, was exactly fufficient for faturating the
fuperfluous acid. Had the faturation not been fufficiently ex-
act, I could have added a little more of the alkali, or a little
more of the acid, as I had done in the fmaller effays which
were preparatory to this; but the tint of colour which I had
here produced, was that which I had found to be the moft dif-
cernible and fatisfaCtory fign of exact faturation, in former ex-
periments ; and it is proper to mention, that one grain more of
the largely diluted vitriolic acid changed this purple very re-
markably to a more decided red, and that with one grain lefs,
the hue of the purple, by being inclined to blue, would have,
been equally diftinguifhable ; of which I fatisfied myfelf, by
adding as much of the folution of falt of tartar as faturated one
grain weight of the largely diluted acid.

‘THE quantity of the diluted acid added at firft was 200
grains. From this was to be fubftracted 108.32 grains, the
quantity faturated by the 38.6 grains of the folution of falt of
tartar ; the remainder is gr. 91.68. From this quantity, how-
ever, we muft make another deduction; for, as Profeffor
BrercMaAN juttly obferved, the infufion of litmus contains fome-
‘thing which is of an alkaline nature, or is capable of faturating
a. certain quantity of acid. To learn how much was to be de-
daéted on this account, I tinged a fmall quantity of diftilled
water, with the fame number of drops of the infufion of lit-
mus that | had ufed in tinging the [celand water, and: then
making the diftilled water boiling hot, I began to add fome of
the largely diluted vitriolic acid, and kept the water boiling all
the time. The firft additions of acid, as I expected, did not
produce a change of colour, or, if any change was produced,
it foon difappeared again, while the water was boiling ; but as
foon as I had added gr. 3.5, a permanent change was produced
to a reddifh purple: This quantity therefore muft, in the next

Vou. II. place,

106 fa ANALISIS of

place, be deduéted from the gr. 91.68, and thus we have . 4
gr. 88.18, as the quantity of the diluted vitriolic acid which. |
was employed folely in faturating the alkali of the water, But

from the effays I had made of the power of this diluted acid jn
faturating alkalis, it is evident that this quantity of it was fuf-
ficient for faturating gr. 0.514 of the pure or cauftic foffil alkali,
or gr. 0.857 of that which is faturated with air and evaporated
to drynefs, or about gr. 2.38 of that which is faturated with
air and in form of tranfparent cryftals.
‘THE next {tep was to make a fimilar experiment to determine
the proportion of alkali in the Geyzer water ; but here I found
it neceflary to change a little the mode of afcertaining the point
of faturation.. |

THE water of Geyzer, by means of the fulphureous gas,

which it contained in greater quantity than the other, and per-

haps alfo by means of fome of the other ingredients which it
contained, and which gave it a light yellowith colour, pro-
duced fuch a change in the colour of litmus, that it could not

be employed, as in the laft experiment, by mixing it with the -

acidulated water and boiling them together; the purple of the
litmus was changed to an orange, which could not be made to
return to blue or purple, although I added a quantity of alkali,

which rendered the liquor very evidently alkaline, when it was

examined by other trials. I therefore had recourfe to the com-
mon method, which I had formerly pra@tifed in many other
experiments of a fimilar nature, I mean the ufe of linen rags,
or bits of cambric, which had been tinged with an infufion of
litmus. A little bit of thefe, when touched with a liquor that

\

is in the fmalleft degree acid or alkaline, has its colour changed - 4
from the purple to red or blue. ‘This method is, next after the

one employed in the laft experiment, the moft nice that 1 know;
provided that, in having recourfe to it, we remember what was

remarked in the former experiment, that the litmus colour is

affected by acids in general much more eafily than by alkalis ;

and

WATERS from ICELAND. 107

and that, though a liquor contain a fall quantity of alkali, if
_this be faturated and fuperfaturated with fixed air, the firft ef-
feét of fuch liquor upon the {tained paper will be to change it
towards afed. ‘This tint of colour, however, being produced
by the fuperfluous aerial acid, is made to difappear, by drying
the bit of cambric. The colour of it, while drying, will
quickly change from the red to purple, and from that to blue,
in confequence of the evaporation of the fuperfaturating air.
Being apprifed of this particular, I firft made fome preparatory
* experiments, with gr. 1ooo, and alfo with gr. 10,o00 of the
Geyzer water, and afterwards a more fatisfactory one with
gr. 10,000 of the fame, in the following manner :

To er. 10,000 of the Geyzer water, I added gr. 400, accu-
rately weighed, of the largely diluted vitriolic acid, and began
foon after to evaporate the water, by boiling it gently in a thin
bottomed glafs. The above quantity of acid I knew to be
confiderably more than what was~fufficient for faturating the
alkali.

. THE water was boiled until it was reduced to a quantity.
little exceeding gr. 3000. I then added gr.84.5 of the dilute
folution of -falt of tartar, and boiled the water again gently until
it was reduced to gr. 2000. In weighing fuch {mall quantities
of acid or alkaline liquors as were added to the water in thefe
experiments, it 1s eafy to adjuft the weight with the greateft
precifion, by dipping the end of a flender glafs rod, or of a
pointed flip of paper, into the fluid. By thefe means, we can
take up a quantity of it, as fmall as we pleafe; and this me-
thod I likewife ufed, when I meant to add thefe fluids gra-
dually, and by very fmall quantities at a time, to any mix-
ture. The end of a flender glafs rod was dipped into them, and
‘afterwards transferred into the mixture.

Wuen I now examined the above boiled water, by means of
_ the tinctured paper or lirfen rag, I found it reduced to the exact
degree of faturation which I defired; that is to fay, it fcarcely
i. 9 i produced

_ wards the red or towards the blue. Suppofing therefore the

108 An ANALYSIS of

produced a change in the litmus colour, or if any change was
produced, it was only a vergency towards the red, which was

{carcely perceptible; and when the ftate of faturation was varied _

from this point, by an addition of 3 grains of the largely di-
luted vitriolic acid, or by an equivalent quantity of the alkaline
folution, the tint of the colour was remarkably changed to-

above ftate of faturation exact, and I believe it to be the moft
exact that could be depended on, the quantity of largely diluted
vitriolic acid, employed in faturating the foflil alkali of the
water, was gr. 163.43 for the whole quantity added was
gr. 400, and the falt of tartar of the gr. 84.5, of the dilute fo-
lution had required gr. 236.6 for its faturation. It follows,

therefore, from the eflays ] had made, of the power of this di- a

luted acid in faturating the pure or cauftic foflil alkali, that the
unfaturated quantity of this alkali, contained in the gr. 10,000
of the water, was gr. 0.952, which is equal to gr. 1.587 of the
. fame alkali combined with air and evaporated to drynets, or
gr. 4.409 of the fame in a cryftalized ftate.

Tue reafon for boiling thefe waters, with the quantities of
acid which | had added to them, in thefe laft experiments, is -
fufficiently obvious. The abundance of acid was meant to in-

fure the complete faturation of the whole of the alkali, and fe-

paration of it from the filiceous earth; and the boiling pro- —

moted the fame purpofe, both by means of the heat which was — )

“applied, and alfo by bringing the acid and alkaline particles —
the nearer to one another, while the water evaporated.
A pousT may however poflibly arife in the minds of fome
of my readers, whether this boiling of the water might not be
attended with the diffipation of fome part of the fuperfluous
acid, which was not neutralized by the alkali of the water ; and

if any part of the acid was diffipated, the conclufions concerning

the quantity of the alkali would be neceflarily erroneous.
| To

WATERS from ICELAND. 10g

To remove this fcruple, I took gr. 10,000 of diftilled water,
and added er. 112 of the diluted acid. This mixture was then
boiled down, in the fame manner as the Iceland water ; that is
to fay, in a glafs which had an oval or nearly globular body,
about 5 inches deep, with a neck as long, and half an inch
wide. This glafs was placed in a fhallow fand-heat, the bottom
of which was a flat iron plate. The boiling was continued
until three fourths of the water were evaporated, and then, re-
‘moving it from the fire, I added gr. 40 of the dilute folution
of falt of tartar. This neutralized it exaGtly, and fhewed that
no part of the acid had been diffipated in boiling ; and it con-
tinued to fhew the figns of fufficiently exact faturation, after |
*had evaporated it further to the weight of one ounce, in which
ftate, any fuperfluous alkali, by being lefs diluted, would have.
been more eafily difcernible.

Experiments to determine the nature and quantity of the earthy
matter.

Havinc thus determined the quantity of unfaturated alkali
in thefe Iceland waters, my attention was next turned to the
earthy matter. A fmall part of this earthy matter came into
view in the boiled and neutralized portions of thefe waters with
which I had made the above defcribed experiments. The neu-
tralized liquors were a little muddy, and depofited flowly a
fmall quantity of fediment, which collected itfelf clofely to the
bottom of the glafs, and adhered to it flightly. This fediment,
in the Rykum water, was deeply tinged with the colouring mat-
ter of the litmus ; in the Geyzer water, it hada brown tinge,
and there was a little more of it than in the other. I collected
thefe fediments, by firft decanting the greater part of the li-
quor from them, and afterwards filtrating the reft in a {mall

filtre, in which the fediment was wafhed, by pafling diftilled
water.

110 An ANALYSTS of

water through it feveral times. Being then dried on the fil-
trating paper, it contracted greatly, and was divided by fiflures .
into a great number of {mall parts, as would have happened to
fine clay, had the fame quantity of it been dried on paper in a
fimilar manner ; and when it was feparated from the paper, and
further examined, it fhewed the qualities of an argillaceous
-earth, combined with a fmall quantity of colouring matter.
This appeared by the following experiments :

1. I put fome of it, which I had procured in different expe-
riments, into agplatina fpoon, and made it red hot. While
heating, it firft became black, then underwent a flight inflam-
mation, and afterwards became white, without changing its ex-
ternal form, being only a little contracted in its fize, and dimi-
nifhed in its weight.

2. To another fmall mafs of it, laid ona plate of glafs, I
added a drop of aquafortis, which neither effervefced with it,
nor diffolved it, but only changed the colour to a paler red.

3. ANOTHER {mall portion, which had been gently calcined,
was well mixed with an equal weight of the aerated foffil alkali,
and then expofed to a ftrong heat in the platina fpoon. ‘The
alkali was quickly melted and became cauftic ; but I could not
by its means bring the earth into fufion, or if any was diflolved
by the melted alkali, it was only a very fmall portion, not per-
ceptible by the appearances.

4. Nor did I fucceed much better, when I tried to melt or dif-
folve it by means of borax, heated on charcoal with the blowpipe.
A little mafs of this earth continued undiffolved in the melted
borax, and without any appearance of effervefcing with it, until
I was tired of the experiment. :

Tuts earth therefore cannot be any other than the argilla-
ceous. Had it been the filiceous, it would have been melted with
the alkali into a tranfparent glafs, which happened eafily with
different f{pecimens of pure filiceous earth, fubjected to the fame
trial; and had it been any of the alkaline earths, the borax

would

WATERS from ICELAND. IIr

would have diflolved it quickly with effervefcence. The quan-
tity of this earthy fediment, from either of thefe neutralized
waters, was.very fmall. From gr. 10,000 of Rykum water, I
could only collect a quantity, which, after receiving an ob{cure
_ red heat, weighed the twentieth part of a grain; from the fame
quantity of the CURES water, I’ got about 38 or 39 hundredths
of a grain. :

In one of my experiments with Rykum water, I got this ar-
gillaceous earth from it by another procefs. I had a dry ex-
tract, obtained by evaporating gr. 20,000 of this water, and which
weighed gr. 164. ‘Thirty grains of aquafortis were added to
it. This aquafortis was made up of equal parts of the ftrongeft
nitrous acid and water. The extract was digefted with it fix or
eight hours, and then diftilled water being added, the mixture
was filtrated in a {mall filtre, to feparate the clear acid liquor
from the undiffolved matter. The filtrated acid liquor was then
faturated, and a little more than faturated, with a pure aerated
alkaline falt, and the faturated mixture was heated to a boiling
heat. It became muddy, and depofited a fmall quantity of fe-
diment like mucilage, which being collefted by filtration, and
dried, and heated to,an obfcure red heat, weighed juft one tenth
part of a grain, and had the qualities above enumerated, which
fhewed that it was an argillaceous earth. In another experi-
ment, I digefted an extract of Geyzer water with ftrong vitriolic

acid, and thus got from it a fimilar earth; but the quantity of
it was very little greater than that which I had got by fubfi-
- dence from the neutralized and boiled part of the fame water,

in the experiments above defcribed.

ye LAE greater part, however, of the earthy matter had not yet
made its appearance; I mean the filiceous earth. It ftill re-
mained in a ftate of perfect diffolution in the neutralized and
boiled: mixtures above defcribed, fome part of which had ac-
tually paffed through filtrating paper ; and I learned, by other
trials, that the whole of thefe neutralized mixtures might have
been

i ay An ANALYSIS of

‘Deen filtrated, without danger of feparating any part of the fi-
liceous earth from the water by that operation. This is a con-
fequence of the fingular nature of the filiceous earth, feveral
‘properties of which, hitherto unnoticed, or not exactly defcribed,
I became acquainted with in the courfe of thefe experiments.

We have no experience of the poffibility of diflolving this
earth in its concrete {tate by water alone; but if it be diffolved
in water by means of an alkaline falt, although we afterwards
completely faturate the alkali with an acid, the earth thus fepa-
rated, provided there is enough of water, will not fubfide; it
will remain diffolved ; the mixture will appear perfedtly tranf-
parent, and will pafs through the filtre without the fmalleft
difficulty. ‘To gr. 1000 of the Geyzer water, I added more than
enough of acid to faturate the alkali. I then boiled the mix-
ture a little while, until a fmall part of it only was evaporated,
and I fet it afide in a quiet place. I know it contains a little
more than half a grain of filiceous earth; but after ftanding
twelve months, there is not the {malleft appearance of feparation,
the mixture is ftill perfectly tranfparent and fluid in every part
of it, though it be decidedly acid; and I know, that had it been
boiled down toa proper degree, a feparation of the filiceous
earth would have happened in a fhort time. I learned this by
another experiment with Rykum water. To gr. 1000 of this
-water, | added a quantity of acid more than fufficient for fa-
turating the alkali. The water was then boiled till it weighed
only 138 grains, and it was fet up in my clofet to remain un-—
difturbed. In about eight days, the tranfparency of it was a
little diminifhed, and afterwards there was a very flow fubfi- ©
dence of the matter which had produced this effect. It formed 7q
gradually, at tht bottom, a ftratum of fome thicknefs, which ~
was a little lefs tranfparent than the clear water above, and was:
thereby diftinguifhable from it. After a week or two more, I
poured off the clear water entirely, without difturbing the fedi- —
ment, which was in fact a tender jelly, adhering to the bottom
. of

_ WATERS from ICELAND. 113

of the glafs, and the upper furface of whieh was level and
‘fmooth. I knew the quantity of filiceous earth contained in it ;
and comparing this with the weight of the water, when reduced
by boiling to gr. 138, I found the proportion of the earth to
that quantity of water to be as 2.68 to 1000; and having
weighed the jelly by itfelf, the proportion of filiceous earth to
the water in it, fuppofing that it contained the whole of the
earth, was 10.88 to 1000. In another experiment, in which
a fimilar mixture had been lefs boiled, and in which the filice-
ous earth bore to the water the proportion of 2.1 or 2.2'to 1000,
I found a foft jelly formed at the end of forty days. And in
another, in which the boiling and evaporation was continued
until the jelly began to be formed in the upper part of the li-
quor while it was boiling, 1 found the proportion of the filice-
ous earth to the remaining water to be nearly as 3.75 to 1000.

AFTER this jelly is once formed, I never could bring it again
into a ftate of diffolution by water alone, whatever quantity of
this laft was added.

Ir appears therefore by thefe experiments, that when filiceous
earth, united with an alkali, is diffolved in 1000 times, or in
more than 500 times its weight of water, it will not feparate or
fubfide from that quantity of water, although we feparate or
difengage the alkali from it. The particles of it, placed at that
’.diftance, do not aét on one another by their attraction of cohe- |
fion or concretion. It is neceflary, in order to enable them to
attract one another, that they be brought nearer, by diminith-
ing the quantity of the water, until it be lefs than 500 times
the weight of the earth. When this is done. they will enter
into a ftate of cohefion, fooner or later, according as the water
‘has been more or lefs diminifhed. But this ftate of cohefion
into which they firft enter, is alfo remarkable. The force of it
is exceedingly weak, and it takes place while the particles of
the earth are ftill at a confiderable diftance from one another.
They therefore retain and entangle among them a large quan-

Vou. III. Pp tity

114 dn ANALYSIS of

tity of water, amounting to about 100 times their own weight,
and perhaps more than 200 times their bulk, with which they
form a confiftent jelly, almoft perfectly tran{parent.

It may be afked here, what prevents the particles of this
earth from approaching one another more nearly, and entering
into a ftate of ftronger cohefion? We may, if we pleafe, imagine
that they retain round each of them, by chemical attraction, a
quantity of water, which forms a little {phere or polyhedron,with
the particle of earth in its centre. Thus, each particle is prevented

from coming within a f{maller diftance of the other particles

around it, than the diameter of that fphere ; but let the water
of thefe {pherules be diminifhed in quantity by evaporation, in
confequence of heat, or the attraction of the -air, the particles
of the earth will immediately enter into a ftate of clofer con-
nection and ftronger cohefion, of which we have examples in
the exceflive contraction of the jelly, while it is dried up into
crufts, and in thofe circles of thin incruftation which were
formed on the fides of the glafs-veflels, while the waters were
evaporated to drynefs in the firft experiment, the particles of
which were fo ftrongly united to one another, and to the fur-

face of the glafs, that they coft me much trouble and time to

fcrape them off with a knife.

Wuewn fuch a concretion is once formed of this earth, and
afterwards receives frequent additions of the fame matter, which,
infinuating itfelf into the pores of the concretion, is fixed there,
and encreafes its denfity and folidity, the mafs may in time ac-
quire a furprifing degree of hardnefs. The petrifactions of
Geyzer are undoubtedly formed in this manner, and fome of
them are fo denfe and hard that they are fcarcely diftinguifhable
from agate or calcedony.

Arrer making thefe obfervations on the nature of the fili-
ceous earth, the proper method for extracting it from the above
boiled and neutralized portions of thefe waters. was fufficiently
obvious. I feparately evaporated them to drynefs with a gentle

heat

WATERS from ICELAND... | rig

heat in two china cups, carefully wafhing every drop of them
from the glaffes into the cups with diftilled water, and then
taking out the dry extracts out of the cups, I put them fepa-
rately into fmall filtrating papers, and paffed diftilled water
through them repeatedly, until all the faline matter was wafhed
away. The papers being then carefully dried, I found the earth
in them exceedingly fpungy, fine and tender. The quantity of
it, obtained in this {tate from the gr. 10,000 of Rykum water,
was gr. 3.8, which were reduced by the action of an obfcure
red heat to gr. 3.73 nearly. From the fame quantity of the
Geyzer water, I got gr. 6.8 of the dried earth, which, by a fi-
milar heat, were reduced to gr. 5.4, and thefe gr. 5.4 being di-
gefted with aquafortis, and again wafhed with diftilled water,
to extract any argillaceous earth that might remain in them, I
obtained only gr. 0.1 of this earth, which added to the quan-
tity obtained before, makes up gr.o.48 of the argillaceous
earth, from the gr.10,000 of Geyzer water, the remaining
gr. 5.3 being pure filiceous earth. Some of it was melted into
a perfect glafsin the platina {pooni, with one half of its weight
of aerated foffil alkali evaporated to drynefs. The diminution
of the weight of the dried earth, from gr. 6.8 to gr. 5.4, which
happened when it was gently calcined, proceeded from fome
inflammable matter, which adhered to it at firft, and gave it a
yellowifh colour. ‘This colour changed firft to black, and af-
terwards to a pure white, during the calcination. The inflam-
mable colouring matter might have been received in part from
the veffels in which the water was brought, fome of which
were tainted with the odour of fpirituous liquors, or the water
might have got a part of it from fubterranean {trata of clay, or
other earths containing inflammable matter.

Eii2 Experiments

ims CU ae a Be em

Experiments to learn the quantity of the neutral falts.

Tue only ingredients of thefe waters, the quantity of which
had not yet been examined, were the neutral falts. The preli-
minary experiments, and the appearances obferved in the wa- —
tery folutions of the extracts of thefe waters, gave me reafon
to be fatisfied, that thefe neutral falts were partly common {alt -

~ and partly Glauber’s falt. To afcertain the quantities of them, __

I made the following experiments: I had fome common falt,

which had been refined by a fecond cryftalization, and was in - a

folid dry and large cryftals. Of this I weighed ten grains ex-
aétly, which were diffolved in about half a pound of diftilled
water. I then added a folution of filver, which contained a
little fuperfluous acid. The filver was precipitated in the form
of luna cornea or argentum muriatum ; and I took care to add
rather more than the quantity which the ten grains of common
falt could precipitate. The lima cornea, after complete fubf-

dence, and decantation of the faline water from it, was care- —

fully collected on a fmall filtre, and well wafhed with diftilled
water, and thoroughly dried and weighed. I thus learned, that
100 parts of common falt are fufficient to give 235 of luna
cornea. This enabled me to learn, by fimilar experiments, how
much common falt is contained in the Iceland waters, and I

found that the quantity contained in 10,000 grains of Rykumwater

was gr. 2.90, and in the fame quantity of the Geyzer water, I
- found there was gr. 2.46 of common falt. Some of my readers
may perhaps be inclined to fufpect, that the Glauber’s falt
contained in the Iceland waters, might, by means of its vitriolic

acid, cotribute to the precipitation of a part of the filver; but
experiments have fatisfied me, that a {mall quantity of vitriolic

acid, or of any vitriolic falt, diffolved in a large quantity of
. water, |

WATERS from ICELAND. L17

water, does not precipitate filver * ; and to prevent any part of
the filver being precipitated by the alkali of the water, I added
of purified aquafortis, more than enough to faturate the alkali,
before I added the folution of filver.

ANOTHER fet of experiments, on the fame plan, but made
with Glauber’s falt and the folution of barytes, in place of com-
mon falt and folution of filver, enabled meto afcertain with equal
exactnefs the quantity of Glauber’s falt contained in thefe waters.
I firft learned that if pureGlauber’s falt be perfectly exficcated, by
evaporating the water that is in its cryftals, 10 parts of this
exficcated falt are fufficient to precipitate as much barytes, from
its folution in muriatic acid, as will form 17 of barytes vitrio-
lica. This fact being afcertained, I added fome of the diffolved
barytes, to feparate portions of the Iceland waters, fo long as
any muddinefs and precipitation was produced ; and I care-
fully collected, wafhed, dried and weighed the precipitates.
I thus learned, that the water of Rykum contains in gr. 10,000.
of it, as much Glauber’s falt as would give gr. 1.28 of exficcated
Glauber’s falt, and the water of Geyzer as much as would give
er...460'T:

‘In making thefe laft experiments alfo, I added fome purified
nitrical acid to the Iceland waters, to prevent any precipitation
of the barytes which might have been occafioned by the alkali
of the water. ag

In reviewing the experiments I have now defcribed, if we
neglect the {mall quantity of fulphureous gas, the contents of °
thefe waters will appear as follows :.

=

In:

* See the appendix to this paper.

+ The method by which thefe fmall quantities of fediments and precipitates were col-
leCted and weighed, is explained in the appendix to this paper.

118 tn ANAURWSI Sof

In gr. 10,000 of Rykum water there are,

Of cauftic foffil alkali, - gr. 0.51
Argillaceous earth, - - 0.05-
Siliceous earth, - - 3.73
Common falt, © - - 2.90
Glauber’s falt when exficcated, - 1.28

Total, 8.47

In gr. 10,000 of Geyzer water,

Cauttic foffil alkali, - gr. 0.95
Argillaceous earth, - - 0.48
Siliceous earth, : - 5-40
Common falt, - | 2-46
Glauber’s falt exficcated, - 1.46

Total, 10.75

TuEsE quantities of the ingredients, as determined by the
above experiments, exceed the quantities of dry extract which I
obtained by evaporation. Gr.'10,000 of the Rykum water gave
by evaporation gr. 8.25 of dry extract, and the fame quantity of —

_Geyzer gave gr. to only. This difference, however, can eafily

be accounted for. It is well known that common falt, and
other falts, fuffer fome lofs by evaporation, when watery folu-
tions of them are evaporated to drynefs; and the odour which

was perceived in the end of the evaporation of thefe waters,

made me fufpett that a little of the falt might have been loft.
There was therefore no reafon to expect that the refult of the ~
analytical experiments would tally exactly with the extraGt by _
evaporation. I was rather furprifed and pleafed to find that —

| they

WATERS from ICELAND. 119

they came fo near, and am perfeétly fatisfied that this analyfis
is as complete and exact as it was in my power to make it,
with that quantity of water which I got for this purpofe.

THE proportions of the above enumerated ingredients to the
water in which they are contained, fhew the quantities of them
contained in an Englifh gallon of 231 cubical inches, or 58,484
grains, which are as follows:

%

\
In an Englifh gallon of Rykum water: \

Cauftic foffil alkali, - eT, 3

Argillaceous earth, - - 0.29
Siliceous earth, - - - 27.83
Common falt, - : 16.96
Glauber’s falt exficcated, - vhs

In an Englifh gallon of Geyzer water :

Cauttic foffil alkali, - er. 5.56
Argillaceous earth, - - 2.80
Siliceous earth, - - ge
- Common falt, - - 14.42
Glauber’s falt exficcated, 2 8.57

Havine now ftated the feveral ingredients of thefe hot
fprings, and their proportions, the principal queftions which
remain to be confidered, are, (ow is the filiceous earth diffolved
in them, or combined with the water? Has hot water alone a
power to diffolve this earth, or was it diflolved by the medium
of the alkali only ? And how came the falts which we find in
thefe waters and the fulphureous gas to be combined with
them? As all attempts to anfwer thefe queftions muft be con-
jeciural, different opinions will be formed concerning them ;

and

120 An ANALYSIS of

and I may offer what I have imagined, without its being thought 4
neceflary to make an apology. Profeffor BercmMAN confidered
the filiceous earth in thefe waters as diflolved by the power of
the hot water alone; and fuppofed, that water, aided by excef-
five heat, became a folvent of this fpecies of earth. He formed
this opinion, however, under difadvantageous circumftances
and from a partial view of the fubjet. He only knew that
this earth is actually diffolved in thefe waters, and depofited by
them, and that they fpring out of the ground of a full boiling
heat, with appearances of their having been hotter below. —
He did not know what other ingredients they contained along _
with the earth, As we now know they contain an alkali, — F
which is a powerful medium for combining this earth with
water, I do not think that the power of water alone to diflolve
it can be admitted, until it is proved by direct experiments ;
and I am not of opinion that thefe will fucceed. I am perfuaded
that both the filiceous and the argillaceous earth have been dif-
folved by the medium of the alkali, but at the fame time that
the violent and long continued heat contributed greatly, and
was even neceffary to this diffolution. The proportion of the —
cauftic alkali to the earthy matter in one of thefe waters, is as
134 to 1003 inthe other it is 16 to 100. When we form arti-
ficial compounds of filiceous earth and alkali in thefe proportions, —
we find that cold water has no power to diffolve them, though _
boiling water, by length of time, would certainly aét on them. —
Even cold water, or the humidity of the earth, is well known _
to penetrate the hardeft glafs that is expofed to it for years or —
for ages; and [ have had the experience of the power of hot —
water to act on glafs, when I have diftilled water in the fame —
glafs retorts a great number of times, or evaporated water often 7
in other glafs-veflels. Their internal furface was evidently

affected by the continued action of the hot water. Its firft ef
fect is to foften thin laminz at the furface of the glafs, and to
make them feparate from that furface, in confequence probably —

= of |

WATERS from ICELAND. 121

of their being fwelled and-extended by the water penetrating
into them ; and by a longer action of the water, there is no
doubt that they, or fome part of them, are completely dif-
folved. |

Tuosez who may have objections againft admitting, that a
boiling heat, and great length of time, are fufficient aids to
enable water to diflolve a compound of the filiceous earth with
fuch.a fmall proportion of alkali, may imagine this earth to
have been at firft combined with a larger proportion of alkali
than that we now find combined with it, and that after it was
diffolved in the water, a part of this alkali was neutralized by
acid vapours, or acid fubftances, which the water found in its
way towards the furface.

On the whole, however, the fuppofition which appears to me
the moft probable is, that common falt and Glauber’s falt, con-
veyed by fea-water, or contained in foffils formed from fea-

_plants, have been applied, under the influence of a violent heat,
to fome of the numerous earthy and ftony ftrata which contain
mixtures of filiceous and argillaceous earth; that thofe falts
have been in part decompounded, by the attraction of thefe
earths for the alkali of the neutral falt, part of the acid has
been diffipated, or changed into fulphur and fulphureous gas,
by the action on it at the fame time of inflammable matter,
which we know to be prefent in many of the ftrata; and that
the compound of alkali and earthy matter has afterwards been
long expofed, and continues expofed, to the action of the hot .
water. By fuch a fuppofition, we can imagine how the feveral
ingredients of thefe hot fprings became diffolved in them; and
this fuppofition appears the more probable, when we attend to
the accurate obfervations of Mr STANLEY, on the nature of the
country, and ftate of the foil, in which thefe two hot fprings are
found. The rocks and mountains, which are at a {mall di-
ftance, or in the immediate vicinity of each of them, are formed
chiefly of different kinds of Java. The lower country and foil

Wor. II, Q. at

122° 4n ANALYSIS of

at the foot of thefe, and in which the fprings rife, is compofed
of fragments of thefe lavas; but in digging into this foil or
rubbifh to a {mall depth only, thefe fragments are every where
found refolving, or refolved, into a matter like clay. At a cer-
tain depth, the fragments of fome fpecies of lava remain entire
and hard, while the reft are changed. At a greater depth, even
_ thefe more durable kinds are found to have undergone the fame
change with the reft. As this change is produced by the con-
ftant action of the hot water, it probably depends on a graduak
diffolution and extraction from thefe lavas of fome of their in-
gredients, which are diffolvable in water ; and thofe which we.
have actually found in the water may have been fome of thefe.
But I offer all this as a conjecture only, which every perfon who.
does not like it is at liberty to reject.

I sHALL venture further to offer another conjecture, which.
fome particulars I learned by Mr STANLEY’s voyage to Iceland:
have fuggefted to my mind. It is concerning the origin of the:
pure fulphur, which is found at the furface of the earth, in the
neighbourhood of many volcanos in different parts of the:
world. In Iceland, there are places in which fulphur is thus.
found in very great quantity, covering the furface of the

ground, and that of the ftones and rocks, in form of a thick ; ij

cruft, and conftituting what are called fulphur banks. This:
was feen in Iceland in particular fpots, in which there were very:
{trong fulphureous hot fprings, which emitted fuch a quantity:
of fulphureous or hepatic gas, that the air all around was in-.
fected with it to the higheft degree, and the water itfelf was
muddy and black, and conftantly boiling. Now, as we know,
that vital air has the ‘power to decompound this gas, and to:
make it. depofit the fulphur which it contains, I am of opinion,
that the fulphur which appeared in fuch quantity in the vicinity

of thefe fprings, had been depofited and accumulated in this

manner from the hepatic gas, which thefe ftrongly fulphureous
fprings have emitted during a great length of time.
A Ps

WATERS from ICELAND. 123

Pe Tee, poi Dye © 5 Ke

In order to fhew, that fuch a fmall proportion of a vitriolic
falt as is contained in the Iceland waters, has not the power to
precipitate filver, I diffolved gr. 0.3 of exficcated Glauber’s falt,
in gr. 2000 of diftilled water, which thus contained a propor-
tion of Glauber’s falt rather greater than that contained in the
Iceland waters. I then added five drops of purified aquafortis,
and five drops of the folution of filver. The mixture remain-
ed tranfparent feveral days. I afterwards added gr. 0.7 more
of the exficcated Glauber’s falt, without diminifhing in the
leaft the tranfparency of the mixture. After a few days more,
I added gr. 9 of the exficcated Glauber’s falt. This produced
a diminution of tranfparency, and the fediment fubfided in a
few days more. ‘This fediment being carefully colleted and
dried, weighed gr. 0.3; but the clear liquor which had been
filtrated from it, ftill retained the greater part of the filver.
I therefore added to it fome pure common falt, which precipi-
tated all the reft of the filver, and this laft precipitate, being
alfo colleéted and dried, weighed juft one grain.

When I examined thefe two precipitates by means of the
blowpipe, their qualities appeared to me fo much the fame,
that I fufpect the firft was produced by a fmall quantity of
common falt, contained imperceptibly in the Glauber’s falt. If
there were 12 or 13 parts of common falt in 1000 of the
Glauber’s falt, they were enough to produce the above quantity
of the firft precipitate ; and as Glauber’s falt is prepared from
common falt, we can eafily underftand how a fmall quantity of
the common falt may remain in it.

Q2 For

224 fn ANALYSIS of

For the fake of thofe who may have occafion to undertake
fuch chemical enquiries as that defcribed in the above paper, I
fhall here mention the method by which I collected and weighed
the fmall quantities of fediments or precipitates, which I ob-
tained in fome of thefe experiments. In moft cafes, the turbid

liguor was left at reft in a cylindrical glafs, until the fediment _
was fo well collected at the bottom, that the greateft part of the ©

liquor was quite clear, and then this clear part was carefully
decanted ; the reft, which could not be decanted without di-
fturbing the fediment, was fhaken, and poured gradually into
a {mall filtre, that the fediment might be collected upon the

fultre, and afterwards wafhed on it, by pafling diftilled water — :

through it repeatedly. And this part of the procefs was much
facilitated by the preparation of the filtre, and fome other little

manceuvres. When, for example, I ufed for my filtre a piece

of paper about four inches in diameter, I began by folding it,

warming it, I applied melted tallow or bees wax to the margin

of it all round, until it was foaked therewith to the breadth of

a full inch from the margin inwards, the middle part of it be-

ing carefully preferved clean. As foon as this was done, and

while it was yet a little warm, it was folded again into the pro-
per form of a filtre, and retained in that ftate until it was cold.
On a filtre prepared in this manner, it is much more eafy to.

collect a fediment together, and to wafh it clean, than on an or-

dinary filtre. In the firft place, no part of the fediment ad-
heres to or is depofited on that part of the paper which was
foaked with tallow. The whole is collected on the clean part
of the paper, ‘and after it is collected there, I condenfe it into
the centre as much as poflible, by dropping the diftilled water
on the margin of that clean part all round, or a little above:

that margin, by which praétice the fcattered particles of the

fediment are wafhed down into the bottom. Sometimes | ap-
ply what may be called a capillary jet of the diftilled water, di-

4

and giving it the proper form ; then I fpread it open again, and-

.

rected
, ar

WATERS from ICELAND. 125

re@ted with force to thofe parts of the fcattered fediment which
are more difficultly moved. Having thus condenfed the fedi-
ment as much as poflible, the filtre is left in a cool place to dry.
When it is perfectly or nearly dry, I {pread it flat on a table,
and cut away all that part which was foaked with tallow, and
and alfo thofe parts of the clean paper to which the fediment
does not adhere. The reft, with the fediment on it, is then
well dried before a fire, and weighed, and the weight of it
marked down; and, laftly, in order to know how much of
this weight is made up by the paper, I take care, before I pre-
pare the filtre, to chufe another piece of the filtrating paper,
equal in thicknefs to the one of which the filtreis made. This
equality of thicknefs is judged of by holding the two pieces
between the eye and the light; or, for greater fecurity, bits of
the two pieces may be cut off, exactly fimilar and equal in
form and fize, and'their weight compared, and allowance may
afterwards be made for their difference of weight, if there. be
a difference. After weighing the bit of paper with the fedi-
ment on it, a proper bit of the referved paper is laid flat ona
fmooth table or plate of glafs, and the paper on which the fedi-
ment had been collected is laid over it, with the clean fide un-
dermoft ; then a bit of card, fomewhat lefs, but nearly of the
fame form, is preffed down on both the papers, and, with a pair
ef fharp pointed {ciflars, or a pen-knife, the undermoft paper is |
cut exactly to the fame fhape and fize as the uppermoft, and is
afterwards weighed. THe weight of it being deducted from
_that of the former, we thus learn the weight of the fediment,
with a greater degree of exactnefs, and with lefs trouble, than
by any other method which | have been able to contrive. To-
complete this article, I beg leave further to add, that the
moft ready and convenient way to foak the margin of the fil-
trating paper with tallow or wax, is to hold it above a lighted
candle, at a proper diftance for warming it a little, and then
melting the end of another candle, apply it immediately to the

warmed

me 4) 3

126 An ANALYSIS, fc.

warmed paper, and repeat this, until the paper is prepared as
above directed. The prominent part of the wick of the can- ©
dle, which is thus melted, becomes a fort of pencil, which holds _
the melted tallow or wax, and facilitates the application of it,
and the wick of a tallow candle, on account of its being thicker,
is fitter for this purpofe than the wick of a wax one.

Tue laft remark on thefe experiments I fhall now make is,
that, in the trials with the folution of barytes, the barytes vi-
triolica was formed in particles fo very minute, that they did’
not all remain at firft upon the filtre. Some of them pafled
through it, and made the filtrated liquor a littke muddy; but
by making this muddy liquor pafs through the filtre a fecond
time, it was made quite clear, the whole of the fediment being

thus collected on the filtre.

V. An Account of the Hot Sprines near Rykum in Iceland :
In a Letter to Dr BLACK from F¥oHN THoMAS STANLEY, E/qs
M.P. F.5.A.A. Lonp. and F.R.S. EpIn.

[Read Nov. 7. 1791+]

he
~ DEAR SIR, Alderley, Auguft 15. 1791.

Have been prevented hitherto, by various occupations, from
acquitting myfelf of a promife you received from me,
(I am afhamed to think how long a time fince), that I would
fend you an account of the hot fprings in Iceland, from whence
the water was brought which you have lately analyfed. I have
trufted you would excufe a delay not altogether voluntary. It
will be now my endeavour to gratify your curiofity as far as I
am able; and to acquaint you with every particular, as well
concerning the fprings as the country near them, which I think.
you may find in the leaft interefting.

We faw many fprings in the courfe of our journey befides
thofe I am going to defcribe ; nor indeed are they confined to
the part of the ifland we vifited, but break out in every divifion

of it. For a general account of the moft remarkable, I refer

you to a letter, written by Dr Van Troi, (the prefent Arch-
bifhop of Upfal), to Profeflor BErcman, publifhed with fome
others concerning Iceland in the year 1777.

Tue defcriptions given by this author are fo accurate, that

_ ap will not be in my power to give you much new information.
i

128 An ACCOUNT a

I muft, in a great meafure, repeat What he has faid. It may
be fatisfactory, however, to you to have his relations corro-
borated; and fome further details, with an account of the
changes which, in a few inftances, have taken place fince he
vifited thefe particular fprings in 1772, may contribute to ex-
plain their hiftory, and the caufe of their very fingular appear-
ances. » : ;
You received two kinds of water, one from a fpring near a
farm called Rykum, and the other from the fountain known
by the name of the Geyzer, the moft remarkable in the ifland. |
It rifes near the farm of Haukadal, about forty miles from
Rykum. They are both fituated in the S. W. divifion of the

ifland. aii
I sHALL begin with a defcription of the country and the
fprings near Rykum, and of the firft view we had of them in
our way from Rykavick to Mount Hecla. Rykum is fituated
in a valley, which, on ‘account of its fertility, and the ftrong
contraft it made with the dreary fcenes we had pafled fince our”
laft ftation, appeared to us with great advantage while we ap-
proached it. We had traverfed a country, feven or eight _

miles in breadth, entirely overfpread with lava, and other vol- |
canic matter. It was furrounded with hills, not fufficiently
high to be majeftic, and too rugged and too barren to be pleafing.
We were told by our guides, that, on a clear day, the fummits
of Hecla might be feen above thofe which were immediately —
before us; but heavy and lowering clouds, which threatened
us inceflantly with a ftorm, concealed every diftant obje@t from
our fight.
We faw many diftricts in Iceland covered with lava; butI ~
do not recollect one fo uncouth and defolate as this. No vege- —

tation was to be feen but that of a few ftunted buthes of willow
and birch, growing between the crevices and hollows of the —
lava, into which the wind had drifted fufficient foil for them to a
take root. We could difcover no mount or crater from whence —
weg

HOT SPRINGS in ICELAND. 129

we could conjecture, with any degree of probability, the lava
to have iffued. It extended round us like a fea; and it had
burft perhaps from fome part of the country it now covered,
while the fire to which it owed its origin, had efcaped with its
fhowers of cinders and afhes, from fome other orifice, and had
formed one of the numberlefs cones we could difcover amidft
the neighbouring hills.

Tue unpleafantnefs of our ride over this country was in-
creafed by the continual danger to which we were expofed of
our horfes falling. The road was no other than what the few
travellers of the country, as they pafled from their farms to
Rykavick, had tracked over the lava where it was leaft rough ;
but even this was interrupted by many breaks and crevices,
formed by the cooling oe the matter and the contraétion of its
parts.

To this uncomfortable feene fucceeded the view of a rich
valley, opening into an extenfive green plain bounded by the
fea. Ariver was feen winding between feveral fertile mea-
dows ; and beyond thefe, the valley was terminated by a range
of high and bold rocks. But our attention was chiefly at-
tracted by the clouds of fteam, which afcended in various parts
of the valley from the hot fprings, and by j jets of water which,
from fome of them, were inceflantly darted into the air.

We defcended into the valley by a road winding over the
Java, which, in one place, had flowed from the upper plain into
the country below. On each fide it had {topped abruptly, and
had thus formed a perpendicular wall, at leaft fixty feet high.

WE pitched our tents in a pleafant field, on the fide of the
river, oppofite to the farm, and not far from it, and at the foot
of the hills which bounded the valley. Several fragments of
rocks, which had fallen from thefe, lay {cattered round our fta-
tion. Thefe were entirely volcanic ; fome of dark blue lava,
not unlike bafalte; others of a yellow fubftance; and again
others of a gray lava, mixed with a great quantity of white

VoL. Ul. R glafs °.

130 _ Aa ACCOUNT. e

glafs: But the rapft curious confifted of an heterogeneous mix-
ture of various fubftances, cemented indifcriminately together
by fome operation, fubfequent to their original formation, and
fo ftrongly, that the rock was broken with difficulty by our
hammers. It-confifted of pieces of black glafs, (a lava in all
probability much vitrified), and large pieces of a clofe, gray
lava, the cavities and pores of which were filled with zeolites
finely radiated. Some pieces of black lava, in parts compact,
and in other parts fo porous as to approach nearly to a pumice
ftone, were mixed with the reft of the mafs. A mixture of
thefe fame fubftances, (the lavas, the glafs and the zeolites),
pounded in fmall grains, filled the fpaces between the larger
pieces, and connected the whole into a folid rock. The heat
(if heat it was) which had cemented thefe materials, had not |
been ftrong enough to reduce any one to a ftate of fufion; for
the angles of the fragments were as fharply defined as if newly:
feparated from their refpective original beds.

TueE rocks from whence thefe different maffes have been de--
tached, lay heaped together in fo disjointed and irregular a.
manner, that fome violent convulfion has evidently taken place-
among them fince their firft formation ; but fimilar appearances:
of diforder are to be feen in every range of hills in the country..
Regular {trata are no where to be met with. It appears as if all:
this part of the ifland, at different periods, had been thrown up:
from its foundations.

THE valley is in this place fertile, and nearly half a mile in
breadth. It becomes more narrow towards the north; and it
is there rendered barren by heaps of crumbled lava, or other:
rubbifh, brought down from the hills by the waters. Thefe
have the appearance of artificial mounds, and a great number
of fprings are continually boiling through them. Below the
furface, a general decompofition feems taking place; for almoft
wherever the ground is turned up, a ftrong heat is felt, and the
loofe earth and {tones are changing gradually into a clay or bole

of

HOT SPRINGS in ICELAND. YS.

of various colours, and beautifully veined, refembling a va-
riegated jafper. The heat may poflibly proceed from a fer-
mentation of the materials compofing thefe mounds ; but more
probably (I fhould conjecture) from the {prings and fteam forced
up through them. The fprings muft have acquired their heat
at fome greater depth, from fome conftant, fteady caufe, (how-
ever difficult to explain), adequate to the length of time they
have been known to exift, with the fame unvaried force and
temperature.

Sprinecs do not boil on or near thefe banks only. They
rife in every part of the valley, and within the circumference of a

mile and an half, more than an hundred might eafily be counted.

Moft of them are very fmall, and may be juft perceived fim-
mering in the hole from whence the fteam is iffuing. This,
trailing on the ground, depofits in fome places a thin coat of
fulphur. The proportion varies ; for near fome of thefe {mall
{prings, fcarce any is perceptible, whilft the channels by which
the water efcapes from others, are entirely lined with it for fe-
veral yards. Neither the water, nor the fteam from the larger
{prings, ever appear to depofit the fmalleft proportion of ful-
phur ; nor can the fulphureous vapour they contain be difco-
vered, otherwife than by the tafte of what has been boiled in
them for a long time.

Many fprings boil in great caldrons or Bafons, of two, three
or four feet diameter. The water in thefe is agitated with a
violent ebullition, and vaft clouds of fteam fly off from its
furface. Several little ftreams are formed by the water which

efcapes from the bafons; and as thefe retain their heat for a
_ confiderable way, no little caution is required to. walk among
them with fafety.

Tue thermometer conftantly rofe in thefe {prings to the 212th
degree; and in one {mall opening, from whence a quantity of
{team iffued with great impetuofity, Dr Wricut obferved the
mercury rife, in two fucceflive trials, to the 213th degree.

Rog [

I wave already faid, that the ground, through which many
of the fprings were boiling, was reduced to a clay of various
colours. In fome, the water is quite turbid ; and, according to
the colour of the clay through which it has paffed, is red, yel-
low or gray.

Tue fprings, however, from whence Si water overflows
im any great quantity, are to appearance perfectly pure. The
moft remarkable of thefe was about fifty or fixty yards from
our ftation, and was diftinguifhed by the people of the neigh-
bourhood, by the name of the little Geyzer. The water of it
boiled with a loud and rumbling noife in a well of an irregular
form, of about fix feet in its greateft diameter ; from thence it
burft forth into the air, and fubfided again, nearly every minute.
The jets were dafhed into fpray as they rofe, and were from
twenty to thirty feet high. Volumes of fteam or vapour

afcended with them, and produced a moft magnificent effect,

particularly if the dark hills, which almoft hung over the foun-
tain, formed a back ground to the picture. The jets are forced
in rifing to take an oblique direction, by two or three large
ftones, which lay on the edge of the bafon. Between thefe and
the hill, the ground (to a diftance of eight or nine feet) is re-
markably hot, and entirely bare of vegetation. If the earth
is {tirred, a {team inftantly rifes, and in fome places it was co-
vered with a thin coat of fulphur, or rather, I fhould fay, fome
loofe {tones only were covered with flakes of it. In one place,
there was a flight efflorefcence on the furface of the foil, which,
by the tafte, feemed to be alum.

Tue fpray fell towards the valley, and in that direction co-
vered the ground with a thick incruftation of matter which it
depofited. Clofe to this, and in one fpot very near the well
itfelf, the grafs grows with great luxuriance.

Wuere the foil was heated, it was gradually (as on the
mounds) changing into a clay. But it was here more beautiful
than in any other place. The colours were more varied and

| bright,

HOT SPRINGS in ICELAND. 133

bright, and the veins were marked with more delicacy. The
tranfition likewife from one fubftance into the other, was more
evident and fatisfactory.

To the depth of a few inches, the ground confifted of loofe
lavas, broken and pounded together, of blue, red and yellow
colours. The blue lava was hardeft; and feveral pieces of -it
remained firm and unaltered, while the reft were reduced to a
duft. The colours became brighter as the decompofition of the
fubftances advanced, and they were changed at the depth of
nine or ten inches into a clay ; excepting, however, the pieces
of dark blue lava, which ftill retained fufficient hardnefs to re-
fift the preffure of the finger. Round thefe, (which appeared
infulated in the midft of the red and yellow clay), feveral veins
or circles were formed of various fhades and colours. A few
inches deeper, thefe alfo became part of the clay, but ftill ap-
pearing diftinét, by their circles, from the furrounding mafs.
The whole of this variegated fubftance refted on a thick bed of
dark blue clay, which had evidently been formed in the fame
manner from fome large fragment of blue lava, or ftratum of
it, broken into pieces. |

Tue refemblance of thefe clays to jafper is fo ftriking to the
eye, that I cannot forbear believing their origin to be fimilar, at
leaft, that fome circumftances in the formation of each are the
fame. You will fay, with reafon, that the difference, notwith-
ftanding the apparent fimilitude, is in reality very wide; that
thefe clays, before they can be converted into jafpers, require
to be confolidated, and impregnated with a confiderable propor-
tion of filiceous earth. It is fomething, however, to have de-
tected nature in the act of forming, in any fubftance, the veins
and figures common to marbles and jafpers. What ftill re-
mains of the procefs, after thus much of it has been traced,
may not long continue unknown; and in Iceland, probably
fooner than elfewhere, will be difcovered beds of clay, like this,
hardening into ftone, either by the effet of fubterraneous heat

or

ad

134. An ACCOUNT of

or preflure promoting an adhefion of the particles, or by fome
infinuation of matter (perhaps filiceous) into the pores of the
mafs.

THERE is another fountain in the valley not much inferior
in beauty to that which I have defcribed. It breaks out from
under one of the mounds clofe to the river. Its eruptions are,
I think, in fome refpects, more beautiful than thofe of the for-
mer. They rife nearly to the fame height, and the quantity of
water thrown up at one time is greater, and not fo much {cat-
tered into fpray. ‘The jets continue feldom longer than a mi-
nute, and the intervals between them are from five to fix mi-
nutes. They are forced to bend forwards from the well, by
the fhelving of the bank, or probably their height would be
very confiderable ; for they appear to be thrown up with great
force. We never dared approach near enough to look deep into
the well; but we could perceive the water boiling near its fur-
face, from time to time, with much violence. The ground in
front of it, was covered with a white incruftation, of a more
beautiful appearance than the depofition near any other {pring
in this place. By atrial of it with acids, it feemed almoft
entirely calcareous.

I HAVE now defcribed to you the two moft remarkable foun-
tains in the valley of Rykum, the only two which throw up
water to a confiderable height with any regularity. There are
fome from whence, in the courfe of every hour or half hour,
beautiful jets burft out unexpectedly ; but their eruptions con-
tinue only a few feconds, and between them the water boils in
the fame manner as in the other bafons.

Towarpbs the upper end of the valley, there was a very cu-
rious hole, which attracted much of our attention. It feemed
to have ferved at fome former period as the well of a fountain.
It was of an irregular form, and from four to five feet in dia- —
meter. It was divided into different hollows or cavities at the
depth of a few feet, into which we could not fee a great way,

on

HOT SPRINGS in ICELAND. 135

on account of their diredtion. A quantity of fteam iffued from
thefe.receffes, which prevented us from examining them very
clofely. We were ftunned while ftanding near this cavern, and
_ in fome meafure alarmed, by an amazing loud and continued
noife which came from the bottom, It was as loud as the blaft
of air forced into the furnace from the four great cylinders at
- the Carron iron-works. . heiiein
WE could difcover no water in any of the cavities; bit we
found near the place many beautiful petrifations of feaves and
moffes. They were formed with extreme delicacy, but were:
brittle, and would not bear much handling; their fubftance
feemed chiefly argillaceous.
_ We perceived fmoke iffuing from the ground in many places.
in the higher parts of the valley, much further than we extend-
ed our walks. I am forry to. fay we left many things in this
wonderful country unexamined ; but we were checked in our
journey by many circumftances, which allowed us neither the
leifure nor the opportunity for exploring every part of it as we:
could have wifhed. The fubftances depofited near the different
fprings feemed to me, in general, a mixture of calcareous and:
argillaceous earths; but near one {fpring, not far from our
tents, there feemed to be a flight depofition of filiceous matter.
To the eye it refembled calcedony ; but with its tranfparency,
it had not the fame hardnefs, and, if prefled, would break to.
pieces. The water you have. analyfed came from this {pring,
and we were obliged to take fome care in filling the bottles ; for
though gradually heated, they would break when the water was.
poured into them, if it had not been previoufly expofed:to the
air for fome minutes in an open veffel. .
THE water of this {pring boiled, as in moft of the others, in
a cauldron four or five feet broad. I do not recollect to have
feen any of it. ever thrown up above a foot, and fome meat we.
drefled in it tafted very ftrongly of fulphur.

Mr.

136 An ACCOUNT of

Mr BaineE, by a meafurement of the depth, the breadth and
the velocity of the ftream flowing from the little Geyzer, found
the quantity of water thrown up every minute by it to be
590.64 wine gallons, or 78.96 cubic feet. Mr Wricut and
myfelf followed the ftream, to obferve how far any matter con-
tinued to be depofited by the water. We found fome little ftill
depofited where it joined the river, a quarter of a mile at leaft
from its fource. At that place, it retained the heat of 83 de-
grees by FAHRENHEIT’s thermometer.

THE vegetation on the banks of the ftream, and in the plea-
fant meadows through which it flows, is exceedingly luxuriant.
The farmer and his people were at this time employed in cutting
the hay in them, which, though not high, was thick, and re-
markably fweet. The plants which Mr Wricut found in the |
greateft perfection, were the fedum acre *, the veronica beca-
bunga +, the polygonum viviparum {, and the comarum Peg
luftre ||.

A LITTLE above, where the current from the little Geyzer —
falls into the river, part of the lava, which has defcended
from the upper into the lower plain, has affumed clofe to its
banks, for the fpace of fome yards, a regular columnar fhape.
The pillars are fhort, and have five or fix fides. I cannot be —
very exact in my account of them, as they were on the oppo- —
fite fide of the river. I fhould fuppofe they were nearly a foot —
and an half in diameter.. Some were horizontal, and others ver-
tical. We obferved the fame appearance in many of the tracts ©
of lava we traverfed on our journey, and, in one or two in- —
ftances, in thofe which had flowed from the fides of Mount —
Hecla, though the pillars there were lefs perfe@tly defined. |

So many ftreams of hot water fall into the river, that it re-
ceives from thence a very cat ans degree of heat. The |

thermometer,
* Pepper ftone crop. ft Snake weed:
+ Brook lime. || Purple marfh ariquefoil.

HOT SPRINGS wm ICELAND. 37

thermometer, immerfed in it above where it is joined by the
waters of the Little Geyzer, rofe to 67 degrees, while in the
open air it ftood at 60. The breadth of the river in the fame
place is forty feet ; its mean depth two feet and an half, and
its courfe is rather rapid. Several kinds of fith are found in it;
in particular, numbers of very fine falmon.

TuE village of Rykum or Ryka, called either indifcrimi-
nately, from Ryé, an Icelandic word, fignifying fmoke, is fituated
in the middle of the valley, and, by an obfervation made by
Mr BaIneE, is in latitude 64° 4 38” N. about twenty miles
from Rykiavick, and eight or ten from Oreback, a fmall har-
bour on the fouthern coaft of the ifland. The village con-
-fifts of the farmer’s houfe, and the houfes of his fervants or
dependants, and a {mall church. All the adjacent lands belong
to him, and he keeps a confiderable number of fheep and cat-
tle, and fome few horfes. ‘Thefe conftitute his riches; and he
purchafes at Rykiavick, with {kins, wool and butter, whatever
he requires, of which the chief article is fifh, for his winter’s
provifion. :

I HAVE now related to you every circumftance that has oc+
curred to me worth mentioning concerning this interefting
valley. I have regretted much, however, my inability to give
you a more accurate account of fome parts of it; in particular,
of the many fprings which break out near the hills to the north,
and of the rocks above the field where we placed our tents,
which deferved more attention than I gave to them. But we
remained in this valley a fhort time only, and the weather, du-
- ring our continuance there, was very unfavourable. I fhall
here clofe this letter, and referve for another (which you may
very foon expect) the account I have yet to fend you of the
Great Geyzer and the fprings near Haukadal. I am, Dear Sir,
with great efteem, your moft obedient fervant,

Joun Tuo. STANLEY.

Wore Tat S VI.

VI. dn Account of the Hor Srrines near Haukadal in Ice
land: Ina fecond Letter to Dr BLack from FoHN THOMAS |
STANLEY, E/q; M.P. ¥F.S. A. A. Lonp. and F. R. S. Epin.

[Read April 30. 1792.]

DEAR SIR, Grofvenor Place, March 30.1792. ~

ART of my promife has been accomplifhed in a former

letter, in which I gave you the fulleft account I could of _

the fprings of boiling water that rife in the valley of Rykum.

It now remains for me to fend you a defcription of thofe we
vifited in the neighbourhood of Haukadal.

Tuese laft are the moft remarkable in the ifland, and the ~
eruptions of water from fome of them fo aftonifhing, that E
doubt whether any adequate idea of their effe¢t can be given
by defcription. Abler pens than mine might fail probably in _
attempting to do juftice to fuch wonderful phenomena. The:
objects, however, are fo highly interefting in themfelves, that
even the fimpleft narrative that can be given of them will be
read with more than ordinary attention. a

Tuey are fituated about fix and thirty miles from Mount:
Heckla, and about twelve miles, in a north-eaft direGtion, from.
the village of Skalholt*. The road from thence to the fprings

is;

* Skalholt confifts of the Cathedral, a large building of wood, and of a very few

houfes belonging to the Bifhop and his dependants. The Bilhops of the fouthern divi-
fion-

An ACCOUNT of HOT SPRINGS, &c. 139

is over a flat country, which, although marfhy in feveral
places, is not unpleafant to the eye, and abounds in excellent
pafturage.

Tue fteam afcending from the principal fprings during their
eruptions, may be feen from a confiderable diftance. When
the air is ftill, it rifes perpendicularly like a column to a great
height ; then fpreads itfelf into clouds, which roll in fucceflive
maffes over each other, until they are loft in the atmofphere.
We perceived one of thefe columns, when diftant fixteen miles
at leaft, in a direct line from Haukadal.

Tue fprings moftly rife in a plain, between a river that
winds through it, and the bafe of a range of low hills. Many
however break out from the fides of the hills, and fome very
near their fummits. They are all contained, to the number of
one hundred or more, within a circle of two miles.

Tue moft remarkable {pring rifes nearly in the midft of the
other fprings, clofe to the hills. It is called Geyzer*; the
name probably in the old Scandinavian language for a foun-
tain, from the verb gey/a, fignifying to gu/b, or to rufh forth.
The next moft remarkable fpring rifes at a diftance of one hun-
dred and forty yards from it, on the fame line, at the foot of
the hills. We called it the New Geyzer, on account of its ha-
ving but lately played fo violently as at prefent.

THERE are others of confequence in the place, but none that
approach to thefe in magnificence, or that, when compared
with them, deferve much defcription. The generality of the
fprings are in every refpect fimilar to thofe near Rykum ; boil-

S 2 ing
fion of Iceland have always refided there ; but in future their refidence will be at Ry-
kiavick, a town now building on the fouth-weft coaft of the ifland. The prefent Bifhop,

however, the worthy and learned Mr Frwsen, has obtained the permiffion of continuing
his refidence at Skalholt during the remainder of his life.

* Three or four only of the principal fprings in Iceland are diftinguifhed by the
name of Geyzer, and of all the fprings near Haukadal the greateft is alone called Gey-
zer or Great Geyzer.

I 40 | An ACCOUNT of

ing in caldrons of three or four feet diameter, and fome of
them throwing their water from time to time by fudden jets
into the air. Many fprings in this place, as in the other, boil
through ftrata of coloured clay, by which they are rendered
turbid. Here, however, the red clays were brighter, and in
a greater proportion to the clays of other colours. Here alfo,
as in the valley of Rykum, are many fmall fprings, which.
throw out fulphureous vapour, and near which the ground,
and the channel of the water, are covered and lined with a thin’
coat of fulphur.

Tue farm of Haukadal, and the church of the parifh, ftand
near to each other about three quarters of a mile beyond the ~
great fpring. The houfe is one of the beft built in Iceland. —
It occupies a large fpace of ground, and confifts of feveral di-
vifions, to each of which there is an entrance from without.
Some of thefe are ufed as barns and ftables for the cattle, and
others as work-fhops *. The dwelling part of this houfe was: —
fmall, but comfortable. There was a parlour with glafs win-
dows, a kitchen, and feparate bed-chambers for the familys. —
The building was partly of ftone, partly of wood, and cover-- —
ed with fods, under which the bark of birch trees. on boards, —
are generally placed, as a greater fecurity againft rain.. ia

We were obliged to the miftrefs of this farm, who was av
rich widow, for a very hofpitable reception, although at firft:
the feemed to confider us rather as unwelcome vifitors, and left: —
us, though we had requefted admittance into her houfe, as we- —
were drenched with rain, and our tents and baggage not yet:
arrived, to take up our lodging in the church. We had not 4
been long there, however, before fhe invited us to her houfe, a

and.

* As the divifion of labour is yet very imperfeét in Iceland, the farmer is under the a
neceflity, either of exercifing himfelf the feveral trades required in the formation of the
inftroments of agriculture, or of maintaining fuch fervants as are capable. to. fupply.
them.

HOT SPRINGS in ICELAND. 141

and by her kindnefs made ample amends for her former inat-
tention. She put us in pofleffion of her beft room, and fet be-
fore us plenty of good cream, fome wheat cakes, fugar, and a
kind of tea made of the leaves of the dryas ottopetala *.

I MENTION thefe circumftances of our reception at Haukadal,,
as chara¢teriftic of the manners of the Icelanders. Several’
times during my ftay in the country, I experienced this fuc-
cefion of civility to coldnefs. The Icelanders are naturally
good, but not eafily roufed to feeling. When once their con-
ftitutional indifference was overcome, we ufually found them
defirous of pleafing, and zealous to do us fervice.

As the houfe was not fufficiently large to contain the whole
of our party, we were under the neceffity of returning again
to the church as foon as our baggage arrived. Here we pafled
the firft and fecond nights of our ftay, in the neighbourhood’
of the fprings. On the third day, we left Haukadal, to fix:
ourfelves in fome ftation nearer to them, from which we
could watch their eruptions with more convenience.

THE view from near the church was very beautiful. It ex--
tended toward the fouth along the plain into an open country.
On the other fides, it was bounded by hills, which had not the:
barren and rugged appearance that deform almoft every fcene:
in this divifion of the ifland. It was, however, ftill finer from:
fome of the eminences near the fprings. The plain and the:
furrounding mountains, feen from a height, appeared to more:
advantage ; and the eruptions from the great wells breaking
from time to time, the general ftillnefs that prevailed, were-
much more diftinét. The courfe of the river, winding under’

the eye, could be traced with greater accuracy. It flows through:
the=

* Called in Englifh the Mountain Avens. We found this plant growing very lux-
uriantly, and in great abundance, in.every part of Iceland that we vilited...

‘

142 An ACCOUNT of

the plain into an open country, where, being increafed by the
waters of numerous ftreams and rivulets, it bends to the weft-
ward, and near Skalholt falls into a confiderable river, the
Huit-aa.

Tue pleafant and fertile paftures near its banks were en-
livened by numerous herds of cattle and fheep, the united

riches of three or four farmers in the neighbourhood of Hau-

kadal. The mowers alfo at work in the different fields fur-
rounding each houfe, gave, at this feafon, additional beauty to
the profpect. High hills to the weftward were feparated from
the eminencies immediately above the fprings by a narrow
valley. They were partly clothed with buthes of birch, which,
although in no place above five feet high, were gratifying to
the fight, which fo feldom in Iceland can reft on any appear-
ance even of underwood. Above thefe, fome vegetation ftill
continued to cover the fides of the hills, and Mr Wricut
found a variety of plants * near their fummits, which were cer-
tainly, in fome places, not lefs than fixteen hundred feet above
the plain.

To the eaftward, the plain, feveral miles in breadth, was
bounded by a long range of blue mountains, extending confi-

derably to the fouth. Beyond thefe, the triple fummit of

Heckla may be feen from the weftern hills; but I could not
diftinguifh it from the plain, or even from the heights whence
the view of the furrounding country was taken which I am
now defcribing. |

To the north behind Haukadal, there were many high
mountains, but at a great diftance, and of which the moft di-

{tant were covered with fnow. They formed part of a dreary
affemblage

* Amongft others, he found the /alix herbacea (teft willow), the ceraflium tomento-
fum (woolly moufe ear chickweed), the rumex digynus (round leaved mountain forrel),
and the koenigia, (a plant peculiar to Iceland), growing in great abundance, though
generally in low and marfhy grounds.

— eid

HOT SPRINGS in ICELAND. ~~ 143

affemblage of Yoku/s or ice-mountains, which occupy a confider-
able extent of the interior country. Their forms were moftly
conical ; and from their general refemblance to other mountains
in the ifland, from which ftreams of lava have been emitted,
I think it probable they were once volcanos. They are not fo
connected as to form a continued range or chain of hills. Each
ftands infulated ; and therefore the fnows which have for ages
refted on their fides, are no where accumulated in valleys and
converted into lakes of ice and glaciers, as amidft the Alps of
Switzerland and Savoy.

A view fo different from the general features of the coun-
try, impreffed us with the moft agreeable fenfations. Hitherto
we could but compare one fcene of drearinefs with another ;
and although the view before us was deftitute of trees, yet the
verdure, and pleafant diftribution of hills and plain, in fome
meafure compenfated for this deficiency.

I Now return to the account of the fprings, which I have
already obferved break out in different places from the fides of
a hill, and the fpace inclofed between its bafe and the windings
of ariver. The foil through which they rife is a mixture of
crumbled materials, wafhed by degrees from the higher parts
of the hill. In fome places, thefe have been reduced into a
clay or earth; in others, they ftill remain loofe and broken
fragments of the rocks from whence they have fallen, or a
_ duft produced by their friction againft each other. Wherever
the ground is penetrated by the {team of the f{prings, thefe frag-
ments are foon decompofed, or changed into coloured clays.
In other places, the furface of the ground is covered with in-
cruftations depofited by the fprings, or with a luxuriant vege-
_ tation of grafs or dwarf bufhes of willow and birch, and the
empetrum nigrum *, the berries of which were at this time ripe

and in great abundance.
ABOVE
* The crow berry. This is almoft the only fruit we met within Iceland. Mr Wricur
found a few ftrawberries. Neither goofcberries nor currants will come to perfecuion by

any Management whatever.

oe An ACCOUNT of

Azsove the great fpring, the hill terminates in a double
pointed rock, which Mr Barne found by meafurement to be 316

feet higher than the courfe of the river. The rock is fplit very

{trangely into lamina, and at firft fight has much the appearance
of a fchiftus or bed of thick flate. It confifts, however, of a’

gray coloured ftone of a very clofe grain, the feparate pieces of ©

which, although divided as they lay, do not break in the hand
in any particular direction. I fhould fuppofe the fubftance of
this rock to be chiefly argillaceous, and that, like every other
‘ftone in the ifland, it has fuffered fome change by the action
of fire. I do not mean to call it lava, as it bears no mark of
having been once in a melted ftate, whatever baking or indu-
ration it may have fuftained in the neighbourhood of fubterra-
ous heat. It contains no heterogeneous matter, or cavities, in
which agates, or zeolites, or vitrified fubftances of any kind,
could have been formed. |
Aut thefe rocks that have been either altered or created by
fire, feem much more liable to decay and decompofition than any
others I have ever feen. Mounds, fimilar to thofe in the valley
of Rykum, have been formed by the ruins of the hill half
way up its afcent between the Geyzer and the pointed rock.
Springs boil in many places through thefe mounds, and near to

one of them, I obferved that the coloured clay felt much more — -
foapy than any I had tried before. This quality probably was.

owing to a greater proportion of the earth of magnefia in its
compofition, as in other refpects it agreed perfectly with the
reft.

My attention, during the four days I remained in this place,
was fo much engaged by the beauties and remarkable cir-
cumftances of the two principal {prings, that I cannot (were
I fo inclined) give you a minute account of thofe which, next
to them, were deferving of notice. ‘The fprings in general re-

femble thofe at Rykum; but there are five or fix which have -

their peculiarities, and throw up their waters with violence to

HOT SPRINGS in ICELAND. 145

a confiderable height. Their bafons are of irregular forms,
four, five or fix feet in diameter, and from fome of them the
water rufhes out in all directions, from others obliquely. The
eruptions are never of long duration, and the intervals are from
I5 to 30 minutes. ‘The periods of both were exceedingly va-
riable.. One of the moft remarkable of thefe fprings threw
out a great quantity of water, and from its continual noife we

named it the Roaring Geyzer. The eruptions of this fountain —
were inceflant. The water darted out with fury every four or ~
five minutes, and covered a great fpace of ground with the
matter it depofited. The jets were from thirty to forty feet.
in height. They were fhivered into the fineft particles of
fpray, and furrounded by great clouds of fteam. The fituation _.
of this fpring was eighty yards diftant from the Geyzer, on —
the rife of the hill.

I sHALL now, Sir, attempt fome defcription of this celebrated
fountain, diftinguifhed by the appellation of Geyzer alone,
from the pre-eminence it holds over all the natural phenomena
of this kind in Iceland.

By a gradual depofition of the fubftances diffolved in its
water for a long fucceflion of years, perhaps for ages, a mound
of confiderable height has been formed, from the centre of
which the Geyzer iflues. It rifes through a perpendicular and
cylindrical pipe, or fhaft, feventy feet in depth, and eight feet
anda half in diameter, which opens into a bafon or funnel,
meafuring fifty-nine feet from one edge of it to the other. The
bafon is circular, and the fides of it, as well as thofe of the
pipe, are polifhed quite fmooth by the continual friction of
the water, and they are both formed with fuch mathematical
truth, as to appear conftructed by art. The declivity of the
mound begins immediately from the borders of the bafon.
The incruftations are in fome places worn fmooth by the over-
flowing of the water; in moft, however, they rife in number-
lefs little tufts, which bear a refemblance to the heads of cau-

Vot. IIL. fee liflowers,

146 An ACCOUNT of

liflowers, except that they are rather more prominent, and are’
covered, by the falling of the finer particles of fpray, with a
cry {talline eforefcence fo delicate as fcarcely to bear - the
flighteft touch. Unmolefted, the efflorefcence gradually hardens,
and, although it lofes its firft delicacy, it ftill remains exceed-
ingly beautiful.

THESE incruftations are of a light brown colour, and ex-
tend a great way, in various directions, from the borders of
the bafon. To the northward, they reach toa diftance of 82 feet 5.
to the eaft, of 86; to the fouth, of 118; and of 124 to the
weft. They are very hard, and do not appear, in any part, de-.
caying or mouldering into foil*.

WHEN our guides firft led us to the Geyzer, the bafon was.
filled to within a few feet of its edge. ‘The water was tranf{pa-
rent as cryftal; a flight fteam only arofe from it, and the fur-
face was ruffled but by a few bubbles, which now and then:
came from the bottom of the pipe. We waited with. anxiety,
for feveral minutes, expe¢ting at every inftant fome interrup-
tion to this tranquillity. On a fudden, another fpring, imme-
diately in front of the place on, which we were ftanding, darted:
its waters above an hundred feet into the air with the velocity.
of an arrow, and the jets fucceeding this firft eruption were.
~ {till higher. This was the {pring already mentioned under the
name of the New Geyzer. i

W3HILE gazing in filence and wonder at this unexpected and.
beautiful difplay, we were alarmed by a fudden fhock of the,

ground

* The fubftance of thefe incruftations has been analyfed by Profeflor Bencman, and-
he gives a long and particular account of it, in a letter to the Archbifhop of Upfal, pu-
blithed with the Archbifhop’s Letters on Iceland. He fays, “‘ The ftrongeft acids, the:
“© fluor acid not excepted, are not fufficient with a boiling heat to diflolve this fubftance.
“© Tt diffolves very little (if at all) by the blow-pipe with the fufible falt of urine, a little-
“© more with borax, and makes a ftrong effervefcence with fal fode. Thefe eflefts are.
“ peculiar only to a filiceous earth or flint. There cannot remain therefore a doubs
‘€ concerning the nature of. this cruftated ftone.”’

HOT SPRINGS wm ICELAND. 147

ground under our feet, accompanied with a hollow noife, not
unlike the diftant firing of cannon. Another fhock foon fol-
lowed, and we obferved the water in the bafon to be much
agitated. The Icelanders haftily laid hold of us, and forced
us to retreat fome yards. The water in the mean time boiled
violently, and heaved as if fome expanfive power were labour-
ing beneath its weight, and fome of it was thrown up a few
feet above the bafon. Again there were two or three fhocks of
the ground, and a repetition of the fame noife. In an inftant,
the furrounding atmofphere was filled with volumes of fteam
rolling over each other as they afcended, in a manner inex-
preffibly beautiful, and through which, columns of water,
fhivering into foam, darted in rapid fuceeflion to heights which,
at the time, we were little qualified to eftimate. Indeed, the
novelty and f{plendour of fuch a fcene had affected our imagi-
nations fo forcibly, that we believed the extreme height of the
jet to be much greater than it was afterwards determined to be.
In a fubfequent eruption, Mr Barne afcertained, by means of
a quadrant, the greateft elevation to which the jets of water
were thrown, to be 96 feet.

Mucu of the water began to defcend again at different
heights, and was again projected by other columns, which met
it as they arofe. At laft, having filled the bafon, it rolled in
great waves over its edge, and forming numberlefs rills, made —
its way down the fides of the mound. Much was loft in va-
pour alfo, and ftill more fell to the ground in heavy fhowers of
fpray. The intervals at which the feveral jets fucceeded each
other, were too fhort for the eye to diftinguifh them. As they
rofe out of the bafon, they reflected, by their denfity, the
pureft and moft brilliant blue. In certain fhades, the colour
was green like that of the fea; but in their further afcent, all
diftinction of colour was loft, and the jets, broken into a
thoufand parts, appeared white as fnow. Several of them
were forced upwards perpendicularly ; but many, receiving

hz a

148 An ACCOUNT of

a flight inclination as they burft from the bafon, were proje@t-
ed.in beautiful curves, and the fpray which fell from them,
caught by a fucceeding jet, was hurried away fill higher than.
it had been perhaps before.

THE jets were made with inconceivable velocity, al ‘thofe.
‘which efcaped uninterrupted terminated in fharp points, and’
loft themfelves in the air. The eruption, changing its form at
every inftant, and blending varioufly with the clouds of fteam.
that furrounded it, continued for ten or twelve minutes; the
water then fubfided through the pipe, and difappeared.

Tue eruptions of the Geyzer fucceed each other with fome -
degree of regularity, but they are not equally violent, or of
equal duration. Some lafted fcarcely eight or ten, while others.
continued, with unabated violence, fifteen or eighteen minutes..
Between the great eruptions, while the pipe and bafon were:
filling, the water burft feveral times into the air to a confider-
able height. Thefe partial jets, however, feldom exceeded a.
minute, and fometimes not a few feconds, in duration.

Arter the eruption of it had been violent, the water fank.
into fubterraneous caverns, and left the pipe quite empty. If

the eruption had been moderate, the fubfidence of the water —

was proportionably lefs. The firft time the pipe was perfectly.
emptied, we founded its depth, and found the bottom’ very.
rough and irregular. The pipe remains but a fhort time empty..
After a few. feconds, the water rufhes into it again with a.
bubbling noife, and during the time that it is rifing in the
pipe, it is frequently darted fuddenly into the air to different:
heights, fometimes to two or three, fometimes fixty feet above:
the fides of the bafon. By a furprife of this kind, while we-
were engaged meafuring the diameter of the well, we had
nearly been fcalded; and although we were able to withdraw
ourfelves from the great body of water as it afcended, yet
we remained expofed to the falling fpray, which fortunately.
was fo much cooled in the air as to do us no mifchief.

OF.

HOT SPRINGS in ICELAND. T49

Or thefe jets we counted twenty in an hour and an half,
during which the waters had filled the pipe and in part the
bafon. It then feemed oftentimes agitated, and boiled with
great violence. The jets were more beautiful, and continued
songer, as the quantity of water ia the bafon increafed. The
refiftance being greater, their force was in fome degree broken,
and their form, more divided, produced a greater difplay of
foam and vapour.

Waite the pipe was filling, we threw into it feveral ftones:
of confiderable weight, which, whenever the water burft forth
with any violence, were projected much higher than itfelf.
Thefe ftones in falling were met by other columns of water,
and amidft thefe they rofe and fell repeatedly. “They were ea-
fily diftinguifhed in the white foam, and contributed much to
the novelty and beauty of this extraordinary phenomenon.

WueEn the bafon was nearly full, thefe occafional eruptions:
were generally announced by fhocks of the ground, fimilar to:
thofe preceding the great eruptions. Immediately after the:
fhocks, the whole body of water in the bafon. heaved. exceed-
ingly; a: violent ebullition then took place, and large waves:
fpread themfelves in circles from. the centre, through which: the:
column forced its way.

WueEN the water had been ipetet in the bafon for fome time,,
the thermometer placed in it ftood at 180° only, but imme-
diately after an eruption it rofe to 200°. We boiled a piece of
falmon init, which was exceedingly dy tafted. Our cookery:
at Rykum had not been quite fo fuccefsful.

Tue water thrown out from the Geyzer is joined at the
bottom of the mound by that which flows from the {pring
called the roaring Geyzer, formerly defcribed. The ftream pro-
duced by their united waters flows three or four hundred paces
before it falls into the river, where its temperature is reduced.
to 72°. Even at this place it depofited much of the fubftances:
it.contained ; but during the whole of its courfe, the plants:

growing:

150 An ACCOUNT of

growing on its banks were covered with beautiful incruftations.
Some of thefe we wifhed to preferve, but from their extreme
delicacy they fell into pieces on every attempt to remove them.

Tue fituation of the new Geyzer * is in the fame line from
the foot of the hill with the great Geyzer. Its pipe is formed
with equal regularity, and is fix feet in diameter, and forty-fix
feet ten inches in depth. It does not open into a bafon, but it”
is nearly furrounded by a rim or wall two feet high. After
each eruption, the pipe is emptied, and the water returns gra-
dually into it, as into that of the old Geyzer. During three
hours nearly that the pipe is filling, the partial eruptions hap-
pen feldom, and do not rife very high ; but the water boils the
whole time, and often with great violence. The temperature
of the waters after one of thefe eruptions, was conftantly found
to be 212°. Few incruftations are formed round this fpring,
excepting in the channel where the water flows from it.

Tue great eruption is not preceded by any noife, like that
of the great Geyzer. The water boils fuddenly, or is heaved
over the fides of the pipe; then fubfiding a little, it burfts into
the air with inconceivable violence. The column of water re-
mains entire, until it reaches its extreme height, where it is
fhivered into the fineft particles. Its direQion was perpendicu-
lar, and greateft elevation 132 feet. Like the eruption of the
old Geyzer, this confifted of feveral jets, fucceeding each other

with

* Bsrore the month of June 1789, the year I vifited Iceland, this {pring had not
played with any great degree of violence, at leaft for a confiderable time. (Indeed the
formation of the pipe will not allow us to fuppofe, that its eruptions had at no former
period been violent.) But in the month of June, this quarter of Iceland had fuffered
fome very fevere fhocks of an earthquake ; and it is not unlikely, that many of the ca-
vities communicating with the bottom of the pipe, had been then enlarged, and new
fources of water opened into them. The difference between the eruptions of this foun-
tain, and thofe of the great Geyzer, may be accounted for from the circumftance of their
being no bafon over the pipe of the firft, in which any water can be contamed to inter-
rupt the column asit rifes. I fhould here ftate, that we could not difcover any corre-
{pendence between the eruptions of the different {prings.

HOT SPRINGS in ICELAND. 151

with great rapidity. Whatever we threw into the well was
hurled into the air with fuch fwiftnefs that the eye could {carce-
ly difcern it *, and the divifion of the water at the extremity of
the column was fo minute, that the fhowers of fpray which
fell were cold. ‘Towards the end of an eruption, when more
{team than water rufhed from the pipe, I ventured to hold my
hand near the edge of the column, in the way of fome of the
divided particles of water, and found them tepid only. You
may probably think this a rafh experiment, and certainly it
was fo. But we had made our obfervations on the uniform di-
rection. of the column, and confided our fafety in it. Once or
twice, however, we had reafon to think ourfelves more fortu-
nate in efcaping, than prudent in avoiding, the danger which
attended a too near approach to thefe eruptions of boiling wa-
ter. During tenor fifteen minutes, the water continued to be
thrown. upwards with undiminifhed impetuofity. At the end
of that period, the quantity became lefs, and at length, ceafing
entirely, {team alone afcended. In one: initance, the eruption
continued thirty minutes. It feldom however exceeded twenty
minutes, and fometimes was completed in fifteen minutes. The
force with which the fteam rifes abates as the water finks in the:
pipe, and when this is exhaufted, that foon difappears.

I HAVE now, Sir, given you fuch a defcription of thefe ce-
lebrated fountains as was in my power. I hope that it will af-
ford you fome fatisfaction, and I could with that it might ferve
as an inducement to fome curious enquirer into the hiftory of
nature to vifit them, who fhall have all the knowledge requifite
for making fuch obfervations as are yet to be defired concern--
ing them. I cannot flatter myfelf, that the defcription I have
attempted of their eruptions will imprefs you with a juft idea
of their beauty.. Sources of comparifon are wanting, by which

the:

* Mr Bane meafured the height to which a ftone was thrown up by one of thefe.
jets, and found it 129 feet. Some others rofe confiderably higher.

152 An ACCOUNT of

the portraiture of fuch extraordinary fcenes can be affifted.
Nature no where offers objects bearing a refemblance to them;
and art, even in conftructing the water-works of Verfailles, has
produced nothing that can at all illuftrate the magnificent ap-
pearances of the Geyzer. All then that I hope for is, to have
{aid fo much as may enable you to complete in your imagina-
tion, the picture which I have only fketched. Imagination
alone can fupply the noife and motion which accompany fuch
large bodies of water burfting from their confinement; and
mutt be left to paint, what I have not been able to defcribe, the
‘brilliancy of colouring, the purity of the fpray, the quick
change of effect, and the thoufand varieties of form into which
the clouds of fteam, filling the atmofphere on every fide, are
rolled inceffantly.

I HAVE avoided entering into any theory of the caufe of
thefe phenomena, that you may not fuppofe the account I give
you has been biafled by a favourite hypothefis. I have given
you an accurate ftate of facts, and I leave to you the explana-
tion of them. ‘There cannot, however, be two opinions con-
cerning the immediate caufe which forces the water upwards.
It is obvioufly the elafticity of {team endeavouring to free itfelf.
In addition to this, the form of the cylinder through which
the water rifes, gives it that projectile force which carries it fo —
high. Beyond this, it would not become me to hazard any
opinion.

Or the antiquity of thefe fprings I can fay nothing, further
than that they are mentioned as throwing up their waters toa
great height by Saxo Grammaticus, in the Preface to his
Hiftory of Denmark, which was written in the twelfth cen-
tury ; but from the general features of the country, it is like-
ly, that they have exifted a great length of time. The opera-
tions of fubterraneous heat feem indeed to be of great antiquity
in Iceland, and the whole country probably owes its ex-

iftence

HOT SPRINGS m ICELAND. 153

iftence to the fires which burn beneath its furface. Every hill
proves, at leaft, with what violence thefe fires have acted for ages ;
and the terrible eruptions of lava, which burft from the moun-
tains of Skaptefield in 1783, fhow es they are as yet far from
being extinguifhed. _

Iam,
Dear Sir,
With great regard and efteem,
Your very obedient fervant,

Joun Tuo. STANLEY.

Vou. I. U VI.

SESS SSS Sect

VII. On the Orn1GiNn and InveEsticAT1oNn of Porisms. By
JouN PLArFAIR, F.R.S. Epin. and Profeffor of Ma-
thematics in the Univerfity of EDINBURGH.

Bi tae Rin it I.

[Read April 2. 1792.]

2 HE reftoration of the ancient books of geometry would
have been impoflible, without the coincidence of two
circumftances, of which, though the one is purely accidental,
the other is effentially connected with the nature of the mathe-
matical fciences. The firft of thefe circumftances is the pre-
fervation of a fhort abftract of thofe books, drawn up by
Pappus ALEXANDRINUS, together with a feries of fuch /em-
mata, as he judged ufeful to facilitate the ftudy of them. The
fecond is, the neceffary connection that takes place among the
objects of every mathematical work, which, by excluding what-
ever is arbitrary, makes it poflible to determine the whole
courfe of an inveftigation, when only a few points in it are
known. From the union of thefe circumftances, mathematics
has enjoyed an advantage of which no other branch of know-
ledge can partake ; and while the critic or the hiftorian has
only been able to lament the fate of thofe books of Livy and
Tacitus which are loft, the geometer has had the high fatis-
faction to behold the works of Euctip and APOLLONIUs re-
viving under his hands.
2. Tue firft reftorers of the ancient books were not, how-
ever, aware of the full extent of the work which they had un-
pian, dertaken.

On the ORIGIN. of PORISMS., et

dertaken. They thought it fufficient to demonftrate the pro-
pofitions, which they knew from Pappus, to have been contained
in thofe books’; but they did not follow the ancient method of
inveftigation, and few of them appear to have had any idea of
the elegant and fimple analyfis by which thefe propofitions were
originally difcovered, and by which the Greek geometry was
peculiarly diftinguifhed..

Amonc thefe few, FErmatT and Hattey are to be particu-
larly remarked. The former, one of the greateft mathematicians -
of the laft age, and a man in all refpedcts of fuperior abilities, had
very juft notions of the geometrical analyfis, and appears often
abundantly fkilful in the ufe of it; yet in his reftoration of the
Loci Plani, it is remarkable, that in the moft difficult propofi-
- tions, he lays afide the analytical method, and contents himfelf
with giving the fynthetical demonftration. The latter, among
the great number and variety of his literary occupations,
found time for a moft attentive ftudy of the ancient ma-
thematicians, and was an inftance of, what experience fhews
to be much rarer than might be expected, a man equally
well acquainted with the ancient and the modern geome-
try, and equally difpofed to do juftice to the merit of both. -
He reftored the books of ApotLonius, on the problem De
Seclione Spatiz, according to the true principles of the ancient
analyfis.

THESE books, however, are but fhort, fo that the firft re-
ftoration of confiderable extent that can be reckoned complete,
is that of the Loci Plani by Dr Simson, publifhed in 1749,
which, if it differs at all from the work it is intended to re-
_ place, feems to do fo only by its greater excellence. This much
at leaft is certain, that the method of the ancient geometers does
Not appear to greater advantage in the moft entire of their wri-
tings, than in the reftoration above mentioned ; and that
_ Dr Simson has often facrificed the elegance to which his own
_ analyfis would have led, in order to tread more exa¢tly in what
U 2 the

156 On the ORIGIN and

the /emmata of Pappus pointed out to him, as the trac eis
APpo.tuonius had purfued.

3. THERE was another fubject, that of Pori/ms, the moft
intricate and enigmatical of any thing in the ancient geometry,
which was ftill referved to exercife the genius of Dr Simson,
and to call forth that enthufiaftic admiration of antiquity, and
that unwearied perfeverance in refearch, for which he was fo
peculiarly diftinguifhed. A treatife in three books, which ~
Eucuiip had compofed on Porifms, was loft, and all that re-
mained concerning them was an abftract of that treatife, in-
ferted by Pappus ALEXANDRINUS in his Mathematical Col-
lections, in which, had it been entire, the geometers of later
times would doubtlefs have found wherewithal to confole them-
felves for the lofs of the original work. But unfortunately it
has fuffered fo much from the injuries of time, that all which
we can immediately learn from it is, that the ancients put a high
value on the propofitions which they called porifms, and re-
garded them as a very important part of their analyfis. The
Porifms of Eucuip are there faid to be, ‘* Colleétio artificio-
“ fiffima multarum rerum que fpectant ad analyfin diffici-
“ liorum et generalium problematum*.” The curiofity, how-
ever, which is excited by this encomium is quickly difappoint-
ed; for when Pappus proceeds to explain what a Porifm is, he
lays down two definitions of it, one of which is rejected by
him as imperfect, while the other, which is ftated as correét, is
- too vague and indefinite to convey any ufeful information.

TueEse defects might neverthelefs have been fupplied, if the
enumeration which he next gives of EucLip’s propofitions had
been entire; but on account of the extreme brevity of his
enunciations, and their reference to a diagram which is loft,
and for the conftru€ting of which no dire€tions are given, they are
‘all, except one, perfectly unintelligible. For thefe reafons, the

fragment

* ColleGiones Math. Jib. vii. in init.

INVESTIGATION of PORISMS. 184

fragment in queftion is fo obfcure, that even to the learning
and penetration of Dr HALLEy, it feemed impoffible that it
could ever be explained; and he therefore concluded, after
giving the Greek text with all poflible correétnefs, and adding
the Latin tranflation, “‘ Ha@tenus Porifmatum defcriptio nec
** mihi intellecta, nec leCtori profutura. Neque aliter fieri po-
* cuit, tam ob defectum fchematis cujus fit mentio, quam ob
* omiffa quedam et tranfpofita, vel aliter vitiata in propofi-
*€ tionis generalis expofitione, unde quid fibi velit Pappus haud
** mihi datum eft conjicere. His adde dictionis miodum nimis
** contractum, ac in re difficili, qualis hec eft, minime ufur-
*¢ pandum *.” :

4. Ir is true, however, that before this time, FERMaT had
attempted:to explain the nature of Porifms, and not altogether
without fuccefs +. Guiding his conjectures by the definition
which Pappus cenfures as imperfect, becaufe it defined po-
rifms only “ ab accidente,” viz. ‘‘ Porifma eft quod deficit hy-
** pothefi a Theoremate Locali,’’ he formed to himfelf a tolera-
bly juft notion of thefe propofitions, and illuftrated his genera!
defcription by examples that are in effect Porifms. But he was
able to proceed no farther ; and he neither proved, that his no-
tion of a Porifm was the fame with Evc.in’s, nor attempted to
reftore, or explain any one of Evcuip’s propofitions ; much lefs
did he fuppofe, that they were to be inveftigated by an analyfis
peculiar to themfelves. And fo imperfect indeed was this at-
tempt, that the complete reftoration of the Porifms was necef-
fary to prove, that FermaAtT had even approximated to the
truth. . :

5- Aut this did not, however, deter Dr Simson from turn=
ing his thoughts to the fame fubjeét, which he appears to have

, done

* De feftione rationis, proem. p. 37+

+ “ Porifmatum Evcurpzorum renovata dostrina, et fub forma Ifagoges exhibita.’”
FrerMar Opera Varia, p. 116.

158 moe! On the ORIGIN and

done very early, and long before the publication of the Locé
Plani in 1749. The account he gives of his progrefs, and of
the obftacles he encountered, will be always interefting to ma-
thematicians.. ‘‘ Poftquam vero apud Pappum legeram Porif-
“ mata Euvc.ipis collectionem fuiffe artificiofiffimam multarum
rerum, que fpectant ad analyfin difficiliorum et generalium
problematum, magno defiderio tenebar, aliquid de iis cognof-
cendi; quare fepius et multis variifque viis tum Pa pri propofi-
tionem generalem, mancam et imperfe€tam, tum primum lib. i.
Porifma, quod folum ex omnibus in tribus libris integrum ad-
huc manet, intelligere et reftituere conabar; fruftra tamen,
“ nihil enim proficicbam. Cumque cogitationes de hac re
multum mihi temporis confumpferint, atque moleftz admo-
dum evaferint, firmiter animum induxi hec nunquam in
pofterum inveftigare; prefertim cum optimus geometra
“ HaLueius fpem omnem de iis intelligendis abjeciflet. Un-
de quoties menti occurrebant, toties eas arcebam. Poftea
tamen accidit, ut improvidum et propofiti immemorem in-
vaferint, meque detinuerint donec tandem lux quedam efful-
“ ferit, que fpem mihi faciebat inveniendi faltem Pappr pro-
pofitionem generalem, quam quidem multa inveftigatione
“ tandem reftitui. Hec autem paulo poft una cum Porifmate
primo lib.i. imprefla eft inter TranfaCiones Phil. anni 1723,
¢ Nowe} . ‘

Tue propofitions here mentioned, as inferted in the Philo-
fophical Tranfactions for 1723, are all that Dr Srmson publifh-
ed on the fubje&t of Porifms during his life, though he conti-~
nued his inveftigations concerning them, and fucceeded in re-
floring a great number of Eucxip’s propofitions, together with
their analyfis. The propofitions thus reftored form a part of
that valuable edition of the pofthumous works of this geometer:
which the mathematical world owes to the munificence of. the
late Earl St A NHOPE. ae

“ee
ee
ce
ce
«6

ce

6. THE
* Ros. Simson. Op. reliqua, p- 319.

INVESTIGATION of PORISMS. 159

6. THE fubje&t of Porifms is not, however, exhaufted, nor is
it yet placed in fo clear a light as to need no farther illuftration.
It yet remains to enquire into the probable origin of thefe pro-
pofitions, that is to fay, into the fteps by which the ancient geo-
meters appear to have been led to the difcovery of them. It
remains alfo to point out the relations in which they ftand to
the other claffes of geometrical truths ; to confider the fpecies
of analyfis, whether geometrical or algebraical, that belongs to
them ; and, if poflible, to affign the reafon why they have fo
long efcaped the notice of modern mathematicians. It is to
thefe points that the following obfervations are chiefly di-
rected.

I BEGIN with defcribing the fteps that appear to have led the
ancient geometers to the difcovery of Porifms; and muft here
fupply the want of exprefs teftimony by probable reafonings,

-fuch as are neceflary, whenever we would trace remote difco-
veries to their fources, and which have more weight in mathe-
matics than in any other of the fciences.

' 7. It cannot be doubted, that it has been the folution of

problems which, in all {tates of the mathematical fciences, has

led to the difcovery of moft geometrical truths. The firft ma-
‘thematical enquiries, in particular, muft have occurred in the
form of queftions, where fomething was given, and fomething
required to be done ; and by the reafonings neceflary to anfwer
thefe queftions, or to difcover the relation between the things
that were given, and thofe that were to be found, many truths
were fuggefted, which came afterwards to be the fubjects of fepa-
rate demonftration. The number of thefe was the greater, that

- the ancient geometers always undertook the folution of problems
with a fcrupulous and minute attention, which would fcarcely
fuffer any of the collateral truths to efcape their obfervation.
We know from the examples which they have left us, that they

‘never confidered a problem as refolved, till they had diftinguith-

ed all its varieties, and evolved feparately every different cafe
, that

160 On th ORIGIN and

that could occur, carefully remarking whatever change might
arife in the conftruction, from any change that was fuppofed to
take place among the magnitudes which were given.

Now,as this cautious method of proceeding was not better cal-
culated to avoid error, than to lay hold of every truth that was
connected with the main object of enquiry, thefe geometers foon
obferved, that there were many problems which, in certain circum-
ftances, would admit of no folution whatever, and that the gene-
ral conftrution by which they were refolved would fail, in con-
fequence of a particular relation being fuppofed among the
quantities which were given. Such problems were then faid to
become impoffible ; and it was readily perceived, that this al-
ways happened, when one of the conditions prefcribed was in-
confiftent with the reft, fo that the fuppofition of their being

united in the fame /udjec?, involved a contradition. Thus, 4

when it was required to divide a given line, fo that the re@lan-
gle under its fegments, fhould be equal to a given fpace, it
was evident, that if this fpace was greater than the fquare of
half the given line, the thing required could not poflibly be
done; the two.conditions, the one defining the magnitude of
the line, and the other that of the reftangle under its fegments,
being then inconfiftent with one another. Hence an infinity of
beautiful propofitions concerning the maxima and the minima
of quantities, or the limits of the poffible relations which quan-
tities. may ftand in to one another.

8, Sucu cafes.as thefe would occur even in the folution of.
the fimpleft problems ; but when geometers proceeded to the
analyfis of fuch as were more complicated, they muft have re-
marked, that their conftructions would fometimes fail, for a rea-
fon dire@ly contrary to that. which has now been affigned. In-
ftances would be found where the lines that, by their interfection,
were to determine the thing fought, inftead of interfeCting one
another, as they did in general, or of not meeting at all, as im
the. above mentiored cafe of impoflibility, would coincide

with.

INVESTIGATION of PORISMS. 161

with one another entirely, and leave the queftion of confe-
quence unrefolved. -But though this circumftance muft have
created confiderable embarraflment to the geometers who firft
obferved it, as being perhaps the only inftance in which the
language of their own {cience had yet appeared to them ambi-
guous or obfcure, it would not probably be long till they found
out the true interpretation to be put on it. After a little reflec-
tion, they would conclude, that fince, in the general problem,
the magnitude required was determined by the interfection of
the two lines above mentioned, that is to fay, by the points
common to them both; fo, in the cafe of their coincidence, as
all their points were in common, every one of thefe points
muft afford a folution; which folutions therefore muft be
infinite in number ; and alfo, though infinite in number, they
muft all be related to one another, and to the things given,
by certainlaws, which the pofition of the two coinciding lines
muft neceffarily determine.
On enquiring farther into the peculiarity in the ftate of the
_ data which had produced this unexpefted refult, it might like-
wife be remarked, that the whole proceeded from one of the
conditions of the problem involving another, or neceflarily
including it; fo that they both.together made in fact but one,
and did not leave a fufficient number of independent conditions,
to confine the problem to a fingle folution, or to any determi-
nate number of folutions.. It was not difficult afterwards to
perceive, that thefe cafes of problems formed very curious pro-
pofitions, of an intermediate nature between problems and
theorems, and that they admitted of being enunciated fepa-
_fately, in a manner peculiarly elegant and concife. It was to
_fach propofitions, fo enunciated, that the ancient geometers
gave the name of Pori/ms.
Q- Tuis dedudion requires to be illuftrated by examples.
» Suppofe therefore that it is propofed: to refolve the following
_ problem: :
Voz. Ill. Te Age PROP,

162 On the ORIGIN and

PHP sh) PROB. | Bek

A circLe ABC, a ftraight line DE, anda point F, being
given in pofition, to find a point G in the ftraight line
DE, fuch that GF, the line drawn from it to the given
point, fhall be equal to G B, the line drawn from it touch-
ing the given circle.

Suppose the point G to be found, and GB to be drawn
touching the circle ABC in B; let H be the centre of the
circle ABC; join HB, and let HD be perpendicular to DE;
from D draw DL, touching the circle ABC in L, and
jon HL. Alfo from the centre G, with the diftance GB or
G F, defcribe the eal BKF, meeting HD in the points K
and K’.

Ir is plain, that the lines H D and DL are given in pofition —
and in magnitude. Alfo, becaufe G B touches the circle ABC, ~
HBG is aright-angle; and finee G is the centre of the circle
BKF, therefore HB touches the circle BK F, and confequent- |
ly the fquare of HB, or of HL, is equal to the rectangle —
K’HK. But the rectangle K' HK, together with the fquare —
of DK, is equal to the fquare of DH, becaufe K K’ is bifeéted
in D; therefore the fquares of HL and DK are alfo equal to
the fquare of DH. But the fquares of H L and L D are equal
to the fame fquare of DH; wherefore the fquare of DK is e-
qual to the fquare of DL, and the line DK to the line DL. |
But DL is given in magnitude; therefore DK is given in _
magnitude, and K is therefore a given point. For the fame —
reafon, K’ is a given point, and the point F being alfo given by _
hypothefis, the circle B K F is given in pofition. The pointG ~
therefore, the centre of the ae BK F is given, which was to- P ‘
be found. |

HENCE

INVESTIGATION. of \PORIS MS. 163

Hence this conftruction: Having drawn H D perpendicular
to DE, and DL touching the circle ABC, make DK and
D K’ each equal to DL, and find G the centre of a circle de-
{cribed through the points K, F and K’; that is, let FK’ be
joined, and bifected at right angles by the line M N, which meets
DEinG; G will be the point required, or it will be fuch a
point, that if GB be drawn from it, touching the circle A BC,
and G F to the given point, GB and GF will be equal to one
another *.

Tue fynthetical demonftration needs not be added; but it
is neceflary to remark, that there are cafes in which this con-
ftruction fails altogether.

For, firft, if the given point F be any where in the line
HD, as at F’, it is evident, that M N becomes parallel to DE,
and that the point G is no where to be found, or, in other
words, is at an infinite diftance from D.

Tuils is true in general; but if the given point F coincide
with K, then the line MN evidently coincides with DE; fo
that, agreeably to a remark already made, every point of the
line DE may be taken for G, and will fatisfy the conditions of
the problem ; that is to fay, G B will be equal to GK, wherever
the point G be taken in the line DE. The fame is true if F
coincide with K’.

Tuis is eafily demonftrated fynthetically ; for if G be any
point whatfoever-in the line DE, from which GB is drawn
touching the circle ABC; if DK and DK’ be each made e-
qual to DL; and if a circle be defcribed through the points
B, K, and K’; then, fince the relangle K H K’, together with
the fquare of DK, that is, of DL, is equal to the fquare of

X23 DH,

* This folution of the problem was fuggefted to me by Profeflor Rosrson ; and is
more fimple than that which I had originally given.

164 On the ORIGIN and

circle BK K’, But BG is at right-angles to HB ; therefore the —
centre of the circle BK K’ is in the line B G; and it is alfo in —
the line D E; therefore G is the centre of the circle BK K, and

GB is equal é GK. 4

Tuus we have an inftance of a problem, and that too —
a very fimple one, which is in general determinate, admitting -
only of one folution, but which neverthelefs, in one particnlagy a

given, becomes indefinite, and admits of innumerable folu- —
tions. The propofition which refults from this cafe of —
the problem is a Porifm, according to the remarks that were —

66th propofition in Dr Stmson’s Reftoration. It may be thus —
enunciated: “ A circle ABC being given in pofition, and alfo a _
ftraight line D E, which does not cut the circle, a point K may .
be found, fuch that if G be any point whatever in the line DE, ~
the ftraight line drawn from G to the point K, fhall be equal to. 4
the ftraight line drawn from G, touching the citcle A BA

ner Gein the folution of a very fimple problem :
PROP. I. PROB. Fie. 2.

draw through D a ftraight line D G, fuch, that, ee
culars being drawn to it from the three angles of the tri- —
angle, wz. AE, BG, CF, the fum of the two perpendi-
culars on the fame fide of DG, fhall be equal to the a

“INVESTIGATION of PORISMS. 16s

maining perpendicular ; or, that AK and BG together, may
be equal to CF,

_ Suppose it done: Bifect AB in H, join CH, and draw HK
perpendicular to DG.
Because AB is bifected in H, the two perpendiculars A E
and B G are together double of H K; and as they are alfo equal
to CF by hypothefis, C F mutt be double of HK, and CL of.
LH. Now, CH is given in pofition and magnitude; there-
fore the point L is given; and the point D being alfo given,
the line D L is given in pofition, which was to be found.

Tue conftruétion is obvious. Bifeé AB in H, join CH,
and take H L equal to one-third of CH ; the ftraight line which.
joins the points Dand L is the line required.

- Now, it is plain, that while the triangle ABC remains the
fame, the point L alfo remains the fame, wherever the point D

‘may be. The point D may therefore coincide. with L; and
when this happens, the pofition of the line to be drawn is left
undetermined ; that is to fay, any line whatever drawn through.
L will fatisfy the conditions of the problem.

‘Here therefore we have another indefinite cafe of a problem,
and of confequence another Porifm, which may be thus enun-
ciated: “A triangle being given in pofition, a point in it may be
found, fuch, that any ftraight line whatever being drawn —
through that point, the perpendiculars drawn to this ftraight

_ line from the. two angles of the triangle which are on one fide

of it, will be together equal to the perpendicular that is drawn
to the fame line from the angle on the other fide of it.”

_ 11. Txis Porifm may be made much. more general; for if,
inftead of the angles of a triangle, we fuppofe ever fo many
points to be given in a plane, a point may be found, fuch, that
any ftraight line being drawn through it, the fum of all the
perpendiculars that fall on that line from the given points on

one

ae On thé -ORIGEN and on

one fide of it, is equal to the fum of the perpendiculars that ia
fall on it from all the points on the other fide of it.

Or ftill more generally, any number of points being given
not in the fame plane, a point may be found, through which ©
if any plane be fuppofed to pafs, the fum of all the perpendi-
culars which fall on that plane from the points on one fide of
it, is equal to the fum of all the perpendiculars that fall on the.
fame plane from the points on the other fide of it.

Ir is unneceflary to obferve, that the point to be found in thefe

propofitions, is no other than the centre of gravity of the given

pointss and that therefore we have here an example of a Porifm
very well known to the modern geometers, though not diftin-
guifhed by them from other theorems. ,

12. THe problem which follows appears to have led to the
difcovery of more than one Porifm.

PROP HLY (P ROB, Fey 3,

A circLe ABC, and two points D and E, in a diameter of

it being given, to find a point F in the circumference of

_ the given circle, from which, if ftraight lines be drawn to
the given points E and D, thefe ftraight lines fhall have to
one another the given ratio of a to 6 *.

Suppose the problem refolved, and that F is found, fo that a
F E has to F D the given ratio of # to @. Produce EF any how _
to B, bifect the angle EFD bythe line FL, and the angle
DFB by the line F M. .

Tun, becaufe the angle EF D is bifected by FL, EL is to a
LD as EF to FD, that is, ina given ratio; and as ED is
given, each of the fegments EL, LD, is given, and alfo the
point L. Ra sre ) | a
4 AGAIN, —
* The ratio of « to@ is fuppofed that of a greater to a lefs.

INVESTIGATION of PORISMS. 167

AGAIN, becaufe the angle DF B is bifected by FM, EM is
to M Das EF to FD, that is, in a given ratio; and therefore,
fince E D is given, EM, MD, are alfo given, and likewife the
point M.

Burt becaufe the angle LF D is. half of the angle E FD, and
the angle DF M half of the angle D F B, the two angles LF D,
DF M, are equal to the half of two right angles, that is, to a
right angle. The angle . FM being therefore a right angle,
and the points L and M being given, the point F is in the cir-
cumference of a circle defcribed on the diameter L M, ae con-
fequently given in pofition.

Now, the point F is alfo in the circumference of the given
circle ABC; it is therefore in the interfeCtion of two given
circumferences, and therefore is found.

Hence this conftruction: Divide E D in L, fo that EL may
be to LD in the given ratio of « to@; and produce ED alfo
to M, fo that EM may be to M D in the fame given ratio of «
to 6. Bifect LM in N, and from the centre N, with the di-
ftance NL, defcribe the femicircle L FM, and the point F,
in which it interfects the circle A B G, is the point required, or
that from which F E and F D are to be drawn.

Tue fynthetical demonftration follows fo readily from the
preceding analyfis, that it is not neceflary to be added.

_ It muft however be remarked, that the conftruction fails
when the circle LF.M falls either wholly without, or wholly
within the circle ABC, fo that the circumferences do not in-
terfect ; and in thefe cafes the folution is impoffible. It is plain
alfo, that in another cafe the conftrudtion will fail, wiz. ‘when
it fo happens that the circumference L FM wholly coincides
/ with the circumference ABC. In this cafe, it is farther evi-
dent, that every point in the circumference ABC will anfwer
the conditions of the problem, which therefore admits of in-
numerable folutions, and may, as in the foregoing inftances, be

eonverted into a Porifim.
13. WE

168 On the ORIGIN and

13. We are therefore to enquire, in what circumftances the —
point L may coincide with the point A, and the point M with | 4
with the point C, and of confequence the circumference L F M |
with the circumference AB C. a

On the fuppofition that they coincide, EA is -to AD, and —
alfo EC toC. D, asato 63 and therefore EA is to EC as AD i
to CD, or, by converfion, EA to AC as AD to the excefs of i
CD above AD, or to twice DO, O being the centre of the cir- d
cle ABC. Therefore alfo, EA is to A O, or the half of AC, —
as AD to DO, and EA together with AO, to AO, asAD ©
together with DO, toDO; that is, EO to AO as AO to DG 4
and :fo the reangle EO. O D equal to the fquare of A O. i

Hence, if the fituation of the given points E and D, (fig. 4.) 4
in refpect of the circle ABC, be fuch, that the rectangle |
EO.OD is equal to the fquare of AO, the femidiameter of —
the circle; and if, at the fame time, the given ratio of atoB
be the fame with that of EA to AD, or of EC to CD, the i
problem admits of innumerable folutions ; and as it is mani- a
feft, that if the circle ABC, and one of the points Dor E be _
given, the other point, and alfo the ratio which is required to
render the problem indefinite, may be found, therefore we have
this Porifm: “ A circle ABC being given, and alfo a point D, - a
a point E may be found, fuch, that the two lines inflected ©
from thefe points to any point whatever ‘in the circumference
ABC, {fhall have to one another a given ratio, which ratio is.
alfo to be found.” :
Tuts Porifm is the fecond in the treatife De Pori/matibus, —
where Dr SIMSON gives it, not as one of EucLip’s propofitions, —
but as an illuftration of his own definition. It anfwers equally well 4
for the purpofe 1 have here in view, the explaining the origin
of Porifms ; and I have been the more willing to introduce it,
that it has afforded me an opportunity of giving what —

INVESTIGATION of PORISMS. 169

above, that on the hypothefis of that propofition, LF M (fig. 3.)
is a right angle, and L and M given points.

14. Hence alfo an example of the derivation of Porifms
from one another. For the circle ABC, andthe points E and
D, remaining as in the laft conftrudction, (fig. 4.) if through
D we draw any line whatever HDB, meeting the circle in B
and H, and if the lines E B, EH be alfo drawn, thefe lines will
cut off equal circumferences BF and HG. Let FC be drawn,
and it is plain from the foregoing analyfis, that the angles
DFC, CFB are equal. Therefore if OG, OB be drawn, the
angles BOC, COG are equal, and confequently the angles
DOB, DOG. Inthe fame manner, by joining A B, the angle
DBE being bifected by BA, it is evident, that the angle AOF
is equal to the angle A OH, and therefore the angle FOB to
the angle HOG, that is, the arch F B to the arch HG.

Now, it is plain, that if the circle ABC, and one of the
points D or E be given, the other point may be found;
therefore we have this Porifm, which appears to have been
the Jaft but one in the third book of Euczip’s Porifms *.
* A point being given, either without or within a circle given
in pofition, if there be drawn, any how through that point, a
line cutting the circle in two points; another point may be
found, fuch, that if two. lines be drawn from it’ to the points,
in which the line already drawn cuts the circle, thefe two lines
will cut off from the circle equal circumferences.”

_ THERE are other Porifms that may be deduced from the fame
original problem, (§ 12.) all connected, as many remarkable
properties of the circle are, with the harmonical divifion of the

- diameter.

15. THE preceding propofition alfo affords a good illuftra-
tion of the general remark that was made above, concerning the
conditions of a problem being involved in one another, in the
_ Porifmatic, or indefinite cafe. Thus, feveral independent condi-
tions are here laid down, by help of which the problem is to

Vo. III. Y be

* Simson De Porifmatibus, Prop, 53.

170 On the ORIGIN and

be refolved : Two points D and E are given, (fig. 3.) from which :
two lines are to be inflected, and a circumference A BC,in which ©
thefe lines are to meet, as alfo a ratio, which they are to haveto one
another *. Now, thefe conditions are all independent of each
other, fo that any one of them may be changed, without any
change whatever in the reft. This at leaft is true in general; —
but neverthelefs in one cafe, w/z. when the given points are fo —
related to one another, that the reétangle under their diftances _
from the centre, is equal to the {quare of the radius of the cir- _
cle, it follows from the foregoing analyfis, that the ratio which
the infleGted lines are to have to’ one another, is no longer a
matter of choice, but is a neceflary confequence of this | difpofi-
tion of the points. For if any other ratio were now-aifigned — a
than that of AO to OD, or, which is the fame, of EA to AD,
it would eafily be fhewn, that no lines having that ratio could —
be inflected from the points E and D, to any point in the circle _
ABC. Two of the conditions are therefore reduced into one; a
and hence it is that the problem is indefinite. Y
16. From this account of the origin of Porifms, it follows fe
that a Porifm may be defined, 4 propo/fition affirming the poffibi-
lity of finding fuch conditions as will render a certain problem inde- {
terminate, or capable of innumerable folutions. E
To this definition, the different chara€ters which Pappus has _
given will apply without difficulty. The propofitions defcribed >
in it, like thofe which he mentions, are, ftrictly fpeaking, nei- —
ther theorems nor problems, but of an intermediate nature be- —
tween both; for they neither imply enunciate a truth to be ©
demonftrated, nor propofe a queftion to be refolved ; but are —
affirmations of a truth, in which the determination of an un- a
known quantity is involved. In as far therefore as they affert, —
that a certain problem may become indeterminate, they are of —
the nature of theorems ; and in as far as they feek to difcover 3
. the

* The given points, and the centre of the given circle, are underftood, throughout, to a
be in the fame ftraight Kae.

INVESTIGATION of PORISMS. 171

the conditions by which that is brought about, they are of the
nature of problems. seis. |

17. In the preceding definition alfo, and the inftances
from which it is deduced, we may trace that imperfect de-
{cription of Porifms which Pappus afcribes to the later geo-
meters, viz. “* Porifma eft quod deficit hypothefi a theore-
“ mate locali.”” Now, to underftand this, it muft be ob-
ferved, that if we take the converfe of one of the propofitions
called Loci, and make the conftruction of the figure a part of
the hypothefis, we have what was called by the ancients a Lo-
cal Theorem. And again, if, in enunciating this theorem,
that part of the hypothefis which contains the conftruction’ be
fuppreffed, the propofition arifing from thence will be a Porifm ;
for it will enunciate a truth, and will alfo require, to the full
underftanding and inveftigation of that truth, that fomething
‘fhould be found, viz. the circumftances in the conftruction, fup-
pofed to be omitted.

-Tuus, when we fay; If from two given points E and
D, (fig. 4.) two lines EF and FD are inflected toa third point
F, fo as to be to one another in a given ratio, the point F is in
the circumference of a circle given in pofition: we have a Lo-
CUS.

Bur when converfely it is faid; If a circle ABC, of
which the centre is O, be given in pofition, as alfo a point E,
and if D be taken in the line E O, fo that the reftangle EO.OD
be equal to the fquare of AO, the femidiameter of the circle;
and if from E and D, the lines EF and DF be infle&ed to
any point whatever in the circumference ABC; the ratio of
EF to D F will be a given ratio, and the fame with that of EA
to AD: we have a local theorem.

_ Awp, laftly, when it is faid; If a circle ABC be given
in pofition, and alfo a point E, a point D may be found, fuch,
that if the two lines E F and F D be infle&ted from E and D to
any point whatever F, in the circumference, thefe lines. fhall

Y 2 ~- have

172 On the ORIGIN and

have a given ratio to one another: the propofition becomes a
Porifm, and is the fame that has been juft inveftigated. ‘%
Here it is evident, that the local theorem is changed intoa _
Porifm, by leaving out what relates to the determination of the
point D, and of the given ratio. But though all. propofitions
formed in this way, from the converfion of Loci, be Porifms,
yet all Porifms are not formed from the converfion of Loci,
The firft and fecond of the preceding, for inftance, cannot by —
converfion be changed into Loci; and therefore the definition —
which defcribes all Porifms as being fo convertible, is not fuf-
ficiently comprehenfive. FERMAT’s idea of Porifms, as has
been already obferved, was founded wholly on this definition,
and therefore could not fail to be imperfect. “a
18. Ir appears, therefore, that the definition of Porifms
given above, (§ 16.) agrees with Pappus’s idea of thefe propo- —
fitions, as far at leaft as can be collected from the imperfect —
fragment which contains his general defcription of them. It
agrees alfo with Dr S1mson’s definition, which is this *: “ Po- —
“ rifma eft propofitio in qua proponitur demonftrare rem ali- —
“ quam, vel plures datas efle, cui, vel quibus, ut et cuilibet ex
‘“‘ rebus innumeris, non quidem datis, fed que ad ea que data —
“ funt eandem habent relationem, convenire oftendendum eft —
affectionem quandam communem in propofitione defcrip-
“cams?
I'r cannot be denied, that there is a confiderable degree of
obfcurity in this definition + ; notwithftanding of which, it is —
certain, —
* Stmson’s Opera Reliqua, p. 323.

+ Tuer following tranflation will perhaps be found to remedy fome of the ob{curity — .
complained of.
«¢ A Portsm is a propofition, in which it is propofed to demonftrate, that one or more
things are given, between which and every one of innumerable other things, not given,
but aflumed according to a given law, a certain relation, defcribed in the propo : %

js to be fhewn to take place.”
In

t

INVESTIGATION of PORISMS. 173

certain, that every propofition to which it applies muft contain
a problematical part, viz. “ in qua proponitur demonftrare rem
“ aliquam, vel plures datas effe;” and alfo a theoretical part,
which contains the property, or communis afectio, afirmed of cer-
tain things which have been previoufly defcribed.

It is alfo evident, that the fubjec&t of every fuch propofition
is the relation between magnitudes of three different kinds ; de-

terminate magnitudes, which are given; determinate magni-
tudes, which are to be found; and indeterminate magnitudes,

which, though unlimited in number, are connected with the
others by fome common property. Now, thefe are exactly the
conditions contained in the definition that has been given
here.

19. To confirm the truth of this theory of the origin of Po-
rifms, or at leaft the juftnefs of the notions founded on it,
I muft add a quotation from an Effay on the fame fubjedt,
by a member of this Society, the extent and correctnefs of
whofe views make every coincidence wth his opinions pecu-
liarly flattering. Ina paper read feveral years ago before the
Philofophical Society, Profeflor DuGALp StEwarrT defined a
Porifm to be, “ A propofition affirming the poffibility of find-
‘«¢ ing one or more of the conditions of an indeterminate theo-
“ rem ;” where, by an indeterminate theorem, as he had pre-
vioufly explained it, is meant one which expreffes a relation be-
tween certain quantities that are determinate, and certain o-
thers that are indeterminate, both in magnitude and in num-
ber. The near agreement of this with the definition and ex-
planations which have been given above, is too obvious to re-

quire

‘Iv may be proper to remark, that there is an ambiguity in the word given, as ufed
here and on many other occafions, where it denotes indifferently things that are both de-
terminate and é£nown, and things that, though determinate, are unknown, provided they can
be found. This holds as to the firft application of the term in the above definition ;
from which however no inconveniency arifes, when the reader is apprifed of it. In the

courfe of this paper, I have endeavoured, as much as poflible, to avoid the like ambi-
guity.

174 On the ORIGIN and Ve ae

quire to be pointed out; and I have only to obferve, that it

was not long after the publication of S1mson’s pofthumous —

works, when, being both of us occupied in fpeculations con-

cerning Porifms, we were led feparately to the conclufions

which I have now ftated *.
20. WE
* Iv an enquiry into the origin of Porifms, the etymology of the term ought not te

be forgotten. The queftion indeed is not about the derivation of the word Togieya, for
concerning that there is no doubt ; but about the reafon- why this term was applied to the

clafs of propofitions above defcribed. ‘Two opinions may be formed on this a and’ oa

each of them with confiderable probability.

imo, One of the fignifications of wopifw, is to acquire or obtain; and hence ogicue,

the thing obtained or gained. Accordingly, Scaruta fays, Ef vox a geometris defumpta
gui theorema aliquid ex demonftrativo fyllogifmo neceflario /equens inferentes, illud quafi \u-
crari dicuntur, quod non ex profefJo quidem theorematis hujus inftituta fit demonflratio, fed
tamen ex demonftratis rete fequatur. In this fenfe, Evcuip-ufes the word in his Ele-
ments of Geometry, where he calls the corollaries of his propofitions, Pori/mata. This
circumftance creates a prefumption, that when the word was applied to a particilar

i

7H

clafs of propofitions, it was meant, in both cafes, to convey nearly the fame idea, as itis

not at all probable, that fo correct a writer as Evcutp, and fo fcrupulous in his ufe of

words, fhould employ the fame term to exprefs two ideas which are perfectly different.
May we not therefore conjeéture, that thefe propofitions got the name of Porilms, en-
tirely with a reference to their origin. According to the idea explained above, they

would in general occur to mathematicians when engaged in the folution of the more

‘

difficult problems, and would arife from thofe particular cafes, where one of the con-

ditions of the data involved in it fome one of the reft.. Thus, a particular kind of theo-

rem would be obtained, following as a corollary from the folution of the problem; and to
this theorem the term [Tegioux might be very properly applied, fince, in the words of
Scaputa, already quoted, Non ex profeffo theorematis bujus infi:tuta fit Wveeits Sed
tamen ex demonflratzs rete fequatur.

2do, But though this interpretation agrees fo well with the fuppofed origin . Porifms,

it is not free from difficulty. The verb agigw has another fignification, to find out, to

difcover, to devife ; and is ufed in this fenfe by Parrus, when he fays, that the propofi-

tions called Porifms, afford great delight, TOG Ouverpeevors oeuy xxb mrogieibv, lo thofe a

who are able to underftand and iwvestIGatE. Hence comes mogicpos, the ad? of finding
out, or difcovering, and from wopicuoc, in this fenfe, the fame author evidently confiders
Tlogscwa as being derived. His words are, Epacaw de (4 agxaion) Topomc ewan to wgorewo=
pevoy 21g Tlopizmov avts TB WeOTEWOMEVe, the ancients fatd, that a Porifm ts fomething propofed for
the FINDING OUT, 07 DISCOVERING of the very thing propofed. \t feems fingular, however,
that Porifms fhould have taken their name from a circumftance common to them with fo
many other geometrical truths ; ; and if this was really the cafe, it muft have-been on ac-

count of the znigmatical form of their enunciation, which required, that in the ana-
lyfis of thefe_propofitions, a fort of double difcovery fhould be made, not only of the
TRUTH, but alfo of the mEanine of the very thing which was propofed. They may there.
fore have been called Porz/mata or Invefligations, by way of eminence.

INVESTIGATION of PORISMS. 175

20. We might next proceed to confider the particular Po-
rifms which Dr Simson has reftored, and to fhew, that every
one of them is the indeterminate cafe of fome problem. But
of this it is fo eafy for any one, who has attended to the prece-
ding remarks, to fatisfy himfelf, by barely examining the enun-
ciations of thofe propofitions, that the detail into which it would
lead feems to be unneceflary. I fhall therefore go on to make
fome obfervations on that kind of aualyfis which is particularly
adapted to the inveftigation of Porifims.

Ir the idea which we have given of thefe propofitions be
juft, it follows, that they are always to be difcovered, by con-
fidering the cafes in which the conftruction of a problem fails,
in confequence of the lines which, by their interfection, or the
points which, by their pofition, were to determine the magni-

tude required, happening to coincide with one another. A Po-
_ rifm may therefore be deduced from the problem it belongs to,
in the fame manner that the propofitions concerning the maxima
and minima of quantities are deduced from the problems of
which they form the limitations; and fuch no doubt is the
moft natural and moft obvious analyfis of which this clafs
of propofitions will admit. :
_ Ir 1s not, however, the only one that they will admit of; and

there are good reafons for wifhing to be provided with ano-
ther, by means of which, a Porifm that is any how fufpected
to exift, may be found out, independently of the general folu- .
tion of the problem to which it belongs. Of thefe reafons,

one is, that the Porifm may perhaps admit of being invefti-

gated more eafily than the general problem admits of being re-
folved ; and another is, that the former, in almoft every cafe,
helps to difcover the fimpleft and moft eee folution that can
be given of the latter.
Tue truth of this laft obfervation ee been already exempli-
_ fied in two of the preceding problems, where the Porifmatic
cafe, by determining the point K in the firft, and L in the
fecond

196 - On th ORIGIN and

fecond of them, became neceflary to the general folution. In’

more difficult problems, the fame will be found to hold ftill
more remarkably, and this is evidently what Pappus had in
view, when, in a paflage already quoted, he called Porifms,
“ Collectio artificiofifima multarum rerum que fpectant ad
analyfin difficiliorum et generalium problematum.”’

On this account, it is defirable to have a method of invefti-
gating Porifms, which does not require, that we fhould have
previoufly refolved the problems they are connected with, and
which may always ferve to determine, whether to any given
problem there be attached a Porifm, or not. Dr Srmson’s ana-

lyfis may be confidered as anfwering to this defcription; for as

that geometer did not regard thefe propofitions at all in the
light that is done here, nor in relation to“their origin, an inde-
pendent analyfis of this kind, was the only one that could oc-

cur to him; and he has accordingly given one which is extreme- .

ly ingenious, and by no means eafy to be invented, but which
he ufes with great fkilfulnefs and dexterity aot the
whole of his Reftoration.

It is not eafy to afcertain whether this be the precife me-
thod ufed by the ancients. Dr Simson had here nothing to
direct him but his genius, and has the full merit of the firft
inventor. It feems probable, however, that there is at leaft a
great affinity between the methods, fince the /emmata given by
Pappus as neceffary to Euciip’s demonftrations, are fubfervient
alfo to thofe of our modern geometer.

2t. I sHALL employ the fame fort of analyfis in the Po-
rifms that follow, at leaft till we come to treat of them alge-
braically, where a method of inveftigating thefe propofitions
will prefent itfelf, which is perhaps more fimple and dire¢t than
any other. The following Porifm is the firft of Euciip’s, and
the firft alfo that was reftored. It is given here to exem-
plify the advantage which, in inveftigations of this kind, may

be derived from employing the Jaw of continuity in its utmoft
extent,

INVESTIGATION of PORISMS. 174

extent, and purfuing Porifms to thofe extreme cafes, where
the indeterminate magnitudes increafe ad infinitum; into which
ftate Dr Simson probably did not think it fafe to follow
them, and was thereby deprived of no inconfiderable help to-
ward the fimplifying of his conftructions. If therefore it can
be fhewn, that this help may be obtained without any {facrifice
of geometrical accuracy, it will be fome improvement in this
branch of the analyfis. ,

Tue Porifm juft mentioned may be confidered as having
occurred in the folution of a problem. Suppofe it were requi-
red ; two points A and B, (fig. 5.) and alfo three ftraight lines
DE, FK, KL, being given in pofition, together with two
points H and M, in two of thefe lines, to inflect from A and B
to a point in the third line, two lines that fhall cut off from
K F and K L two fegments, adjacent to the given points H and
M, having to one another the given ratio of w to £.

Now, in order to find whether there be any Porifm conned-
ed with this problem, fuppofe that there is, and that the fol-
lowing propofition is true. )

e

PROP Way) FLOR b8M Fi¢é. 5.

22. Two points A and B, and two ftraight lines DE and
F K, being given in pofition, and alfo a point H in one of
them, a line LK may be found, and alfo a point in it M,
both given in pofition, fuch, that AE and BE, infleted
from the points A and B to any point whatfoever of the
line DE, fhall cut off from the other lines F K and L K,
fegments, H G and M N, adjacent to the given points H
and M, having to one another the given ratio of « to £.,

First, let AE’, BE’ be infle&ted to the point EF’, fo that
AE’ may be parallel to FK, then fhall E’ B be parallel to K L,
Vo1. IIT. LZ, the

18 On the ORIGIN and

the line tobe found. For if it be not parallel toK L ,. the po nt
of their interfection muft be at a finite diftance from the point] ab
and therefore making as @ to «, fo this diftance to a fourth pro-
portional, the diftance from H, at which A KE’ interfects F K, will —
be equal to that fourth proportional. But AE’ does not inter-_
fe&t FK, for they are parallel by conftruction; therefore BE’
cannot interfect K L; K L is therefore parallel to BE’, a line j
given in pofition. .
_ Aearn, let A E’} B E” be inflected to E”, fo that A E” mee rf
pafs through the given point H; then it is plain, that BE”
muft pafs through the point to be found M ; for if not, it may —
be demonftrated, juft as has been done above, that AE” does —
not pafs through H, contrary to the fuppofition. The point to”
be found is therefore in the line E’B, which is given in pofi-
tion.
Now, if from E there be drawn EP parallel to AE, and
ES parallel to BE’, BS istoSE as BL to LN, and AP to.
PE as AFto FG; wherefore the ratio of FG to LN is com- —
pounded of the ratios of AF to BL, PE to SE, and BS to
AP. But the ratio of P E to S E is the fame with that of A E”
to BE, and the ratio of BS to AP is the fame with that of
DB to DA, becaufe DB isto BS as DE’ to EE, or as DA to
AP. Therefore the ratio of FG to LN is compounded of the
ratios of AF to BL, AE’ to BE, and DB to DA. ;
In like manner, becaufe E” is a point in the line DE, and
AE’, BE” are inflected to it, the ratio of FH to LM, is com-
pounded of the fame ratios of AF toBL, AE’ to BE’, and
DB to DA; and therefore the ratio of FH to ILM is the
fame with that of F G to NL, and the fame confequently vic |
that of HGto MN. But the ratio of HG to MN is given, —
being by fuppofition that of a to @; the ratio of FH to L Mo ‘)
is therefore alfo pveoa ‘and F H being given, LM is given in
magnitude. — :

INVESTIGATION of PORISMS. = ‘149

magnitude. Now, LM is parallel to B FE’, a line given in po-
fition ; therefore M is ina line QM parallel to AB, and given
in pofition. But the point M is alfo in another line B E” given
in pofition ; therefore the point M, and alfo the line KLM
drawn through it parallel to B E’, are given in pofition, which
were to be found.

Tue conftruction is thus: From A draw AE’ parallel to
FK, meeting D E in E’; join B E, and take in it BQ, fo that
asato 8 foHFto BQ and through Q draw QM parallel to —
AB. Let HA be drawn, and produced till it meet DE in FE’,
and let BE” be drawn meeting QMin M. Through M draw
K ML parallel to BE’; then is KML the line, and M the

point, which were to be found.

Ir is plain, that there are two lines which will anfwer the
conditions of the Porifm ; for if in QB, produced on the other
fide of B, there be taken Bg equal to BQ; and if gm be drawn
parallel to AB, interfecting M B in m; and if ma be drawn pa-
rallel to BQ, the part mz, cut off by EB produced, will be
equal to MN, and have to H G the ratio required.

Ir is plain alfo, that whatever be the ratio of « to 6, and
whatever be the magnitude of FH, if the other things given
remain the fame, the lines found will be all parallel to BE’.
But if the ratio of « to 8 remain the fame likewife, and if only
‘the point H vary, the pofition of KL will remain the fame,
_ and the-point M will vary.

_ 23. TuIs conftruciion, from which, and the foregoing analyfis,
the fynthetical demonttration follows readily, will be found to
be more fimple than Dr Stmson’s, owing entirely to the ufe that
has been made of the /aw of continuity in the two extreme cafes,
where, according to the language of the modern analyfis, HG
becomes infinite, in the one, and equal to nothing, in the
other. Had it been affirmed, agreeably to that fame lan-
guage, that in the firft of thofe cafes, becaufe of the conftant

Zii2 ratio

180 On tbe ORIGIN Du $e ee.

ratio of HG to MN, thefe lines muft both become infin te ie C
the fame time, and in the fecond, that for the fame reafon ¢ ay
muft both vanith at the fame time, we might have been ac cufed
of departing from the ftrict form of reafoning employed 5,
the ancient geometry. But when the thing is {tated as above, and
it is proved, that when A E’ does not meet K F, it is impoffible
for BE’ to meet ML; and again, that when AE” pafles through A
H, it is impoflible for B E” not to pafs through M, the air ¢
paradox is entirely removed, and the tracing of the law ie
continuity is rendered perfe@tly confiftent with the cae fe
verity of geometrical demonftration. im
Dr Simson has applied this Porifm very ingenioufly to 0 the
folution of the fame problem from which it is here fuppofed to.
be derived *; and it is worthy of remark, that fuppofing the |
points A and B, and the lines DE and FK to be as in the fi- |
gure of this Porifm, if the third of the given lines be not pa- 3
rallel to BE’, that problem can always be refolved » and ie 4
mits. of two folutions ; but if it be parallel to B E’, the problem
either becomes impoffible, or a Porifm ; that is, it either admits: —
of no folution, or of an infinite ‘Guinier. We fhall foon have
occafion to extend the fame obfervation to other Porifms.
ANOTHER general remark which I have to make on the ana~ _
lyfis of Porifms is, that it frequently’ happens, as in the laft
example, that the magnitudes required may all, or a part ‘of.
them, be found by confidering the extreme cafes ; but for the
difcovery of the relation between them, and the indefinite
magnitudes, or 7¢s innumera, we muft have recourfe to the hy-
pbtliclis of the Porifm in its moft general, or indefinite ee
and muft endeavour fo to conduct the reafoning, that the ne
finite magnitudes fhall at length wholly difappear, and leave a
propofition, containing only a relation of determinate magni- — |
‘tudes to one another. ee in. order to accomplifh this, ” Dr =
‘Simson

;

* Opera Reliqua, de Porifmatibus, prop, 25:.

INVESTIGATION of PORISMS. 181

SrMson sia employs two ftareirients of the general hy-
pothefis, which he compares together ; as for inftance, in. his
analyfis of the laft Poriiim; he affumes, not only E, any point
whatfoever in the line DE, but alfo another point O, any
whatfoever in the fame line, to both of which he fuppofes lines to
be inflected from the given points A and B.. This double ftate-
ment, however, cannot be made, without rendering the invefti-
gation long and complicated ; and therefore it may be of ufe
to remark, that it is never neceflary, but may always be avoided.
by an appeal to fimpler Porifms, or to Locz, or to the propofi-
tions of the data. I fhall give the following Porifm as an ex-
ample, where this is done with fome difficulty, but with confi-
derable advantage, in regard to the fimplicity and fhortnefs of
the inveftigation.

PROP V. PORISM. ~ Fic.6.

24. Ler there be three ftraight lines AB, AC, CB given in
pofition, and from any point whatfoever in one of them,
as D, let perpendiculars be drawn to the other two, as
DF, DE; a point G may be found, fuch, that if GD be
drawn from it to the point D, the fquare of that line fhall
have a given ratio to the fum of the fquares of the per-
-pendiculars DF and D E, which ratio is to be fund.

Draw from A and B the lines A H, BK at right angles to.
BC-and CA, and divide AB in L, fo that AL may be to LB
in the given ratio of the fquare of A.H to the {quare of BK,
or, which is the fame, of the fquare of AC to the fquare of
CB.» The point L is therefore given ; and if N be taken fo as

. to have to A L the fame ratio that A B? has to A H?,.N will

be given. in. magnitude. Alfo fince A H?:B-K?:: Als a5 eT
. and.

UR he

."

182 tae the ORIGIN and

and A H?: AB?:: AL:N, ex equ BK? LA Bes: LB:N. ‘Frost east
L draw LO, LM perpendicular toAC, CB; L O atid LMare
given in magnitude. an e 5
Now, becaufe A B?: BK?:: AD*: DF, N:LB:: AD?:DF,
; ; LB
fo that DF? = oa A D+, and for the fame reafon, DE? =

A
<= BD But (Loci Plani, vere s Lem. 1. MES

3 AD pb

A ks LB AL AB
ee = as AL +— oe dir er we that is,

| AB
DE-+D | aa pm a ac Nee

Join LG; then by hypothefis, LO:-++- LM? has to LG:
the fame ratio which D F?+ D E’ has to DG’; and if this ra-

R
tio be that of R to N, LO‘ +LM?'*= an L G*3and therefore —

R AB
DE=+DE— yw L@ty Pt. But DE?+DF =

R D | " f — LG +5="DLs = Ree d
N vig =H , an
AB

Tem DL? = ~(D G*—L G*). The excefs of the fquare of

D G above the Bi: of LG, has therefore a conftant ratio to
the fquare of DL, viz. that of AB to R. The angle DLG
is therefore a right angle, and the ratio of A BtoR, the ratio

of equality, otherwife LD would be given in magnitude, ee
which is contrary to the fuppofition. The line LG is there- "
fore given in pofition ; and fince R is to N, that is, ABtoN, vrs.

as the fquares of LO and LM to the fquare of LG, therefore
the fquare of LG, and confequently the line LG, is given in
magnitude. The point G is therefore given, and alfo the ratio

of

INVESTIGATION of PORISMS. 183

of the fquares of DE and DF to the fquare of DG, which
is the fame with that of AB to N.

Hence this conftruction: Divide A B in L, fo that A L may
be to LB as the fquare of AH to the fquare of BK, and
make as the fquare of AH to the fquare of AB, fo ALtoN;
and, laftly, having drawn from L upon A C and CB tthe per-
pendiculars LO and L M, make LG perpendicular to AB, and
fuch, that as AB to N, fo the fum of the fquares of LO and
LM to the fquare of LG; G will be the point required, and
the given ratio, which the fquares on DF and DE have to the
fquare on DG, will be that of A BtoN.

Tus is the conftruction which follows moft dire€tly from
the analyfis; but it may be rendered more fimple. For fince
A H?: AB?::AL:N, and BK*: AB?::BL:N, therefore A H?
+BK*:AB*::AB:N. Likewife, if AG, BG be joined,
AB:N::AH’?:AG’, and AB:N::BK?:BG*3 wherefore
AB:N::A H?+BK?:AG*+BQG’, that iss AH?+ 58 K::
A B?::AH’?+BK?:AG°*+BG’, and AG+GB =
AB, The angle AGB is therefore a right angle, and
AL:LG:LB. lf therefore AB be divided in L, as in the
preceding conftruction; and if LG, a mean proportional be-
' tween AL and LB, be placed. at right angles to AB, G will be
the point required. ;

Cor. Ir is evident from the conftrudtion, that if at the points.
A and B we fuppofe weights to be placed that are as the fquares
of the fines of the angles CAB, CBA, L will be the centre of
' gravity of thefe weights. For AL is to LB as \C* to CB,
or inverfely as the fquares of the fines of the angles at A and B..

25. Now, the ftep in this analyfis by which a fecond intro-
duétion of the general hypothefis is avoided, is that in which
the angle GL D is concluded to be a right angle. . This. con-
_clufion follows from the excefs of the fquare of DG above
- the fquare of G L, having a given ratio to the {quare of LD,

at the fame time that L D is of no determinate magnitude. For,
if

184 On the ORIGIN and

if pofiible, let GLD be obtufe, (fig. 7.) and let the perpendicular. — “a

from G upon AB meet AB in V, which point V is therefore
given. And fince the excefs of the fquare of GD above the
fquare of LG is equal to the fquare of LD, together with
twice the rectangle DLV, therefore by the fuppofition, the
fquare of LD, together with twice the rectangle DLV, muft —
have a given ratio to the fquare of LD; the ratio of the rec-
tangle DL V to the fquare of LD, that is, of VLto LD, is
therefore given, fo that V L being given in magnitude, LD is
_ alfo given. But this is contrary to the fuppofition, for L D is
indefinite by hypothefis ; and therefore GLD cannot be ob- ~
tufe, nor any other than a right angle.

Tue fame conclution that is here drawn immediately from |
the indetermination of LD, would be deduced, according to
Dr Stmson’s method, by afluming another point D’, any how,
and from the fuppofition, that the excefs of GD’? above G L?
was to IL, D’* in the fame ratio that the excefs of G D* above
G L? is to L D’, it would follow without much difficulty, that
GLD mutt bea right angle, and the given ratio, a ratio of e-
quality. The method followed above is fhorter and lefs intri-
cate than this laft, and has, I think, the advantage of dif-
covering more plainly the /pivit of the analyfis, and the ef-
fet which the indefinite nature of the quantities, fuppofed in-
determinate in the Porifm, has in afcertaining the relation, that
muft fubfift between the magnitudes that are given, and thofe
that are to be found.

26. TuH1s Porifm may be extended to any number of lines
whatfoever, and may be thus enunciated: “ Let there be any _
number of ftraight lines given in pofition, and from any point
in one of them, let perpendiculars be drawn to all the reft, a
point may be found, fuch, that the fquare of the line joining
it, and the point from which the perpendiculars are drawn,
fhall have to the fum of the fquares of thefe perpendiculars a

given ratio, which ratio is alfo to be found.”
; THE

»
&

INVESTIGATION of PORISMS. 183

THE analyfis of the Porifm, when thus generalized, is too
long to be given here*. We muft not, however, omit to take
notice, that the point L, where the perpendicular from the point
to be found meets the line, from which the perpendiculars are
drawn to the reft, is in all cafes determined by the rule fuggeft-
ed in the corollary. (§24.) For if at the points in which the
faid line is interfected by the others, there be placed weights
proportional to the fquares of the fines of the angles of inter-
feGtion, L will be the centre of gravity of thefe weights.

27. THESE Porifms facilitate the folution of the general
problems from which they are derived. For if it were pro-
pofed, three ftraight lines AB, AC, BC being given in pofition,
and alfo a point R, (fig. 6.) to find a point D in one of the
given lines AB, fuch, that the fum of the fquares of the per-
pendiculars drawn from D to the other two lines, fhould have
a given ratio to the fquare of DR, it is plain, that the finding
of the point G in the Porifm, would render the conftruction
eafy. For the fquares of RD and GD, having each given ratios
to the fum of the fquares of the perpendiculars drawn from D,
have a given ratio to one another. The ratio of the lines, RD
and GD themfelves, is therefore given, and the points R and G
being given, D isin the circumference of a circle given in po-
fition ; and it is alfo in the ftraight line AB given in pofition ;
therefore it is given. The fame holds, whatever be the num-
ber of lines given in pofition. |

Tue fame Porifms affift alfo in the folution of another
problem. For if it were propofed to find D, fo that the fum

Vot. Ill. Aa of

* Turs Porifm, in the cafe confidered above, vz. when there are three ftraight lines
given in pofition, was communicated to me feveral years ago, without any analyfis or
- demonftration, by Dr Trait, Prebendary of Lifburn in Ireland, who told me alfo, that
he had met with it among {ome of Dr S1mson’s papers, which had been put into his
hands, at the time when the pofthumous works of that geometer were preparing for the
prels. ‘lhe application of it tothe fecond of the problems, (§ 27.) was allo fuggefted
by Dr Trar.

186 On the ORFGIN and

of the fquares of the perpendiculars drawn from it to AC, andl f

CB, fhould be equal to a given fquare, this would be done by
finding G; and then becaufe the fum of the fquares of the
perpendiculars is given, and has a given ratio to the {quare of
DG, DG will be given, and confequently the point D. This
is alfo true, whatever be the number of the lines.

28. THE connection of the Porifms with the impoffible cafes

of thefe problems, is abundantly evident; the point L being —
that from which, if perpendiculars be esate to AC and CB,

the fum of their fquares is the leaft poffible. For fince (fig. 6.)
DF?+ DE’: DG?::LO?-++LM :LG*, and fince LG is lefs than DG,
LO?+L™? muft be lefs than DF?+DE?,

‘Hence alfo a point Q may be found, from which, if per-
pendiculars be drawn to the fides of the triangle ABC, the fum
of the fquares of thefe perpendiculars is lefs than the fum of
the fquares of the perpendiculars drawn to the fides of the tri-
angle from any other point.

For if ad (fig. 8.) be any line drawn parallel to AB, and if
“it be divided in a, fo that @A may be to Ad in the duplicate ra-
tio of aC to Cé, or of AC to CB, then of all the points
in the line ad, % is that from which, if perpendiculars be
drawn to the lines AC, CB, the fum of their fquares is the
- leatt poffible. But fince aa is to 2d as the fquare of AC to the
fquare of BC, that is, as AL to LB, therefore the /ocus of A is
the ftraight line LC, joining the given points Land C. The
point to be found therefore, or that from which perpendicu-
lars being drawn to the fides of the figure, the fum of their
fquares is the leaft pothble, is in the ftraight line LC.

For let g be any point on either fide of LC, and let the line:
ab be drawn through g parallel to AB, meeting LC in a, then
the fum of the {quares of the perpendiculars from g upon AC,
CB, is greater than the fum of the fquares of the perpendicu-
Jars from A upon the fame lines. Therefore adding the fquare
of the perpendicular from q, or a, on AB, to both, the fum of
the fquares of the perpendiculars from g, will be greater than

the:

INVESTIGATION of PORISMS. 187

the fum of the fquares of the perpendiculars from a, The
point, therefore, which makes the fum of the fquares of the per-
‘pendiculars drawn from it, to. the fides of the triangle ABC, a
minimum, is not on either fide of the line LC; it is therefore in
the line LC.

~ For the fame reafon, if AC be divided in L’, fo that AL’ is to
LC as the fquare of AB to the fquare of BC, and if BL’ be join-
ed, the point to be found is in BL’. It is therefore in the point
Q, where the lines CL and BL’ interfect one another.

THE point Q; in any other figure, may be found nearly in the
fame manner. Let ABCD, for inftance, (fig. 9.) be a quadri-
lateral figure ; let the oppofite fides, AB and DC, be produced
till they meet in E, and let ad be drawn parallel to AB, meet-
ing CE ine, and let a be the point in the line ad from which
_ perpendiculars are drawn to the three lines BC, CD, DA, fo
_ that the fum of their fquares is lefs, than if they were drawn
from any other point, in the fame line ; then if weights be pla-
ced at 5, a and ¢, proportional to the fquares of the fines of the
angles Céda, baD, aeD, a is the centre of gravity of thefe
weights. (§ 26.) Now, thefe weights having given ratios to one
another, the /ocuws of the point a, from the known properties of
the centre of gravity, is a ftraight line La, given in pofition.
The point to be found is, therefore, in that line. For the fame
reafon, it is in another {traight line L'a’ alfo given in pofition ;
. and therefore it is in Q, the point of their interfedtion.

THERE are many other remarkable properties of this point,
which appear fometimes in the form of Porifms, and fome-
times of theorems. Of the former, fome curious inftances
will be found in Dr Smatt’s Demonftrations of Dr StEW-

ART’s Theorems *. Of the latter; I thall only add one, omitting
the demonftration, which would lead into too long a digreflion.
“ If Q be the point in a triangle from which perpendiculars
are drawn to the fides of the triangle, fo that the fum of their
_ fquares is the leaft poflible ; twice the area of the triangle is a

Ain Gs mean
* Tranf, R. S. Edin. vol. ii. p. 112, &c.

- 188 ) On the ORIGIN and

mean proportional between the fum of the fquares of the fides. —
of the triangle, and the fum of the fquares of the above men~
tioned perpendiculars.” ae
29. Bur to return to the fubje&t of Porifms: It is evident. uw
from what has now appeared, that in fome inftances at leaft, :
there is a clofe conneétion between thefe propofitions and the
maxima or minima, and, of confequence, the impoflible cafes,
‘of problems. The nature of this conneétion requires. to be
further inveftigated, and is the more interefting, that the tran- —
fition from the indefinite, to the impoflible cafes of a problem. —
feems to be made with wonderful rapidity. Thus, in the firft 5
- propofition, though there be not, properly fpeaking, an impof-_ 3
Gble cafe, but only one where the point to be found goes off —
ad infinitum, we may remark, that if the given point F be any .
where out of the line HD, the problem of drawing GB equal —
to GF is always poffible, and admits juft of one folution ; but
if F be in the line DH, the problem admits of no folution at _
all, the point being shia at. an infinite diftance, and therefore- j
impoffible to be affigned. There is however this exception,
that if the given point be at K, in this fame line DH, determi-_
ned by making DK equal to DL, then every point in the line
DE gives a folution, and may be taken for the point G.' Here _
therefore the cafe of innumerable folutions, and the cafe of no.
folution, are as it were. conterminal, and fo clofe to one ano-- ‘
ther, that if the given point be at K, the problem is indefinite, %
but that if it remove ever fo little from K, remaining at the —
fame time in the line DH, the problem cannot be refolved: is
I nap obferved this remarkable affinity between cafes, which: —

in other refpects are diametrically oppofite, in a great variety of ~
inftances, before I perceived the reafon of it, and found, that:
by attending to the origin which has been affigned to Porifms,.
I ought to have difcovered it a priori. It is, as we have feen, —
a general principle, that a problem is converted into a Porifm, oy
when one, or when two, of the conditions of it, neceflarily in- —
yolve in them fome one of the reft.. Suppofe then that two of ~
the

*

INVESTIGATION of PORISMS. 189

the conditions are exactly in that ftate, which determines the
third; then, while they remain fixed or given, f{hould that
third one be fuppofed to vary, or differ, ever fo little, from the”
ftate required by the other two, a contradiction will enfue.
Therefore if, in the hypothefis of a problem, the conditions be
fo related to one another as to render it indeterminate, a Porifm |
is produced ; but if, of the conditions thus related to one ano-
ther, fome one be fuppofed to vary, while the others continue
the fame, an abfurdity follows, and the problem becomes im-
poflible. Wherever therefore any problem admits both of an in-
determinate, and an impoffible cafe, it is certain, that thefe cafes
are nearly related to one another, and that fome of the condi-
tions by which they are produced, are common to both. This affi-
nity, which feems to be one of the moft. remarkable circum-
ftances refpecting Porifms, will be more fully illuftrated, when
we treat of the algebraic inveftigation of thefe propofitions.

30. Ir is fuppofed above, that two of the conditions of a
problem involve in them a third, and wherever that happens,
the conclufion which has been deduced will invariably take
place. But a Porifm may fometimes be fo fimple, as to arife-
from the mere coincidence of ove condition of a problem with:
another, though in no cafe whatever, any inconfiftency can take
place between them. Thus, in the fecond of the foregoing
propofitions, the coincidence of the point given in the problem
with another point, v7z. the centre of gravity of the given tri-
angle, renders the problem indeterminate ; buat as there is no.
- relation of diftance, or pofition, between thefe points, that may
not exift, fo the problem has no impoflible cafe belonging to
it. There are, however, comparatively but few Porifms fo fim-
ple in their origin as this, or that arife from problems in which
the conditions are fo little complicated ; for it ufually happens,
that a problem which can become indefinite, may alfo become:
tmpoffible; and if fo, the connection between thefe cafes,
which has been already explained, never fails to take place.

31. ANOTHER

igo On the ORIGIN and

31. ANOTHER fpecies of impoffibility may frequently arife
_ from the porifmatic cafe of a problem, which will very much
affect the application of geometry to aftronomy, or any of the
{ciences of experiment, or obfervation. For when a problem is
to be refolved by help of data furnifhed by experiment or ob-.
fervation, the firft thing to be confidered is, whether the data fo
obtained, be fufficient for determining the thing fought; and
in this a very erroneous judgment may be formed, if we reft
fatisfied with a general view of the fubje&t: For though the
problem may in general be refolved from the data that we are
provided with, yet thefe data may be fo related to one another
in the cafe before us, that the problem will become indeter-
minate, and inftead of one folution, will admit of an infinite
number.

SupposeE, for inftance, that it were required to determine
the pofition of a point F, (fig. 4.) from knowing that it was fi-
tuated in the circumference of a given circle ABC, and alfo
from knowing the ratio of its diftances from two:given points
E and D; it is certain, that in general thefe data would be fuf-
ficient for determining the fituation of F: But neverthelefs,
if E and D fhould be fo fituated, that they were in the fame
ftraight line with the centre of the given circle; and if the
rectangle under their diftances from that centre, were alfo e-
qual to the fquare of the radius of the circle, then, as was
fhewn above, (§ 12.) the pofition of F could not be deter-
mined.

Tuls particular inftance may not indeed occur in any of the
practical applications of geometry ; but there is one of the fame
kind which has a@tually occurred in aftronomy: And as the
hiftory of it is not a little fingular, affording befides an
excellent illuftration of the nature of Porifms, I hope to be ex-
cufed for entering into the following detail concerning it.

32. Sir lsaac NEwTon having demonftrated, that the tra-.
jeCtory of a comet is a parabola, reduced the actual determina-

tion

PINVPESTIGATION of PORISMS. IQT

tion of the orbit of any particular comet, to the folution of a
geometrical problem, depending on the properties of the para-
bola. but of fuch confiderable difficulty, that it is neceflary
to take the affiftance of a more elementary problem, in order
to find, at leaft nearly, the diftance of the comet from the earth,
at the times when it was obferved. The expedient for this pur-
pofe, fuggefted by Newron himfelf, was to confider a fmall
part of the comet's path as rectilineal, and defcribed with an
uniform motion, fo that four obfervations of the comet being
made at moderate intervals of time from one another, four
ftraight lines would be determined, vz. the four lines joining the
places of the earth and the comet, at the times of obfervation,
acrofs which if a ftraight line were drawn, fo as to be cut by
them into three parts, in the fame ratios with the intervals of
time above mentioned ; the line fo drawn would nearly reprefent
the comet’s path, and by its interfeCtion with the given lines,
would determine, at leaft nearly, the diftances of the comet |
from the earth, at the times of obfervation. |
’ Tue geometrical problem here employed, of drawing a line
to be divided by four other lines given in pofition, mto parts
having given ratios to one another, had been already refolved
‘by Dr Wattis and Sir Cuyristopuer Wren, and to their
folutions Sir Isaac NewrTown added three others of his own, in
different parts of his works. Yet none of all thefe geometers
obferved that peculiarity in the problem which rendered it in-
applicable to aftronomy. This was firft done by M. Bosco-
vicH, but not till after many trials, when, on its application
to the motion of comets, it had never led to any fatisfaCtory
refult. ‘he errors it produced in fome inftances were fo confi-
derable, that ZANorri, feeking to determine by it the orbit of
the comet of 1739, found, that his conftrudtion threw the co-
met on the fide of the fun oppofite to that on which he had —
actually obferved it. This gave occafion to Boscovicu, fome
years afterwards, to examine the different cafes of the problem,
and.

192 On the ORIGIN and

and to remark that, in one of them, it became indeterminate; —
and that, by a curious coincidence, this happened in the —
only cafe which could be fuppofed applicable to the aftronomi-
cal problem above mentioned ; in other words, he found, that
in the ftate of the data, which muft there always take place,
innumerable lines might be drawn, that would be all cut
in the fame ratio, by the four lines given in pofition. This
_he demonftrated in a differtation publifhed at Rome in 1749,
and fince that time in the third volume of his Opu/cula. A
demonftration of it, by the fame author, is alfo inferted at the
end of CAsTILLON’s Commentary on the drithmetica Univer-
_ falis, where it is deduced from a conftruction of the general
problem, given by Mr Tuomas Simpson, at the end of his Ele-
ments of Geometry*. The propofition, in Boscovicu’s words, is
this: ‘‘ Problema quo quezritur recta linea que quatuor re¢tas po-
“* fitione datas ita fecet, ut tria eyus fegmenta fint invicem in ra-
** tione data, evadit aliquando indeterminatum, ita ut per quod-
“ vis punctum cujufvis ex iis quatuor rectis duci poflit recta
“ linea, que ei conditioni faciat fatis t.’’

Ir is needlefs, I believe, to remark, that the propofition thus
enunciated is a Porifm, and that it was difcovered by Bosco-
vicH, in the fame way, in which I have fuppofed Porifms to
have been firft difcovered by the geometers of antiquity. I
fhall add here a new analyfis of it, conducted according to
the method of the preceding examples, and to which the fol-
lowing /emma is fubfervient.

LEMMA

* Elements, p. 243. Edit. 3. Srmpson’s folution is remarkably elegant, but no men-
tion is made in it, of the indeterminaie cafe.

+ Jos. Boscovicu Opera, Baflani. tom. 3. p. 33% |

INVESTIGATION of PORISMS. 193

LEMMA I. Fic. 10.

|

32. Ir two ftraight lines, AE and BF, be cut by three other
ftraight lines, AB, CD and EF, given in pofition, and not
all parallel to one another, into fegments having the fame
given ratio, they will intercept between them fegments of
the lines given in pofition, wz. AB, CD, EF, which will

alfo have given ratios to one another *.
PROP.

* DemonstratTion.—Through C and E draw CH and EG, both parallel to AB,
and let them meet BG, parallel to AE, in H and in G. Let GF and HD be joined ; and
becaufe AC is to CE, that is, BH to HG as BD to DF, by hypothefis, DH is parallel to
GF, and has alfo a given ratio to it, wz. the ratio of GB to BH, or of EA to AC.
Take GK equal to HD, and join EK, and the triangle EGK will be equal to the triangle
CHD, and therefore the angle KEG is given, and likewife the angle-KEF; and fince
the ratio of GK to KF ts given, if from K there be drawn KL parallel to EG, meeting
EF in L, the ratio of EL to LF will be given. But the ratio of EL to LK is
given, becaufe the triangle ELK is given in fpecies; therefore the ratio of FL to LK is
given; and the angle FLK being alfo given, the triangle FKL is given in fpecies, as alfo
the triangle FGE. The angle FGE being therefore given, the triangle KGE is given
in fpecies, and EG has therefore given ratios to EK and EF. But EG is equal to AB,
and EK to CD, therefore AB, CD and EF have given ratios to one another Q. E. D,

Hence to find the ratios of AB, CD and EF; in EF take any part EL, and make
as AC is to CE, fo EL to LF; through L draw LK parallel to EG or AB, meeting
-EK, drawn through E parallel to CD in K ; then if FK be drawn meeting EG in G,
the ratios required are the fame with the ratios of the lines EG, EK, EF. This is evi-
dent from the preceding inveftigation.

Ir it be required to find the pofition of the line AE, drawn through the point A, fo as
to be cut by CD and EF in a given ratio ; draw Ac, any how, cutting DC in c, and pro-
duce Ac to e, fo that Ac may be to ce in the ratio which AC is to have to CE; leteE
be drawn parallel to DC, interfeCting FE in E, and if AE be joined, it is the line re-
quired.

Hence the converfe of the lemma is eafily demonftrated, wz. that if AE and BF be
two lines that are cut proportionally by the three lines AB, CD, EF; andif AB and
EF, the parts of any two of thefe laft, intercepted between AE and BF, be alfo cut pro-
portionally, any how, in } and /, and if bf be joined, meeting the third line in d, 4f will
be cut in the fame proportion with AE or BF. For if not, let Bf’ be drawn from 4,
meeting CD in d', and EF inf’, fo that bd‘:d'f':: AC:CE ; then by the lemma, ab: AB::
Ef:EF ; and by fuppofition, 4/:AB::EAEF, therefore Ef’ = Ef, which is impofhble,
Therefore, dc.

Vor, Il. Bb

194 On the ORIGIN and

PROP VE LP OR TS VL Fic. 11.

33. THREE ftraight lines being given in pofition, a fourth line,
alfo given in pofition, may be found, fuch, that through
any point whatever a ftraight line may be drawn, which
will interfec& thefe four lines, and will be divided by them
into three fegments, having given ratios to one another.

Let AB, CD, EF be the three lines given in pofition, and OL
the line to be found, and «da given line, of which the feg-
ments «8, Sy, vd have given ratios to one another.

Let A bea given point in the line AB, and fuppofe, that
AO is drawn from it, interfecting the lines CD, EF and OL
in the points C, E and O, and divided at thefe points into the
_fegments AC, CE, EO, having the fame ratios to one another,
with the given fegments «3, By, yd of the line «J. Then, be-
caufe the lines CD, EF are given in pofition, and alfo the point
A, the line AE is given in pofition and magnitude, ({§ 32.) and
therefore alfo EO, which has a given ratio to AE; the point O
is therefore given.

AGAIN, let B be any point whatever in AB, and let BL be
drawn, according to the hypothefis of the Porifm, fo as to be
divided in the points D, F and L, where it interfeéts the lines
CD, EF and OL into the parts, BD, DF and FL, having the fame
ratios with the parts «8, By, yd.

Let alfo BG be drawn equal and parallel to AE, and let EG
be joined ; EG will therefore be parallel to AB, and will be
given in pofition; and if GF be drawn, it will make given
angles with EG and EF, becaufe, by the preceding /emma, the
ratio of AF to EF, that is, of EGto EF is given.. Through L |
draw LN parallel to BG, meeting GF produced in N.

THEN ~

INVESTIGATION of PORISMS. 19s

TueEn becaufe the triangles BFG, LFN are fimilar, GF is to
FN as BF to FL, that is, in a given ratio; and therefore, fince
FG alfo makes given angles with the two ftraight lines EG and
EF, given in pofition, the point N is in a ftraight line, given in
pofition, and pafling through E, viz. EN.

Now, fince BF is to FL as BG to LN, and alfo as AE or BG
to EO, LN and EO are equal, and being alfo parallel, OL is
parallel to EN, that is, to a line given in pofition ; ; and the
point O, in OL, is given, therefore OL is given in ae -
which was to be found.

Conftruction. FROM any two given points, A and B’, in the
line AB, draw AE and B’F’ interfecting CD and EF in C, E, D’
and F’, fo that AC may be to CE, and BD’ to DF’ in the fame
given ratio of «8 to By, (§ 32.) Produce alfo AE to O, and
BF’ to L’, fo that AE may be to EO, and BF’ to FL’ in the
fame given ratio of wy to yd. If OL’ be joined, it will be the
line required.

For let B be any point whatfoever in AB, and as AB’ to AB,
fo let OL’ be to OL, and let BL be drawn, cutting CD’, and
EF’ in D and F, the line BL is divided in thefe points, fimilarly
to the given line ad. For fince the two lines AO and B’L’ are
divided fimilarly by the three lines AB’, CD’ and OL’, and fince
two of thefe laft, AB’ and OL’, are alfo divided fimilarly to one
another by the three lines AO, B’L’ and BL, BL will be divided
in D, in the fame ratio wherein B’L’ is divided in D’, or AO in C,
(Lem. 1. Cony.). In the fame way, BL is divided in F, in the
fame ratio wherein AO is divided in E; BL is therefore fimilarly
divided to AO, or to ad, which was to be demonftrated.

34. Hence it is plain, “ If two fimilarly divided lines, as AO
and BL, be drawn any how, and if ftraight lines AB, CD; EE,
OL, be drawn through the points of divifion of thefe lines, innu-
merable lines may be placed between the lines AB, CD, EF and
OL, which will be divided by them, fimilarly to the lines AO, and
Bit For, by what is here demonftrated, every line which cuts

Bb2 any:

196. On the ORIGIN and

any two of the lines AB, CD, &c. proportionally, will alfo cut
the others proportionally, and will be cut by them into feg-
ments having the fame ratio to one another, with the fegments
of the lines AO and BL.

From this it follows, that the aftronomical problem, above 3
mentioned, becomes a Porifm, and is indeterminate, in the cafe h
when the obfervations of the comet are not very diftant from
one another. For on this fuppofition, the arches defcribed by
the earth, and by the comet during the time in which the ob- y
fervations are made, will not differ much from two ftraight
lines ; and thefe lines will be divided fimilarly to one another, be-
caufe each of them will be divided into parts, proportional to the
intervals of time between the obfervations. The places of the
earth, at the times of the obfervations, may therefore be nearly
reprefented by the points A, C, E and O, in the ftraight line
AO, and thofe of the comet by the points B, D, F and L, in
the ftraight line BL, thefe lines AO and BL being divided both
into parts having the fame ratios. The pofition of BL there-
fore is not given, fince, by the Porifm, it may be any line
whatever, which cuts the two lines, AB and OL, ina certain ratio.

Ir is alfo to be remarked, that in order to render this, or any
other geometrical problem, of no ufe in queftions where the
data are furnifhed by obfervation, and are confequently liable
to fome inaccuracy, it is not neceflary, that the problem fhould
be reduced exaétly to the porifmatic cafe; for even on a near
approach to that cafe, a very {mall error in the data will pro-
duce fo great an error in the conclufion, that no dependence
can be had upon its accuracy.

Turs will be made evident in the prefent inftance, by confi-
dering how the conftruétion of the Porifm is fubfervient to the
folution of the other cafes of the problem. Suppofe that four lines,
AB, CD, EF, RS, (fig. 11.) are given in pofition, and that it is re-
quired to draw a ftraight line that fhall be divided by thefe

lines into parts having the ratios of the given lines a, By, 7
Let

>

: va”
ret ae
i»

INVESTIGATION of PORISMS. 197

Let KT be that line, and affuming the points A and B’, and
drawing the lines AO, B’L, fo that they may be fimilarly di-
vided to the line #3, as in the conftruction of the Porifm, then
if OL be joined, it will be given in pofition, and the extremity
K, of the line KT, will be in the line OL, by the Porifm ; but
it is alfo in the line RS; itis therefore given. Now, by the
lemma, AT is to TB’ as OK to KL, and the lines OK and KL’
being given, the ratio of AT to TB’ is given, fo that T' is given,
and therefore TK is given in pofition. Q.E. I.

Now, it is evident, that if RS make a {mall angle with OL,
any error in the determination of that angle will make a great
variation in the pofition of the point K. A fmall change in it
may, for inftance, make RS parallel to OL, and confequently
will throw off K, to an infinite diftance, fo that the line, which is
fought, will be impoffible to be found; and in general, the varia-
tion of the pofition of K, correfponding to a given variation in
the angle RKO, will be, ceteris paribus, inverfely as the fquare
‘of the fine of that angle. The nearer, therefore, that the
problem is to the Porifin, the lefs is the folution of it to be de-
pended on, and the more does it partake of the indefinite cha-
racter of the latter.

35. Sir Isaac NeEwTOn has extended the hypothefis of the
problem from which the preceding Porifm is derived, and has
formed from it one more general, which he has alfo refolved,
with a view to its application in aftronomy. It is this: ‘* To
*« defcribe a quadrilateral, given in fpecies, that fhall have its
** angles upon four ftraight lines given in pofition *.”’

’ As it is evident, that the former problem is but a particular
cafe of this laft, it is natural to expect, that a Porifm is alfo to
be derived from it, or that the lines given in pofition may be
fuch, that the problem will become indeterminate. On attempt-
ing the analyfis, I have accordingly found this conjecture veri-

fied ;

* Prin. Math. lib. 1. lem. 29. ;

198 On the ORIGIN and

fied ; the inveftigation depending on a Jemma fimilar to that . '
which is prefixed to the preceding propofition. .

LEMMA II. FIG, 12.

IF two triangles ABC, DEF, fimilar to a given triangle, be
placed with their angles on three ftraight lines given in po-
fition, fo that the equal angles in both the triangles may
be upon the fame ftraight lines, the ratios of the fegments
of thefe ftraight lines, intercepted between the two tri-_
angles, that is, of AD, BE and CF, are given *,: = 4

PROP.

* Demonstration. Complete the parallelogram under AC and AD, o:z. AG,
and on DG defcribe the triangle DGH, fimilar and equal to the triangle ABC. Join
FG, BH and HE. Through G alfo, draw GK, equal and parallel to HE, and join CK;
CK will be equal and parallel to BE, and the triangle CGK equal to the triangle BHE.
The angle GCK is therefore given, being equal to the given angle HBE; and the angle
GCF being given, the angle FCK is alfo given.

Tue triangles DHE, DGF are fimilar ; for the angles FDE, GDH being equal, the
angles FDG, EDH are likewife equal ; and alfo, by fuppofition, FD being to DE as GD
to DH, FD is to DG as DEto DH. The angle FGD is therefore equal to the angle
EHD, and FG is alfo to EH, or to KG, as FD to DE, or as GD to DH.

Bur if GL be drawn parallel to HD, the angle KGL will be equal to the angle EHD,
that is, to the angle FGD, and therefore the angle KGF to the angle LGD or GDH;
and it has been fhewn, that FG is to GK as GD to DH;; therefore the triangle FGK is
fimilar to the triangle GDH, and is given in fpecies.

Draw GM perpendicular to CF, and GN making the angle MGN equal to the angle
FGK or GDH, and let GM be to GN in the given ratio of FG to GK, or of GD to DH.
Join CN and NK. Then, becaufe MG:GN::FG:GK, MG:FG::GN:GK 3 and the an-
gle MGF being equal NGK, the triangles MGF, NGK are fimilar, and therefore GNK
is aright angle. But fince the ratio of MG to GN is given, and alfo of MG to GC, the
triangle CGM being given in {pecies, the ratio of GC to GN is given, and CGN being
alfo a given angle, becaufe each of the angles CGM, MGN is given, the triangle CGN
is given in fpecies, and confequently the ratio of CG to CN is given. The angle NCK
is therefore given; and the angle CNK is likewife given, each of the angles CNG, GNK
being given, therefore the triangle CNK is alfo given in {pecies. The ratio of CN to CK.
is therefore given, and fince the ratio of CN to CG is alfo given, the ratio of CG to CK.

Jf

INVESTIGATION of PORISMS. 199

PROP. VIL PORISM. Fic. 13.

36. Turee ftraight lines being given in pofition, a fourth may
be found, which will alfo be given in pofition, and will be
fuch, that innumerable quadrilaterals, fimilar to the fame
given quadrilateral, may be defcribed, having their angles
placed, in the fame order, on the four ftraight lines given
in pofition.

Ler AD, BE, CF be the three ftraight lines given in pofi-
tion, and a/c a given quadrilateral. Let A be a given point
in the line AD, and let ABLC be a quadrilateral, fimilar to the
given quadrilateral able, placed, fo that the angles of the tri-
angle ABC, fimilar to the given triangle abc, may be, one of
them, at the given point A, and the other two, on the lines BE
and CF. The points B and C, and the triangle ABC, will there-
fore be given, (Lemma 2. Cor.) and confequently the tri-
angle CBL will alfo be given in pofition and magnitude,
and the point L willbe given. The line to be found muft pafs
through L; let it be LM; let M be any point in it whatfoever, -
and let MEDF be a quadrilateral fimilar to the given quadrila-
teral abc, having its angles on the four lines LM, CF, BE and
AD, the angle at M being equal to the angle CLB, tc.

CompPLeETE the parallelogram AG, under CA, AD, and on DG
defcribe the quadrilateral GDHN, fimilar and equal to the qua-

drilateral

is given, and the triangle CGK given in fpecies. The angle KGC is therefore given,
and the angle KGF being alfo given, the angle CGF is given, and confequently the ratio
of CGtoCF. The ratios of the lines CG, CK and CF to one another, that is, of AD,
BE and CF toone another, are therefore given. Q.E.D.

Cor. Hence alfo it appears, how a triangle given in {pecies may be defcribed, having
its angles on three ftraight lines given in pofition, and one of the angles at a given point
in one of the lines. The folution of this problem is therefore taken for granted, in the
analyfis of the Porifm, though, for the fake of brevity, the conftruction is omitted.

200 On the ORIGIN and

drilateral ABLC; join BH and LN, and it is evident, that the
three lines CG, BH and LN are all equal, and parallel to AD, and

are all given in pofition. Join alfo AL, DN, DM,MN and FG. __

BecAuse the two quadrilaterals DEMF, DHNG are fimilar,
the angle FDM is equal to the angle GDN, and therefore the
angle GDF to the angle NDM. For the fame reafon alfo,
GD: DF:: ND: DM, and therefore the triangles GDF, NDM are
fimilar, and the angle FGD equal to the angle MND, and
FG: MN:: GD: DN, fo that FG has a given ratio to MN.

But becaufe the triangles ABC, DEF are fimilar, CG has a
given ratio to CF, (Lem. 2.) fo that the angle GCF being given,
the triangle CGF is given in fpecies, and FG has to GC a given
ratio; now, FG was alfo fhewn to have to MN a given ratio;
therefore MN has a given ratio to CG, that is, to LN.

AGAIN, fince the triangle CGF is given in fpecies, the angle
CGF is given, and CGD being alfo a given angle, the angle
FGD is given, and therefore MND, which is equal to it. But
the angle LND is given, therefore the angle LNM is given;
and it was fhewn, that MN has a given ratio to NU, therefore
the angle MLN is given; now, the point L, and the line LN,
are given in pofition; therefore LM is alfo given in pofition,
which was to be found. ;

Tue conftruction for finding LM is obvious. ‘Take A and
D, two given points in one of the lines given in pofition, and
place the two triangles ABC, DEF fimilar to the given triangle
abc, fo that two of their equal angles may be at A and D, and
the other equal angles on the lines BE and CF, (Lem. 2. Cor.).
On BC and EF, defcribe the triangles BLC, FEM, fimilar to the
triangle cb/; 1f LM be drawn, it will be the line required.

From the analyfis it alfo follows, that the quadrilaterals de-
fcribed with their angles on the four ftraight lines given in po-
fition, as fuppofed in the Porifm, will intercept between them
fegments of thefe lines, having given ratios to one another.

37

INVESTIGATION of PORISMS. 201

37. THI1s Porifm may alfo be extended to figures of any number
of fides, and may be enunciated more generally thus: “ A rec-
tilineal figure of any number of fides, as m, being given, and
three ftraight lines being alfo given in pofition, m—3 ftraight
lines may be found given in pofition, fo that innumerable rec-
tilineal figures may be defcribed, fimilar to the given re€tilineal
figure, and having their ph atiy on the ftraight lines given in po-

“fition.”’

Hence alfo this theorem: “ If any two reétilineal figures
be defcribed fimilar to one another, and if ftraight lines be
drawn, joining the equal angles of the two figures, innumera-
ble rectilineal figures may be defcribed, which will have their
angles on thefe lines, and will be fimilar to the given retilineal
figures ; and the fegments of the lines given in pofition, inter-

cepted between any two of thefe figures, will have conftantly the
fame ratio to one another.”

As a Locus, the fame propofition admits of a very fimple
enunciation, and has a remarkable affinity to that with which
Euciip appears to have introduced his firft book of Porifms.
“ If three of the angles of a rectilineal figure, given in foecies,
be upon three ftraight lines given in pofition, the remaining
ater of the figare will alfo be on ftraight lines, given in pofi-
tion.’

Ir the rectilimeal figures here referred to be fuch, as may be
inferibed in a circle, or in fimilar curves of any kind, agreeably
to the hypothefis ef the problem *, by which thefe laii Porifms
were fuggefted, we fhall have a number of other Porifms re-
fpefting ftraight lines given in pofition, which cut off, from
innumerable fuch curves, fegments that are given in fpecies.
A great field of geometrical inveftigation is, therefore, opened
by the two preceeding propofitions, which, however, we muft
at prefent be'content to have pointed out.

38. A QUESTION nearly connected with the origin of Po-
rifms' full remains to be refolved, namely, from what caufe

Vou. Il. | Cec has
* Prin. Math. lib. 1. prop.. 29.

202 On the ORIGIN and

has it arifen, that propofitions which are in themfelves fo im-

portant, and that actually occupied fo confiderable a place in ~

the ancient geometry, have been fo little remarked in the mo-
dern? It cannot indeed be faid, that propofitions of this kind
were wholly unknown to the moderns before the reftoration of
what Evctip had written concerning them ; for befide M. Bos-
COVICH’s propofition, of which fo much has been already faid, the
theorem which afferts, that in every fyftem of points there is a”
centre of gravity, has been fhewn above to bea Porifm ; and we
fhall fee hereafter, that many of the theorems in the higher geo-
metry belong to the fame clafs of propofitions. We may add, that
fome of the elementary propofitions of geometry want only the
proper form of enunciation to be perfect Porifms. It is not there-
fore ftrictly true, that none of the propofitions called Porifms have
been known to the moderns; but it is certain, that they have
not met, from them, with the attention they met with, from
the ancients, and that they have not been diftinguifhed as

a feparate clafs of propofitions. ‘The caufe of this difference is -

undoubtedly to be fought for in a comparifon of the methods

employed for the folution of geometrical problems in ancient, -

and in modern times.

In the folution of fuch problems, the geometers of antiquity
proceeded with the utmoft caution, and were careful to remark
every particular cafe, that is to fay, every change in the con-
ftruction, which any change in the {tate of the data could pro-
duce. . The different conditions from which the folutions were
derived, were fuppofed to vary one by one, while the others
remained the fame; and all their poffible combinations being
thus enumerated, a feparate folution was given, wherever any
_confiderable change was obferved to have taken place.

This was fo much the cafe, that the /ectzo rationis, a geo-
metrical problem of no great difficulty, and one of which the
folution would be difpatched, according to the methods of the
modern geometry, in a fingle page, was made, by APOLLO-

NIUS,

INVESTIGATION of PORISMS. 203

nius, the fubject of a treatife confifting of two books. The
firft book has feven general divifions, and twenty-four cafes ;
the fecond, fourteen general divifions, and feventy-three cafes,
each of which cafes is feparately confidered. Nothing, it is
evident, that was any way connected with the problem, could
efcape a geometer, who proceeded with fuch minutenefs of in-
veftigation.

THE fame fcrupulous exactnefs may be remarked in all the
other mathematical refearches of the ancients; and the reafon
doubtlefs is, that the geometers of thofe ages, however expert
they were in the ufe of their analyfis, had not fufficient expe-
rience in its powers, to truft to the more general applications of
it. That principle which we call the law of continuity, and
which connects the whole fyftem of mathematical truths by
a chain of infenfible gradations, was fcarcely known to them,
and has been unfolded to us, only by a more extenfive know-
ledge of the mathematical fciences, and by that moft perfect
mode of exprefling the relations of quantity, which forms the
language of algebra; and it is this principle alone which has
taught us, that though in the folution of a problem, it may be
impoflible to conduct the inveftigation without affuming the data
in a particular ftate, yet the refult may be perfectly general, and
will accommodate itfelf to every cafe with fuch wonderful verfati-
lity, as is {carcely credible to the moft experienced mathematician,.
and fuch as often forces him to ftop, in the midft of his calculus,
and to look back,with a mixture of difiidence and admiration, on’
the unforefeen harmony of his conclufions. All this was unknown
to the ancients ; and therefore they had no refource, but to ap-
ply their analyfis feparately to each particular cafe, with that
extreme caution which has juft been deferibed; and in doing
fo, they were likely to remark many peculiarities, which more
extenfive views, and more expeditious methods of inveftigation,
might perhaps have induced them to overlook.

39. To reft fatisfied, indeed, with too general refults, and not.
to defcend fufficiently into particular details, may be confidered:
‘Ce2 ass

204 On the ORIGIN, &e.

as a vice that naturally arifes out of the excellence of the mo-
dern analyfis. The effect which this has had, in concealing
from us the clafs of propofitions we are now confidering, can-
not be better illuftrated than by the example of the Porifm
difcovered by Boscovicu, in the manner related above.
Though the problem from which that Porifm is derived, was
refolved by feveral mathematicians of the firft eminence, among
whom alfo was Sir Isaac NewTon, yet the Porifm which, as it
happens, is the moft important cafe of it, was not obferved by
any of them. This is the more remarkable, that Sir Isaac
NEWTON takes notice of the two moft fimple cafes, in which
the problem obvioufly admits of innumerable folutions, v7z.
when the lines given in pofition are either all parallel, or all
ineeting in a point, and thefe two hypothefes he therefore ex-
prefsly excepts. Yet he did not remark, that there are other
circumftances which may render the folution of the problem
indeterminate, as wellas thefe ; fo that the porifmatic cafe confi-
dered above, efcaped his obfervation : And if it efcaped the ob-
fervation of one who was accuftomed to penetrate fo far into
matters infinitely more obfcure, it was becaufe he fatisfied him-
felf with a general -conftruction, without purfuing it into its
particular cafes. Had the folution been conducted after the
manner of Evciip or Apoutontus, the Porifm in queftion
mutt infallibly have been difcovered.

Burt I have already extended this paper to too great a length ;
fo that, leaving the ufe of algebra in the inveftigation of Po-
rifms, to be treated of on another occafion, I fhall conclude:
with a remark from Pappus, the truth of which, | would wil-
lingly flatter myfelf, that the foregoing obfervations have had
fome tendency to evince: “ Habent autem Porifmata fubtilem
‘“ et naturalem contemplationem, neceflariam et maxime uni-
“ verfalem, atque iis, qui fingula perfpicere et invettigare valent,
** admodum jucundam.” .

VII.

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FLrArTEe IL

VI. 4x Account of the QUASSIA POLYGAMA, or
Birrer-Woop of Famaica; and of the CINCHONA
BRACHYCARPA, anew Species of Jesuit’s BARK
found in the fame Iland. By Mr ae. LinDs Ar, Surgeon
in Wie a ania, en

{ Read Nov. 7. 1791.]

HE Quajffia Polygama has long been known in Jamaica, and
in fome other iflands in the Weft Indies, not only as an ex-
excellent timber, but as an ufeful medicine in putrid fevers and
fluxes. With us, it is called Bitter-wood, and in the Windward
Iflands, the Bitter A/b. The bark has for fome time been prefcri-
bed by practitioners here, and exported to England in confiderable
quantities, for the purpofes of the brewers of ale and _porter..
On thefe accounts, a fuller defcription of this plant than has
hitherto appeared, will be acceptable to the botanift and the
public at large.
Previous to this, it will be proper to give a fhort hiftorical
account of this tree from preceding writers.
_ Sir Hans Sroane, who called at Barbadoes, notices the Bitter-
wood. In his catalogue, he defcribes it thus: “ Milanomma
** et melanoxylum, arbor laurifolia nucifera, gemmis nigricanti-
“ bus, Americana.” He refers to PLUKENET, Tab. 205. fig. 3.;
but that plant is different from ours, and probably he meant
another, which we fhall have occafion to mention prefently.
| Dr

206 An ACCOUNT of the

Dr Patrick Browne, and after him Mr Long, in their
Hiftories of Jamaica, mention this tree by the names of Xy/lo-
picrum, Xylopia glabra, Bitter-wood or Bitter Afb. Myr Lone,
in fpeaking of the Quafia Amara, thinks the Bitter Ath of St
Chriftopher’s is the fame, but does not feem to know whe-
ther the Bitter Afh has been found in Jamaica.

Dr Witii1Am Wricut, F.R.S. of London, Edinburgh, We.
in his Account of the Medicinal Plants growing in Jamaica*,
mentions this tree under the title of Picrania Amara, a new

genus belonging to the clafs Pentandria Monogynia, and fays it is

ufed in putrid fevers as an antifeptic, and that lefs of it will do,
than of the Quafia Amara of Surinam. Dr WricuT was natu-
rally led to place this tree in the clafs and order he has done,
from finding hermaphrodite flowers and feeds on the fame tree ;
at the fame time he remarks, that this tree has a great affinity to
the genus Quaffia.

Dr OLAaF SWARTZ examined moft of the plants in Jamaica

and the other iflands. He probably had feen the fame tree in —

flower and fruit, and in his Prodromus, he ftyles it, ‘* Quaffia
“ Excelfa, floribus hermaphroditis sdris paniculatis, foliis im-
“ pari-pinnatis, foliolis oppofitis petiolatis, petiolo nudo.”’

No other particular defcription of this tree has yet appeared ;
and as both bark and wood may be in more general ufe, I
have taken fome pains to examine this new fpecies, and I hope
the following account of it will enable the botanift, or any
other, to find it. I have, however, given a drawing of the
leaves and frudctification, which will put every thing out of
doubt.

The Quaffia Polygama is a very common tree in moft of our
woodlands. It is beautiful, tall and ftately. I have meafured
ene, which was 100 feet in length, and ten feet in circumfe-

Fences,

*. London Medical Journal, part III, for 1787.

,
< ot
© re ee eg ee

9UASSIA POLYGAMA. 204

rence, eight feet above the ground. The trunk is ftraight,
fmooth and tapering, fending off its branches towards the top.

Tue outfide bark is pretty fmooth, of a light gray or afh
colour, from various lichens. The bark of the roots is of a
yellow caft, fomewhat like the Cortex Simaruba. The inner
bark is tough, and compofed of fine flaxy fibres.

Tue wood is of a yellow colour, tough, but not very hard.
It takes a good polifh, and is ufed as flooring. ©

Tue leaves are fub-alternate; the {mall leaves are in pairs,
from five to eight, ftanding oppofite to each other on fhort foot-
{talks, and ending with an odd one. They are of an oblong
oval fhape, and pointed ; the ribs reddifh, and the young leaves
are covered with a fine brownifh down. The flowers come
out in bunches or clufters from the lower part of the laft
fhoot before the leaves, and ftand on round foot-ftalks. The
flowers are fmall, of a yellowifh green colour, with a very fmall
calyx. The male or barren tree has flowers nearly fimilar to
the hermaphrodite, but in it there are only the rudiments of a
{tyle.

Tue fruit is a fmooth black drupa, round fhaped, and
of the fize of a pea. There is but little pulp, and the nut
covers around kernel. Thefe drup@ are generally three, fome-
times two, and often only one, attached fideways to a roundifh
. flefhy receptacle. It flowers in October and November, and its
_ fruit is ripe in December and January.

ExcerT the pulp of the fruit, every other part of this tree
has an intenfely bitter tafte. From this quality, Sir Josrru
Banks, Dr SOLANDER, and Dr WricurT in the paper above
mentioned, gave it the name of Picrania Amara. In tafte and
virtues, it is nearly equal to the Quva/fia of Surinam, and I am
credibly informed, is fold in London for the Quafia Amara,
and it may be fafely ufed in all cafes where that drug has been

papsht proper, whether as an antifeptic, or in cafes of weak-
nefs

208 An ACCOUNT ¢& the

nefs in the ftomach and bowels. It may either be given alone,
or joined with the Jefuit’s bark.
I wave feen the happieft effects from the ufe of this medi-
cine in obftinate remitting fevers from marfh miafmata, in agues
which had refitted the ufe of Jefuit’s bark, and in dyfenteries
of long ftanding. It is in daily practice in dropfies from -de-
bility, either in fimple infufions or tincture by itfelf, or joined
with aromatics and chalybeates.
Dr DRUMMOND, an eminent pliyGetan here, prefcribes it
with great fuccefs in the above cafes, as well as in amenorrhza,.
chlorofis, dyfpepfia, and in that fpecies of pica called Dért-
eating, {o fatal to a number of negroes. :
Tue bark of the Quaflia Polygama, but efpecially the wide
is intenfely bitter. 1 have ufed both in various forms. —
Tue bark is difficult to be reduced to powder. The dofe is
from 15 grains to 1 dram, either by itfelf, or oe to the Je-
fuit’s bark.
333, 311, or 3fs of the bark or’ wood to 1 Ib. watery infu.
fion.
Tue fame quantities to decoétion from 14 lb. water to 1 Ib.
The dofe is a wine-glafs full every three, ms or fix hours,.
according to. circumftances.
In certain cafes of dropfy, aromatics and preparations are
joined to it, alfo in amenorrhea and chlorofis ; and in worm:
fevers, the cabbage bark, or other vegetable anthelmintics.

4

Linnean

QUASSIA POLYGAMA. 209

Linnean Defcription of the Quaffia Polygama.

Arzor excelfa fepe centum pedes alta. Caudex {pectabilis,
erectus, glaber. Cortex cinereus in Epidermide, interne al-
bido flavefcens, tenax et ex fibris lentis confectus. Ramuli
alterni teretes. ,

Folia fab-alterna. Foliola 5—10 jugata impari-pinnata, op-
pofita, oblonga, obtufe-acuminata, glabra, integerrima, ve-
nofa, breviter petiolata. Petiolus communis fubtus nudus.
Stipule laterales parvz, lanceolate, erecte, deciduz.

Inflorefcentia cymofa. Pedunculi folitarii, teretes, plerumque
nudi, in plurimos ramulos divifi.

Fros MascuLluvus.

Cal. Perianthium, inferum, minimum, ex fquamulis quatuor
compofitum. Fodiolis ovatis perfiftentibus.

Cor. Petala 4, oblonga, obtufa, zqualia, feflilia, fuberecta.
Necarium ex {quamis 4 ovatis, villofis, bafi filamentorum
interiori infertis.

Stam. filamenta 4, 5, 6, filiformia, fubereéta, equalia, corolla lon-

giora, receptaculo inferta. -dnthere fimplices ereCte.

Fros HERMAPHRODITUs in diverfa Arbore.

Cal. et Cor. ut in mare.

Stam. ut in mare, fed filamenta corollam vix fuperant.

Pift. Receptaculum carnofum, orbiculatum, elevatum, germine
latius. Germen fubovatum, ex duobus, tribus, raro qua-
tuor compofitum, leviter coherentibus. Styli craffiufculi,
erecti. Stigmata 2, 3, 4, fimplicia, declinata.

Per. Drupz 2, 3, 4, globofe, laterales, diftantes, nigerrimz, ni-
tentes, receptaculo infertz.

Sem. Solitaria globofa, unilocularia, riauco fragili tecta.

Vou. III. Dd E X-

‘210

FiG: ts

. A male flower complete, and of the natural fize. |
. The fame magnified.

. The ftamina in their natural fituation magnified, and

. A fingle ftamen magnified.

. A petal magnified.

. The fame of a natural fize.

. A hermaphrodite flower of the natural fize.
. The fame magnified.

. The piftillum magnified with the fquamz of the aa .

. The three drupe or ripe fruit, of their natural fize and

. The receptacle of its ufual fize.
aes
14. A tranfverfe fection of the fruit.

An ACCOUNT of the | -

EXPLANATION OF PLATE I.

reprefents a branch of the male tree in flower, rather ©
under the natural fize.

in the receptacle fomewhat deprefled.

the three germina, ftyli and ftigmata, in their natural
fituation.

fituation.

One of the drupe of ditto.

CINCHONA BRACHYCARPA. es

An Account of the CINCHONA BRACHYCARPA, @ new Species of
Fefuit’ s Bark, growing in Famaica.

Turis tree was firft difcovered in November 1784, on the north-
eaft fide of the hill that overlooks the works of Mountain Spring
eftate, in the parifh of Weftmoreland, and afterwards on fome
of the mountains near the Moreland efiates in the fame parith.
As it has hitherto been unknown to naturalifts, I purpofe to give
a botanical account of it, and afterwards its qualities and me-
dical effets. The better to illuftrate my meaning, I fent a
drawing of this new plant *, with the fruCtification, to my
late excellent friend Dr Hope, who wrote me he would lay my
paper before the Royal Society of Edinburgh. His death hap-
pened foon after, and prevented his intentions.

PENTANDRIA MoNoGYNIA.

Cal. Perianthium monophyllum, fuperum, campanulatum, par-
vum, 5 dentatum, perfiftens, dentibus acutis, erectis.

Cor. Monopetala, infundibuliformis. Tudws cylindraceus lon-
giffimus. Laciniis, angufto oblongis, patente revolutis.

_ Stam. Filamenta 5, interdum fex, filiformia, tubo RON in
fauce tubiinferta. Anthere lineares erette.

Pif, Germen ovatum, inferum. Stylus filiformis longitudine

ftaminum. Stigma craffiufculum ovatum fimplex.

Per. Capfula oblongo-ovata magna, calyce coronata, bipartibilis,
dehifcens in duas partes interius dehifcentes, diflepi-
mento parallelo.

Did 2 Semina

* The drawing alluded to cannot now be found. The figure annexed was taken from
a dried {pecimen in the Herbarium of Dr Waicut, who faw the plant, in full flower
and fruit, in 1785. Vid. Pl. II..

ay4 An ACCOUNTS of the

Semina plurima, parva, comprefla, marginata.

Arbor erecta 20 pedes alta, ramis patentibus. Cortex fufca-.
cinereus, fapore primo dulci, mox amarefcente.’

Folia oppofita, oblongo ovata, integerrima, glabra, fubtus venofa,
petiolata. Petioli breves, fupra fulcati. Stzpul@ laterales,
ovato-lanceolatz, integrx, caulem aréte amplexantes.

Inflorefcentia paniculato-corymbofa, terminalis. Pedunculus ple-

rumque brachiato-triternatus, teres, nudus. Corolla glabra,
palide rubra vel carnea, tres circiter polices longa.

I uave only met with this. tree in three places; in the in-
land, woody and mountainous parts of Weftmoreland and Ha-
nover parifhes. It grew on rocky ground, with a brick
mould, and affecting a northern afpect. The talleft I ever faw
was about thirty feet high, and 7 or 8 inches in diameter.
- The branches are few and fpreading. The eaves ftand in pairs ;
they are f{mooth and fhining ; they are very like thofe of the
Portlandia grandiflora. The flowers grow in pretty large clu-
fters, on the extremities of the branches ; and have nearly the
beauty and appearance of the common honey-/uckle, but are ra-
ther larger.

Tue /eed-pod is larger than any other of this genus. It is
oval, adorned with the calyx, of a firm confiftence, fomewhat
ftriated, and black-coloured ; when ripe, it fplits in two, and
difcharges a number of fmall, flat, brown feeds, with a mem-
brane nearly round the edges. :

Tue trunk and branches are of a brownifh gray colour,
with a few fuperficial furrows, and crofs cracks like the Peru-
vian bark. The bark of the trunk is pretty thick, and when
wounded, exfudes a fmall quantity of a milky juice. The
bark, when dried, is of a purplifh brown colour on the infide.
It is fibrous, and more difficult to pulverife than the Jefuit’s
bark in ufe. The powder is of a purplifh gray colour, and

taftes fweet, then bitter and aftringent.
~No

rd

CINCHONA BRACHYCARPA. 213

No opportunity ought to be omitted that can in any way
make us more acquainted with this valuable genus Cinchona,
the falutary effects of which give a fecurity and comfort to the
lives of thofe, in warm and unhealthy climates, beyond any
other medicine we know of. ‘This {pecies might be ufed as a
fubftitute to the Peruvian bark; but it is to be regreted, that
the tree is fcarce and finall, and that evouey of it cannot be
had, at leaft in thefe parts *

I po not pretend to te up this new bark as fuperior, or
even equal to the Peruvian. I have given it in the {lighter
cafes of intermitting and remitting fevers, with good effect;
and in a few inftances, it produced a cure, where the patients
had taken the common and red bark to no purpofe.

To people afflicted with intermittents, I gave of the pow-
der from twelve grains to thirty every hour, or every two hours
in the abfence of fever. By this means, a {top was put to the
fever, and the patients recovered. I have alfo adminiftered
this new bark in dyfpepfia, both in powder and infufion. It
fat eafy on the ftomach, promoted appetite, and was eafy to
take. I had fhewn this fpecies of Cinchona to my good friend
Dr Wricut, before he left the ifland, and gave him a little of
the bark. He gave it in powder toa patient, but found it
emetic, which could only happen from fome peculiarity in the
_conftitution f. In his letter to me, he intimates, that proba--
bly the fame thing would happen, with every other of this ge-
nus, if given before it was completely dried.

of

* This lofs may be compenfated by the abundance of the Cinchona Caribza feu Ja-
maicenfis, def{cribed by Dr Warcur in the 57th vol. of Phil. Tranf. and which, we are
affured, has been found to anf{wer all the purpofes of the Cinchona Officinalis.

+ See Dr Watcurt’s Account of the Medicinal Plants growing in Jamaica, London
Medical Journal, part iii. for 1787.

1g An ACCOUNT, &c.

Of the Rep Peruvian Bark.

Tue red bark, when genuine, and given brifkly in pretty
large dofes, will, in particular cafes, occafion a degree of anxiety,
depreflion, giddinefs and faintnefs, that are alarming to the pa-
tient and his friends, and perhaps, if not timely attended to,
might be of ferious confequence. This only happens in cer-
tain conftitutions, and in weakly Tae or thofe rendered fo
by difeafe.

Tuis effect of the red bark; fo af as | know, has not been
taken notice of by any writer, and when it occurs in private
tice, is either not attended to, or imputed to fome other caufe.
The following extract of a letter from JAMEs GrauHam, Efq;
a worthy and refpectable gentleman of this ifland, places this
circumftance in a ftrong light.

Mr Grauam had been afflicted with a fever and ague for re
ral months, and having confulted an eminent Phyfician here, had ©
the red bark prefcribed him, which he was to take in dozes of
thirty grains each. “ On taking the firft,’’ fays he,‘ I inftantly
perceived an unufual pungency on my tongue. After the fifth,
I felt an anxiety about my breaft with faintifhnefs ; and had
hardly done fwallowing the fixth, when I was feized with
giddinefs, an univerfal tremor, and a profufe cold fweat. A
- little wine, which was given me in this fituation, relieved me
confiderably. In about an hour, all the alarming fymptoms
difappeared, but I remained weak and languid. From that day,
however, the fever left me, and did not return till feveral months
after, when it was brought on by a cold, and was removed by
the bark adminiftered in the fame manner, and attended nearly
by the fame fymptoms as before.”

IXoe

Phy ClafeP2ns

QUASSTA EXCELSA

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7

IX. Description of a Human Mate Monster, illuftrated
by Tables, with Remarks. By ALEXANDER Monro, M.D.
F.R.S. Evin. Fellow of the Royal College of Phyficians,
Profeffor of Medicine, Anatomy and Surgery in the Univer/fity
of Edinburgh, Fellow of the Royal Academy of Surgery in
Paris, &c. &c.

[Read Nov. 6. 1792.]

HIS monfter, of which the mother was delivered by Mr

THOMAS ANDERSON, furgeon in Leith, after-the birth

of a complete child at the full time, had its proper membranes
and a placenta, with a fhort umbilical cord.

Tue. following parts were wanting in it; to wit, the bones
of the head; the brain, with the organs of fight, hearing,
fmell and tafte; the neck; about one half of the ribs; the
larynx, trachea and lungs; the heart ; the pharynx, cefophagus
and ftomach, with all the {mall inteftines, except the end of
the ilium ; the anus; the liver, fpleen, pancreas and omenta ;
the renal glands; terminations of the ureters; the middle part
of the urethra; the right tefticle; both arms ; both patelle ; ;
with feveral of the bones of the feet and toes.

A ROUND opening (fee fig. 1. and 2.) which led to a thimble-
like cavity, fhut at its bottom, had fome diftant refemblance to
_ the mouth.

THE

a6 Gin ' DESCRIPTION of a

TuE foft parts of the trunk were fupported by fixteen ver-
tebre, fix ribs, an os facrum, and two offa innominata. The
legs had each an os femoris, tibia and fibula, with an imperfect
number of the bones of the feet. See fig: 2. X. and fig. 4. 1. i
to 16217;

THE umbilical cord was conneéted at nearly the ufual height
above the offa pubis. See fig. 1. E.

THE penis, covered with a large preputium, had the ufual fi-
tuation and ftructure. See fig. 1. F.

‘THE lower part of the trunk contained an inteftinal tube,
fhut at its beginning, and compofed of an upper part, four
inches long, refembling the end of the ilium ; for it terminated
in the fide of an inteftine, refembling the caput coli, with its
appendix vermiformis. From this place, to its lower end, the
great inteftine meafured thirteen inches; and the end of the
rectum, which was much contracted, terminated in the back
part of the bladder of urine, above its fphinéter. The re@um -
contained vifcid femipellucid mucus, but no black ftuff, like
the meconium. See fig. 2,.0.P.Q.R.S.T.U.V. and fig, 3.
O. P. |

In the mefentery and mefocolon, there were about a dozen”
conglobated lymphatic glands, of the ufual fhape, colour and
confiftence. See fig.2. From which it appeared, that the in-
te{tines were provided with lacteal veffels ; and we therefore
cannot doubt, that the other parts of the body were furnifhed
with lymphatic veflels, or that there was an abforbent, as well
as circulating fyftem in this monfter.

At the upper part of the trunk, covered by the ribs, there
were two kidneys of a large fize, with a pelvis and ureter to
each. The right ureter was dilated to the fize of a goofe’s.
quill. The left one was fmall. Both were fhut at their under
ends, and had no communication with a fmall fac, which,
in fituation and ftructure, refembled the bladder of urine, and

had.

HUMAN MALE MONSTER, 2E7

had’ an urachus coming from it. See fig. 3. W. W. Y. and
hee Ws Ks XN.

THERE was only one.teftis, fituated in the ufual manner, on
the left fide. See fig. 2. Z.

Tue proftate gland furrounded, as ) ufial, the neck of the
bladder. See fig. 4. X.

Tue urethra, which was the common paflage for the fceces,
as well as for the feminal liquors, and that of the fac refembling
the vefica urinaria, was wanting from within an inch of the

vefica to within an inch of the extremity of the penis. See
. fig. 4. V. Y. and fig. 3. F. G. |
_ Tue fpinal marrow was of a conical fhape, with the top or
{mall part of the cone at its upper end, and at its lower end it
formed a cauda equina. From its two ends and fides, it fent
off eighteen pairs of nerves; which, at their ° ‘in and in
their progrefs, were nearly as large as they are in a‘perfect foe-
tus, or where the brain and cerebellum are connected with the
fpinal marrow. See fig. 4. 1.&c. to 16. 2.7.

Tue umbilical cord was nearly proportioned to the balk of
the monfter; and, at the umbilicus, confifted of one vein and
two arteries, within which I found red blood. The vein was
more capacious than both arteries conjoined ; and, as foon as it
' entered the abdomen, was divided into various branches, which
were difperfed upon all parts of the body. mee fig. aura,'b, c,
dy 6, Fx 25: fig..2.b, ty fig..4. jb, it.

VESSELS, every. where, accompanied. the Ba daches of Pe
umbilical vein, correfponding with them in fize, as well as fi-
tuation ; and, joining together, formed trunks, from which, at
the fides of the pelvis, two veffels were continued, one of them
on each fide of the vefica urinaria and‘urachus, to the umbili-
cus, which they perforated, and then went, along the umbi-
lical cord, towards the placenta, refembling the umbilical arte-
_ Ties. See fig. 3. 5, 7, &, /, m3 fig. 4. k, 1; fig. 2. b, 2.
pv Qu. TIT, f Ee UNLUCKILY

218 DESCRIPTION GY a

Un tuckizy, before I received the monfter from Mr An-

DERSON, he had entrufted the injection of its placenta to fome

perfon, who had managed it fo negligently, that nothing, he
told me, could be determined as to the diftribution or commu-
nication of the veflels of the placenta with each other, or with
thofe of the placenta of the complete child, or with thofe of the
mother.

EXPLANATION of the Ficurks, reprefenting the parts of a human
Male Monfter, of its real fixe.

Fic. I. reprefents the fore view of it entire.

A. B.C. A circular mafs, more than two inches thick, whith
fupplies the place of head, trunk and arms.

D. A thimble-like cavity, fomewhat refembling the mouth.

E. The umbilical cord.

F.G. The penis and preputium.

H.1I.K.L.M.N. The thighs, legs and feet.

Fic. II. In this figure, at the letters A. B.C. D.F.G.H.I.K.
L. M.N. the fame parts are reprefented as in fig.I. The ca-
vity of the abdomen being laid open eye a longitudinal in-
cifion, we perceive,

O.P. The {mall inteftine.

Q. The caput coli, and appendix vermiformis.

R.6: T. U. Vi''The ‘great’ inteftine.

W.X. The right and left ureters.

Y. The vefica urinaria and urachus.

Z. The

HUMAN MALE MONSTER _ 219

7. The left tefticle, with its fpermatic cord, cremafter mufcle
and vas deferens. .

h,i. Two large veffels, at the fides of the eee furnifhed by
the umbilical vein.

FE. a The two umbilical arteries.

Fic. IL.* In this figure, the conglobated, lymphatic or lacteal
glands of the mefentery are reprefented.

Fic. III. In this figure, the diftribution of the blood-veffels,
chiefly, is-reprefented. At the letters A.B. C. F.G. H. 1. K.
L.M.N. the fame parts are reprefented as in wt I. and
fig. 2.

O.P. fhew the inteftines pufhed behind the blood-veffels to the:
left fide.

W. W. The kidneys and ureters.

X. The ribs which covered the kidney, drawn towards the
right fide.

Y. The bladder of urine.

Gb 671d, 6 foo Lhe umbilical vein, divided into branches. for
the feveral parts of the body.

b, 7, 8, 1, Veffels accompanying the feveral branches of the um-
bilical vein.

m, Two veffels refembling the umbilical arteries.

n,n, The fciatic nerves.

Fic. IV. In this figure, the fpinal marrow, and nerves con-
nected with it, are chiefly reprefented.

=A.B.C.H.I.K.L.M.N. reprefent the fame parts as the for-
mer figures.
V. reprefents a probe paffed from the rectum through the neck:
of the blacder into the urethra.
Y. A briftle paffed from the bladder into the urethra.
Ee2 S. The

220 DESCRIPTION of a-

S, The fpinal marrow.

KE. The cauda equina.

I. 2. 9c. to 16. Nerves fent off from the fpinal marrow in pairs.
17. The os facrum.

n,n, The {ciatic nerves.

REMARKS on /fuch Monsters.

MonsTErRs wanting the head, heart and lungs, and, in al-
moft every other refpect, agreeing with that above defcribed,
have been mentioned by authors, particularly by Mery and
WinsLow *, and the learned Dr ROEDERER f has given a full
defcription of a monfter, in which one fmall mufcular fac only
was found, inftead of a complete heart, communicating with ~
the continuation of one of two veins which were found in the
umbilical cord ; but the real courfe of the blood, or the caufes
of its motion, appear to have been mifapprehended by all thefe
authors.

Me_ry thinks the blood of sake foetus muft have been moved
by the motion of the heart of the mother, and confiders the
want of the heart in fuch monfters, as a {trong confirmation of
the opinion he entertained, that there is a circulation of the
blood carried on' between the mother and the foetus {.

As P
* Mem. de l’Acad. 1720 and 1740. $
+ Ad. Got. tiv. 1754+

{ Mery, Mem. de I|’Acad. des Scien. 1720. 1te Reflexion. ‘‘ Sa vie n’a pu avoir
pour principes que la refpiration et le mouvement circulaire du fang de fa mere.” And _
in the Hiftoire, ‘‘ Le defaut du coeur prouve que le fang qui a circulé dans ce foetus ne
recevoit pas fon impulfion que du coeur de mere.””?’ M. Mery a toujours foutenu la cir-
culation reciproque entre la mere et le foetus, et telle que le foetus eft toujours comme
un membre de la mere.

- HUMAN MALE MONSTER. 221

As Winstow had not found any red blood in the veffels of
the foetus, nor traced within it the branches of the umbilical
vein, but thofe only, as he fuppofed, of the veffel he called
aorta, and which he thought performed the office of an artery,
he is led to the fuppofition, that, inftead of a circulation, there
was only a fort of progreflion of the colourlefs blood, or lym-
phatic humour, to the capillary extremities of the arterial rami-
fications, and that it tranfuded, by little and little, and very
flowly, into the cellular texture of all the parts, and perhaps,
at laft, paffed through the pores of the fkin, in the form of mot-
{ture *.

Dr ROEDERER f not only applies the term of. vena cava to
the large vein with which the umbilical vein is joined to the
heart; but defcribes the cava as afcending from the abdomen to
the thorax [. In like manner, he not only applies the name

aorta

* Winstow, Mem. de l’Acad. des Scien. 1740.

P. 588. ‘‘ La veine ombilicale, s’étant écartée du cordon de fon entrée dans Je ventre,
yformoit un trone fort court, qui montoit tout droit et s’implantoit 4 la bafe du bouton
cutané, s’adoffant la avec le tronc d’un autre vaifleau de pareille grofleur, qui fortoit de la
méme bafe, et qui etant d’abord courbé vers en bas, defcendoit derriere les paquets des
inteftins, & peu prés comme le tronc de la portion inferieure de l’aorte, et fe diftribuoit

_ evfuite en plufieurs branches, de la maniere que je dirai ci aprés.””

P. 590. “‘ On ne voyoit pas une goutte, ni aucune apparence de fang rouge dans toute
Vetendue du corps de cet enfant ; ni aucun veftige de vaiffeaux veineux.”’

P. 600. ‘‘ Hors la petite portion de la veine umbilicale aprés fon entrée par le nom-
bril, je n’ai trouvé, dans tout le corps de cette enfant, aucun vaiffeaux veineux, ni le
moindre veftige foit de tronc, foit des ramifications de veines,”’

P. 604. ‘‘Mais 4 ’egard de la circulation intrinfeque dans les parties mémes de ce demi-
corps, l’abfence ou la privation totale des vaiffeaux veineux m’a fait conjecturer, qu’au
lieu de circulation proprement dite, il n’y a eu qu’une efpece de progreffion ou trufion juf-
qu’aux extremités capillaires de toutes les ramifications arterielles, et que 1a ce fang lym-
phatique tranfudoit, peu a peu, et trés lentement dans le tiffu cellulaire de toutes les par-
ties. Et, peutétre, paffoit par les pores externes de la peau, en maniere de moi-
teur. Je n’avance tout ceci que comme des pures conjectures,” &c. &c.

+ Com. Soc. R. Sc. Gotting. tom. iv. com. 4.

, As er , : ;
ft P. 10g. “ Duplicem autem umbilicalis funis venam largitur ; altera minor, cum
vena cava, ex abdomine afcendente confluit.’’

222 DESCRIPTION of a

aorta to the veflel which accompanies the continuation of the
umbilical veins ; but {peaks of his aorta as afcending from the
thorax to the head *, and fending off the fubclavian and the
carotid arteries ; and remarks, that canals proper to the latter
were wanting f. And he. obferves, that the aorta, after de-
fcending, as ufual, between the crura of the diaphragm, gave
off the mefenteric, renal, lumbar and iliac arteries; and that
the left iliac artery fent off an umbilical artery ; and concludes
his defcription in the following words: “ Ita, quidem, fi arte-
‘“* riz umbilicalis dextre, arterieque celiace defe€tus——ex-
“ cipiatur, vix ab ufitata fabrica aberrans arteria aorta in abdo-
“ mine diftribuitur.’’ ) .
AFTER an elaborate defcription of the feveral parts of the

monfter; Dr RoEDERER propofes the caufe of the motion of

tts humours, in the following words:

-P.189. “ Morus qui—humores agitat, caufa indagatur.
“ Aft ahiquis, lentus licet, foetus parafitici humores motus.
“ agitavit. A corde, fueto motore, repeti ifte motus nequit, ne-
“que multum auxilii propulfus in uterum maternum fanguis:
“ ferre poteft. Prater vero iftum, levem, debilemque.

n~

Oui

* P. ran. “ Arteria magna, quam aortam yocant, ex abdomine in thoracem afcendit..
In thorace eandem pene directionem fervans, nullogue cum.corde canali confluens, fola et.
a corde diftincta, iter fuum abfolvit. Nullus proinde ex aorta arcus: formari poteft, fed.

laterales rami ex.recto. aorte trunco emittuntur. Sunt ifti rami qui defcripti fequun-

tur.
ly regione cofte primz leviffime defcendentes arteriz fubclavyiw nafcuntur ; ex quibus,
viciffim triplex alia ramorum fpecies oritur, quarum primus ad cervicem, &c. Porro.
truncus aorte per femipollicem poftquam progreffus eft in duos ramos dividitur, duas.
nempe arterias carotides, que ad altitudinem laryngis fine infigniori ramo. afcendunt,
Afcendit, autem, carotis dextra, &c. Ad latus tandem laryngis canalis commu-

nis 19 fex omnino ramos dividitur.”’

+ P. 143. ‘* Canalis pro arteria carotide deeft. Carotis per amplum foramen Jace--

rum ad cerebrum tendit.’’

‘ Ipfa. vaforum attio, five contrahendo agat, five attrahendo,.

HUMAN MALE MONSTER. 22:3

** vi illa capillaribus tubis familiari, precipuum humoribus
“‘ motum impertiri debet.——Accedant forfan et aliz in foetu
“© noftro caufee incogmite, ipfa fortafle a colore excitata fluido~
“ rum agitatio, aliaque.”’

Bur as to the direction in which he fuppofed the humour to
be moved, he fays nothing, and therefore leaves us to judge of
his opinion, from the foregoing defcription of the blood-vef-
fels.

To the opinions of all thefe authors, when fully confidered,
we fhall find infuperable objections.

Tuus, without faying in objection to that of Mery, that
it is fo far from being certain, that there is a circulation of red
blood between the mother and foetus, that the contrary opinion
is the moft probable, we cannot conceive, although the anafto-
mofes of the uterine with the placentary veflels were proved,
that the mere impulfe of the blood in. the minute arteries
fhould have carried the blood, not only into the trunks, but
through all the capillary branches of the veffels of the foetus,
and again back from thefe to the placenta, and from its umbi-
lical arteries into the umbilical veins and veins of the uterus.

Tue opinion of WINsLow is far more unfatisfaCtory than
than of Mery. In the firft place, it cannot be applied to the
monfter defcribed by Mery, or to that before us, where there
were two fets of veffels.. In the next place, WinsLtow was fo
far from tracing diftin@lly the joining of the umbilical vein
with the veffel he calls aorta, that he defcribes it as merely
s’adoffant with the trunk of the aorta *.

3. ALTHOUGH he repeatedly affirms, that there were no
_ venous veffels ‘in any part of the body of the monfter, yet his
defcription of the veffels of the kidney will not, when confi-
dered, be found to correfpond with his general affertion; for
he defcribes a veflel which indeed he calls arterious, but which
| began

* See p. 588. of Mem. de l’Acad. or Note, p. 221.

224 DESCRIPTION of a

began on the fore-part of the belly above the navel, at the place
where the fmall portion of the umbilical vein terminated in
the cavity of the cutaneous button, from which various
branches were fent into the kidney at its convex part, and from
its concave part, different arteries, he fays, came out in an ex-
traordinary manner *.

Upon the whole, as the umbilical cord is not faid to have
been uncommon in fize or ftructure; as there were two forts
of veffels connected with the kidney ; as it is fo improbable, as
to be incredible, that the foetus received arteries without corre-
{ponding veins, or that there was merely a protrufion of the

humours, and exudation of them,.without circulation, I have

no doubt that Winstow, efpecially as he did not inje&t the

veffels of the umbilical cord, had miftaken the continuation of _

the umbilical veins, and the branches of the veflels he calls
aorta, for branches of the fame veflel; and as the monfter he
examined agreed very nearly, in all other ref{pects, with that I

have defcribed, I apprehend it muft have agreed likewife in-

having two kinds of blood-veflels or arterious and venous Ca-

4,

Tue learned Dr RoEDERER rejects the opinion of Mary,

that the blood of the foetus is circulated by the heart of the
mother, and fuppofes, that capillary attraction, heat, and fome
activity of the veffels, may contribute to its motion. But as
he applies the term aorta, not to the continuation of the umbi-
lical vein, but to the other principal veffel of the monfter, and

deferibes a

* P, 602. ‘“‘ Ce tronc arteriel qui étoit comme ela portion igfediaated de Papete de-
{cendante, au lieu de tenir la route naturelle en arriere le long des vertebres, il en étoi¢
ici trés eloigné. Il commencoit fur le devant du ventre au deffus du nombril, 4 Pen-
droit ou fe terminoit la petite portion de la veine ombilicale. I] jettoit des branches
dans la mafle du rein par.....-+ . fa convexité. Hi fortoit de la concavité plufieurs

artéres,

+

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HUMAN MALE MONSTER. 225

defcribes it as fending branches downwards from the abdomen
to the inferior extremities, and upwards from the thorax to the
head, and applies the name of carotid arteries to two of thefe
branches, with the additional remark, that the canales carotici
were wanting, it will, I apprehend, appear evident from thefe
circumftances, and from what.| am about to obferve in the
next fection, that he mifunderftood the direCtion in which 5
_ blood was moved and circulated.

Of the DireGion of the Blocd in this Monfter.

As there are two kinds of veflels in the umbilical cord, and
likewife within the body of this monfter, which we {hall call,
in the common ftyle, arterious and venous, we cannot doubt,
that thefe communicated with each other, and that the bleod
was conveyed by them in a circle.

To defcribe the circle more exa¢tly, we cannot doubt, that
the blood was conveyed from the placenta by the umbilical
vein into the body of the monftcr. We next found, that the
umbilical vein within the monfter was divided into various
branches, which could be traced to-all its parts, or that thefe
branches performed the office of arteries, or refembled the
~ vena porta hepatica. Contiguous to thele branches, we found,
every where, other veffels which formed a trunk or large veilel,
which, by its fituation, refembled our aorta. But we mutt
fuppofe, that thefe branches ferved the purpofe of receiving
the blood from the extremities of the branches of the umbilical
vein, or were in reality venous veflels. From the veflel re-
fembling the aorta in fituation, but very different in office, two
veflels were fent off, which ran at the fides of the bladder to
the umbilicus, and formed the arteries of the umbilical cord

and of the placenta, and, in the placenta, muft have terminated
Vou. III. Ff in

226 DESCRIPTION of a

in the minute beginnings of the umbilical vein, to coinplete
the circle in which the foetal blood was moved.

Tuus, we obferve the umbilical vein in the placenta and
umbilical cord performing the office of a vein, but its conti-
nuation within the body of the monfter, performing the office
of an artery. On the other hand, we find the veffel we have
called aorta, performing the office of a vein within the mon-
{ter, and that of an artery in the umbilical cord and pla-
centa.

Of the Caufes of the Motion of the Blood in this Monfter.

In the monfter examined by Winstow, which I have en-
deavoured to fhew agreed very nearly with that I have de-
{cribed, no red blood was found in any of the veffels ; and
therefore we muft conclude, that none of the red arteries of
the mother anaftomofed with the umbilical veins; and even
where there is the ordinary ftructure, it is fo far from being-
certain, that the veffels of the uterus, which convey red blood,
anaftomofe with thofe of the umbilical cord, that the contrary
is the moft probable opinion.

Ir is therefore very improbable, that the blood in the umbi-
lical vein was pufhed on by the heart of the mother.

FurTHER, though we were to admit, that the arteries of the _
mother anaftomofed with the umbilical veins, yet, as their com- _
munications muft be fuppofed very minute, and the momen-
tum of the blood in them very much broken, we cannot con- —
ceive, that it could have been fufficient to pufh the blood —
through the terminations of all the branches of the umbilical —
veins, in the feveral organs of its body, into the veffel we call —
aorta, and again from the aorta back to the placenta by the um- —
bilical arteries, and through the minute branches of thefe to .
the veins of the mother, and beginnings of the umbilical veins. a

HUMAN MALE MONSTER. 224

We therefore muft conclude, that the circulation of the

blood in the placenta and body of the monfter, was carried on
by a well regulated mufcular action of the blood-veffels. In
one of the worms, the echinus efculentus, I found in the me-
fentery, which is a principal part of it, two fuch large veffels.
without a heart, and which, we can fcarcely doubt, refembled
our aorta and cava, and circulated its fluid; and in fithes *,
the blood which paffes through the liver defcribes three circles,
and in all other parts of the fifh the blood defcribes two circles
before it returns to the heart; which motion of it we muft
fuppofe to be chiefly owing to the mufcular action of the
veflels, as the force of the heart appears to be as much fpent
in the gills of the fifh as in the lungs of a man.

From confidering the manner and caufe of the motion of the
blood in this monfter, and comparing with it the motion of
the blood in fifhes and in the fea-egg, we are, by analogy, led to
the following general concluftons:

I. THE arteries contribute much to the circulation of the
blood in our bodies.

2. Ir is probable that, in man, the veins likewife affift in cir-
eulation ; and, in particular, there can be no doubt, that the
vena portarum, by its action, contributes much to the motion
of the blood through our liver.

3. For the like reafons, we may conclude, that arterious
veffels, independent of the impulfe of the heart, may act in
~ fuch a manner, as to perform the fecretion of liquors, to nourith
the folids, and to add to their bulk; and particularly, that the
branches of the vena portarum change certain parts of the
blood into bile.

ae Remarks:
* See Monaro on Fithes, p. 64. Tab..xliii.. ih

228 DESCRIPTION f 4 G- Sa |

Remarks on the Nervous Syftem of this Monfter.

t. As the fpinal marrow, and pairs of nerves fent off from
it, had nearly the ufual fize and ftructure, although the brain,
cerebellum, and medulla oblongata, were entirely wanting, we
find reafon for calling in queftion the common doé¢trine of au-
thors, which teaches, that the fpinal marrow and nerves derive
their origin from the brain and cerebellum, and are dependent
upon it as much as the ducts of glands are spot the glands
which fend liquors into them.

2. FuRTHER, as the feveral parts of this monfter were fur-
nifhed with nerves, and as we have found, that its arteries and
veins, by a well-regulated, varied and complicated aétion, cir-
culated the blood, we mutt fuppofe, that their mufcular fibres
were actuated by thofe nerves. We therefore find in this mon-
fter, not only the exiftence and common appearance of the
{pinal marrow and nerves connected with it, although the brain
and cerebellum were wanting, but we have proof that thefe,
independent of the brain and cerebellum, may actuate the muf |
cular’ fibres in the veffels of an animal, or that nervous energy,
or fluid, as it is commonly called, is not derived from the brain
and cerebellum folely ; that is, we conclude, that the nerves, as
well as the brain and cerebellum, are capable of furnifhing
nervous energy ; and that there is no more reafon for believing,
that the nerves are derived from the brain, than that the brain ay
is derived from the nerves; or all the parts and branches of the

furnifhing nervous energy.

HUMAN MALE MONSTER. 229

Of the Duration of the Life of this Monfter.

As in man and fimilar animals, the direct or indirect influ-
ence of refpiration feems neceflary for the continuance of life,
and as the lungs were wanting in this monfter, we mutt fuppofe,
that it could have outlived the feparation from the mother for a
very fhort time only. But when we add to this, that, by the
ligature of the umbilical cord, a {top would be mechanically
put to the circulation of its blood, it is evident, that its life
muft have terminated with its delivery.

Of the Time at which this Monfter muft have acquired the Structure
which has been defcribed.

As this monfter was provided with a diftin@ placenta and
membranes, and its body furrounded with and proteéted by
the liquor amnii; as no veftige appeared of the brain, cere-
bellum, organs of the fenfes, or other parts of the head; as
nervous threads, proper to this monfter, afcended from the up-
per end of the fpinal marrow towards the upper parts of its
body ; as its fyftem of circulating veffels was complete without
a heart, and the manner of their branching different in many
refpects from the common {ftructure: it muft furely appear, to
an unprejudiced perfon, abfurd to fuppofe, with many eminent
authors, that fuch monfters, when firft produced, had the or-
dinary ftructure, and that this was afterwards altered by pref-
fure and other accidents.

Tue like obfervation may be extended to many other mon-
- {ters in my poffeffion, I believe I might fay to almoft all other
montters

€

230 DESCRIPTION, &e:

-monfters which have been defcribed ; particularly to two, of
which I publifhed a defcription, illuftrated with figures, in my _
work on the Nervous Syftem. In one of them, a human mon- _
fter, one heart fupplied two heads and two trunks. In the
other, a kitten, one heart, confifting of two auricles and two
ventricles, fent off from its left ventricle one aorta, which fup- |
plied one head and two bodies *. :

3 adie Xx.

* See Obfervations on the Nervous Syftem, Tab. viii. #* and Tab. xii.

r

MX. Experiments relating to ANIMAL ExecTricity. By
ALEXANDER Monro, M.D. F.R.S. Epin. Fellow of the
Royal College of Phyficians, Profeffor of Medicine, Anatomy
and Surgery in the Univer/fity of Edinburgh, Fellow of the
Royal Academy of Surgery in Paris, &c. &e.

[Read Dec. 3. 1792.]

N the 3d of November laft, Sir James Haru and Dr Roz -
THERFORD afked me to repeat with them fome experi-
ments on what has been called Animal Electricity, which were
firft performed by Dr Garvan, Profeflor of Anatomy at Bo-
logna, and of which an account had been communicated by
Mr Secuin of Paris to Dr Buack, in a letter dated’ Paris,
3d Augutt.

We accordingly, with the help of my affiftant Mr Frrz, re-
peated them in the following manner : ;

WE cut a living frog into two parts, a little above the lower _
end of the fpinal marrow. We then put the middle part of a
bit of tinfoil, about one-tenth of an inch in breadth, and two
inches long, under the beginning of one of the {eiatic nerves,
and then doubled the tinfoil over the nerve, that is, we in-.
cluded the nerve in the doubling of the tinfoil. We next
placed one half-crown filver piece between the table and loins
of the frog, and another between the table and its leg. We
then bended a piece of brafs-wire, about the fize of a common

ftocking-

232 EXPERIMENTS relating to

ftocking-wire, and after laying one end of it ‘upon the half-
crown piece which fupported the leg, we with the other end of
the wire preffed the doubled tinfoil againft the half-crown piece
which fupported the loins, and found, that inftantly convulfions
were produced in the mufcles of the thigh and leg.

WueENn the tinfoil was paffed around both {ciatic nerves,
both legs were convulfed, although the half crown piece was
placed under one of the legs only. Thefe experiments were

tried more than an hour after the fpinal marrow had been cut
acrofs, with the fame fuccefs.

Jw another frog, in which the fpinal marrow was not divided,
we found the fame means produce the fame e‘lects upon the
legs, but did not obferve, that the mufcles above the tinfoil
in the trunk or fore-legs were affected.

Wuewn the touches were quickly repeated, the motions feem-
ed to become, by degrees, lefs vigorous, but did not ceafe af-
ter repeating them often, even where the fpinal marrow had
been divided tranfverfely.

On the toth of November, I profecuted the fubject farther
by the following experiments : i

ExPERIMENT I.

Arrer cutting off the hind legs of a living frog, I laid bare
the upper part of its fpinal marrow, and furrounded it with tin-
foil ; and in another frog, after laying bare the brain, I thruft
into it a bit of tinfoil. | then placed one half crown piece be-
tween the table and the body of the frog, oppofite to the tin-
foil, and another half crown piece between the table and the
lower part of the trunk of the animal, and, on applying the

wire, as before, | found convulfions produced in the fore-legs — i
and body. Gold had nearly the fame effet as filver; but the
3 convulfions

17

ANIMAL ELECTRICITY. 233

ae were much lefs obfervable, when lead, iron or cop-.
per were fubftituted inftead of thefe.

ExPERIMENT MII.

I next tried all the above mentioned experiments with one
half-crown piece only, placed oppofite to the tinfoil; and on
preffing the tinfoil againft the filver-piece, by means of a brafs-
wire which [ held in my hand, I found, that the mufcles: were
convulfed exactly in the fame manner as where two: pieces. of
the filver were employed in the manner before mentioned.

ExPERIMENT JII.

I rounp likewife, that the experiment fucceeded equally well,
although the filver-piece did not touch the bedy of the: animal;
but was merely brought into contact with the tinfoil put around’
the nerve, by preffure with a brafs-wire held in the hand.

EXPERIMENT IV.

_ Arrer inclofing the upper part of the fciatic-nerve-in tinfoil,

I tied a linen-thread around it, where it is about to pafs. from:
the trunk into the thigh, fo tight as to deprive the mufcles of:
their power of acting by the ordinary exertions of the animal,
and the fkin and toe¢s of their feeling, yet when, with a brafs-
wire held in my hand, I prefled the tinfoil againft the filver-
piece, the mufcles of the limb. were violently convulfed.

Vo. Ill. Gg EXP B-

234. EXPERIMENTS relating ts

ExPERIMENT V.

igh
i

I pivipED tranfverfely all the parts of a frog at the pelvis,
then tied together the divided parts of one of the {ciatic nerves
with a linenthread. I afterwards paffed the tinfoil around the
nerve, at a confiderable diftance above the ligature, and found,
that when, with a brafs wire, I prefled the tinfoil againft a —
half. crown piece, laid on the table at a little diftance from the
frog, the mufcles of the leg were inftantly convulfed.

ExPERIMENT VI.

Wuen, after dividing both fciatic nerves tranfverfely, I tied
the upper part of the right fciatic nerve, inclofed in the tinfoil,
tothe lower part of the left fciatic nerve, and then, with a
brafs wire, preffed the tinfoil againft a piece of filver, the
mufcles of the left leg were convulfed. - i

es

ExpERIMENT VII.

THE event was the fame when the divided parts of the
Merves were crofled over each other, without being tied toge- |

ExPERIMENT VIII. a

THE event was the fame, when the animal, with the metals,. =
were placed on the top of a large glafs-jar inverted, or on a plate;
of window-glals, fupported on two pieces of fealing-wax. =~
Expeeou

'

ARIMA D ELECTRIC ITCE.” 23

Cry

ExPERIMENT IX.

I pAssED the tinfoil around portions of the fkin, the mufcles,
the inteftines, and around the femoral blood-veffels of frogs,
without obferving convuliions produced, when the tinfoil was
applied to the filver by means of the brafs-wire.

ExPERIMENT X.

I Larp bare the fciatic nerve in the back part of the thigh of
a young rabbit, and inclofed it in tinfoil, and then applied the
tinfoil, by means of a brafs-wire, repeatedly to a half-crown
piece, laid on the table, and obferved convulfions of the leg
produced on each application. I after that cut tranfverfely the
lower part of the fpinal marrow, and then, with a brafs-wire
held in my hand, | prefled the tinfoil again to the filver, and
kept it applied for a few feconds, which occafioned convulfions
fo quickly repeated, that the leg became rigid. Immediately
thereafter, the mufcles were relaxed, and their contractile power
feemed to be exhaufted, as repeated applications of the tinfoil
to. the filver produced no farther motion of the limb.

REMARKS anp QUERTES.

From the accounts we have received of the experiments of
Dr Gatvani and Dr VALLI, it appears, that both thefe cele-
brated authors have fuppofed, ‘ That the circulation of the
*“ nervous fluid from the nerves to the mufcles, is nearly fimilar
“ to the circulation of artificial electricity.in the Leyden phial ;

Gg2 “ and

236° | EXPERIMENTS relating to a

‘and as the circulation of the Leyden phial fuppofes two con- ae
“* trary electricities, the one more condenfed or pofitive, and iad
‘‘ the other lefs fo or negative, fo Profeifor Gatvani concludes, |
“ that a fimilar diftinction takes place in the bodies of animals,
“ and that one of thefe eleCtricities, to wit, the condenfed or
“ pofitive, is feated in the nerves, and the other in the mufcles*.” +

Hence both of them have conceived it neceflary, to eftablifh
a communication between the nerve and the mufcle, by means
of metalline coating of the nerve and pieces of metal and me-
talline conductors ; or by coating the nerve with lead or tin,
then laying one piece of filver in contaét with the tin, and ano-
ther in contact with the mufcle; and, in the laft place, efta-
blithing 4 communication between the two pieces of metal, or
between the nerve and the mufcle, by means of a brafs- “wire,
which they term a conductor’.

But, inftead of this complex apparatus, I have found, from
the above experiments, that the mufcle is thrown into action, _
although no metal is dire@ly in contact with it, or when the —
communication between the metals and the mufcle is made by .
the nerve alone. :

Ir appears therefore, that Profeffor Guativknt and Dr VaAuur i)
have allowed preconceived theory to conduct their experiments, —
inftead of allowing their experiments to conduét their theory;
in confequence of which, feveral of their experiments have —
been performed with lefs accuracy than might have been ex- —
pected. Thus, they tell us, that if the conduétor is firft applied or
to the mufcle, the convulfions are f{tronger than when it is
firft applied to the nerve; that the {hocks are ftronger when the
feet communicated with the earth, €%c. whereas the application
of the conductor to the mufcles, or = the feet to the earth, are
quite out of the queftion. a

2. We
* See Medical Facts and Obfervations, Lond. 1792. p. 187, 188.
+ Ditto, p- 187. IQ. 21

ANIMAL ELECTRICITN 237

2. We have found, that when a piece of filver is brought in
conta with the tinfoil coating of a nerve, the mufcles in which
that nerve terminates, are thrown into ation, although the ,
nerve has been furrounded with a tight ligature between the
coating and the mufcle, or even although it has been divided
by atranfverfe incifion, provided the divided parts are again
brought into contact, or tied together by a thread.

3. WHEN we tie the coated nerve, after it is cut tranfverfely,
to another nerve which has been cut tranfverfely, we have
found, that the mufcles fupplied by the latter are thrown into
action.

4. ArTer the fpinal marrow and hile body of the frog:
were divided tranfverfely about the middle of the back, and
the tin coating and filver were applied to the fciatic nerve,
I did not obferve, that the mufcles at the loins and pelvis were
thrown into action, or the effet produced by the metals did
not influence mufcles fupplied by branches of nerves fent
off from the fpinal marrow or fciatic nerves above the coat-
ing.

It appears, that the nerve of a living animal, aheothick entire,
or cut and rejoined, conducts that matter by which the mufcle
is influenced more readily than the fkin, the flefh or the blood-
veflels do.

5. ALTHOUGH, on repeating Dr GALVANI’s experiments, it
fhould be proved, that electrical matter, drawn from a cloud or
excited by the common machinery, and conduéted to a nerve,
and that matter, which is put in motion by the application of
certain metals to each other and to a nerve, produce fimilar
motions in the mufcles in which the nerve terminates, we are
not at liberty to take for granted, as GAnvani and VALtt
feem to have done, that the ele¢trical matter and this matter
are the fame, as the nerves may be affected by ftimuli of dif-
ferent kinds.

I 6. As

238 EXPERIMENTS relating i

| 6. As an animal does not feel nor ad by the medium of _
a nerve which has been divided tran{verfely, although its” 7%
divided parts are placed contiguous, or tied together; as the
mufcles fupplied by nerves above the place coated are not

thrown into action; the above experiments, or thofe of GaL-
-VANI and VALut, inftead of proving, as they have fuppofed,-
that the matter which is'excited is ele¢trical, and the fluid of

the nerves the fame with it, appear to fhow, that the electrical

fluid, or matter put in motion by the different metals, is quite

different in its nature from the nervous fluid, as the courfe of

the nervous fluid, but not that of the electrical, can be inter-

cepted by ligature or incifion of the nerve.

7. As the action of the mufcles, in the above experiments, is —
not produced, nor even increafed, by conne¢ting the coating of
the nerve with the mufcle by means of a wire, there is no
foundation for the opinion of Gatvani and Vatu, that the

-- nerve is electrified plus; and the mufcle minus, or that the e- —
lectricity of the one is pofitive, and that of the other ne- |
gative.

_ 8. We feem therefore to be led to the conclufion, that the
matter or fluid which is excited or put in motion by the ap-
plication of the different metals to each other, and to the nerve, ;
ferves merely as a powerful ftimulus to that energy or fluid
which is lodged in the nerves. ; oe

To fupport this way of reafoning, we may obferve, that in ei
a warm-blooded animal, the rabbit, although convulfions were
repeated for a confiderable length of time when the nerve was
entire, yet, after dividing the nerve and intercepting the fur- i
ther fupply of nervous energy from the brain, the action of .
the mufcles ceafed in a few feconds, by keeping the two metals __
contiguous; which is readily explained on the fuppofition, that
the nervous energy or fluid, lodged in the nerve beyond the —

3 place |

~ ANIMAL ELECTRICITY. 239

place of the: incifion, was exhaufted; and Dr Vatur himfelf,
by obferving, that, after the electricity, as he calls it, of a
limb is exhaufted, if the coating of a nerve be moved higher
up, the action of the mufcles may be renewed *, furnifhes a
fa&t which, I apprehend, may be explained on the fame prin-
ciple.

XI.

* Medical Fa¢ts and Obfervations, Art. xx. p. 218,

?

XI. An Account of repeated Shocks of Eartuquakes felt at
ComrRiE in PERTHSHIRE, im a Letter to the Reverend —
Mr Finuarson, F.R.S. Evin. from Mr Ratpu Tartor.
Communicated by Mr FINLAYSON. ‘

[Read April 5. 1790, and Feb. 4. 1793.]

DEAR SiR, Ochtertyre, Fan. 19. 1790.

HE earthquakes which have lately taken place at Comrie* me
and its neighbourhood, are certainly very deferving of
attention. I fhall therefore cheerfully comply with your re- —

| queft, and give you as particular a defcription as I can of fuch

of them as have been moft remarkable. To give a particular
account of all the noifes or concuffions which, during the laft —
half-year, have been heard or felt at Comrie, and within a fhort
diftance to the north, eaft and weft of that village, is beyond
my power, and would indeed be of little ufe. With regard to.
thefe fmall concuflions, it will be fufficient to fay, that many
of them have fometimes been obferved to fucceed one another
in the fpace of a few hours; that they take place in all kinds
of weather ; they are thought by fome people to proceed —

from —

* Comrie is a village about twenty-two miles weft of Perth, fituated in the valley of
Strath-Earn, and on the north fide of the river.Earn, about four miles below the place
where it iffues from the Jake. The remains of a Roman camp on the oppofite fide of the
river, have made the name of this village very well known to Scottifh antiquaries.

ACCOUNT of EARTHQUAKES, &. — 24

from N. W. to S. E. and by others from N.E. to S. W. ; that
they have not been obferved to affect the barometer ; that they
do not extend in any direction above three or four miles from
Comrie; and that towards the fouth they are bounded by the
Earn, which is in the immediate vicinity of the village. The
fame perfon, though bettowing the minuteft attention, is often
uncertain whether they proceed from the earth or from the air,
fometimes believing them to come from the one, and fometimes
from the other; neither do all agree with refpedct to the feat of
any one of them.

ArTeR the ftricteft enquiry, I find it impoflible to determine
with accuracy the date of any of the concuffions which took
place before the 2d of September laft. Some people in the
neighbourhood of Killin affert pofitively, that they heard un-
ufual rumbling noifes in the month of May; but the impref-
fion which thefe noifes made was fo faint, that they would pro-
bably have been foon forgotten altogether, had they not been
faceeeded by concuffions of a lefs equivocal nature. Towards the

end of Auguft, two or three fhocks are faid to have been felt at
~ Dundurn, Dunira Lodge and Comrie; but I have not been able
to learn the precife day, or hour on which any of them happen-
ed. Thetruth is, the concuflions hitherto obferved were feeble,
and the minds of the people feem not to have been roufed to
particular attention till the 2d of September. About eleven
o’clock that evening, a {mart fhock was felt at Comrie. I my-
felf heard here , for the firft time, a rumbling noife, which I
took for that of a large table, dragged along the floor above
ftairs, and which I probably would never have thought of
again, unlefs my attention had been turned to it by the alarm.
which it had excited in the neighbourhood. Many other feeble
noifes or concuffions are faid to have been obferved in Glen-
Leadnach and about Comrie during the months of September
and Oétober. At that time, however, I confefs 1 was difpofed
to doubt the numerous reports of earthquakes with which the

Vou, IT. Hh

country
* Ochtertyre is about four miles E. N. E. from Comrie.

age ACCOUNT of EAR THQUAKES

country was filled, and to afcribe them to the workings of an
imagination, on which the alarm of the 2d of September ftill
continued to be impreffed. .

On the 5th of November, a concuffion took ‘place two or
three minutes before fix o’clock P. M. which was too violent to
be miftaken. Some compared the noife which accompanied. it
to that of heavy loaded waggons, dragged with great velocity

along a hard road or pavement, and thought, that it paffed under 48 "

their feet. To me it feemed as if an enormous weight had
fallen from the roof of the houfe, and rolled with impetuofity —
along the floor of the rooms above ; and it muft have made a
fimilar impreffion on the fervants, for fome of them inftantly
ran up ftairs to difcover what had happened. Others were fen-
fible of a tremulous motion in the earth, perceived the flames
of the candles to vibrate, and obferved the mirrors and kitchen-
utenfils placed along the walls to fhake and clatter. There is
alfo reafon to believe, that the waters in the Loch of Monivaird,
in the near neighbourhood of Ochtertyre, fuffered unufual agi- —
tation, as the wild fowl then upon the loch were heard to fcream —
and flutter. The noife on this occafion, as far as I can judge, did
not laft above ten or twelve feconds. During the courfe of the
day, the mercury in the barometer rofe and fell feveral times,
and at fix o’clock it ftood at 284 inches. The fky was then per-
feetly ferene, and hardly a breath of wind was to be felt; but
next morning, about fix o’clock, a violent tempeft rofe, which
raged without intermiffion for twenty-four hours.
At Glen-Leadnach, Comrie and Lawers, this concuffion was —
much more violent, and the noife that accompanied it much
more alarming. The inhabitants of thefe places, and of
Aberuchill and Dunira, declare, that they perceived diftin@ly
the earth heaving under them, and the motion communicated
to their chairs, and other furniture. They imagined that
the flates and ftones were tumbling from their houfes, and
many of them ran out in*the greateft trepidation, from the
notion,

In PERTHSHIRE. 243

notion, that the roofs were falling in. Even the domeftic animals
were alarmed, and contributed, by their howls and fcreams, to
increafe the terrors of the people. Though I have not been
able to difcover whether Loch Earn was ever agitated by thefe
concuffions, there is little doubt, that the 7zver near Comrie was
affected on this occafion, as two men then on its banks heard
the dafhing of its waters. ‘lhis great fhock was fucceeded by
a number of thofe flighter rumbling noifes which have been al-
ready mentioned. Not lefs than thirty of them were counted
in the {pace of two hours after it happened ; but they did not
extend above two miles to the eaft, north and weft of Comrie.
On the toth of November, at three o’clock P. M. we had
here another fhock of much the fame length, violence and ex-
tent, asthat on the 5th. The mercury in the barometer on this
day was more ftationary than on the former, and at the time of
the earthquake was 29 inches high. The weather was calm and
hazy. It was a market-day at Comrie; and the people, who
were aflembled from all parts of the country, felt as if the
mountains were to tumble inftantly upon their heads. The
hard-ware expofed for fale in the {hops and booths fhook and
clattered, and the horfes crowded together with figns of unufual
terror.

AzsouT one o'clock P. M. of the 29th December, we had
another pretty fmart fhock, during a very violent ftorm of wind
“and rain, which continued the whole day, and which was at its
height during the time of the earthquake. Indeed, as has been
remarked already, thefe concuffions feem to have no dependence
on the weather. According to the accounts of thofe who live
neareft to the centre of the phenomena, rumbling noifes, like
thofe above defcribed, may be heard in all ftates of the atmo-
fphere: }

Tuovcu I mention no more of thefe earthquakes, you are
not to conclude, that many more have not taken place, and fome
of them perhaps equally violent with thofe of the 5th and 1oth

Ei hia of

=

_ defcription of each of them.

2

244. ACCOUNT f EAR TH QUAKES

of November. Several thocks have happened during the ftill- a
nefs of the night, which, even at this diftance from Comrie,
where their centre feems to be, have been abundantly terrifying.
But the great refemblance, or rather the perfect fimilarity of
their effects, and of the impreffion they make on our minds,
renders it unneceflary for me to trouble you with a PaTCiCuiRg

Tue direction of all the noifes or coheiafous I have obferved,
great as well as fmall, appeared to be in the fame line from —
N. W. to S.E. Others defcribe them as fometimes proceeding _
in that direGtion, and fometimes as coming from N.E. to S. W.
I have not heard any other line of direction afcribed to them.

_ Upon the fulleft enquiry, | find, that thefe earthquakes have
been very limited in point of extent. The greater {hocks have
been feebly felt at Loch Earn head, about Killin, and at Ar-_
donich, on the fouthern bank of Loch Tay. They do not ap-
pear to have extended farther eaftward on that lake ; and, what
is more remarkable, they have not been felt in Glen- Almond, or
the fmall glen through which the military road from Crieff to
Tay-bridge pafles. The farmer at Auchnafree, (which lies at the
head of Glen-Almond, and is feparated from!Glen-Leadnach only
by the mountain Benechoni, over the northern fide of which his’ _
fhepherds daily travel), has aflured me, that neither he,nor any of
his people, have been at any time fenfibleof the leaft extraordinary
noife or concuffion. Towards the eaft, the two firft great fhocks
extended to Monzie, Cultoquhey and Dollary, about feven miles

‘till farther, and was felt, though but faintly,at Ardoch and Drum-
mond Caftle towards the S.E. In the direction of the fouth, how-
ever, the banks of the Earn feem to be its general boundary, a
as the noife of the moft violent concuffions was heard but faintly __
at the manfe of Comrie, and along the /rath on the fouth i
fide of the river. The limits of the lefler concuffions, I
am confident, do not extend above three miles in any di-

In PERTHSAIRE. 245

rection from their centre. They are commonly obferved at
- Lawers on the eaft ; throughout the whole of Glen-Leadnach, at
Dunira, Dalchonzie and Aberuchill, on the north and weft ; and
do not reach fo far as the man/fe, which is about three quarters —
of a mile on the fouth of Comrie*.

I am, with great regard,
DEAR SIR,
Your’s moft fincerely,

RALPH TAYLOR.

, WAU oy s ae iis Ai! ORE Sas (aie Sai OB

Dudding fone Houfe, Fan. 24.1793.

TuHERE is no reafon to believe, that thefe phenomena are yet
come to an end. After temporary intermiilions, fometimes of
feveral months, they have returned, ever fince their firft ap-
“pearance in 1789, without any apparent difference in their
| | extent

* Tur tra& within which the concuffions defcribed in this letter appear to have been
confined, is a {pace of a reCtangular form, which extends from eaft to weft along the north
fide of the Earn about 22 miles in length, by a little more than five in breadth; reckon-
ing the utmoft length from about Monzie to the head of Loch Tay, and the breadth

- froma little fouth of the Earn nerthward to the ridge which feparates the branches of
that river from thofe of the Almond. The whole-of this trac is mountainous, except
toward the eafterm extremity, where it joins the low country, and on the banks of the
river Earn on the fouth. It is interfe¢ted by narrow glens or valleys, the moft confider-
able of which is Glen-Leadnach, where the centre of the concuflions feems to be placed.
The mineralogy of this part of the country has not hitherto been accurately examined ;
but it is known io general, that.the ftone is the. primary fchiftus, and in fome places
granite ; that no mineral veins, nor any hot fprings, have been found in it, and that no
volcanic appearances have been obferved. In the, vaileys, among the mountains, iron
ore, of the kind that is called bog ore, is faid to abound. Dr Horvon has remarked, that
the line which terminates this tract on the S. E. feems to be nearly the fame with that
where the primary ftrata fink under the furface, and are covered by the fecondary, or
horizontal ftrata. J. P.

246 ACCOUNT, &c.

extent or force. The rumbling noifes or flighter concuf-
fions, as ufual, are obferved at Comrie, in Glen-Leadnach,
and the places in their near neighbourhood ; the more violent
extend to much the fame diftance as formerly defcribed. Having
been only occafionally in that country fince February 1791, I
have not been able to afcertain dates. On the 2d of September —
1791, at five minutes paft five in the afternoon, a flight fhock
‘was felt at Ochtertyre. | The barometer was not in order, on
which account the weight of the atmofphere could not be afcer-_
tained. Its electrical ftate was tried by Saussure’s eleétro-
meter, but no indication of any thing uncommon was per-
ceived. Since that period, fhocks have been obferved at diffe-
rent times till within thefe few weeks patt.
From this account, it will be obferved, that all the greater —
fhocks have taken place in the feafon of autumn or the begin-
ning of winter ; that this has been now repeated for more than
four years ; and that thofe greater fhocks have been fucceeded
. at fhort intervals by rumbling noifes or more feeble concuffions.
It has alfo been remarked, that they have in general been pre-
ceded or followed by great rains or boifterous weather; but —
variations in the weather take place fo frequently in our cli-
mate at that feafon of the year, that the conneétion between
them and the phenomena above defcribed, is probably altoge-
ther accidental. ~ 4
. Riis

Ye
ra
eel
<7

- XII. 4 DescripTion of aa IMPROVED THERMOMETER. Comi- -
municated by DANIEL RUTHERFORD, M.D. ¥F.R.S. Epin.:
Profeffor of Medicine and Botany in the Umverfity of Edin-
burgh.

[Read April 5. 1790. ]

“THE following improvement on the conftruction of the

thermometer, by which it is fitted to mark the loweft or
the higheft point to which the fluid has attained in the abfence
of the obferver, is due to JOHN RUTHERFORD, M. D. of Middle
Balilifh. This gentleman communicated it to me fome time
ago, and accompanied the defcription with one of his thermo-_
meters. The contrivance is fo very fimple and,ingenious, that
it well deferves to be made public. I therefore, by permiffion
of the author, beg leave to lay an account of it before the
Royal Society.

1. Ir it be required, that the thermometer fhould mark the
loweft point to which the liquid has defcended within any given
time, a common fpirit of wine thermometer mutt be provided,
of a convenient fize, fuch as is reprefented by the figure A B *.
Into the tube is introduced a fmall conical piece of coloured
_ glafs or enamel, (C), with its point turned towards the bulb of
the thermometer. This piece is about } inch long, and of fuch
diameter at the bafe, that it may move freely within the tube,

yet
* See the figure, plate 4. at the end of No. XIII.

248 DESCRIPTION of an

yet nearly fill the caliber. It is to be allowed to move down- _

wards till it be fully immerfed in the fpirit. After this has

once been effected, it will be found, that it is not difpofed to i

part again from the fpirit ; but if the thermometer be held ver-
tically, with the bulb uppermoft, it will immediately defcend
to the extremity of the column. but no farther: There it refts;

and if by a diminution of heat the f{pirit contra, it is drawn
upwards at the extremity of the column, as this recedes towards
the bulb. Now, let the thermometer be fo difpofed, that its
{tem, inftead of being vertical fhall be horizontal, (and fuch is
the ordinary pofition of this thermometer), it may readily
be imagined, that, in this cafe, the conical piece fhall equally,

as before, follow any retra¢tion of the column; but fhould this — b ;

lengthen again, in confequence of an increafe of temperature,
the conical piece does not advance with it, but remaining fixed

at the loweft point to which the column had defcended, it allows i i

the liquor to pafs freely beyond it, as that again expands. Hence -

the point of the fcale at which the conical piece is found to reft,

denotes the loweft degree to which the liquor of the thermo-
meter has funk in the interval of the obfervations. To reétify
the inftrument for a frefh obfervation, nothing farther is requi-
fite than to elevate the bulb of the thermometer, in order that
the conical piece may fink, by its proper gravity, to the extre-
mity of the column.

2. Ir it be required, that the thermometer {Nowid mark the-
higheft point to which the fluid has afcended im any given

time, then a mercurial thermometer is to be employed, fuch as

is reprefented by DE; into the tube of which is introduced a

conical piece of ivory F, with its bafe turned towards the bulbs -

When fuch a thermometer is placed in a vertical fituation, —

the bit of ivory will fall down, and reft upon the furface of — Bh
the mercury in the tube; it will rife as the column is a .

lengthened, and defcend as this contracts. But if the ftem be - ¥ ¥
placed W i

IMPROVED THERMOMETER. 249

placed horizontally, though the ivory will be equally puthed
forwards by the mercury, while this is expanded by an increafe
of temperature, yet fhould the mercury again contract, the
ivory will not follow it, but remain ftationary, and confe-
quently the point at which it refts will mark the higheft degree
to which the thermometer had rifen. An inftrument of this
kind is re@tified by bringing the ftem into a vertical fituation
with the bulb undermoft, then cautioufly reftoring it to a hori-
zontal fituation.

Two thermometers fach a as thofe above defcribed, one filled
with fpirit of wine, and the other with mercury, may conve-
niently be difpofed upon one frame. If their bulbs be fituated
at the oppofite ends of the frame, or as reprefented by the fi-
gure, then both may be reCtified by the fame movement, and
we fhall have an opportunity of afcertaining, by the fituation
of the conical pieces in the different {ftems, both the higheft
and the loweft point which the fluids of the thermometers have
- reached during any interval of our obfervations. |

Vou. III. Ti XIII.

XIII. OpservaTions on the Muscies; and particularly on the

Effects of their Osuique Fisres. By ALEXANDER

Monro, M.D. F. R.S. Epin. Profeffor of Medicine, Ana-

tomy and Surgery in the Univerfity of Edinburgh, Fellow of

the Royal College of Phyficians in Edinburgh, and of the
Royal Academy of Surgery in Paris.

[Read Fan. 7. 1793+]

S it appeared to me, when I firft began, in 1759, to deliver

in this Univerfity a public courfe of lectures on Anatomy —

and Surgery, that the ftructure of the oblique mufcles had not

been fufficiently examined, nor even the number of them at-

tended to by authors, and that fome of their chief purpofes or

effets had been entirely overlooked by them, I endeavoured

then, and in every courfe of lectures fince that time, to direé&
very particularly the attention of f{tudents to thofe fubjects.

I BEGAN with obferving, as a material defe&t in the other-
wife very accurate and elegant tables of ALBINUs, as well as in
the former fyftems of VEsatius, Eusracuius, BipLoo and .
Couper, that the tendinous membranes or apaneurofes, with
which many mufcles, particularly of the extremities, are co-
vered, and with which the oblique mufcles are clofely conne@t-
ed, were not delineated, yet that the knowledge of thefe is not
only of ufe in the practice of furgery, but for underftanding
the action of the mufcles. .

OBSERVATIONS, &c. ast

I REMARKED, that although in fome parts of the body, ten-
dinous membranes, fuch as thofe between the cartilages of the
ribs, or the apaneurofes palmares, or fafcie late of the thighs,
ferved merely for the defence of the parts, or as fheaths to them,
as they were connected to them by the cellular fub{tance only,
yet, in general, they ferved, befides the mere purpofe of de-
fence, to furnifh a greater extent of furface for the attachment
of oblique flefhy fibres.

I sHEWED them, that wherever tendinous membranes run
longitudinally on the furfaces of mufcles, flefhy fibres, placed:
obliquely, were found ; that in many mufcles, as in the femi-
membranofus, or flexor pollicis longus, flefhy fibres paffed ob-
liquely from the inner part of the tendon on one fide, to the
inner part of the tendon on the other fide of the mufcle, or
fuch mufcles were femi-penniform, (See T. 1. fig. 1.); that in
other mufcles, as in the rectus extenfor cruris, or flexor pollicis
pedis longus, a third tendinous membrane was found. in the
middle of the mufcle, between which and the inner parts of
the tendons on the two fides of the mufcle, the flefhy fibres
paffed obliquely, and produced a complete penniform appear-
ance, (fee T. 1. fig. 2.); and fome mufcles, as the foleus, might
be called compound penniform, becaufe, on cutting them
lengthways, we difcovered feveral longitudinal tendinous mem-
branes, to both fides of which oblique flefhy fibres were con-
nected. See T. 1. fig. 3.

I ALLEGED, that the direction, length and number of fi-
bres in fuch mufcles had not been fufficiently attended to by
anatomifts or by furgeons; and that, in many inftances, the:
breadth of thefe mufcles had been miftaken for their length 3.
that in confequence of fuch inattention, they would find the
celebrated Louis * attempting to difcard the double incifion of
the foft parts in the amputation of the thigh, although, from.
the obliquity and fhortnefs of the mufcular fibres which cover.

[a2 | the:

* Acad. Roy. de Chirurg. T. 2. p. 357«

7 a OBSERVATIONS

the thigh-bone, this improvement of CHESELDEN is more ‘ef- ~
fential than in the amputation of the humerus, where the |
flefhy fibres, though oblique, are proportionally longer, and of
courfe their retraction greater.

Wuere the fibres of mufcles run obliquely, it is evident, |
and has been obferved by BoreEtius and others, that the fi- —
bres will be more numerous than if the fame fpace had been
covered with longitudinal fibres ; and although an oblique fi- —
bre will not raife a weight with the fame force as a ftraight |
fibre, yet the number of the fibres may be fo much increafed
by their obliquity, as to do more than compenfate for the lofs —
of force occafioned by the obliquity. Thus, let us fuppofe a
longitudinal mufcle to be five inches long, and one inch in
breadth, and let us fuppofe it to contain in its breadth four fi-
bres or ropes, each one-fourth of an inch in diameter, as in
T. 2. fig. 1. the force of this mufcle may be reprefented by the
number 4. |

Let us next fuppofe thefe ropes to be cut into pieces, each of
which is one inch and a quarter in length, as reprefented by
dotted tranfverfe lines A, B, C, we fhall, by doing fo, form 16 —
ropes or fibres. ;

Let us next fuppofe, that thefe ropes, feprefstitins mufcular ~
fibres, are laid obliquely, like the hypotenufes of right-angled
triangles, of which the bafes are equal to one inch, and the
height or perpendicular equal to three quarters of an inch, as
in T. 2. fig. 2. each fuch fibre will, as Borettus has demon-
ftrated, lofe two-fifths of its force. But as there are 16 fibres —
inftead of 4, their force will beas 16 multiplied by 3, to 5 mul- -
tiplied by 4, or as 48 to 20, or as 12 to 5. .

Burt that the mere increafe of the number of fibres, or force
of the mufcles, which alone has been obferved by authors, is
not the fole purpofe of nature, appears from this, that in fome
places, and particularly between the ribs, oblique fibres are em-
ployed, although it is evident, that a greater number of — ;

ftraight — ae

On the MUSCLES. 253

ftraight fibres, or of fibres perpendicular to the ribs, might
have been difpofed in the fame fpace.

Tue other purpofes of oblique mufcles, and which had not
been perceived by authors, are,

To perform much more extenfive motions with the fame de-
gree of fhortening of the flefhy fibres, than can be performed
by ftraight mufcles, or, with a lefs degree of fhortening of the
fibres, to perform motions of equal extent.

I SHALL now endeavour, in the firft place, to demonftrate,
that a pair of oblique mufcles, placed between the fame pa-
rallels with two ftraight mufcles, perform, with the fame pro-
portional contraétion, more ,extenfive motions than the ftraight
mufcles can do.

First, As one oblique mufcle, fo fituate, is longer than a
ftraight mufcle, if each be fhortened one third, or any other
proportional part, it is evident, that the place of the infertion
of the mufcle will move through a greater fpace, when the
oblique mufcle acts. Thus, in the annexed figure, (T. 2. fig. 3.)
if P, L reprefent two parallel lines,and A B reprefents an oblique
and AC a ftraight mufcle, it is plain, that when each is fhort-
ened one third, and that the place of the infertion is moved di-
reCtly towards the place of the origin of the mufcle, the mo-
tion occafioned by the oblique mufcle will be proportionally as
much greater than that produced by the ftraight mufcle, as
the hypotenufe, or line AB, is longer than the perpendicular
line AC,

Bur next, let us fuppofe, (fee T. 2. fig. 4.) that the point A
cannot be drawn dire¢tly towards the point D or E, on account
of the connections of the bones, fuch as the ribs, which the
parallel lines PA and DE reprefent; or fuppofe, that fuch bones,
when moving, remain parallel to each other; or let us fuppofe,
that two oblique mufcles balance each other, fo that their in-
fertions, inftead of being moved direCly towards their origins,

are moved in a diagonal line, between the two mufcles.
TuHUs,

pea) | OBSERVATIONS 7

_ Tuus, let PA and DE (T. 2. fig. 4.) be two parallel lines,
and let AB and AC reprefent two ftraight mufcles, and
AD and AE two oblique mufcles, it is plain, that when the
two ftraight mufcles have fhortened themfelves one third part
of their length, their infertion A willbe brought down to num-
ber 1. But when the oblique mufcles A D and AE, by acting
together, have brought the point A down to 1, and are in the
fituation of the dotted lines 1D and 1E, they cannot have loft
_more of their length than the length of the perpendicular Ar,
which is fhorter than the hypotenufe AJ, or lefs than the third
of the length of the oblique mufcle. In fad, they have loft
lefs of their length than Ar, becaufe the two fides Ar and 1E —
of the triangle ArE muft be longer than the third fide AE;
and therefore oblique mufcles can perform as great a degree of
motion as ftraight mufcles, without being fhortened in the fame _
proportion; or, which is the fame thing, if they continue to |

act till they are fhortened in the fame proportion, the place of
their infertion, A, will defcend farther, or through a larger
{pace.

I sHALL now proceed a ftep farther, and endeavour to de-
monftrate, that where two oblique mufcles balance each other,

the motion of their infertion is more extenfive than can be pro- — ae

duced by two ftraight mufcles of the fame length with the
oblique mufcles. ¥ |

Tuus, in T. 2. fig. 5. let AB and AC reprefent two frais a
mufcles, and AD and AE two oblique mufcles of the fame
length, and we fhall fuppofe the length of each mufcle tojcon-

fit of any given number of inches or parts, fuppofe five parts,
1, 2, 3, &c. or I, I, III, &c. and when in action to be capa-~
ble of fhortening itfelf one fifth part or two fifth parts of its __

leneth. Let the twocorrefponding numbers 1 and I, or 2 and
II, be joined by the ftraight lines 11, and 2 I], fo asto form
the ifofceles triangles A1 I, or A211. When the two ftraight

. mufcles —

On the MUSCLES. 258

mufcles have acted fully, or fhortened themfelves one-fifth of
their length, the point A will defcendtoz. But when thetwo
oblique mufcles have, by their action, brought the point A
down to 1, they have not loft one-fifth of their length; for
the dotted lines reprefenting them muft be longer than the
lines IE or ID, becaufe the angle rE being equal to the
two angles rI A and 1A I of the ifofceles triangle Ar I, mutt
be larger than a right angle, and therefore the fide 1E mutt
be longer than the fide 1 E; that is, the oblique mufcles, after «
bringing the point A down to 1, have not loft one-fifth of
their length ; or if they continue to adt till they have loft
one-fifth of their length, they will bring the point A lower
down than can be done by ftraight mufcles, fhortened in the
fame proportion.

To make this propofition fill plainer, if poffible, bate cal-
culation, I fhall fuppofe the oblique and _ftraight mufcles in
T. 2. fig. 6. to be each five parts or five inches in length
that the bafes of the triangles BD and CD meafure four
inches; and that the perpendiculars, or altitudes of the tri-
angles, meafure three inches; and let it be fuppofed, that
thefe mufcles, in action, can be fhortened one-fifth of their
length, the ftraight mufcles, on that fuppofition, can bring
A down to 1 only: But it is evident, that the oblique mufcles
will not be fhortened one-fifth of their length till the point
A has defcended to D, or to number 3; or the oblique muf
cles will, with the fame degree of contraction, move the point
A three times farther than can be done by ftraight mufcles cf
the fame length.

In the next place, we may eafily demonftrate, that the ex-
tent of the motion produced by the co-operation of oblique
mufcles, increafes with their greater degree of obliquity. —

Tuus, let us compare the extent of motion, produced by
the pair of oblique mufcles AD and AE, (T. 2, fig. 5.) with

that

256 OBSERVATIONS a

that of the ftill more oblique pair of mufcles reprefented in
the fame figure by the lines 1D and 1E. Let the mufcles oe
ADand AE be fuppofed to move the point Ato numberr, _
and let the mufcles 1 D and rE be fuppofed to move number 1
to number 2, or through a like fpace. It is evident, that in
the triangles 1 1 E and 211 E, the angles 11 Eand 2I1E are
equal; but as the angle 2E II is larger than the angle 1 EI,
the angle II 2 E muft be lefs than the angle 1 E. Hence, as
the fides of triangles are longer in proportion to the width of
the oppofite angles, the fide IE will be longer in proportion |
to 1 E, than the fide ILE is in proportion to 2E. The muf
cular fibres, therefore, AD and AE, in bringing the point A
down to number 1, will lofe more, in proportion of their _
length, than the more oblique fibres 1 D and 1 E will do in |
moving number 1 to number 2.

To prove this by calculation, let us fuppofe the mufcle to
be ftill reprefented ‘by the hypotenufe of a right angled tri-
angle, five inches in length, and capable of fhortening itfelf
one inch, and that one of the other fides meafures four inches,
and that the third fide meafures three inches. But let the fide _
3 form the bafis of the triangle, and the fide 4 its perpeaaay a
cular, as in T. 2. fig. 7. E. |

In this cafe, the fquare of the hypotenufe, when it has
fhortened itfelf one inch, will be 16, from which dedudting g, —
the fquare of the bafis, the number 7 remains for the fquare
of the perpendicular. But the fquare root of that number at
being more than 24, the oblique mufcles, fhortened one-fifth,
cannot bring the point A down 1} inch, orto B, or cannot —
move the point A half fo far as they were fhewn to do, when ‘
the obliquity was greater, by making the bafis 4 inches and
the altitude 3 inches. ae

Or let us, on the other hand, increafe the obliquity, as in ‘a
T.2. fig. 8. by fuppofing two rightangled triangles, fo con-

2 ftruted

On the MUSCLES. 257

ftruéted, as that their hypotenufes meafure 13 inches, their
bafes 12, and altitude 5 inches, and that the hypotenufes
reprefent two oblique ntufcles. It is plain, that when thefe have
fhortened themfelves one inch, or one thirteenth part of their
length, they will move the point A through a dpace of five
inches, or five times farther than ftraight mufcles of the fame
length, fhortened in the fame proportion, could do.

Hence, as the obliquity of an oblique mufcle is gradually
increafing during its action, its force is diminifhing ; while its
effe&, of producing extenfive motion, is increaling. Thus, a
mufcle, reprefenting the hypotenufe of a right-angled tri-
angle, whofe fides are to each other as the numbers 3, 4 and 5,
and the altitude 3, by fhortening itfelf half an inch, does not
move its infertion one full inch; but if it is fhortened another
half inch, its infertion is moved through a fpace of upwards
- of two inches more. When it begins to at, it has three-fifths
of the ftrength of a ftraight mufcle of the fame fize; but when
it acts again, after having moved its infertion the {pace of
an inch, it has two-fifths only of the ftrength of the ftraight
mufcle.

To illuftrate what I have been demonftrating, I ufed, after
diffeGing and demonftrating the re@ti mufcles of the abdomen,
to cut their ends off from the offa pubis, and to apply them to
the tops of the offa ilia, fo as to reprefent oblique mufcles ; and
from this I was led to make the remark, that if both the two
external oblique, or the two internal oblique mufcles, or all
thefe, acted at once, the obliquity of the one balancing the
obliquity of the other, the trunk of the body would be bended
ftraight forwards, and that flexion made by them might be
greater than that made by the recti mufcles, which, at firft
fight feemed to be more fuited to the purpofe.

In like manner, I ufed to take out feveral of the ribs, with
their intercoftal mufcles ; and after fhewing the two. layers of

VoL. III. Kio } thefe

258 OBSERVATIONS
thefe mufcles laid obliquely, and decuffating each other, I ufed —
to diffe&t fome portions of the two layers, in fuch a manner as
to reprefent oblique mufcles, with their origins at a diftance (
from each other, but their infertions meeting in a point, or
with their infertions, as well as their wong at a diftance from
each other.

In the back part of the Spine: I very particularly demon-
{trated the obliquity of many of the mufcles, fome of which
are called femifpinales, becaufe one end of them only is fixed
to the fpinal proceffes, and the fibres pafling obliquely, the
other end of them is fixed to the tranfverfe procefles, or other
parts of the neighbouring vertebrz.

In the extremities, I not only carefully demonftrated the
obliquity of the flefhy fibres, in the half and whole penniform
mufcles, but pointed out their conne€ion with their tendinous
aponeurofes, the different direction of the tendinous and flefhy
fibres, and the ufes of the aponeurofes and tendinous fheaths 3.

and that, by means of the fheaths, there was fo little difference g

between the length of the mufcles in the bended and extended
{tate of the member, that fhort flethy fibres, efpecially whem
placed obliquely, could produce a very extenfive motion.

Bur in treating of particular parts, [ dwelt chiefly on the
ftru@ure and effeGts of the intercoftal mufcles, as a variety of
opinions concerning their operation has, in the courfe of the — e
laft hundred years, been propofed, and as no author had ex- ,
plained the reafon of the obliquity of their fibres, nor of their
being difpofed in two layers of decuflating fibres. a

Tuart their ftructure might be fully underftood, I firft laid
bare the furface of the external intercoftal mufcles, and between

the next two ribs, I cut off the external intercoftals, to fhew the _

internal, as in T. 3. fig. 4. -
In another fpace, 1 fhewed a fmall bundle ‘of the cute
intercoftal, eeeeats a fimilar bundle of the internal inter-

coftal,.

On the MUSCLES. | 259

coftal, and forming a figure like the letter X, but in which the
{troke reprefenting the external mufcle is more oblique than the
other ; for the internal intercoftals are lefs oblique than the ex-
ternal. See T. 3. fig. 5.

TueEn I diffe@ted fmall bundles of the external and internal
intercoftals, with their origins at a diftance from each other,
but their infertions meeting in a point, in the rib above or in
the rib below, fo as to form triangles, of which the rib made
the bafe, (fee T. 3. fig. 6. and 7.); or I diffeCtted them with
their infertions, as well as their origins, at a diftance from each
Other, as in T. 3. fig. 8. 7

In the laft place, I demonftrated a part of the ftructure
which has not been fufficiently examined by authors ; to wit,
that the cartilages between the ribs and the fternum, with the
exception of the cartilage of the firft rib, are not fixed to the
fternum in the fame manner as to the ribs; for the rib, which
is hollowed, receives the cartilage, and is fo firmly united to it,
that in a recent fubject, they cannot be feparated without la-
cerating the cartilage; but the inner part of the cartilage is
tied by a capfular ligament to the edges of the pit in the fter-
num, and the concave part of the pit is connected by fine cel-
lular threads only to the end of the cartilage, fo that the carti-
lage and {ternum may, after cutting the capfular ligament, be
feparated from each other without tearing the cartilaginous fi-
bres. Hence, when the ribs are moved, the capfular ligament
is twifted, and the end of the cartilage rolls upon the fternum.
See T. 3. fig. 1, 2) 3. and 9.

AFTER fully explaining the ftru€ture, I endeavoured to
prove, as Dr Hater had done, but with fome additional ar-
guments, that both rows of intercoftal mufcles confpired to e-
levate the ribs, or that they were mufcles of infpiration ; and
that, when the intercoftal mufcles alone acted, and the ribs
were not forcibly kept down, they could have no other effect ;

Kk 2 and

260 OBSERVATIONS

and that all the ribs- in infpiration were moved upwards uni-
formly.

Tue chief circumftances which prove beyond a doubt, that —
the two rows of intercoftal mufcles confpire in elevating the
ribs, are,

1. TuaT the firft nib is fo much fixed at both its ends as
to ‘be almoft immoveable, and its cartilage, inftead of being
connected to the fternum by a capfular ligament, or articulated
with it in the fame manner as the cartilages of the other ribs,
grows as firmly to the fternum as to the rib. See T. 3.
fig. 9.

2. TuarT the fecond rib is more fixed than the third, and
the third more fixed than the fourth, and fo on downwards.

3. THarT as the ribs, from the firft rib downwards, grow
gradually longer, and defcribe portions of larger circles, we may
obferve, that in general, or when we examine a middle portion of
the intercoftal mufcles, or a portion half-way between the fternum
and vertebre, the infertion of the Iower end of the portion is
at a greater diftance from either end of the lower rib, or from
a ftraight line drawn between the two ends of that rib, than its
origin in the rib above is from the two ends of that rib, or from
a ftraight line drawn between them. Hence, whether we con-
fider the head of the rib, connected with the vertebre as its
centre of motion, or whether we confider the rib as moving
upon a ftraight line or axis drawn between its two ends, it fol-
lows, that a mufcle placed between two ribs acts with a longer
lever upon the under rib than upon the upper one, and there-
fore muft elevate the under rib. That the force of this argu-
ment might be more readily underftood, I have laid leaden
probes along each of the feven uppermoft ribs of an adult fub-
ject, from the vertebrz to the fternum, and have reprefented —
their lengths and curvatures in T. IV. The crooked continued —
lines reprefent the lengths and curvatures of the different ribs
and. their cartilages. The ftraight dotted lines reprefent the

diftances.

On the MUSCLES. 261

diftances between their heads and the fternum. The continued
perpendicular line reprefents the diftance of the middle of each
rib from a ftraight line drawn between its two ends. The
numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,9, 7, exprefs firft, fecond, &c. ribs, of
which the firft is the fhorteft and innermoft, and the feventh the
longeft and outermoft. The other numbers annexed denote
eighths of an inch.

4. To determine the effect of the contraction of any mufcle,
I apprehend, we need only to obferve in the dead body what
the fituation is in which the mufcle in queftion is relaxed. Ap-
plying this rule, we fhall find, that the whole intercoftal
mufcles, internal as well as external, are fhortened when we
elevate the ribs and place them in that fituation in which we
find they are in infpiration.

5. Ir the internal intercoftal mufcles had been sricaae for
the depreffion of the ribs, we certainly fhould not have found
them continued to the fternum, becaufe their anterior ends are
fixed above to the edge of the fternum, or fo near to the infer-.
tion of the cartilage of the upper rib in the fternum, and
their inferior ends are, in confequence of their obliquity, fixed.
to the under rib fo much farther from the fternum, that they
muft at upon the under rib with more advantage of lever, or
are intended for its elevation.

On the other hand, if the internal itencofals had been in-
tended for the depreffion of the ribs, we certainly fhould have
found them continued backwards to the fpine, becaufe, from
their obliquity, their under end would have been fixed.to the
vertebrz or nearer to. the head of the rib, and their upper end
at fuch a diftance from it, that this portion of the mufcle
would have been better calculated than any other portion of it
for the depreffion of the rib.

6. In a few experiments which I made on living animals,
foon after I began to ftudy anatomy, and which I[ repeated af-
terwards, particularly in 1770, 1 faw plainly, as Dr HaLuer had:

done,

es OBSERVATIONS~

done, that both rows of intercoital ee were in ation dus

ring infpiration.
AFTER proving, that both rows of intercoftal mufcles con-
fpire in elevating the ribs, I ufed to point out the fallacy of the

demonftrations, by which BayLe, HAMBeRGERUS, and others, -

have pretended to prove, that the internal intercoftal mufcles
deprefs the ribs. ‘The machine they defcribe as reprefenting
the ribs, vertebre and fternum, refembles very exaAtly two
wooden rulers A, B, kept parallel by two pieces of brafs, C
and D, fuch as are ufed for drawing parallel lines; and the
two layers of the intercoftal mufcles are reprefented by the
threads EF and HG, patling obliquely from the one ruler to the
other, and decuflating each other. See T. 2. fig. 9.

Let C, one of the pieces of brafs, reprefent the vertebrx,
and the other piece D the fternum. Let A reprefent the upper-
moft rib on the right fide of the body, and B the fecond rib.
Let EF reprefent the external, and HG the internal intercoftal
mufcle.

Tuen, let C, reprefenting the immoveable vertebre, be held -

faft, and let EF be pulled or fhortened, they tell us, that the
fecond rib B muft be more affected than the firft, becaufe the
lower end of the mufcle being at a greater diftance from C than
the upper end of it, the mufcle will act upon the fecond rib

with a longer lever, and therefore that the external intercoftal

mufcles muft elevate the rib.

But when the internal intercoftal mufcles, reprefented by
HG, are fhortened, they obferve, that matters will be reverfed ;
and as their origin in the firft rib is farther from the vertebrz,
or centre of motion, than their infertion in the fecond rib,
that having a longer lever, they muift ferve to pull the firft rib
down.
AccorDINGLY, the rulers, on pulling alternately the threads
EF and HG, will be moved sae aii upwards and downwards.

But

.

' On the MUSCLES. 263

But to fhew the fallacy of this, I need only to add to what
has been before obferved, that we can perform a full infpiration,
without bringing the upper rib, or top of the fternum, up-
wards or nearer to our head; whereas the pretended demon-
{tration refts entirely on the fuppofition, that all the ribs, not
excepting the firft and fternum, have a large play upwards and
downwards alternately. Stop the play of the firft rib, or fup-
pofe it to be fixed in its place, which is the fact, and the boaft-
ed demonttration is annihilated.

Tue late opinion of SaBATIER *, that both rows of inter-
coftal mufcles ferve for expiration, and that the ribs are elevated
by the fcaleni and ferrati poftici fuperiores, which are fixed to a
few only of the upper ribs, fcarcely merits a comment. It is
refuted by what is above mentioned, and by the want of the
external intercoftals: near to the fternum, and of the internal
near to the fpine; for intercoftals at thofe places would have
ferved to deprefs the ribs more powerfully than in any other
part of the thorax.

Let us now confider the purpofe,

First, Of the obliquity of the fibres in the intercoftal
mu({cles, and,

SeconpDLy, Of their being difpofed in two layers, the fibres
of which decuffate each other.

Ir is evident, that the obliquity of the fibres here is not in-
tended to increafe their number, or the ftrength of the mufcle,
becaufe the fibres would have been more numerous if they had
pafled directly from the one rib to the other, or had been in-
ferted into the ribs at right angles.

I APPREHEND, therefore, that we are to explain the reafons
of the ftrudcture in the following manner :

NATURE, in order to give protection to-the heart and lungs,
has formed the ribs as broad and flat as poflible, or left no
more fpace between them than is required for lodging muicles.

for

* See Anatom. T. 3. p. 465. 7. me.

264 OBSERVATIONS

for their motion in refpiration. Confiftently with this view, as
the ribs are fixed at both ends, fo that they cannot be moved
backwards and forwards, but are confined to motion upwards
and downwards, remaining nearly parallel to each other, ob-
lique mufcles are preferred to ftraight; for if the former can,
as | have before demonftrated, perform more extenfive motion
than the latter, even where both are of the fame length, they |
~» muft have a full greater effet, where the two kinds of mufcles
are confined between the fame parallels.

Tuus, fuppofe the dire diftance, or perpendicular drawn
from one rib to another, to be reprefented by three parts, and
that the intercoftal mufcle, in confequence of its obliquity,
meafures five fuch parts, and that each of thefe is capable, when
in action, of fhortening itfelf one-fifth part of its length; it
appears from the demonttration, that the oblique mufcle can
move the rib through a fpace five times greater meg the ftraight
mufcle can do.

On accurate menfuration, | found the length of the inter-
coftal mufcle to be one inch’and a half, the perpendicular line
one inch, and the bafe about one and one-eighth inch. Hence,
calculating on the fuppofition, that the mufcular fibre, in ac-
tion, fhortens itfelf one-fifth of its length, it will be found,
that the intercoftal mufcles, in confequence of their obliquity,
produce a greater motion of the ribs than perpendicular muf-
cles could have done, nearly in the proportion of 35 to 12.

THE only point remaining to be explained, is, why nature
_ hath formed two layers of intercoftal municles decuffating each e:

other. ;

Tue purpofe of this, I apprehend, is to render the motion of —
the rib upwards as direé as poffible, and to prevent it from be-
ing drawn or prefled forwards upon the fternum, or backwards
upon the vertebrz, fo much as, by its friction, to interrupt the
freedom of its motion.

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On the MUSCLES, 265

Upon the whole, by the obliquity of the intercoftal muf-
cles, the motion of the ribs is very much greater than could
have been performed by ftraight mufcles placed between them :
At the fame time, by their confifting of two layers, or two
mufcles decufflating and balancing each other, the motion of
the ribs, upwards and downwards, is as direét, and with as
little friion, as if it had been performed by ftraight or perpen-
dicular mufcles.

Vor. Ill: Ev KTV.

XIV. An Account of the PEAtT-Mosszs of Kincardine and Flan-
ders in Perthfbire. By the Reverend Mr Curis TOPHER TAIT,
Minifter of Kincardine. .

[Read Fuly 2. 1792]

HE moffes of Kincardine and Flanders are fituated in that
extenfive plain or carfe which begins at Borrowftounnefs,

on the fouth fide of the Frith of Forth, and a little above
Eaftern Kincardine, on the north fide. It ftretches along both
fides, firft of the Frith, and afterwards of the river Forth, as
far as Cardrofs, about twenty-two miles weft of the point
where it begins. The breadth of this plain, or carfe, at Falkirk,
where it is wideft,is about feven miles, including whatis occupied
by the Frith. At Stirling it is contracted to three quarters of a
mile, and the mean breadth of it, from that place to Cardrofs,
is about three miles. The foil is a rich blue clay, beyond any
depth that has been examined, excepting that a bed of gravel
yifes near to the furface for the fpace of a mile, betwixt Blair
Drummond and Ochte tyre, and dips towards the Forth, at the
rate of about one foot in the hundred. Almoft the whole of
this tract appears to the eye like a dead flat, the only emi-
nences in it being thofe of Airth, Dunmore, Craigforth, and the
hill of Dript, which are all inconfiderable, both as to extent and
height. Thefe eminences alfo contain the only rocks difcover-

ed

ACCOUNT of PEAT-MOSSES, &c. 267

ed in the extent above mentioned, except that the Dript rock is
continued acrofs the river, and that another rock alfo croffes it,.
at what are called the cruives of Craigforth, and gives a confi:
derable obftruction to the ftream, fo as to prevent the tide from
flowing up farther. Throughout the reft of the carfe, no
ftones whatever are found in the foil; but beds of fea-fhells,
‘particularly oyfter-fhells, appear in many places of it, as in
ditches, where the earth has been dug to a certain depth,
and in the banks of the Forth and its branches. A bed
of this kind, of confiderable thicknefs, is to be feen near
the bridge of Goody, a fmall river that runs into the Forth ;
and another is to be feen in a bank, on the fouth fide of the
road between Polmouth and Borrowftounnefs. When the Forth
encroaches upon its banks, it alfo difcovers large logs of tim-
ber at various depths in the clay.

ConcERNING the river it may be neceffary to remark, that
the tide flows as far as the bed of rock near Craigforth, al-
ready mentioned, which is about 300 yards below the junc-
tion of the Teith and Forth. Above this point, the furface of
the river is four feet and a half higher than the furface below,
even at fpring tides. The only other fall in the river from that-
place to Cardrofs, where the carfe terminates, is one of three
feet at the ford of Frew, about eight miles diftant from the
former, in a ftraight line.

Ir will ferve to give fome idea of the flatnefs of this country
to obferve, that by a furvey taken of the river, with a view to ren-
der it navigable, it was found, that a dam four feet in height,
erected at the point of Craigforth, would increafe the depth of the:
river more than three feet as far up as the ford of Frew; and
that one of five feet in height, ereCted: at Frew, would make a
like addition to the depth of the river, as far as the ford’ of Car-
drofs. The height therefore of the furface of the Forth, at the
ford of Cardrofs, above the high water mark at the cruives of

Bil 2: Craigforth,

268 ACCOUNT of PEAT-MOSSES

Craigforth, is lefs than ten feet, and this on a diftance of forty
miles, meafuring by the courfe of the river, or of :eighteen —
miles, meafuring ina ftraight line. The furface of the river
is about twenty-one feet below the level of the clay-ground on
each fide of it; yet in floods, the country is often overflowed to
-a confiderable extent. ee?

A creat part of the furface of this country is covered by
peat bogs, or mofles, as they are ufually called. The firft of thefe
mofles. and the furtheft eaft, is that of Kincardine, which lies in
the angle between the Forth and the Teith, and reaches weftward
as far as Burnbank, after which the carfe is clear of mofs through
its whole ‘breadth for the fpace of two miles and a half. Beyond
this, Mofs-Flanders commences, and extends weftward all the
way to Cardrofs, occupying a large portion of the carfe on
both fides of the Forth. The mofs of Kincardine, when mea-
fured twenty five years ago, contained above 1800 acres ; but
the operations which will be defcribed hereafter have now re-
duced it to about 1500.

Boru thefe moffes are of the fame nature, as are alfo fome.
others lefs confiderable, which lie in this traét, to wit, the mof-
fes of Frofk, Dunmore and Kinnaird, which occupy a large
fhare of the carfe that lies at the head of the Frith, and alfo
hetwixt the rivers of Forth and Carron. The mofs of Frofk
begins about five miles to the fouth-eaft of that of Kincardine,
and the mofs of Kinnaird reaches within a mile and a half of
the river Carron. The length of all thefe moffes, from the head
of Mofs-Flanders near Cardrofs, to the fouth-eaft point of the —
mofs of Kinnaird, deducing the intervals that are clear of peat,
is about fifteen miles, and the total of their contents is com-
puted to exceed gooo acres. The greateft height of the mofs |
above the clay on which it lies is fourteen feet and a half,

Tue furface of the peat-mofs which thus rifes above the le-

vel of the carfe, when viewed at a little diftance, feems wholly
covered

in PERTHSHIRE. 260)

covered with heath, but when examined more clofely, is found
to be made up only of fmall tufts of heath, intermixed with
mofs-plants, fuch as ling, cotton-grafs, and in one {pot with
wild rofemary; thefe tufts being feparated from each other by
fpaces of bog, which are quite foft, and have no plant whatever
on their furface.

Waen laid open, this mofs is found to confift of an accumu- |
lation of. the debris of the fame plants, which are more or lefs ad-
vanced in putrefaction, according to the depth, and the degrees of
humidity and compreflion. At the bottom of the mofs, or at the
_fuarface of the clay on which it refts, is a {tratum compofed chiefly
of bits of rotten wood, but with which is mingled fometimes
a little black earth, and fometimes alfo bunches of heath, far
more entire than thofe which are found nearer to the furface of
the mofs. Here alfo are innumerable trunks of trees, lying
along clofe by their roots, which roots are ftill fixed in the
clay, as in their natural ftate. The roots of the heath are alfo
fixed in the clay, and appear to have been the production of
the foil before the mofs was fuperinduced over it.

Iw the mofs of Kincardine, is a confiderable extent of what is
called jlow-mo/s, that is, flowing or fluid mofs, the furface of which
is fmooth, and which, until lately drained, was fo faturated with
the water that was confined in it, either by the great extent of
mofs upon all fides, or by the greater height of fome of the ad-
joining grounds, as to be almoft literally in the ftate which its
name indicates. The other parts of the mofs have generally
- fach a degree of folidity as fits them for being cut into peat,
at leaft towards the bottom ; for in the upper parts the plants
are too little advanced in putrefaction, and too little compref-
fed, to have the cohefion requifite to be formed into peat.

Tue methods ufed for improving thefe mofles have been
various. Sometimes, after the mofs was fo far drained by the com-
mon operation of making it into peat, as to bear cattle in dry

weather,

270 ACCOUNT of PEAT-MOSSES

weather, it was repeatedly plowed and burnt, fo as to be cons
verted into a manure for the clay that was. under it *.

Tuts could only be done where the mofs was thin. Where
it was too thick to be reclaimed in this manner, the people
contented themfelves with improving the furface, by plowing:
the afhes into it, or by laying upon it clay brought from the-

adjacent cultivated grounds. The progrefs, however, that was.
made in the cultivation of the mofs by thefe methods was never
very confiderable ; and therefore, for fome time patt, they have:

given place to that of floating off the whole body of the mofs by

water,except a ftratum two or three inches thick in contact with.

the clay. The foil thus cleared of mofs is excellent, and is found.

to let immediately for 15 s. per acre. This operation of floating:
is rendered practicable by the peculiar nature of this mofs,
which, as has been faid, is fuperinduced upon. the original foil;.
fo that the clay under it is on a level with the adjoining culti-.

vated grounds..
Turis method of cultivation is fuppofed to have been prac-
tifed on the moffes. betwixt the Forth and Carron about the be-

ginning of the prefent century, where it is computed, that above:
60a acres. have been cleared with the water colleéted from the: ~

mofs.

* Tue people engaged in this work have. their honfes in the mofs. Thefe are
at firft fometimes built of fod, fupported by a frame.of wood, laid on the furface of
the mofs; but as foon as any progrefs is made in clearing the ground, they are cut out’
of the mofs itfelf. For that purpofe, a drain is cut through the mofs, and at-leaft
a foot deep into the clay, as far as the intended houfe is to reach; a fpace from two
to fix yards wide, is then cleared all round it; and laftly the area of the houfe is alfo
cleared, leaving a wall of mofs on every fide, about. four feet and a half thick, at.
bottom, and three feet thick at top. The feet of the cupples which are to fupport
the roof are inferted into this wall, but-do not reft upon it, as they reach as low
as the clay, from which they rife up, nearly perpendicularly, as far as the top of
the wall. The gables are completed with fod or mud. As the mofs-walls dry,
and are confolidated, what was originally ten-or twelve feet high, finks down to
the height of five or fix feet.

——s”

-

In PERTHSHIRE - 241

mofs alone, without the affiftance of any {tream from the high-
er grounds. The fame method feems to have been followed in
the mofles of Kincardine and Flanders about forty years ago,
though with little effe&t, and without any general plan, till about
the year 1770, when the late Lord Kamezs, who was proprietor of
1500 acres of the mofs of Kincardine, and a confiderable por-
tion of mofs Flanders, adopted and greatly improved it. It is
now in general ufe, and is conducted in the following man:
ner.
A CHANNEL, about eighteen inches wide and two fect deep,
is dug in the clay along the edge of the mofs intended to be
removed, through which a ftream of water is conduéted about
a foot deep. The workman, with a wooden fpade, then cuts
away a layer of the mofs along the edge of the channel to the
breadth of about fix feet, and throws it into the water, which, if
the channel has a tolerable declivity, will ferve to carry away as
much mofs as fix men can throw into it. The mofs being thus
removed for the whole length of the channel, to the depth of about
thirteen inches, and to the diftance of about fix feet, the opera-
tion is repeated upon the mofs below, and fo on, till there is left
a ftratum of mofs, only fix inches thick, upon the furface of
the clay» This thin ftratum of mofs, being dried by the fum-
mer heat, is afterwards dug, or plowed, and burned, and when
the afhes thus produced are plowed into the clay, the ground
is thought to be fufficiently prepared for a crop of oats.
_ Ar the bottom of the mofs when thus cleared, a multitude
of the bodies and roots of trees are found, which leave no
doubt, that the grounds now covered by the mofs have been
once occupied by a foreft. Though it is not, I believe, un-
ufual to meet with trees in mofles, yet they are rarely found
in fuch abundance as in the prefent inftance. For they are
found here lying as thick upon the clay as they can be fup-
pofed to have grown upon it; and what is yet more fingular,

I the

292 ACCOUNT of PEAT-MOSSES

the roots remain fixed in the clay in their natural ftate, cor-

refponding, in fize, and in fpecies to. the trees that lie by their
fides.

THE trees are oak, birch, hazel, alder, willow, and in one place

there are a few firs. Among thefe the oak abounds moft, efpe- :

cially upon the weft fide of the mofs, where forty large trees of
this fpecies were lately found lying by their roots, and as clofe to

one another as they can be fuppofed to have grown. One of

thefe oaks meafures fifty feet, in length, and more than three
feet in diameter, and three hundred and fourteen circles, or

year’s growths, were counted in one of the roots. In another

part of the mofs, an oak was found that meafured four feet in
diameter ; and I am aflured, that fome years ago a root was
difcovered at Rofs, on the-fouth fide of the mofs, that was fif-

teen feet in diameter at the furface of the clay ; and the tree,

which was twenty-two feet in length, was four feet eight inches
in diameter at the lower end, where it had been cut over, at the
height of a yard from the ground.

Tue oak is ufually black, and the wood ftill found, efpe-
cially on the fide of the tree that lies nextthe clay. It is fit for
various purpofes, and would probably be of much greater va-
lue, if the people into whofe hands it falls had fkill to dry it
properly. As it is managed, it ufually opens into various fif-
fures, which difqualify it for being fawn into planks. |

THE roots of the oak are all found fixed’in the clay in their

natural ftate, and ufually rife above it to the height of about: ~

three feet. They are very little rotten, and it requires much la-
bour to grub them up.

Tue other kinds of trees are fo much decayed, that fewer:
obfervations can be made upon them. Their roots are alfo fix-
ed in the clay ; but they generally rife not more than a foot

and a half above its furface.
3 THE:

4

MARE RTAS HIRE oy

Tue faéts which have now been defcribed will perhaps be
found, upon examination, to point out the caufe by which thefe
trees were brought into their prefent fituation, and alfo the
time when that event muft have taken place.

For, firft, thefe facts are utterly inconfiftent with the fuppo-
fition that the trees have fallen through natural decay ; as in that
cafe, they muft have been broken over at different heights above
the furface, and both the trunks and the roots muft have been
too far advanced in putrefaction, before the mofs was formed
over them, for any part of them to remain found at this
day. |

THE fame circumftances feem alfo irreconcileable with the
fuppofition, that thefe forefts have been blown down by the
wind, as in that cafe alfo the trees muft have been broken over at
different heights, and muft frequently have been torn up by
the roots; a fingle inftance of either of which has not been
feen by the author of thefe remarks. It is indeed faid, that a
few fingle roots, in different parts of the mofs, have been ob-
ferved, which feem to be torn up, and what is perhaps difficult
_ to be explained, no trunk was found attached to them.

Ir cannot be admitted as an argument in fupport of the pre-
ceding fuppofition, that the trees lie moft frequently in the di-
rection from fouth-weft to north-eaft. For as the fouth-weft
wind is the prevailing and moft violent wind in this country,
the weight of the tops of the trees is generally turned from
that quarter ; and by whatever caufe they fall. they will there- _
fore, in general, be directed towatds the north-eatt.

THE moft plaufible folution therefore is, that the trees have
been cut down. The height of the ftumps, which is common-
ly about two feet and a half, favours this opinion, as, at that
height, the diameter of a large tree is ufually much lefs than it
is nearer the ground, and as the cutter can better apply his

Vor, Il. Mm ftrength

#

274 ACCOUNT of PEAT-MOSSES

ftrength at this than at a greater height. The foundnefs of the-
roots and trunks feems alfo inexplicable on any other fuppofi-
tion.

Marks of an ax, not exceeding two inches and a half in
breadth, are fometimes difcernible on the lower ends of thefe
trees. The {mall breadth of the ax, and the length of the time
that the trees doubtlefs remained expofed, before they were co-
vered with the mofs, feems fufficiently to account for thefe
marks not having been more frequently difcovered:

Bur it will be afked, what reafon can be affigned for un-
dertaking a work of fo great labour as the cutting down of fuch.
extenfive forefts muft have been? The value of the timber was
evidently not the motive of this work, otherwife the trees would
not have been left behind: Neither. was the clearing: of the
ground the object that was in view, fince, after all this la«
bour, the ground: remained as.much incumbered as before.
If, however, we recollect the hiftory of Britain from the reign.
of Domitian to the acceffion of CaRAcALLA, and confider
the local fituation of the mofies, we will find good reafons for-
afcribing the deftruction.of the forefts.in queftion to the Ro-
mans.

Ir is well known, that from the time when Jutius Casar
firft invaded this ifland to the decline of. the Roman power, the:
Britons, unable to contend with the arms and difcipline of the
legions in pitched battles, or in the open country, were forced.
to take fhelter in their woods: and morafles, from which they
annoyed the Romans:by their incurfions. The Roman Gene-
rals, therefore, from the time of AGRICOLA: at leaft, employed!
not only their own foldiers, but alfo many of the provinciated.
Britons, in depriving the free Britons.of their places of: refuge, .
by cutting down the woods, or, at leaft, making great openings.
in them, and by draining the moraffes, or making roads-through,
them. Thefe feem to be the fervile labours which GALGacus,

: 1m:

In PERTHSHIRE. 298

in his fpeech before the battle with Acricota, warns the Cale-
donians of, as awaiting the vanquifhed. Corpora ipfa ac ma-
nus, fylvis ac paludibus emuniendis, inter verbera ac contumelias
conterunt *,

In like manner, SEVERUS is faid to have employed a great
part of his troops, not only in building the wall which bears
his name, but in cutting down the woods, draining the
marfhes, and throwing bridges over the rivers which obftructed
his march into the northern parts of Britainyt. But though
in that march he muft probably have pafled over the very
grounds now occupied by the mofles of Kincardine and Frofk,
I am inclined to believe, that the deftruction of the forefts up-
on the fide of the Forth, is rather to be attributed to his pre-
deceffors, who aimed at making the wall between the Friths
of Forth and Clyde, the limits of their empire, than to SEve-
rus himfelf, who withdrew his troops from the country be-
twixt the two walls, and either ftrengthened ADRIAN’s wall,
from the Tyne to the Solway Frith, or built another nearly
in the fame direction.

Tue Romans indeed muft have found themfelves more in-
commoded by the forefts in queftion than by any other almoft
in the ifland ; both becaufe of their vicinity to the Roman pro-
vince, and becaufe the only roads by which the Romans could
penetrate into the country pofleffed by the Caledonians were
through the carfe, and acrofs the grounds between the mofles
of Frofk and Kincardine.

Tue mofs of Kinnaird, which was no doubt formerly
united to that of Frofk, is only a mile and a half diftant from

Mm2 the

* Tacitus in Vit. Acric. cap. 31.

+ LePi205 dito» trav Karndoviav, auvdara meccypacetce EK2, Tas TE VAws THAVay, TH TE BAN YaWUw,
xot Tos ToTapous C-vyvvwv. Dro. Cass. Lzé. 1xxvi. cap. 13. The works here enu-
merated were attended with fuch difficulty, that though, according tu the fame hi-
ftorian, SEVERUS was never met by the Britifh army in the field, he loft fifty thou-
fand men in the courfe of this expedition. did.

276 33 ACCOUNT of PEAT-MOSSES

the river of Carron, which river, where it enters the carfe, and
ceafes to be fordable, feems to have been the boundary of the
‘Roman province *, and the mofs of Kincardine is only twelve
miles diftant from the ftation at Camelon. Forefts, therefore, in
either of thefe places would have afforded very convenient refuge
to the Caledonians, whether they were making incurfions into
the Roman province, or harafling the Roman armies in their
expeditions towards the north.

Besipes, that a people, more civilized than the ancient Ca-
ledonians, muft have been in this country before the mofs of Kin-
cardine exifted, is completely eftablifhed by the difcovery of a
road on the furface of the clay at the bottom of that mofs,
after the peat, to the depth of eight feet, had been remo-
ved. The part of this road already difcovered is about feventy
yards long; the breadth of it is four yards, and it is conftru€ted
of trees, meafuring from nine to twelve inches in diameter, laid
in the direction of the road. Acrofs thefe have been laid other
trees about half their fize, and the whole has been covered
with brufhwood. The depth of the materials varies in con-
formity to the nature of the foil; the trees, which are laid
lengthwife, being generally on the furface of the clay, but in
the loweft and wetteft parts, they are funk about two feet un-
der the furface.

Tuis road lies acrofs a piece of ground lower than the ad-
jacent grounds, and its direction is from the Forth acrofs the
mofs, where it is narroweft, towards a road, fuppofed to be Ro-

man,

* Tuart the river Carron was the boundary of the Roman province is rendered
probable by the fituation of Arthur’s Oven, as it was called, which is fuppofed to
have been a temple dedicated to TERMINUS, and erected near the Roman frontier.
It ftood on the weft fide of the river Carron, or between that river and Kinnaird,
There is alfo a pafflage in Heropian that favours the fame opinion. That hiftorian
mentions the army of SEVERUS pafling ta meoPiBAnusa eduare te nar youaTa THs
Poway aeyns. He adds, that on this frontier the Barbarians eafily made their
efcape, and concealed themfelves in the thickets and marfbes. erop. Lib. iti.
cap. 48.

‘ In PERTHSHIRE. 277

man, that paffes between the mofs and the river Teith. The
veftiges of this laft road have been traced, from about four
miles north-weft of the bridge of Dript, where formerly there
was a ford, acrofs the river, fouth-eaft by Torwood and Lar-
bert, to Camelon on the wall. This road is laid about a foot
deep with gravel, under which, in fome places, is alfo a layer of
ftones, and it appears to have been about twenty feet wide,
though, by the land having been under tillage, its breadth can-
not be exaétly afcertained. The diredtion of it, after it croffes
the Forth at Dript, is in a line that points north-weft to the pafs
of Leny, the chief avenue to the Highlands on this fide, and.
through which the military road to Fort William is now ac-
tually conducted. It is therefore confidered, with great probabi-
lity, as having been originally defigned for the ufe of the troops
employed to repel the incurfions made by the Caledonians, from
the mountains, into the Roman province. At the fame time, it
may have been connected with the other roads that {tretched more
directly toward the north, by Dumblane and the well known fta-
tion of Ardoch. It can fcarcely be doubted, that it alfo com-
municated with the road in the mofs, and that this laft is to be
reckoned a part of the military works of the Romans.

On the whole, therefore, the conclufions to which we are:
thus neceffarily led appear to be thefe: That before the time:
of Acricora, the firft of the Roman Generals who attempted
to fecure the northern frontier of the province by a regular
chain of pofts*, the greater part of the level country on the
banks of the Forth was occupied by extenfive forefts: That
about this period, or foon afterwards, a great part of thofe fo-

| Felis.

* THE chain of pofts between the Forth and Clyde is mentioned by Tacitus,
Vit. AGRIC. cap. 23. as the work of AGRICOLA’s fourth campaign, which coincides
with the year 81 of our #ra. See Horsevey’s Britan. Book i. chap.3. It was:
about fifty years afterwards that the wall of Antoninus was built, nearly in the

fame line. The age of the mofs cannot therefore be eftimated at much lefs than.
1790. years.

278 ACCOUNT o PEAT-MOSSES

refts, being at no great diftance from the above frontier, were
cut down by the Romans for the purpofe of depriving the na-
tives of the faftnefles and places of ftrength from which they
were continually making incurfions into the province; and
that from the trees thus cut down, and fuffered to rot upon
thofe low and marfhy grounds, originated the vaft body of peat-
mofs which covers them at the prefent time. The production
of peat-mofs from the decay of forefts, is not a po/fulatum that
will be fuppofed fubject to any difficulty. It is a principle ad-
mitted -by naturalifts, on the ground of actual obfervation*,
with‘refpect at leaft to countries in high latitudes, and ferves
to explain many-appearances in other parts of this ifland, which
have a great refemblance to thofe that have now been defcri-

bed f.
* See Lord Cromanry’s paper on Peat-mofs, Phil. Tranf. vol. xxvii. p. 296.

+ See an Account of Hatfield Chace near Doncafter, Phil. Tranf. vol. xxii. p. 980.
It may be proper to obferve, that the moffes of Kincardine, &c. being placed above
the level of the adjacent plain, are of the kind that might be expeéted to break
out and overfpread the lower grounds, which however they are not known to
have done, while they remained in their natural ftate. They do not indeed abound
very much in water, infomuch that the floating off of the peat, when it is carried to
fuch an extent as it is now, requires an artificial fupply of water. This fupply is
accordingly procured at prefent by an engine which Mr Drummonp has caufed to
be eretted for raifing water from the Teith, and which is one of the moft material
improvements that has been made in the hufbandry of the mofs.

Bur though there is no memory of the mofé having flowed while it remained
in its natural ftate, on the 21ft March 1792, it burft out on the weft fide, near the
fouthermoft cottage, to the height of its fide-wall, covering fifty-fix yards in
breadth, and about the extent of an acre of ground that had been cleared, and
-edrly in the morning of the fame day of 1793, (fince the firft communication of
this paper), it was difcovered to have flowed again, and to have reached the
northermoft cottage of the fame line of houfes. The inhabitants efcaped by a wih-
dow on the oppofite fide of the houfe. The mofs afterwards bore down the fide-
walls of the houfe that were built of ftone, and continued to flow flowly forward,

I eight

In PERTHSHIRE. 279

eight feet in depth at the middle, and 1200 feet in breadth, until nine o'clock
in the morning of the 23d, when it had advanced 600 feet, and covered twelve
acres of ground that had been cleared. It would undoubtedly have flowed much
farther, had not a great number of men been employed night and day, in giving
vent to the water mixed with the mofs that had flowed, and in intercepting that

which continued to difcharge itfelf from the main body of mofs.

END QF PAPERS OF THE PHYSICAL CLASS.

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II,

PAPERS OF THE LITERARY CLASS.

I.. Tasieavu de la Praine de Trove : Accompagné d’une CARTE,
levée géométriquement, ent 785 et 1786. Par M. CHEVALIER,
des Académies de MrtTz, de CassEL, de ae et de la
Société igure d’ EDINBOURG.

[ Read by the Author, Feb. 21. 28. and March 21.1 791.)

Cin APT RE. ok.

Voyage deVenife au Cap Baba, fur la cbte d "Hie.

La fuite du voyage d’Italie, j’attendois 4 Venife une oc-

cafion favorable pour entreprendre celui de la Gréce.
Ee Chevalier ZULIANI, nommé Ambafladeur de la République
auprés de la Porte Ottomane, alloit inceflamment partir pour fa
deftination ; je lui demandai une place fur fon vaiffeau, et je
fus affez heureux pour l’obtenir.. Cet Ambaffadeur, qui réunit
a toutes les qualités d’un habile negociateur, le gout le plus dé-
cidé pour les arts et pour les fciences, avoit auffi recu dans fon
vaifleau le célébre Docteur SPALLANZANI, l’un des plus ingéni-

eux. naturaliftes de ce fiecle, que l’Empereur JoszPn II. envoyoit
Ws Bae, oe dans

Pana TABLEAU de la

dans le Levant, pour enrichir la fcience de la nature de décou-

vertes nouvelles.

Jz ne tardai pas 4 appercevoir dans mes refpeCtables compag-
nons de voyage, parmi les brillantes qualités qui les diftin-
guent, la méme paffion que j’avois moi-méme pour les monu-
mens de l’antiquité; bientdt nous nous fumes entendus, et
partout ou le vaiffeau relachoit, il fembloit qu’un inftinet com-
mun rapprochat nos penfées et dictat nos projets.

APREs avoir parcouru enfemble les cotes et les tles du Gol-
phe Adriatique ; aprés avoir vifité les antiquités de Pola, les”
montagnes de la Chimére, les fles d’Ithaque, de Corfou, de
Céphalonie, de Zanthe, et de Cythére, nous abordames, aprés
une affreufe tempéte, au promontoire de Suaium, ot l'on voit
encore les impofans débris d’un temple de Minerve Suniade *.
Je débarquai la, et par un de ces accidents qui n’arrivent que
trop fouvent aux voyageurs, que Vexcés de leur curiofité em-
porte loin du port, lorfque des vents impérieux forcent le
vaiffeau de mettre 4 la voile, je fus réduit 4 la douce neceflité
de voir Athénes et une partie du continent de la Gréce.

En quittant l’Attique, je m’embarquois au port Pirée dans
Vintention d’aller dire€tement a l’embouchure de 1’Hellefpont,
pour y chercher la Plaine de Troye, que j’avois fixée, méme
avant mon départ de I’ Italie, comme le principal objet de mes
recherches; mais les vents contraires, (je devrois plutdt les
appeller favorables) me jetterent fucceflivement dans les plus
belles fles de Jl’Archipel, et enfin dans celle de Mityléne,
d’ou j’atteignis le Cap Baba, que les anciens appelloient Lectos.

Me trouvant fur la céte d’Afie, dans un point trés éloigné
de l’Hellefpont, je réfolus de la fuivre avec l’attention la plus
{crupuleufe, et d’obferver furtout les plaines et les fleuves qui
fe rencontreroient fur ma route ; c’étoit le moyen le plus sar de
découvrir la fituation de la plaine de Troye, et les momunens

mentionnés —

* Voiez Les Ruines des plus beaux monuments de la Gréce, par M.te Roy: et —
Cuanpler’s Travels in Afia Minor, p. g.

‘'PLAINE de TROYIE. g

mentionnés dans les poémes d’HomERE. Les differentes épreuves
que j’avois faites de fon exactitude dans les lieux que je venois
de parcourir, m/’autorifoient 4 penfer qu’il n’en auroit pas
manqué dans la defcription de la Troade; et j’étois d’avance
convaincu que je devois la trouver telle qu’il ’a dépeinte dans
fes vers.

In ne me fera pas difficile, me difois-je 4 moi-méme, de trou-
ver ces deux promontoires qui terminoient le camp des Grécs,
et oi étoient les poftes d’Ayax et d’AcuILLE*. Parmi les vallées
voifines de la plaine de Troye, je démélerai celle de Thymbra,
ou les alliés des Troyens étoient campés f. Je diftinguerai le cours
impétueux du violent Simos {, et les eaux limpides du divin
Scamandre||, dont les bords font couverts de fleurs. Elles ne doi-
_ vent pas étre perdues les fources de ce divin fleuve que le Poéte
a defignées par des caracteres aufli particuliers et auffi faillans §.
Pourquoi ne refteroit-il pas quelques traces des tombeaux de ces
guerriers fameux, qui devoient étre lobjet du culte des naviga-
teurs dans la pofterité la plus reculée?** Ces agréables collines
qui s’étendoient le long des bords du Simois n’auront pas perdu,
fans doute, leur pofition ni leurs charmes {{. Peutétre méme
pourrai-je retrouver encore l’emplacement de I’ancienne Troye, le
tombeau du vieux syerezs tf, celui d’Inus||||, et cette colline
des figuiers qui donnoit tant d’inquictudes 4 ANDROMAQUE$f§.

Vous aurez peine 4 croire, Meffieurs, que ce beau fonge fe
foit réalifé ; et je craindrois, avec raifon, de paffer 4 vos yeux
pour un enthoufiafte et un vifionnaire, fi la plipart des monu-
mens que je viens de citer, n’avoient pas été aumoins remar-
-. qués, fi non exactement obfervés, par des voyageurs dont vous
refpectez les noms; et s’ils n’étoient pas encore expofés a la
vue de ceux qui prendront dans la fuite la peine de vérifier leur
pofition au moyen de la carte topographique que j’ai dreilée.

- ENivre
* Iliad. viii. 222. xi. 5. **_Tliad. vii. 86. xxiil. 45. 255. Od. xxiv. 80.
_ Ib. x. 430. +t Iliad. xx. $3. 150.
fi Tbs xii. (24; 221) exi. 90%. tt Ib. 1 793.
J 1b. vit. 329. xii. 21. ii. 467. v. 36. ll Tb. x. qr5. xi. 166. 371. xxiv. 349.

§ Ib. xxi. 147. $$ Ib. vi. 433. xi. 167. xxii. 145.

6 TABLEAU de la

_ Enivre done d’avance d’une foule de jouiffances futures,
alors trés incertaines, je pars du Cap Lectos accompagné d’un.
Janiffaire, qui ne manqua pas de chercher a m’effrayer par des
dangers imaginaires, afin d’étre plus largement récompenfé pour.
les avoir courus avec moi, et avoir montré la réfolution de m’en
garantir. ,

-Apris avoir obfervé fur ma route les débris d’un temple, et
les falines de Tragéfée, dont ’abondance, fuivant StRABON *,.
dependoit autrefois de certains vents périodiques, ou étéfiens,
qui y apportoient le fel tout formé, j’arrive fur les ruines.
d’ Alexandria Troas, que les Turcs appellent E/ki-Stamboul, la
vieille Conflantinople, comme s'ils la croyoient digne par fes.
“reftes immenfes d’avoir été l’ancienne capitale de leur Empire.

GH AP) Me
Defeription d’ Aléxandria Troas et de fes Ruines..

“ LExaNpDRE le Grand, dit le Dr CHANDLER, au lieu de-
‘“‘ marquer fes progrés par des ravages et des véxations,
** comme le commun des conquérants, laiffoit fagement des mo-.
‘* numens durables de fes victoires dans tous les lieux qu’il fub-
** juguoit. Il batiffoit des villes ; il élevoit des temples ; et com-.
“ me le féjour qu’il faifoit dans chaque ville n’étoit pas de-
“ longue durée, il laiffoit 4 des miniftres éclairés, et dignes de-
“ {a confiance, le foin d’éxécuter fes vaftes deffeins.
“ ALEXANDKIA Troas fut une des dix huit villes qui por-
* toient fon. nom; elle fut commencé par ANTIGONUS, et prit:
“ W@abord le nom d’Antigonia; mais LysIMAQueE, a qui elle:
“« échut en partage comme patrimoine d’ALEXANDRE, lui donna.
“ le nom de ce conquérant.
‘‘ Dans la guerre d’AnTiocuus elle fe diftingua par fa fi-.
“ délité pour les Romains, qui, en récompenfe, lui accorderent-

“tous:
* Lib. xili, p. 902, edit. Amft. 1707.

PLAINE de TROYE. ,

* tous les privileges dont jouiffoient les villes d’Italie. Av-
“ GUSTE y envoya une colonie qui en augmenta la population,
“ et elle devint la plus confidérable de toutes les villes qui fe
~s® trouvoient entre le Cap Sigée et le Cap Ledtos *.”’

SUETONE raconte que Cesar, par refpect pour la contrée
qui donna naiflance a fes ayeux, avoit formé le projet d’y
tranfporter les richefles de Empire f. On croit qu’ AuGusTE
en avoit été tenté lui méme, mais que M&cENE, AGRIPPA, et
les principaux courtifans de ce prince, connoiffant l’influence de
la poéfie fur fon coeur, engagerent Horace 4 lui addreffer cette
ode dans laquelle il introduit avec un art et une delicatef-
fe admirables, la Déefle JuNon menacant les Romains de toute
fa colére s’ils entreprenoient de relever les murailles de Troye :

Sed bellicofis fata Quiritibus
Hac lege dico, ne nimium pit,
Rebufque fidentes, avite
Tecta velint reparare Troje t.

Ix eft poffible que Cesar ait eu des raifons de fe dégouter
de {éjour de Rome, et qu’il Iui foit venu dans la penfée de s’en
éloigner ; mais on ne peut guéres fuppofer qu’AucustTE, adoré
de fes fujets, ait put nourrir un inftant dans fon ame le projet de
s’éloigner d’eux, et qu’aprés avoir pacifié V’univers, il ait pré-
feré Pobfcure ville d’Alexandrie, au brillant féjour de Rome.

Le premier objet qu’on appercoit en arrivant a Efki-Stam-
boul du Cap Baba, font les bains chauds, que les Turcs apel-
lent Lidja-Hamam. Ils font entretenus par deux fources dont
la chaleur eft differente, quoiqu’elles ne foient pas a trente pas
Pune de autre. Le thermometre de FAHRENHEIT, qui étoit a
VYombre a 82 degrés, eft monté dans l’une a 113, et 4 I10 dans
lautre. |

UNE

* Travels in Afia Minor, chap. ix. Srraso, lib. xiii, p.887. edit. Amft. 1707,

} SuzTon. c. 79.
~ Lib. ii. Od. 3.

g TABLEAU de la

Une tradition confervée parmi les Turcs qui habitent les vil-
lages voifins, nous apprend, que dans le fiécle dernier ces four-
ces tarirent a la fuite d’un tremblement de terre, et qu’elles ne
reparurent que dix ans apres. Les murailles qui les entourent
font remplis de débris de ftatues ; parmi lefquelles j’ai reconnu
celle de HERCULE jeune, et d’une femme dont la draperie m’a
paru du plus beau ftile. |

La colline fur le penchant de laquelle font fitués les bains de

Lidja, eft couverte de tombeaux.. En la parcourant jufgu’au -
Ya, Pp Juig

bord de la mer, .on trouve a chaque pas des Turcs occupés a
brifer des Sarcophages de marbre blanc, ornés de bas-reliefs
et d’infcriptions, pour en faire des boulets, ou des décorations
a leur propres fépultures. Depuis long tems les ruines d’ dlex-
andria Troas fourniffent de boulets les chateaux des Dardanel-
les, et la fource eft loin d’étre epuifée.

Ceuti de tous les monumens fitués au dehors de la ville, que
la main du tems femble avoir le plus refpecté, a la forme d’une
colonne brifée, de dix pieds de diamétre; il fe trouve prés
des ruines d’un aqueduc, qui s’étend encore fort loin vers
Yembouchure de I’Hellefpont, et qui par fa magnificence, et fa
folidité, rappelle le généreux patriotifme de celui qui I’a bati.

HeErRopDEs ATTICUS, gouverneur des villes libres d’Afie, voy-
ant celle d’Alexandrie condamnée a s’abbreuver de l’eau cor-
rompue des citernes et des puits, écrivit 4a ADRIEN pour le fup-
plier de ne pas permettre q’une ville maritime aufli intéreflante
fut privée d’un fecours que de fimples villages de l’Afie avoient
obtenu de lu.

“ADRIEN, lui accorda fa demande, et le créa Intendant des:

ouvrages qu'il falloit conftruire pour apporter des eaux dans

cette ville. La dépenfe excéda fept millions de drachmes. Les _

ennemis de HERODEs s’en plaignirent a l’Empereur, et lui re-
préfenterent, que le tribut de cinq cents villes avoit été facrifié
pour ce feu] ouvrage. HeRODEs convint que la dépenfe avoit en.
effet excédé fa premiere eftimation, mais il déconcerta fes ca-

lomniatures.

PLAINE de TROYE. 9

lomniateurs, en prouvant qu’il avoit fourni l’excédant de fes
propres. fonds. ;

Cet aqueduc, dont les ruines s’étendent a plus d’un mille vers
le nord, ou vers l’Hellefpont, n’eft pas le feul monument que
ce grand homme ait élevé dans le cours de fa vie; ; il batit
entr’autres le ftade d’Athénes, qui fubfifte encore aujourd’hui,
et dont la magnificence eft tant vantée par PAUSANIAS.

Lzs murailles d’Alexandrie font prefqu’ entiérement confer-
vées ; elles ont huit pieds d’épaiffeur, font conftruites en pierre
de taille, et flanquées de tours. La colline qu’elles renferment,
et fur laquelle la ville étoit fituée d’une manicre trés avanta-
geufe, eft {éparée a }’eft de la chaine de I’Ida, par le vallon ou
coulent les eaux thermales, et s’étend en s’abaiffant vers la
mer, dans l’efpace d’environ une demie lieue quarrée.

Les fondateurs de cette ville, ne durent point étre infenfibles
aux avantages qu’elle pouvoit tirer de fa fituation a lembou-
chure de |’Hellefpont, et du voifinage de ces eaux thermales,
célébres encore aujourd’hui, par leur efficacité contre la lépre,
les rhumatifmes, et les maladies de peau: Il paroit que fes ha-
bitans n’ignorerent pas non plus le prix du commerce, et l’uti-
lité d’un port. La Nature avoit ébauché l’enceinte de celui,
dont on admire aujourd’hui les ruines. Je ne fais fi les énormes
colonnes de granite qui font jettées ca et 1a dans fon vafte baffin,
fervoient autrefois a le décorer, ou fi les Turcs, aprés les avoir
-roulées du haut de la ville, ont renoncé a les embarquer a caufe
de leur pefanteur.

Les édifices publiques font toujours ceux qui refiftent le mieux
aux injures du tems. On reconnoit encore parmi les ruines
d’Alexandrie, un ftade, un théatre, deux temples, et une im-
menfe fabrique, que les navigateurs appercoivent a la mer trés
loin, a travers les touffes de Valoniers qui couvrent maintenant
Vefpace qu’ occupoit la ville.

PocockE et CHANDLER regardent cet édifice comme un
gymnafe, ou la jeunefle-étoit inftruite dans les {ciences, et des

Vou. III. b exercices

10 gc ee a F

exercices du corps *. Le commun des navigateurs tie donne le
nom de Palais de PRIAM, fans fonger que ce palais devoit é étre
fort éloigné de la i pes et que celui-ci eft prefque fur fes bords.

Quant a moi, j’ai été frappé 4 la premiére vue de la reflem-
blance de cet édifice avec-les thermes de DiocLETIEN et de Ca-
RACALLA, qu’on voit 4 Rome; mais cé qui m’a enti€rement
convaincu qu’il étoit deftine a VYufage des bains, c’eft ce grand
édifice femicirculaire qui fe trouve 4 l’angle meridional du mo-
nument, et dans lequel aboutiffent les canaux de l’aqueduc qui
y apportoient les eaux. Si PococKE et CHANDLER, avoient
vus ces canaux,—s ils avoient pénétrés dans leurs votites encore
enduites de fédiments aqueux,—s ils avoient obfervé la direétion
de l’'aqueduc qui s’y termine, ils n’auroient certainement pas
méconnu fa deftination. |

La vallée comprife dans l’enceinte des murailles, et qui les —
Turcs appellent Bezan-Deré, eft en partie artificielle ; elle eft tra-
verfée dans toute fa longueur par un grand égout, oli venoient
fans doute aboutir toutes les eaux de la ville, et dont l’em-
bouchure pour la grandeur et la conftruction, ne le céde en
rien au grand égout bati a Rome par les TARQUINS.

GC BH A Re oi

V nage a’ Alexandria Troas. au Chateau d’ Afie nommé Koum-Kale..

Pres avoir. fcrupuleufement examiné, mefuré, et defliné.
tous les monumens d’Alexandria Troas; aprés avoir fixé
géométriquement leur pofition, tant entr’eux que relativement:
a

% A: defeription of the Eaft, vol. ii. part. ii. p. 109. Travels in Afia Minor, p. 27.

PLAINE de TROYE. II

a l’ile de Tenedos, qui eft en face, je continuai ma route, en co-
toyant toujours la mer Egée. )
Je trouve d’abord une vafte plaine, que j’aurois été tenté de
prendre pour celle de Troye, fi j’y avoit reconnu la trace de
quelque fleuve. Je laiffe enfuite 4 ma droite les villages dé
Dabri, de Gheiflik, et de Bos, et jarrive enfin, a travers une
longue chaine de baffles collines fans culture, au pied d’une
éminence conique, évidemment artificielle, que j’avois appercue

a Vhorizon dés le moment ou j’avois quitté les murs d’Alexan-
drie. Cet objet remarquable attira toute mon attention par fa
forme réguliere, par fa mafie énorme, par fa hauteur, qui n’eft
pas au deffous de cent pieds, et par fon contour, que je trouvai
de quatre cent pas.

J’ETots trés empreflé de favoir, fi les Turcs qui habitent les
villages voifins avoient coutume de défigner cette petite mon-
tagne par quelque nom particulier. Ma curiofité fut pleine-
ment fatisfaite, lorque j’appris quils la regardoient comme un
tombeau des infidels, et qu’ils lui donnoient le nom trés extra-
ordinaire de Tapé ou Tepé, accompagné du nom du village le
plus voifin, qui eft Udjek.

_ En obfervant la forme de ce monument, et la parfaite reflem-
blance du nom Tapé, que les Turcs lui donnent, avec celui que
les Egyptiens donnoient a leur tombeaux, je ne pouvois guéres
_me refufer a croire, que celui-ci en étoit un lui-méme, ou du-
moins une de ces montagnes facrées fur lefquelles les peuples
d’Afie avoient coutume d’offrir des facrifices: Mais comme je
n’avois encore aucune idée de la plaine de Troye, qui cepen-
dant {fe trouvoit alors bien prés de moi, je ne pouvois que for-
mer des conjectures, mais point affeoir d’opinion fur la nature
de ce monument. Ce ne fut que dans la fuite, je pourrois dire
méme aprés le troifi¢me voyage fait dans la Troade, que je pu
prononcer un jugement raifonné fur ce monticule, et fur tous
ceux de la méme efpéce qui, fe trouvent dans la plaine de Troye ;
je me contentai pour lors d’en mefurer la hauteur et le contour,

b 2 et

gts TABLEAU de la

et de détailler de fon fommet l’un des plus beaux points de vue
qu il y ait au monde. Au midi j’appercevois les ruines d’Alex-
andrie, a plus de quatre lieues de diftance ; 2 mes pieds, du cété
du nord, une immenfe plaine entourée de charmantes collines ;.
a l’eft, les pics de l’'Ida; et a l’oueft, la mer Egée, les iles de
Tenedos, d’Imbros, de Samothrace, de Lemnos, et jufqu’au
fommet du mont Athos. ‘

A uN mille environ de ce monument, on trouve le village
a’ Erkefighi;. prés duquel lorfque j’y pafla, le fameux Hassan,
dernier Capitan Pacha, faifoit batir un joli Kiofe ou Tchiftlik,
pour pouvoir s’y repofer lorfque la flotte Turque, au retour de.
fa croifiére dans l’Archipel, ou de quelqu’autre expédition, at-
tend les vents de fud, a I’embouchure de l’Hellefpont. °

QUELQUES jours avant mon arrivée, fes archite€ts avoient.
fait tranfporter d’Alexandrie un magnifique Sarcophage de
marbre blanc, pour en faire l’auge d’une fontaine. Je fut en-
core plus choqué du vil ufage auquel on deftinoit ce monument
précieux, lorf{que j’appercus. fur une de fes faces les reftes d’une.
infcription Gréque, dont j’avois trouvé le commencement a.
Alexandrie, parmi les morceaux que ces barbares avoient dé--
taché du.Sarcophage pour le faconner a leur bizarre fantaifie.

‘Au deffous du Kiofk dont je viens de. parler, on voit un,
ruiffeau confidérable, dont les eaux parfaitement limpides,
aprés avoir fuivie la chaine des collines qui_s’étendent vers le.
fommet de la grande. plaine, femblent avoir été detournées de
leurs cours naturel, pour fuivre un nouveau canal qui les porte
dans la plaine voiline, I]. n’eft pas difficile d@appercevoir, que »
c’eft la main des hommes quia changé le cours de ce ruiffeau,
Son lit, généralement trés peu profond, en formant de nom-
breufes finuofités, ayant de parvenir au deflous du_Kiofk, ac-
quierre la, tout d’un coup, une grande profondeur, il fuit une.
ligne rigoureufement droite; et l’on voit fur fes bords un talus.
trés élevé, formé par a terres qu’on en a retirées pour le.
creufer.

Vous;

4o face page 12,Lit.Cl,

. WiaLascription trouve sur un Sarcophage au village @ ‘Brke/sight.

MARKVS PAVLINVE AEAING AVPLAIVS.
ALOV ATA OOITOAOSE QOONIAKOY YOSE AEVPI-IAION .

TAY ANEINOY TOY KAI TENOMENOY MALTKPATIAETIY oY
KA) ENTAILS MIN@EIO EET-'KENANAPIAE Kas EVOAOFENTO

AE KAITTEIN< £ OH CAT-N =O PONEM ANT2|A Kai ™m TAyKyYtTaToQ

| TAPIT nT9 TET PAMMEND AYPIALA HAYAEIND Kai Tots Extoy

EN@IZMON , Riaw TETONM+AIE HAW 912 Al TAYT=N T-INZO POW
IK PONAAAG PION-1 OS TES Fuos EA KATA OEZ OAIA NS ENPOS F} .

Mov TH PQRAF ONO AEI (

—U . mare: p 1 KAI To. tBPATATA ABD A.

WM 2 Inscription trouveée sur: une prerre
souderale au village de emalli , Vevez P26.

; LW Lis cription Louvee pres la fameus e
ts eription Si wgetre. Voyez p. 22,

CLAVD!IO DRVSO MANIC)
FIL: NERON! GERMANICO

OV <a SOPALI AVGVSTA

SonALtTio COS «~~
Oe A aha
ADRATYM Rian rit
My B. MALIT va PR. CST.
AVGVR- EE. VIR
Tlcu AMENTO PON)
JvSStT

C-MARCVS MARSVS

VF SiBt £V Swi.

PLAINE de TROYE. 13

Vous n’etes pas furpris, Meffieurs, de me voir m’appefantir
fur la defcription d’un fimple ruiffeau ; tout devient intéreffant
quand on croit approcher de la plaine de Troye:

Nullum eft fine nomine faxum *..

Ce feroit un crime d’y négliger quelque chofe; il ne faut pas.
imiter CESAR, qui paffa fur le Scamandre fans le reconnoitre. .

Infeius in ficco ferpentem gramine rivum
Tranfierat, qui Xanthus erat +.

Je fuis donc le cours de ce joli ruiffeau jufqu’ 4 fon embou-
chure dans lamer Egée. La j’appercois un marais couvert de’
rofeaux trés épais.et.trés elévés ; et, 4 peu de diftance, un mou-
lin, qui pourroit bien étre la véritable caufe pour laquelle ona
detourné le ruiffeau de fon ancien cours. Cette conjecture eft
d’autant plus fondée, que tous les villages d’alentour font ré-
duits 4 la reffource des moulins 2 vent,—reffource trés précaire
dans un pays auffi tempéré que cette partie de l’Afie. Il ne fe-
roit pas furprenant que le cours de ce ruiffeau, n’eft été de-
tourné par Heropes Atticus lui-méme, et. que l’aqueduc
- dont les ruines s’étendent vers la plaine de Troye, n’eut été def-
tiné 4 porter ces eaux-a Alexandria Troas.

De l’embouchure du ruiffeau. je dirige ma route vers le vil-
lage de Feni-chebr, en ‘cotoyant le rivage de la mer, qui dans
tout cet efpace eft compofé de rochers taillés 4 pic, d’une hau-
_ teur effrayante: J’étois curieux de m/’approcher. de ce rivage,
‘pour y obferver de plus prés differens monticules que j’avois
appercus. du fommet du monument d’Udjek, et qui me pa--

roiffoient avoir la méme forme que lui.

La premiére de ces €minences que je trouvai fur ma route,
eft serait par les Turcs Beebsk-Tapé, et n’eft pas a pee )
ia

* Lucan. Pharf, lib. ix. 973, + Ibidem...

T4 gia TABLEAU de la

prés auffi élevée que celle d’Udjek. Prés d’elle on voit une
tranchée artificielle, pratiquée dans l’épaiffeur de la montagne,
dont il n’eft pas aifé de défigner le motif ni l’ufage. Un peu
plus loin je trouvai la fecond éminence, qui me parut de la
méme dimenfion que la précédente ; et comme elle, trés bien ex-
pofée a la vue de navigateurs qui entrent dans l’Hellefpont. Je
n’ai point pu découvrir quel nom les Turcs donnoient 4 celle-ci,
mais je fuppofe qu’elle prend, comme beaucoup d’autres, le nom
du village qui l’avoifine.

Le village de Feni-chehr, peuple de Grecs, et fitué fur la pointe
d’une promontoire élevé, qui avec celui de la Cherfonefe de
Thrace forme l’entrée du canal de I’Hellefpont. Au moment
ou j’allois entrer dans l’églife, j’appercois fur un bloc de mar-
bre ces deux mots a peine lifibles,; PBANOAIKO EIMI
c’eft le commencement de la fameufe infcription Sigéenne, con-
nue de tous les érudits, et dont CHISHULL* a donné une de-
{cription particulié¢re.

En face de l’infcription, 4 gauche de la porte de la méme
églife, on voit auffi un bas relief, en marbre, de la plus belle ex-
- écution. Il reprefente une femme aflife ; des nourrices tenant

des enfans emmaillottés dans leurs bras, femblent les prefenter

a la figure affife. Un autre perfonnage vient a la fuite des nour-
rices, et porte un petit coffre de la main droite, et une efpece de
coquille de la gauche.

Le Dr CHANDLER a parfaitement expliqué ce bas relief :
“ On fait,”? dit il, ‘“* que les Grecs avoient coutume de mettre
leurs enfans fous la protection de quelque divinité, et que les
nourrices alloient les lui préfenter le cinquiéme jour aprés
“ leur naiffance. Les Romains avoient aufli la méme fuperfti-
tion; et Caricuta fe fouvient d’avoir placé fa fille Livia
“ DrusIiLLA dans le giron de Minerve. IU eft bien naturel de
croire que le bas relief ci-deffus reprefente cette cérémonie

des nourrices ; que la figure affiffe eft la Déefle MINERVE, et

« que

* Voyez Antiq. Afiatice ; aufli Infcriptiones Antique ; par CHANDLER. |

o

PLAINE de TROVE. 15

“* gue le petit coffre porté par la dernicre figure, renferme I’en-
“‘ cens, et les offrandes deftinées a la Déefle *.”

Vous concevez aifément, Meflieurs, Vextréme défir que
jeus d’enlever ces deux interéflans monumens, et vous me par-
donnerez méme peutétre les tentatives que je fis, et les dangers
auxquels je m’expofai, pour les arracher ‘a leur obfcurité et a leur
deftruCtion prochaine: Mais le marbre fur lequel fe trouve l’in-
{cription, eft renommé parmi les Grecs, comme le reméde le
plus fouverain, et le plus efficace,-contre la fiévre intermittente.
On y place la malade, il s’y couche, il s’y roule, et tout le mon-
de le croit gueri; en attendant il efface toujours de plus en plus
les precieux caracteres du monument, et peutétre, hélas! au
moment ou je parle, il n’en exifte plus aucune trace. La fuper-
ftition des Grecs fut infenfible 4 mes pricres, et leur fineffe vigi-
lante déconcerta toutes mes rufes. Au refte, comment aurois-
je pu réuffir dans une entreprife ou l’or des favans Anglois, et
les menaces de Hassan, plus éloquentes encore, avoient:
echoué ? '

A rev de diftance du village de Jeni-chehr, je me trouvai ©
fur la, pointe d’un haut promontoire, qui domine la vafte plaine:

dontj’ai déja parlé. Le torrent qui la traverfe étoit alors a fec,

‘mais fa largeur et l’irregularité de fon lit, annoncent aflez fes
. g &

ravages, et fon impétuofité. Un grand marais occupe a droite
et a gauche les environs de fon embouchure, et s’étend prefque
jufqu’au pied d’une mauvaife fortereffe que les Turcs appellent
Koum-Kalé, ‘ le chateau du fable ;’ fans doute parcequ’ il eft bati
fur les fables que le torrent amoncéle a fon embouchure.
LorsqQuE je parcourois des yeux ces differens objets, j’ap-
percois au pied du cap ou j’étois affis, deux monticules fitués

Tun prés de l'autre, et abfolument femblables 4 ceux que je

venois d’obferver fur la crete du promontoire. Un Grec de
Jeni chehr m’apprend, que le-plus confidérable de deux, le plus
voifin du rivage de la mer, eft appellé Dros-Tapé. Ce nom.

trés:

* Travels in. Afia.Minor, c. 12:

16 TABLEAU de Ia
trés extraordinaire me fournit, comme on'peut le penfer, ma-
tiére a beaucoup de réflections, que j’eus ‘occafion de dévelop- |
per, a mefure que ]’avancai dans la connoiffance de la plaine et
de fes monumens; mais je ‘me contentai pour lors de prendre
quelques er de leur dimenfions, et je continuai ma
route

Le chateau voifin du cap, bati a l’embouchure du fleuve
qui baigne fes murs, confifte en une médiocre enceinte de hau-
tes murailles, flanquées de tours, que les Turcs ont grand foin
de blanchir, afin de les rendre plus apparentes, et de les expofer.
davantage au canon de l’ennemi. Le pied de ces murailles eft
percé de plufieurs larges embrafures, 4 travers lefquelles d’énor-
mes canons vomiffent des boulets de marbre, dirigés 4 fleur
d’eau. . Ces canons font placés fur de fimples madriers. Ils ne
peuvent jamais tirer qu'un feul coup fur le méme vaiffeau, par-
ceque le recul les déplace, et il faut des efforts infinis pour leur
rendre leur premicre pofition.

Une pareille batterie n’eft donc point fuffifante pour arréter
une flotte ennemie, qui feroit fecondée par un vent favorable ;
celle qui font fituées du cote oppofé, fur la pointe de la
Cherfonefe de Thrace, et qui ont été baties par le célébre
Baron de ToTttT, feroient fans doute d’une excellente défenfe,
files Turcs favoient en faire ufage ; mais leurs ennemis natu-
tels, les Ruffes, n’ignorent pas leur impéritie dans I’art militaire ;
et fi dans la guerre qui a précédé celle-ci, les puiffances intér-
effées a la confervation de l’Empire Turc, n’avoient pas arrété
leurs fuccés, ils fe difpofoient 4 braver le canon des chateaux, et
& aller conclure la paix fous les murs du férail.

PLAINE de TROYE, 17

Odds Ay, Pi a) be

Voyage de Koum-Kalé au Mont Cotylus, lun des plus hauts foinm ets
de la chaine de 1’ Ida,

ES fatigues du voyage m’ayant forcé de prendre un peu de
repos, je m’arrétai quelques jours dans un Caravan-ferai,
au village de Koum-Kalé, fitué prés du chateau. Lorfque je
fus en état de continuer mes courfes, je traverfai le fleuve tout
prés de fon embouchure, et je l’y trouvai large de plus de trois
cents pieds. Dans les marais qui le bordent, je reconnus de pe-
tits lacs d’eau douce, et d’eau falée ; et je fus frappé de la quan-
tité prodigieufe de rofeaux et de tamarins que je trouvai fur ma
route, en cotoyant le rivage de la mer.

EnFin aprés un demie heure de marche, je vois 4 une
grande diftance un monticule dans le genre de tous ceux dont
jai déja parlé. A mefure que j’en approche, je découvre une
large ouverture pratiquée dans fes flancs, et plufieurs pans de
murailles en ruines, qui paroiffoient en étre la charpente, ou les
fondemens. Je m’élance fous cette voute, je la parcoure avec
avidité dans toute fa longueur, et dans une autre dimenfion
tranfverfale, que j’y trouve; j’examine la nature des materi-
aux, le ciment qui les unit, et je recueille avec enthoufiafme
le nom trés intéreflant de Tapé qu’on lui donne encore.

Ce n’eft pas tout, j’obferve que ce monument fe trouve 4 la
pointe d’une avance, ou langue de terre, qui fe prolonge dans
la plaine, exactement en face du cap de Jeni-chehr. Que de
brillantes conjectures s’élevent alors dans mon efprit! mais en-
core une fois, il n’eft pas tems de former un fyfteme, et les don-
nées ne font pas fufhifantes.

Vot. Ill. G APRES

18 | SABE, BAG a de

Aprés avoir jetté un coup d’ceil fur un petit port voifin, que
les Turcs appellent Karanlik-Limani, le port fermé, je pourfuis
ma route le long du rivage de |’Hellefpont, jufqu’au village de
It-Guelmes. Je fus furpris de la quantité de figuiers fauvages qui
croiffent aux environs de ce village; et ce fut la raifon qui
m’engagea a me faire répéter fon nom, pour découvrir s'il ne
feroit point quelque allufion aux productions du terrein qui

Penvironne ; un Grec me répondit qu’on l’appelloit indifférem-
ment It-Guelmes ou Evin-Keu : Ce dernier nom me rappela celui
d’Erineos, qui fignifie “ lieu fertile en figuiers fauvages.” Je
me fouvins, en méme tems, qu'il y avoit prés de la ville de
Troye une colline de ce nom, vers laquelle ANDROMAQUE cher-
choit a diriger l’attention d’HEecTor, comme étant le feul en-
droit par ot la ville pouvoit étre attaquée* ; j’allois en conclure
que la ville ne devoit pas étre éloignée de l’endroit ou je me
trouvois ; mais il n’y avoit autour de moi, ni Simois ni Scaman-
dre, et j’étois d’ailleurs immediatement fur les bords de la mer, ~
fituation qui me pouyoit s’accorder avec celle de l’ancienne
Troye.

Ix me parut alors d’autant plus inutile de m’avancer au dela
d’ Erin-Keu, que je n’avois pour toute perfpective qu’une longue
chaine de montagnes, qui s’étendoit du cété du nord et du
nord-eft, jufqu’ a l’horizon. Je revins a peu prés fur mes pas,
dans le deffein de fuivre les contours de la vafte plaine que
j’avois admirée du fommet de l’eminence d’Udjek, et du cap de
Jeni-chehr.

BieEnTOT }e defcends dans un charmant vallon, que les Turcs
appellent Thimbrek-Deré, vallée de Thimbrek. Cette vallée va fe
terminer en s’élargiffant dans la grande plaine. _J’allois remon-
ter jvf{qu’a fa fource le ruiffeau qui la parcoure, lorfque je fus
arreté fur la rive gauche, prés du village de Hali-éli, par un
énorme monceau de ruines, au milieu defquelles j’appercus des

* Tliad. vi. 433. xt. 167. Xxil. 145.

Wwe Thbidem —— /

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sur un plague de marbre,

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PLAINE de TROYE. Ig

bas-reliefs, des colonnes, des chapiteaux, des entablemens, et des
infcriptions.

SANs examiner fi le monument qui avoit autrefois exifté dans
ce lieu, étoit un temple ou un autre édifice quelconque, preflé
d’ailleurs par les menaces des habitans du village voifin, qui me
foupconnoient de chercher des tréfors parmi ces ruines, je me
hate de recueillir toutes les infcriptions, bien perfuadé que
quelqu’une d’entr’elles contiendroit les titres du monument,
ou me fourniroit au moins les moyens de le reconnoitre.

L’uneE de ces infcriptions fait mention d’une ftatue d’argent
confacrée a JUPITER par DiocLETIEN et Maximien, |’autre
d’une ftatue elevée 2 AUGUSTE au nom des habitans d Ilium,
et des quarante villes d’Afie, qui célébroient en commun des
fétes ; celle-ci étoit gravée au pied de la ftatue d’un certain AT-
TALus, fameux lutteur, dont Escu1NeEs parle dans fa lettre fur
la Troade*; celle-la contient le cérémonial des fétes Pana-
thénées ; la derniére enfin eft un hommage rendu a APOLLON
par les habitans d’ Ilium.

TouTeEs ces infcriptions auroient fuffi, fans doute, pour fixer
la nature du monument dont je voyois les débris ; mais le ca-
ractére de l’architecture et le plan de l’édifice que je démelai
fans beaucoup de peine, achéverent de me convaincre que j’avois
decouvert un temple. I] étoit d’ordre Dorique, au moins
a l’extérieur ; fes colonnes avoient dix huit pouces de diamétre.
Quelques chapiteaux Conrinthiens jettés ca et 1a, me firent foup-
conner que la decoration intérieure pouvoit bien étre de cet
ordre. .

EcHAPPE aux inquictudes que me cauferent les habitans de
Halil-éli, pendant le tems que je paflai fur les ruines du temple,
jallai fixer la fource du ruiffeau qui parcoure la vallée de Thim-
brek, et je le fuivis enfuite jufqu’a fon embouchure, dans le
grand torrent de la plaine que les Turcs appellent Menderé.

Ed, ME

* Lettre x. Voyez l’Edition des Orateurs Grecs, par Reiske, vol. iii, p. 679.

s

20 TABLEAU de ta

Me voila done encore une fois prés de ce grand fleuve, qui
paroit defcendre du haut de l’'immenfe plaine dont j’ai déja par-
couru une grande partie. J’entreprends de le remonter jufqu’a
fa fource, et d’obferver les autres fleuves qu’il peut recevoir dans

‘Yétendue de fon cours. Cette entreprife étoit pénible. II fal-
loit fe refoudre a fuivre fcrupuleufement toutes fes finuofités ;
il falloit braver les marais, les broffailles, et les difficultés de
toute nature qui fe préfentoient a4 chaque pas. Aufli le Ture -
qui me fervoit de guide, me prodiguoit-il fans referve les té-
moignages les moins équivoques de fa commifération. I] me
trouvoit bien fou de venir de fi loin, et de m’expofer a tant de
fatigues et de dangers, pour chercher des édifices ruinés, et des
fources de riviere. ‘‘ Infidel,” me difoit-il de tems en tems,
‘ n’as-tu point dans ton pays des rivieres et de vieilles ma-
“ fures ?”

APRES environ un heure de marche, j’appercois fur la droite,
le lit d’un petit fleuve alors a fec, couvert de plantes et de gazon.
J’y entre, et en le fuivant j’arrive aux bords de ce joli ruiffeau
qui j’avois traverfé en defcendant du village d’Erkeffighi. Je
ne doutai plus alors, que ce petit ruiffeau n’allat autrefois fe
joindre au grand fleuve, comme je l’avois préfumé d’abord, ni
que le nouveau canal dans lequel il coule maintenant ne fut ar-
tificiel.

Mon conduéteur voyant le dégré d’intérét qui j’attachois 4
connoitre lorigine et l’embouchure des riviéres, m’apprit que la
fource de ce joli ruiffeau n’étoit pas éloignée. 11 me montra
méme du doigt, au fond de la plaine, un groupe d’arbres et de
verdure, d’ou il m’affura qu'il fortoit.

Avant de vérifier fon affertion, je reviens vers le grand
fleuve, au point ou je l’avois quitté; et je n’eus pas plutot fait
cent pas, en remontant toujours le long de fes bords, que j’ap-
percus les ruines d’un pont fabriqué en pierre de taille, et d’une
conftruction fi parfaite qwil ne peut étre que l’ouvrage des an-
ciens. En face de ces ruines, fur la droite du fleuve, je vis en-

core

PiwA IN Edel TROIE. 21

core une éminence dans le genre de toutes celles que j’avois déja
trouvées ; mais celle-ci étoit beaucoup plus ruinée que les au-
tres. Il falloit méme étre auffi accoutumé que je l’étois a la
vue de ces monumens pour pouvoir diftinguer fa forme ancien-
ne a travers fes débris.

BIEN conyaincu par les obfervations précédentes, que les deux
fleuves avoient été réunis autrefois dans les environs des ruines
du pont, je dirige ma route vers la fource que mon conducteur
m/’avoit indiquée. J’atteignis bientOt les rives du petit fleuve ;
la limpidité de fes eaux me frappa de plus en plus; il coule
avec une grande rapidité fur un fonds de fable et de cailloux
arrondis, entre deux rives verdoyantes, qu’il ne franchit jamais,
et qui, au printems, font émaillées de fleurs. Le pont fur lequel
je le traverfai étoit un vieux /au/e jetté d’un de fes bords a
autre, prés d’un moulin, ou je trouvai plufieurs Turcs occupés
a pecher des anguilles.

On fe figure aifément tous les fouvenirs que les differens ca-
racterés de ce joli ruiffeau rappeloient a4 mon efprit, et com-
bien j’étois empreflé d’arriver 4 fes fources. Rien ne fauroit
égaler le plaifir et la furprife que j’éprouvai, lorfqu’ aprés avoir
traverfé une plaine immenfe, dans laquelle je n’avois pas rencon-
tré un feul arbre, je me trouvai au milieu d’une petite forét de
faules, de lotos, d’ormes et de peupliers, qui s’étend jufqu’au
pied des baffes collines qui terminent la plaine.

La matiére dont ces collines font formées eft une efpece de
bréche ou pouding, qui a la premiére vue ne differe en rien d’une
maconnerie. Les pierres qui la compofent font réunies entr’el-
les par une efpece de ciment de couleur rougeatre ; et la Nature
a tellement imité l’art dans ce cas particulier, qu’il faut obferver
avec le plus grand foin, pour diffiper Villufion qu’elle excite.
De nombreufes fources d’une eau claire et limpide s’échappent
avec rapidité des crevaffes de ce pouding, et forment, avant de
fe réunir dans un canal, le petit marais qu’on voit dans le vallon

voifin. A l’embouchure de quelques wnes de ces crevailes, je
remarquai

ast TABLEAU de ta

remarquai des débris de murailles, ity la conftruction parfaite-
ment folide, eft indubitablement - Vouvrage de quelque peuple
plus induftrieux que les Turcs.

Sur la route quit conduit au village voifin, a environ qua-
rante pas de la colline dont je viens de parler, je rencontrai une
fource infolée, et trés abondante, qui jailliffoit du fond d’un
baflin, dont les bords étoient formés par deux pilaftres de gra-
nite, et plufieurs fragmens de marbre. Quand aprés je revins
dans la Troade vers la fin de Septembre, je remarquai q’une
fumée epaiffe s’élevoit de cette fource, et couvroit les arbres et
les jardins d’alentour ; en y plongeant ma main, je la trouvai
chaude, et mon guide m’affura qu’elle l’étoit bien davantage
encore vers le milieu de I"hiver.

Ow concoit facilement que des fources auffi aeadantas dnd
vent tout fertilifer autour d’elles ; elles fe partagent, en effet, en
plufieurs petits ruiffeaux pour arrofer des jardins delicieux,
ou elle font croitre toutes fortes de légumes et de fruits ; elles fe
réunifient enfuite dans un lit commun, bordé de rofeaux trés
€pais et tres élevés.

JE monte au village voifin par une pente douce et facile, qui
s’éleve infenfiblement de la plaine ; je traverfe d’abord une vafte
cimetiére, dont chaque tombeau eft orné d’une colonne de mar-
bre ou de granite; et j’appercois prés de la mofquée un large
banc de marbre de Paros, porté fur deux appuis, dont l’un eft
un triglife du ftile le plus pur. Voila des monumens de l'art.
N’y auroit-il pas en autrefois, quelque ville importante fur cette
colline? le voifinage d’une plaine fertile. et des belles fources
que je viens de voir, dans un pais ou l’eau eft fi rare, et par
confequent fi précieufe, auroit été fans doute un puiffant aitrait
pour fes fondateurs.

Le nom de Bounar, ou Pounar-Bachi, téte de la fource, que les
Turcs donnent a ce village, eft la traduction littérale du mot
Grec Keovvos, que je crois avoir rencontré dans Homerg, lorf-
qu'il parle des fources du Scamandre.—Mais encore une fois, il

n’eft

PLAINE de TROYE. 23

n’eft pas tems de faire des applications; continuons 4 raffembler
des faits, et 4 comparer entr’ eux les objets que nous avons de-
couverts; leur fituation, et leur diftance refpective, ne font pas
moins effentielles 4 connoitre, que leurs qualités abfolues.

EN graviffant toujours la colline qui s’éleve, comme je 1’ai
déja dit, du niveau de la plaine, et qui s’étend a prés d’un
mille au dela du village de Bounar-Bachi, je me trouve arreté
brufquement fur les bords efcarpés d’un précipice d’une pro-
fondeur immenfe. Le torrent qui coule au pied de ce précipice
eft le méme qui parcoure la plaine. Quand il eft en fureur, il
couvre de fes eaux l’étroit vallon bordé de rochers menacans,
que la Nature femble avoir deftinés 4 contenir fon impetuofité.
Quand il eft a fec, les habitans des villages voifins profitent de
cet heureux intervalle pour cultiver fes rivages, rendus fertile
aux dépens des contrés qu’il a dépouillées de leur fécondité.

Du fommet de cette éminence que les Turcs appellent Balii-
dahi, montagne du miel, 4 caufe des nombreux effaims qui fe
trouvent dans les rochers qui la compofent, je decouvre la
grande plaine dans toute fon étendue. Sa forme generale me
paroit a peu pres femicirculaire, les deux chaines de collines qui.
Ventourent femblent fe diriger, l’une vers le cap de Jeni-chehr,
et autre vers la pointe de In-Tapé-Gheulu. La partie des
collines de la droite qui s’étendent entre les villages d’Aktché
et de Tchiblak, eft plus riante et plus agréable que le refte;
jappercois au loin les Iles de Tenedos, d’Imbros, de Samo-
thrace, et de Lemnos, le haut fommet du mont Athos, et la
Cherfonefe de Thrace, fituée de autre cété de |’Hellefpont.

Av moment ou j’admirai les avantages de cette fituation, et
la beauté des points de vue, un fpectacle nouveau vient enchan-
ter mes regards ; il faifoit une vent de fud trés violent, dont

_javois déja reffenti les effets dans la plaine, mais qui devint plus
fenfible, 2 mefure que j’avancai fur l’éminence de Balli-dahi, ex-
pofée de tous cétés a la fureur des vents, et fans aucun abri qut
puiffe Pen défendre. La flotte Turque fecondée de ce vent fa-
. vorable

7

eA TABLEAU de la

vorable doubloit a pleines voiles le cap de Jeni-chehr, et entroit
dans l'Hellefpont. Hassan PacHA qui la commandoit, re-
venoit victorieux de !Egypte. Avec une poignée de foldats, et
la terreur de fon nom, il avoit defait la nombreufe armée des
Mammoelucs ; il avoit exterminé les Beys rebelles; il empor-
toit leurs trefors # Conftantinople, et emmenoit leurs femmes
en captivité. C’eft ainfi que les coffres du Grand Seigneur fe
rempliffent, c’eft par des affaflinats multipliés que l’on fub-
vient aux befoins fans ceffe d’un grand Empire, qui n’a d’autre
loix que la volonté d’un farouche defpote, et d’autres reflources
que les fruits de l’exaction.

Ces triftes reflexions ne m’occupoient pas alors. J’ignorois
que la flotte du cruel Hassan étoit chargée d’infortunées cap-
tives; fi je l’avois fu, la vue de ces beaux vailleaux qui m’en-
chantoit, ne m’auroit i:fpiré que de Phorreur. :

LORSQUE cette flotte eut depaflé le cap, je revins 4 mes ob-
fervations, et je remarquai avec étonnement, que j’étois en-
touré de quatre monticules, abfolument femblables a tous ceux
que j’avois trouvés fur ma route; l’un d’eux cependant me pa-
rut avoir quelque chofe de fingulier dans fa ftructure ; je m’en
approche, et je vois qu'il n’eft pas comme les autres, un mon-
ceau de terre couvert de gazon, mais un énorme amas de eail-
loux jettés fans ordre les uns fur les autres. Sa forme conique
paroit avoir été alterée ; il femble qu’on en ait voulu pénétrer
Yinterieur pour le fouiller. i

Ce n’eft pas tout; en examinant avec foin la fuperficie du
rocher de Balli-dahi, je diftingue des fondemens d’antiques édi-
fices dont la magonnerie a pris la confiftance du rocher lui-méme.
Ces fondemens ne font-ils point ceux de quelque ancienne
ville ; et les colonnes de marbre et de granite qui décorent les
tombeaux voifins, ne font-ils point les débris de fes temples et
de fes palais? Je n’ai pas encore le droit de le dire; je ne me
permit pas méme de le préfumer; mais je puis du moins affurer,
que s’il y en avoit une, elle fe trouvoit, comme je lai dé, re-

marqué,

PLAINE de TROYE. "ag

marqué; au fond d’une plaine immenfe et fertile, et dans le
voifinage d’une eau limpide, falutaire et abondante, qu’elle étoit
entourée, prefque de tous cOtés, par d’affreux précipices, qui la
rendoient imprénable, et que jamais fituation ne fut plus favo-
rable a l’emplacement d’une ville.

Un quart de lieue au fud-eft de Bounar-bachi, on trouve de
village d’4rabler. La colline qui s’étend entre ces deux villages,
et qui fait face a la plaine, eft le feul endroit par ou l’on puiffe
atteindre a l’éminence de Bounar-bachi. De tous les autres
cétés elle eft environnée de précipices. Comme le torrent de
Menderé étoit a fec lorfque je defcendis fur fes bords, je me dé-
cidai a marcher dans fon hit, et a continuer de le fuivre jufqu’a
fa fource, a travers les troncs d’arbres .et les rochers qu il a
roulés fur fon paflage. Des faules, des peupliers, des platanes,
croiffent et végétent paifiblement, au milieu des ravages et de la
deftruction qui les entourent ; et qu@ique a moitié déracinés,
ils payent cependant encore a la faifon, peut-étre, pour la der-
niére fois, le tribut de leur foible verdure.

APRES avoir marché pendant prés de cing heures, entre le
deux chaines de rochers efcarpés qui bordent le vallon, j’arrive
dans une plaine, beaucoup moins étendue que celle que je ve-
nois de quitter, et a l’entrée de laquelle, on voit un village confi-
derable, que les Turcs appellent Jné ou Ené. Le -pont de bois
fur lequel on paffe pour y entrer, eft foutenu par deux colonnes_
de granite. Les murailles du Caravan/ferai font couvertes d’in-
{criptions Greques, mais entiérement indéchiffrables. Tout fem-
ble annoncer que ce village a auffi été bati fur les ruines de
quelque ville ancienne; il y en-avoit une, a peu prés dans ces
contrées, que STRABON appelle ves, et dont le nom n’eft pas
trés méconnoiffable dans celui d’Ené. Cette ville, dit SrRaBon*,
étoit 4 cinquante ftades de Pale/cep/is.

Le torrent qui baigne les murs du village d’Ené, et qui va
fe réunir au Menderé, prend fa fource pres du village de 4a-

Vou. III. . d harlar,

* Geograph. lib. xiii. p. goo. Edit. Amft. 1707.

26 | TABLEAU de la

harlar, 4 cing heures de diftance-vers‘le midi. Il eft a fec pens
dant une grande partie de l’année, et’ le: ‘pais qw il traverfe eft
heriflé de montagnes.

Ne feroit-ce point ici le fameux Suariancirt dont parle Ho-
MERE? Le voila qui fe réunit 4 un autre fleuve, dont: les ca=
rattéres fembleroient indiquer le violent: Simois. On fait que
ces deux fleuves fe réuniffoient autrefois ;—miais que dis-je? les” ,
fources de ce Scamandre fe trouveroient a quinze lieues de la
mer, et des vaifleaux de Grecs ; et comment, d’ailleurs, les bat
~ tailles quife donnoient dans une plaine, entre les rives des deux
fleuves, auroient-elles pu fe'donner dans des montagnes. impra-
ticables? Je plaindrois l’obfervateur qui ne fe croiroit pas arre-
té par ces difficultés qu’ Homere lui préfente, et qui réfolu de
trouver un Scamandre a quelque prix que ce foit, appelleroit a
fon fecours les convulfions de la Nature, et lui feroit enfanter
des montagnes, plutoét que de renoncé a des fyftémes extrava-
gans *.

Une longue et pénible excurfion que je fis dans les environs
d’Ené, et aux fources du torrent qui en eft voifin, ne m/’offroit
aucun objet bien intéreffant: J’eus' feulement occafion d’obfer-
ver quelques ruines au village d’ E/fkuptchu, que je crois ’ancien=
ne Palefcepfis; une mine d’argent que SrRABON place, en
effet, dans les environs; et au village de Kemalli, une infcription
Latine, en ’honneur de Drusus.

Jerevins aEné, et je continuai mon voyage,en fuivant toujours
le lit du Menderé, et avancant vers la haute montagne, ov 1’on-
m’avoit affuré qu’il prenoit fa fource ; j’appercois fur ma route,
les differens villages de Baloukli, de Kefil, de Tehiaouch, et j’arrive
enfin 2 celui d’dudgiler, ou des chaffeurs, qui fe trouve au pied
de la montagne que je cherchois depuis fi long tems, au prix de
toutes fortes de fatigues et de dangers ; car il eft bon d’obferver,
que tous les montagnards ne fe refemblent pas ; et que ceux de
la eae en particulier, ne font pas, a beaucoup pres, auf

maniables,
* Voyez Woon’s Defcription of the Troade, pafim.

4
ST]

PLAINE de TROYE. ee

maniables, et aufli doux,.que ceux.de la Suifle, ou du nord de
-lEcoffle.

CerTe montagne que les Turcs appellent Kas-Dahi, la mon-
tagnede l?oie, fait partie.de la longue chaine.de lida, qui s’étend
du nord au midi, et dont les rameaux font projettés, en s’abaif-
fant du,coté de left et:'de Poueft. Creft ce mont Cotylus, d’ou
STRABON, trompé par Demetrius, fait.defcendre le Scaman-
dre, qu’il confond avec le Simois *, comme je montrerai dans
la fuite.

PENDANT que je me préparois a en atteindre le fommet, et
que mes guides m’entretenoient des peines qu’ils alloient effuyer
pour m’y conduire, une pluye.affreufe me forca de différer cette
grande entreprife. I] fallut attendre que les fentiers .devinflent
praticables, et ils ne le furent qu’au bout de trois jours.

ALORS je me mis.en marche a travers de bois remplis de
bétes fauves, et de gibier de toute efpece, qui fait la principale
nouritrure, et le principal commerce du village d’Audgiler, en-
tiérement peuplé de chaffeurs. . Aprés avoir monté pendant
quatre heures, et traverfé plufieurs torrents, qui, groflis par la
derniére pluye, rouloient en s'écumant au fond des précipices,
jatteignis enfin le fommet de cette montagne, qu’ Homere a fi
bien dépeinte, en difant, que “ mille ruiffeaux en découlent, et
“¢ que fes noires foréts fon remplis de bétes fauves +.”

O! vous peintres et poétes orgueilleux de vos tableaux, je
vous attends par un beau jour, fur le fommet de l’Ida: Venez
y brifer votre orgueil, et vos pinceaux, contre les chef-d’ceuvres
de la Nature! Comparez donc, fi vous l’ofez, vos produétions
mefquines, avec fes fublimes ouvrages; n’étes-vous pas acca-
blés, anneantis, par la grandeur, et l’inimitable variété des ob-
jets quelle étale 4 vos yeux?

Quer eft celui de vous, qui hazardera de me peindre ce ciel
pur et azure; ces nuages legers et vaporeux qui le fillonnent ;

d 2 la

* Geograph. lib. xiii. p. 898, 4 Iliad. viii. 47. xi.183, &e. ”

28 TABLEAU de la ‘i x

la mafle impofante de ces montagnes accumulées ; la blancheur’
éblouiflante de la neige qui-les couronne ; la profondeur effray-
-. ante des précipices; le fracas du torrent qui fe brife contre les.
rochers ; ces grouppes d’arbriffeaux, penchés fur la furface de
fes eaux, quils colorient de leur verdure, en s’y réfléchiffant ;
ces blocs monftrueux de granite, dont les uns font fufpendus
fur la téte du voyageur, et les autres déja détachés de la mon-
tagne, font foiblement foutenus fur les bords du précipice ; les
fommets bouleverfés des collines inferieures, femblables aux
vagues agitées d’une mer en courroux; ces fleuves nombreux,
qui s’*échappent a travers les vallons et les plaines ; et ces deux.
_ mers immenfes, la Propontide, et l’Egée, dont les eaux, frap-
pées des rayons du foleil, femblent enflammer les deux extrémi-.
tés oppofées de horizon ?

Vous pouvez, comme tous les hommes fenfibles, éprouver la
jouiffance complete de toutes ces beautés; votre coeur peut
embraffer la foule innombrable des fentimens variés, que ce
fpectacle fait naitre ; mais vos couleurs font trop foibles pour
les peindre, et vos cadres trop étroits pour les contenir ; vous.
pouvez, dans vos ouvrages, furpaffer des rivaux encore plus.
mediocre que vous, mais ne vous flattez jamais d’atteindre le.
fublime de la Nature! - t

CHAP:

PLAINE de TROTE. 29

GW ede ote (PS 3} ME
Second et troifiéme Voyage de Conflantinople a Troye.

Uorque je me fuffle abftenu jufqu’alors, de porter un
jugement, et d’arréter mes opinions, fur la plupart des
objets que je venois d’obferver, on fent qu’il devoit m’étre bien
difficile d’écarter tous les fouvenirs de ma mémoire, et de me
refufer a l’évidence des applications que je pouvois faire. J’en-
trevoyois de grandes découvertes ifolées, mais il n’y avoit point
encore d’enfemble dans mon fy{téme.

_ Du mont Ida, je me rends a Conftantinople. Lorfque j’y
parlai de mon voyage dans la Troade, et des conjeCtures fingu-
liéres que je formais, peu s’en fallut qu’on ne me crut Il’efprit
aliéné ; on s’amufa long tems aux dépens de ce gu’on app tioit
mes Tombeaux, et mon Scamandre; mais les plaifanteries ne me
firent point perdre courage. Je retournai bientot dans la Tro-.
ade, avec M. Cazas, 1’un des plus habiles deffinateurs de ]’Eu-
rope, qui arrivoit alors de Palmyre, et qui dans le moment ac-
tuel, prépare a Rome, un riche fuppl¢ment a l’ouvrage de Mr

Woop. |
Nous partimes enfemble de Conftantinople, fur un vaiffeau
Grec, dont le-capitaine, fort avancé en age, naviguoit dans
PArchipel depuis fa plus tendre enfance. Je profitai de fes con-
noiffances, pour vérifier dans |’Hellefpont la fituation de Lamp-
faque, des ports de Seftos et d’Abydos, de l’ancienne Dardanus,
et de tous les fleuves qui fe jettent dans ce canal fameux. Mais
ce n’eft point ici le lieu de faire conno’tre mes travaux fur cette
partie de la Gréce ; je me fuis borné au feul tableau de la Plaine:
de.

Mat ah TABLEAU de ta

de Troye ; le theatre de I’Iliade, quoique circonfcrit dans un trés
petit efpace, eft bien digne de m’employer tout-entier.

Nous arrivames donc, M. Cazas et moi, 4 Koum-Kalé, au
moment ou le foleil alloit difparoitre derri¢re le haut fommet
de mont Athos. Le ciel étoit ferein, et fans nuage; la couleur
azurée des pics.d’Imbros, et de Samothrace, contraftoit d’une
manicére admirable avec le longue faifceaux de lumiére, que
le foleil lancoit a travers le ciel le plus pur. Ce tableau me
rappela ce que j’avois autrefois lu dans PLineE, et regardé com-
me une fable; ce naturalifte prétend, que l’ombre du mont
Athos s’étendoit, dans certaines faifons, jufques dans le marché
de Myrina, ville de Vile de Lemnos, fituée 4 quatre-vingt
fept milles du mont Athos. .

Le témoignage de PLINeE a ce fujet, ne m’avez pas paru plus
digne de fois que celui de SrRABON, qui afflure, que les habi-
tans du fommet de la méme montagne, voyent le foleil levant,
trois heures plutét que ceux qui habitent le rivage de la mer.
Jinclinois fort 4 ranger ces. deux affertions fur la méme ligne,
lor{qu’en jettant les yeux dans l’oueft, j’appercus un immenfe
cone d’ombre, dont la pointe étoit au fommet de l’Athos, et
dont la bafe projettée horizontalement, fembloit rafer la furface
de la mer, et fe diriger vers Vile de Lemnos. Dans peu de
momens, cette ombre s’éleva dans l’atmofphere, fe diffipa, et
perdit peu a peu fa forme, a mefure que le foleil defcendit au

deffous de l’horizon. 11 n’en fallut pas davantage pour juf-
tifier PLINE a mes yeux, mais STRABON ne l’eft pas encore, et
ne fauroit l’etre.

La vigilance des Turcs, paroiffoit devoir étre un grand ob-
ftacle aux operations géographiques, que je voulois entrepren-
dre; pour y échapper, je m/’avifai d’un ftratagéme, qui me
procura la liberté de déployer mes in{trumens dans tout le pays,
fans éprouver aucun défagrément. Je plantai hardiment mon
graphom‘tre fous le canon méme du chateau: Auflitot les Ja-
niflaires m’entourent; fans paroitre intimidé de leur préfence,

je

PLAINE de TROYE. 31

je tachai de fixer leur attention fur la bouffole du graphoméetre,
quils connoiffent comme une inftrument de marine, et je leur
demandai la permiffion de la vérifier avant de me mettre en
mer. Les Turcs ont une confiance, et une crédulité, qui font
Vapanage de leur grand caractéere, et le réfultat de leur profonde
“ignorance. Chacun des Janiffaires s’emprefle de m’étre utile;
Yun porte le pied de l’inftrument, l’autre la chaine, un _troi-
fiéme les piquets ; et tous fe réuniffent, pour m/’aider a faire un
ouvrage pour lequel ils m’auroient empale, s’ils en avoient connu
les funeftes confequences.

Cerre rufe que j’employai dans. le refte. de la Troade, fut
par tout fuivie du méme: fuccés.. M. Cazas. deflina tous les
monumens; mais: il s’abftint pour le moment, d’y placer des
figures, depuis qu’un: Emir * lui.eut prouvé, d’un air menacant
et courroucé, qu’il feroit comptable. devant Dieu, de tous les
petits hommes qu’il engendroit avec fon pinceau.

Ge fecond voyage, et un troificéme, que je fis enfuite,
dans la Troade, ne laifferent pas que de me fournir de nou-
velles idées, et de rectifier les erreurs: que j’avois pu commettre
dans le premier.

CR & Pe

* Sette particuliére de Turcs, qui fe croient de la famille de Manomer ; et qui font

pour cette raifon, plus orgueilleux, et plus fanatiques que les autres.

32. LABLEAU ae ta ; oe

Gy EAS? bE

Hiftoire de plus célébres voyageurs, tant anciens que modernes, qui
ont vifité la Plaine de Troye. :

L eft tems maintenant, Meffieurs, de vous communiquer mes
opinions et mes conjectures fur les differens objets que je
viens de décrire; mais avant tout, pour vous préparer a les
adopter fans répugnance, et a ne pas vous effrayer de leurs fin-
gularité, je vais m/’étayer d’abord du témoignage des plus célé-
bres voyageurs tant anciens que modernes.

La longue durée de la guerre de Troye, n’eft pas, comme
Von fait, une fiction de la poéfie, c’eft une vérité de ’hiftoire.
Pendant dix ans, les peuples de la Gréce ravagerent la coté
d’Afie, et les iles qui y font adjacentes. La capitale de la Troa-
de ne fut pas toujours l’objet de leurs combats; ils y revenoient,
fans doute, par intervalle, et ce ne fut, a ce qu'il paroit, que la
deniére année quils l’attaquerent avec leurs forces réunies.
Fut-elle prife, ou réfifta-t-elle a tous les efforts des Grecs, com-
me quelques hiftoriens l’ont prétendu, c’eft ce que je ne me
flatte pas de décider 3-mais ce qu’il y a de certain, c’eft que
pendant cette derni¢re campagne, il périt, de part et d’autre, un
grand nombre de guerriers illuftres, auxquels, fuivant l’ufage,
on éleva des monumens, au milieu méme des batailles.

Le grand interét de cette guerre, dut mettre en mouvement
la Gréce et l’Afie, pendant qu’elle dura; lorfqu’elle fut ter-
minée, les foldats, et les généraux, qui en avoient été les ac-

teurs, 4 leur retour dans ieur patrie commune, durent en faire
la

PLAINE de TROYE, 33

la matiere de leurs récits, et l’inftrument de leur renom-
mee. ‘

L’HIsTOIRE et la poéfie s'emparerent auffitot de ces grands
évenemens, pour les tranfmettre a la poftérité. Dicrys de
Créte et Dares de Phrygie publierent, dit-on, les premiers, la
relation de cette guerre, dont ils avoient été les acteurs, et les
témoins.

BienTOT les guerriers qui avoient péri fous les murs. de
'Troye, partagerent les honneurs refervés aux dieux; l’encens
fuma fur le tombeau d’AcHILLE, et la plaine de Troye devint
un vafte temple, on les voyageurs de toutes les nations, fe fai-
foient un devoir religieux, d’offrir un facrifice avant d’entrer
dans |’ Hellefpont. |

It me femble voir le grand HomereE, abordant pour la pre-
' miére fois fur ces rivages fameux, et rendant a l’ombre d’A-
CHILLE le plus digne hommage qu’elle ait jamais recu; je le
vois marchant d’un air grave et penfif, entre les rives du Simois
et du Scamandre: Son ceil brulant embrafle avec avidité tous
les objets qui l’entourent ; raille fouvenirs .fe préfentent a la
fois 2 fa mémoire 5 fon coeur s’attendrit ; fon imagination s’en-
flamme ; le plan de I’Iliade eft formé !

~ Ut Ducis implevit vifus veneranda vetuftas— *

HeRoporeE eft, je penfe; aprés HomMERE, le plus ancien au-
teur qui nous ait parlé de la Troade. Suivant lui, la plaine, et
les environs de Troye, apres la guerre, fut long tems un fujet
de difcorde, entre les Athéniens et les Mitylénéens. Ceux-ci
foutenoient que leur droits a la poffeffion de la Troade n’etoient
pas moins fondés que ceux des autres Grecs, qui avoient con-
tribué, avec MENELAUs, a arracher HELENE de la main des
Troyens. | :

MOLLE. e Jr

* Lucan. Pharf. Lib. ix. 987.

~ 6

44 TABLEAU de la

Je n’ai point d’épreuve, que ce pére des hiftoriens ait fait le -
voyage de Troye; mais j’ofe aumoins affurer, que la defcrip-
tion qu'il donne de la marche de XERxEs, eft parfaitement
d’accord avec ma carte. “ L’armée de XeErxés, (dit-il), en
** quittant la Lydie, marcha vers le fleuve Caicus, et la Myfie.
“ Laiffant enfuite le mont Cana fur la gauche, elle avanca du
Caicus par Atarné, vers la ville de Carina. De-la, elle con-
tinua fa marche a travers la plaine de Thébé, et paffa par la
ville Adramythium, et d’Antandros ; dirigeant enfuite fes pas
vers la-partie gauche du mont Ida, elle entra dans le territoire
des Troyens. Pendant qu’elle étoit campée au pied de cette
montagne, un orage affreux, qui s’éleva pendant la nuit, fit
périr un nombre confiderable de foldats. Quand V’armée-
arriva au Scamandre, ce fut la premiere riviére qu’elle ren-
contra depuis Sardes, dont les eaux ne fuffirent pas pour les
hommes et les chevaux. XERXES monta fur la Citadelle de
Troye, afin d’obferver la fituation de la place, et s’informer
des particularités qui y avoient rapport. I] facrifia mille beufs
«<4 Minerve Iliade, et les Mages ‘cilrirent des libations aux hé-
“ ros. Dans la nuit qui fuivit ces cérémonies, une allarme
s’étant repandue dans le camp, auflitot que le jour vint a pa-
“* roitre, l’'armée fe mit en marche, ayant a gauche les villes de
“ Rhetée, d’Ophrynéum, et-Dardanus voifine d’Abydos; et a la.
‘“* droite le pays des Gergithes-Troyens.”’

L’orRATEUR EscuiNnes fut conduit a Troye par la fimple
curiofité, et pour y rechercher les monumens mentionnés dans.
V’lliade. Il avoit pour compagnon de voyage un jeune homme
dont la conduite légere et imprudente l’empécha d’exécuter fon
projet, et ’expofa méme aux plus grands dangers. L’aventure
qui les obligea tous deux de quitter la Troade avec la plus
grande précipitation eft véritablement déplorable. Elle eft ra-
contée en détail par Escuines lui-rméme dans la dixiéme des
lettres attribuées a cet orateur*.

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74

‘* ALEXANDRE,
* Vid. Oratores Greci, Edit. Reifke, Vol. ii, p. 679.

73
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66
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ێ

PLAINE de TROYE. o0a5

« ALEXANDRE, (d’aprés les differens auteurs dont le té-
moignage a été recueilli par FrErNsHEMtus dans- fon fupplé-
ment 2 QUINTE CurceE), arrivé a Seftos, envoya la plus
grande partie de fes troupes 4 Abydos, de l’autre coté du
rivage, fous la conduite de PARMENION, et il lui donna cent
foixante vaiffeaux de guerre, et plufieurs autres de charge.
Quant a lui, il alla avec le refte 2 Eléonte, qui eft confacrée
a ProTEsiLaAus, de qui lon voit la fépulture, fous un petit
tertre, environné d’ormes d’une nature merveilleufe ; car les
feuilles qui naiffent aux branches tournées du coté de Troye
tombent en méme tems qu’elles font ouvertes, bienque toutes
les autres confervent leur verdure, comme pour faire fouve-
nir de la funefte avanture de ce héros, qui pafla en Afie avec
les Grecs dans une floriflante jeunefle, et qui fut la premiére
victime de la guerre des Troyens. Au refte, ALEXANDRE lui
fit des facrifices mortuaires, et le pria de permettre qu’il en-
trat dans une terre ennemie, fous des aufpices plus heureux
quwil n’y étoit entré lui-méme. © De-la, il fe rendit avec foix-
ante vaifleaux a Sigée, et vit ce port qui fut mis en réputa-
tion par les Grecs, dont il avoit recu la flotte du tems de la
guerre de Troye. Comme il voguoit déja au milieu de
l’Hellefpont, étant lui-méme le pilote du vaifleau que le por-
toit, il immola un taureau a Neptune et aux Neréides, et pour
faire une offrande aux dieux marins, il jetta dans la mer le
vafe d’or dont il avoit fait les libations. Lorfqu’il fut arrivé
au port, 11 lanca un dard fur le rivage, et fauta le premier a
terre, prenant les dieux a témoins quil ne vouloit avoir
VAfie que par une guerre légitime. Enfuite il fit élever des
autels en l’honneur de Jupirer Défenfeur, de MINERVE et
d’HERCULE, au méme lieu ov il étoit defcendu a terre, et
commanda que l’on en drefsat auffi a l’endroit ou il étoit parti
de |’Europe. ‘
*“* Arwnszi il prit fon chemin par la campagne, ov |’on voit en-
core des marques de l’ancienne ville de Troye. I] y con-
e 2 ** fidéra

36 TABLEAU de la

“ fidéra curieufement les reftes de tant d’ouvrages héroiques ;
“et lorfque quelqu’un.des habitans lui eut offert la lyre de
Paris, il repondit, qvil ne faifoit grand cas de cet inflrument
de liches et molles voluptés, mais qu’on lui feroit plaifir de lui
donner la lyre d’Acuinue, fur laquelle il faifoit réfonner les lou~
anges des grands hommes, avec la méme main dont il furpaffit
leurs actions.
“ De plus, comme il avoit une admiration particuli¢re pour
AcHILLE, de qui il fe glorifioit d’étre defcendu, il courut
tout nud avec fes favoris a l’entour de fon fépulcre ; il l’oig-
nit d’huile, et mit deffus une couronne. EpHeEsTIon cou-—
ronna auffi la fépulture de PATRocLE, pour témoigner qu’il
avoit la méme place dans l’amitié d’ALEXANDRE que Pa-
TROCLE dans celle d’AcuiLLeE. Au refte, parmi les difcours
qu’ALEXANDRE fit d’AcuHILLE, il dit: Qu’il Leftimoit dou-
blement heureux a’ avoir eu, durant fa vie, un véritable et fidel amt,
et d’avoir trouvé, apres fa mort, un excellent poéte pour célébrer fes
louanges. 1) fit aufli des facrifices a tous les autres héros,
dont on voyoit les tombeaux dans cette contrée *.’’
LorsqQuE les Romains paflerent la premiére fois en Afie, pour
chafler ANTIocHUs du pays qu'il occupoit en deca de mont
Taurus, ils ne furent pas infenfibles aux charmes du pais dont
leurs fouverains prétendoient tirer leur origine. Mais le cruel
Fimsria montra des difpofitions oppofées a celles de fes conci-
toyens. Ayant pris le commandement de l’armée, aprés la
mort du conful VaLERius Fraccus, qu'il avoit fait périr en
Bithynie, il s'avanca vers Ilium. Les Troyens a fon approche, _
fermerent les portes de leur ville, et envoyerent, en méme tems
des députés a SyLtxLa, en lui propofant de fe rendre a lui. Syt-
LA leur confeilla de fe foumettre a leur vainqueur Fimsrta ; il
leur promit de venir bientot a leur fecours; et leur rappela,
pour les encourager, que les Romains tiroient leur origine des
Troyens :

C6
(a3
ceo
“ec

ce

* Supplement. in Q. Cuntium, Lib. ii. cap. 3-

Pia BNE ide, TROT E. 37

Troyens : En méme tems il envoya des députés 4 FiMBRIA pour
_Vengager a traiter les Troyens avec douceur. L’orgueilleux
-Frmpria piqué de cet ordre, afli¢gea, fur le champ, la ville;
et aprés s’en €tre rendu maitre, dans l’efpace de onze jours,
comme il fe vantoit en préfence d’un Troyen de s’étre emparé
dans fi peu de tems d’une ville qu’AGAmEMNoN, avec mille.
vaifleaux, n’avoit pris qu’aprés dix ans de fiége ; “‘ il eft vrai,”
‘répondit le Troyen, “ mais nous n’avions pas un HecToR |
‘ pour nous défendre.” Fimpria rafa la ville, et maflacra
tous fes habitans. SyLLA ayant fait fa paix avec MITHRIDATE,
fit marcher fon armée contre FIMBRIA, qui, réduit a une fitua-
tion défefpérée, fe donna la mort. Syxia fit tous fes efforts
pour apporter quelques confolations aux malheureux Troyens,
et leur donna toute forte de marques d’interét et lee bienveil-
lance.

César digne rival d’ALEXANDRE, et qui limita méme
jufque dans fa paflion pour Homere, voulut renouveller l’al-
liance qui l’unifloit avec les Troyens. I] leur accorda de nom-
breux privileges, et les combla de bienfaits. S’il en faut croire
Yauteur de la Pharfale, ce guerrier purfuivant POMPEE penetra
dans la Troade pour en vifiter les monumens :

Sigeafque petit fama mirator arenas
Et Simoentis aquas, et Graio nobile bufto
Rbeation, et multum debentes vatibus umbras *.

PomPeeE enleva la ftatue d’AjAx, qui étoit dans le temple élevé
prés de fon tombeau, et la tranfporta en Egypte. AucGusTeE la
fit reftituer aux Troyens dans la-fuite. Juris, fille de cette
Empereur, manqua, dit-on d’étre noyée dans le Scamandre, en
parcourant la plaine de Troye: Acrippa fon époux fe montra
fort fenfible a cet accident, et en témoigna fon indignation aux
Troyens comme s’ils avoient pu en etre refponfables.

Tous

* Lucan, Lib. ix. 961.

a8 MR TABLEAU de la

‘Tous ces illuftres voyageurs ne nous ont rien appris de la
‘Troade, finon que fes monumens attiroient, encore de leurs
tems, la curiofité des plus grands perfonages. Du refte, les
princes, et les femmes d’alors voyageoient comme aujourd’hui,
par ambition, par vanité, ou pour fe dérober a l’ennui. ALEx-
ANDRE honoroit ACHILLE, pour établir fa parenté avec ce hé-
ros, et faire accroire qwil avoit hérité de fon courage. La mai-
fon de Jutzs exemptoit les Troyens d’impdots, pour rappeler
qu’elle étoit iffue de celle de Priam ; et lorfque l'infame Juxiz
les fit accabler d’une injufte amende,. c’eft, fans doute, parce-
qu’elle ne recut pas des Troyens les honneurs qu’elle fe croyoit
en droit d’en attendre. Revenons aux voyageurs éclairés dont
les journaux ont triomphé des fiécles pour arriver jufqu’a
nous.

C’esT une chofe bien étrange, que les deux plus grands géo-
graphes de l’antiquité, PAusanras et STRABON ne foient ja-
mais allés dans la Troade. Le premier en parle fur le rapport
d’un certain Myfien, qui lui racontoit des prodiges touchant
le tombeau d’Ayax; le fecond s’appuye fur le témoignage d’un
certain Demetrius de Scepfis, auquel il ne paroit pas avoir
une grande confiance; qu’il accufe de contradiction; qu’il ne

trouve point d’accord avec HOMERE ; mais dont il a cependant

adopté la defcription, fans doute, parcequil n’a pas pu s’en
procurer de plus exacte.

Ix ne m’a pas été poffible de fuivre plus avant dans l’hiftoire
ancienne, les monumens, et les fleuves de la Troade. Je laiffe
aux érudits le foin de continuer ces recherches, et de remplir,
s’ils le peuvent, par de nouveaux témoignages, l’immenfe lacune

que la barbarie du bas Empire femble avoir laiflée, entre le
dernier des auteurs anciens qui a parlé de la Troade, et le pre-
mier des voyageurs modernes. Jene ferois point, au refte, étonné
qu aprés |’établiffement du Chriftianifme, les temples et les tom-
beaux des guerriers ne foient tombés dans l’oubli: Ils ont du

cefler d’attirer ’hommage comme les autels d’un culte.facri-
lége.

PLAINE de TROVE. 30°.

Iége. Tout le monde fait avec quel zéle CLEMENT d’Alexan-
drie s’éleva contre cette efpece d’idolatrie, et avec quelle véhé-
mence il reprochoit aux nouveaux Chrétiens de prodiguer a ces
nombreux tombeaux un encens qui n’étoit du qu’a la Divinité *.

Mats pourquoi les prétres du bas Empire n’ont-ils pas ren-
verfé ces monumens? Pourquoi n’en ont-ils pas effacé jufqu’a
la trace? C’eft quw’ils connoiffoient la vénération des Grecs pour
les fépultures, et c’auroit été peut-etre le plus far moyen de les:
ramener a leur ancien culte, et de les détourner du nouveau,.
que d’ofer porter la main fur les tombeaux de leurs guerriers.

Les Turcs devenus maitres de la Troade, par la deftruction:
et la conquéte de empire, portent peut-étre plus-loin le refpect
pour les morts que les Grecs dont ils ont triomphé. Le pré-
texte de la commodité publique ou particulicre, ne fuffit pas
chez eux, comme chez nous, pour violer les tombeaux; mal-
heur a celui qui fe rendroit coupable de cette profanation! Aufli
s’oppofent-ils avec la plus grande vigilance aux enterprifes des
étrangers curieux, qui cherchent a fonder ces monticules facrés, .
_ dont la tradition leur-a fait connoitre l’ufage, et auxquels ils ont
confervé le méme nom qu’on leur donnoit dans la plus haute:
antiquité.

Le Doéteur Pococke eft, je crois, le premier des modernes
qui ait pénétré dans la Troade, ou dumoins, qui en ait tenté la.
defcription. Cet article de fon ouvrage, quoique rempli de
fautes et d’obfcurité, m’a cependant guidé trés utilement dans:
mes recherches. Il avoit vu la plus grande partie des tombeaux;
il avoit vu la vallée de Thymbra, et le fleuve Thymbrius ; mais
il ne leva pas la carte du pays; et trop fcrupuleux admirateur
deSTRABON, il aima mieux fe laifler égarer par ce géographe, que
de s’en rapporter a fes propres. yeux, qui l’auroient probable--
ment conduit a fe trouver d’accord avec HomERE, s'il avoit fi--
delement obfervé la Nature. De fon tems, au refte, il n’étoit
peut-étre pas facile, ni prudent, d’expofer des inftrumens de:
géometric,,.
*- Cohortatio ad Gentes, cap. iil.

ap, TABLEAU de la

-zéometrie, a la face des Turcs ; ils n’avoient pas. encore connu
le joug des Ruffes, et ils n’ toient pas aufli traitables qu’ils le
font aujourd’hui.

Le Do@eur RicHArD CHANDLER, de l’univerfité d’Oxford,
membre de la Société des Antiquaires de Londres, parut, il ya
quelques années, dans la Troade, a la fuite de Pococke. La
hardiefle, et la franchife avec laquelle ce favant et eftimable
voyageur parle des tombeaux d’AcHILLE et de PATROCLE, d’AN-
TILOQUE etd’ AisyETEs, contrafte d’une maniére frappante avec
‘la timide circonfpection de Pococke. ‘‘ Ces monumens,” dit
celui-ci, ‘* pourroient bien étre de la plus haute antiquité; le
* orand eft peut-étre le tombeau d’AcHILLE et les deux autres
** ceux de PATROCLE et dANTILOQUE.”

‘“ Les deux éminences,’”’ dit celui-la, “ que j'appercois dans
‘la vigne, font les tombeaux d’AcHILLE et de PaTROCLE; le
“ troifieme eft celui d’ ANTILOQUE fils de NesTor ; je diftingue
du cété oppofé le tombeau d’AjaAx, et a une plus grande di-
‘“‘ ftance le tombeau d’ AsYETEs.”’ |

Quawp on a lu l’ouvrage dt Docteur CHANDLER, on ne
fauroit le foupconner d’avoir avancé légérement fon opinion
fur les monumens dont il parle. I] a fes preuves, j’en fuis fir,
mais je regrette véritablement qu’il ait paru mettre fi peu d’im-
portance a des objets qui demandoient la difcuffion la plus ap-
profondie ; je le blame d’avoir afflez compté fur la crédulité de
fes leéteurs, ou fur leur inftru€tion, pour imaginer quils
adopteroient fur fa parole les prodiges qu’il leur annonce ; je le
blame enfin de ne s’étre pas appuyé des conjectures de fon célé- |
bre compatriote. Au refte, je trouve dans la réunion de leurs.
refpectables temoignages une autorité dont je vais m’armer avec
confiance, et j’ofe.efpérer avec fuccés, contre la défiance et I’in-
credulité.

J aurots defiré de toute mon ame pouvoir aufli appeler a
mon fecours, les obfervations de Mr Woop, le célébre auteur |

du

»

PLAINE de TROYE. 4t

du: voyage de Palmyre, et de I’Effai fur le génie d’HoMERE ;
mais je ne crains pas de le dire, Meflieurs, parce que je le prouve-
rai bientOt, Mr Woon s’eft égaré dans la Troade.

a EE SS

GG. Hi Ask. « VIL

Erreur de Strabon fur le Scamandre.-

\'TRABON ne pouvant parler de la Troade a fes leCteurs:
J d’aprés fes propres obfervations, parce qu’il n’y étoit jamais:
allé, a cherché a s’appuyer de celles de quelque géographe-
éclairé. DEMETRIUS. de Scepfis fut celui dont il adopta la de-
{eription ; mais la maniére dont il's’y prend pour infpirer aux:
autres de la confiance en cet auteur, femble prouver gu’il en:
avoit peu luicméme. “ I] y a de la-contradidtion dans ceci,”’
dit-il dans-un endroit, ‘‘ mais j’approuve le refte; et je crois:
** que dans beaucoup de chofes il faut s’en rapporter 4 DEME-
“ rrius de Scepfis, homme inftruit, né fur les lieux, et qui:
“¢ d’ailleurs a pris:‘tant d’intéret a la fcene de I’Iliade, qu'il a:
“¢ compofé trente livres fur les foixante vers d, HoMERE qui ont:
* rapport a la plaine de Troye.”-—“ Ecoutons,” ajoute-t-il en-
core ailleurs, ‘‘ DemeTRius de Scepfis, cet homme verfé dans
© Ja connoiffance de la Troade, puifqu’il y eft né; il nous ap-
prend que le Scamandre prend fa fource dans le mont Coty-.
‘Tus, avec le Granique et l’A‘fepus. Il avoue, de plus, que:
‘le Scamandre coule vers l’occident, tandis que les deux au--
tres coulent vers le nord.”

Vou. III... Te eee AYANT-

A2 TABLEAU de la

AyANT une fois adopté la doétrine de cet obfervateur, StRA-
BON doit maintenant chercher a l’accorder avec les poémes
d’Homere ; il en fent la néceflité, et il a la bonne foi de ne pas
en diffimuler la difficulté. ‘* Au refte,” dit-il, “ les vers fui-
“ vans d’Homere fourniffent matiére 4 une grande difcuffion :

Keeva dixavor xarrippow, evdo de arnyat

Aoi avaicosos Laawavdes Ownevros.

‘H wey yoo Yodars Araea pees, &mPi 0 xamvos
Tiverces 22 avrgs, woel rvgos cidoevorn’

‘H Oeréen Tegel weogées einvin yuracn,

"H yon Poyen, 4 &£ VduTOS neusarrw *.

‘“‘ Its arriverent enfin aux deux belles fources, je veux dire, a
“ Vendroit oui jailliffent les deux fources du Scamandre; car
“ cette riviére a deux fources: L’une eft chaude, et il s’en éleve
“ de la fumée, comme autour de la flamme: L’autre, en été,
** eft froide comme la gréle, la neige, ou la glace tranfparente.’’
“ Ceci,” dit SrrRaBon, “ préfente une difficulté. On ne
“ trouve point de fources chaudes dans cet endroit; et la
“* fource du Scamandre n’eft pas la, mais dans la montagne.
“ P’ailleurs il n’y ena pas deux; il n’y enaqu’une. II eft
‘“* donc probable que la fource chaude a difparu, mais que la
** fource froide s’échappant du Scamandre par un paflage fou-
“terrain, paroit prés de 14; ou bien l’on peut imaginer en-
“ core, que ce courant d’eau a été appelé la fource du Scaman-
“ dre, parce quwil eft voifin de ce fleuve; c’eft en effet, de
‘“‘ cette maniére, que l’on peut dire qu’une riviere a plufieurs
“* fources.”’

Cette application eft fi miferable, f obfcure, fi inintelligible,
qu’on ne fait lequel on doit blamer le plus, de DEMETRIvs de
Scepfis, qui commet une erreur groflicre, ou de STRABON qui
cherche a la confacrer.

Leg

* Wiad. xxii. 147.

PLAINE de TROYE. 43

LE mont Cotylus, oi DEMETRIUs place la fource du Scaman-
dre, au lieu de celle du Simois, eft a quinze lieues du rivage de
lamer. C’eft le Kas-dahi, ou /a montagne de I’Oie, dont j’ai fait
la defcription dans mon journal. Il eft, aprés le mont Gargara,
le fommet le plus élevé de la chaine de I’Ida, peuplé de détes
fauves, comme au tems d’HoMERE, et environné d’autres mon-
tagnes, dont les rameaux s’étendent a l’oueft jufqu’a Ja mer, et
a Veft vers la Myfie. L’armée Grecque n’a jamais pu faire la
guerre au milieu de ces impraticables montagnes. Ainfi, d’aprés
STRABON, ou plutot d’aprés DemerrRivus, il faut fuppofer
qu’HomERE nous a trompé, quand il nous a dit que les plus
grandes batailles fe donnoient entre les rives des deux fleuves ;
que la ville de Troye étoit fituée prés des fources du Scamandre,
et que le Grecs alloient fouvent dans le méme jour jufqu’au
pied des murailles, et revenoient 4 leur camp.

J'Aurois pu me difpenfer d’entrer dans ces détails, et de
m’étendre fi au long fur la réfutation de Srrazon, il me fuffi-
foit de me trouver d’accord avec HomMERE, de prouver que les
fources du Scamandre font encore aujourd’hui dans la plaine de

*Troye, a lendroit 00 elles doivent étre pour fatisfaire a tous
les incidens de V’Iliade, et que le fleuve qu’elles forment, a tous
les caractéres que le poéte lui donne.: Mais aprés avoir expofé
quelques unes des erreurs dans lequel STRABON eft tombé, en
accordant fa confiance 4 DEMETRIUS, je rendrai maintenant.
juftice a certaines parties de fa defcription que j’ai trouvées ex-
adtes; car quoique cet auteur juftement célébre, ne reconnoiffe
pas les fources du Scamandre, et les rejette 4 dix lieues de la
plaine ou elles font a prefent, et ou elles étoient indubitablement
de fon tems, il n’en a pas moins montré une connoiflance fuffi-
fante de fon fujet dans beaucoup d’autres points.

f2 CHAP.

44 TABLEAU de ia

C H A P. VII

Examen de quelques paffages de Strabon.

L fuflit de jetter les yeux fur la carte de la plaine de Troye
pour reconnoitre auffit6t combien cette carte eft d’accord
avec la defcription de STRABON, qui, quoique exaéte a beau-
coup d’égards, ne fauroit cependant paroitre intelligible dans
bien des cas, aux yeux mémes de fes plus zélés admirateurs.
* Daws cet endroit,”’ dit-il avec DEmeTRutus, “ deux chaines

“* de montagnes recourbées fe détachent de la grande chaine de
“ |’Ida, et s’étendent vers Ja mer, l’une dans la direétion du Cap
“ Sigée, et l’autre dans celle du Cap Rhétée. Chacune d’elles
“¢ forme une ligne femicirculaire, et elles fe terminent, l’une et
“ autre, dans la plaine, a la méme diftance de la mer que la
“« nouvelle Ilium. Cette ville eft, en effet, firuée dans l’efpace:
“* qui s’étend entre les extremités de ces collines, comme 1I’an-
“ cienne Troye l’étoit entre leur origine. Elles comprennent
“ dans leurs enceinte, la plaine du Simois, arrofée par ce fleuve,
“ et celle du Scamandre. Ces deux parties forment un enfem-
“‘ ble, qui eft encore appelé la plaine de Troye, et qui fut,
* fuivant le poéte, le theatre du plus grand nombre des combats.
“ Le bois des figuiers fauvages, le tombeau d’ syerEs, Batieia,
“ Je monument d’ILus, le Scamandre, et le Simois, qui coulans
© Pun du coté du Cap Sigée, l'autre du cété du Cap Rhetée fe
«¢ réuniffent, en face, et 4 une petite diftance de la nouvelle
* Tlium, fe jettent enfuite dans la mer prés du Cap Sigée, et
“* forment, avant de s’y jetter, un marais, appelé Stoma Limné,
*¢ Je marais de lV embouchure *.”

4

Jusqu’ ici
* Geograph. p. 892. Edit. Amft. 1707.

PLAINE de TROYE. 45

Jusqu’ici STRABON n’auroit pas été plus exact quand il au-
roit eu la carte fous les yeux. La plaine ou eft fituée le village
de Bounarbachi eft, en effet, bordée de deux collines, 4 peu
prés femicirculaires, qui fe dirigent, l’une vers le Sigée, et
lautre vers le Rhetée. On y retrouve encore aujourd’hui la plus
grande partie des objets mentionnés par le poéte: La colline des
figuiers fauvages, le tombeau d’AisyETEs, le monument d’ILus,
le Scamandre, dont le cours eft dirigé vers le Sigée, comme
celui de Simois vers le Rhetée. Ces deux fleuves, qui fe ré-
uniffoient autrefois, et alloient fe jetter dans la mer prés du
Cap Sigée, en formant un marais qu’on voit encore aujourd’hui,
4 leur embouchure, ne fe réuniffent plus. Le Scamandre,
comme on peut le remarquer dans la carte, fuit une diretion
nouvelle. Les figuiers fauvages ne croiffent plus dans les envi-
rons de Bounarbachi ; mais on en trouve par tout ailleurs, dans
la plaine, et fur les montagnes voifines. Batieia, ou le tom-
beau de MyrinNE, n’a point refifté aux injures du tems; mais
fa fituation eft une confequence evidente des objets connus qui
Venvironnoient.

“ ViEnT enfuite,’ continue SrrRABon, “ la ville de Rhetée,
* fituée fur une éminence, prés de laquelle s’étend une plage fa-
** blonneufe, ou fe trouve Aiantéum, c’eft a dire, le tombeau
“et le Temple d’Ayax, avec fa ftatue *.”

L’oRIGINAL eft encore ici un peu obfcur et confus, mais
autant qu’on y peut trouver un fens, il s’accorde en général
avec la carte. .

“ La longueur de la cote, qui s’étend entre le Cap Rhétée
“* et le Cap Sigée, ou eft le tombeau d’AcHILLE, eft de /oixante
“ fiades en ligne droite ; elle fe prolonge au deffous de la nou-
“ velle Ilium, dont la diftance au port des Grecs eft d’environ
** douze ftades >.”

La diftance entre ces deux Caps, fixée géométriquement, eft,
a peu prés, moindre de moitié que celle que SrRasBon donne

ACI 5
* P. 8go. + Ibidem.

46 | TABLEAU de la

ici ; mais parfaitement d’accord avec celle que PLINE le Natura-
litte affigne *. Quant a celle de la nouvelle Ilium au port des
Grecs, ou ala mer, quel fond pouvons nous faire fur l’exadti- —
tude de SrrABON, qui d’abord la fixe 4 douze ftades, et deux
pages apres la porte jufqu’a vingt?

“ Un peu au deffus eft fitué le willage des Troyens, oi Yon
“ croit qu’étoit autrefois l’ancienne Ilium, a la diftance de
“ trente ftades de la nouvelle; ‘et dix ftades au deffus du village
“’ des Troyens, eft la belle Coloné, efpece d’éminence de cing
“ ftades d’étendue, au pied de laquelle coule le Simois t.’”

In y a encore ici quelques traits de reffemblance, entre la de-
fcription de STRABON et notre carte ; mais aprés |’échantillon
d’inexaétitude que nous venons de remarquer dans fes mefures
précédentes, nous ferons excufables de ne pas faire plus de fonds
fur celles-ci. Les agréables collines qui s’étendent entre les vil-
lages de Tchiblak et Aktché, far les bords du Simois font nécef
fairement la belle Coloné, de haut de laquelle Mars, femblable
3 ume tempéte, encourageoit les Troyens a grands cris f.
StRABON les place 4 quarante ftades au deflus de la nouvelle
Ilium, et nous apprend qu’elles s’étendoient a cinq ftades le
long des bords du Simois. A mefure, en effet, qu’on s’éloigne
du village de Tchiblak, qui fe trouve a peu pres a quarante
frades de l’ancienne Ilium, leurs fommets couverts de gazon,
- perdent leur forme moélleufe et adoucie, et deviennent arides,
rocailleux et efcarpés. Quant au village des Troyens, /lienfium
vicus, qu’on croyoit occuper l’emplacement de Pancienne Troye,
STRABON ne put pas étre foupconné d’avoir voulu adopter
cette croyance, puifqu’il a commencé par dire, que l’ancienne
Troye étoit a Yendroit d’ou partent les deux collines femicir-
culaires.

«“ Ta vallée de Thymbra n’eft pas éloignée de l’ancienne
“ Tlium ; elle eft arrofée par le Thymbrius, qui fe jette dans

66. le

® Nat. Hitt. lib. v. c. 33. + Miad. xx. 50..

+ P. 892. ad finem.

PLAINE de TROYE. 47

** le Scamandre. Le temple d’APOLLON eft fitué fur les bords
“* de ce premier fleuve*.”

L’ouvERTURE de la vallée de Thymbra fe trouvoit entre la
nouvelle et l’ancienne Ilium. Elle étoit, quoique STRABON
puiffe ou veuille en dire, (car il n’eft pas encore aifé de la de-
viner ici), elle étoit, dis-je, plus voifine de la premiére de ces
villes que de la feconde. Le fleuve Thymbrius, aprés l’avoir
_arrofée, alloit autrefois fe jetter dans les bras de la riviére formée
par la réunion des deux fleuves, et que STRABON appelle Sca-
mandre, fans doute, parceque le Simois étant prefque toujours
a fec, on confervoit aux deux fleuves réunis, le nom de celui qui
portoit 2 la mer le tribut le plus conftant de fes eaux. L’em-
bouchure du Thymbrius n’a point changé de place; mais le Si-
mois feul recoit ce fleuve, depuis que le Scamandre en eft fe-
paré. Les ruines du temple d’APOLLON fe voyent encore, dans
la vallée de Thymbra, fur les bords du Thymbrius, prés du
village de Halil-eli.

“* LE monument que l’on montre comme le tombeau d’ #sy-
ETES, eft prés de la route qui conduit d'Ilium recens 4 Alex-
fedria ‘Troas {.’’

ENVIRON un mille au deffus d’Erkeflighi, on voit encore ce

grand tombeau. II eft en effet, prés de la route qui conduifoit
autrefois de la nouvelle Ilium a Alexandria Troas. I] eft méme
impoflible, 4 caufe des montagnes, d’aller de Bounar-bachi a
Alexandrie, fans pafler prés de ce monument, ainfi il fe trou-
voit également fur la route de Ja nouvelle et de l’ancienne Troye
a Alexandrie.
“ CETTE partie de la plaine qui s’enfonce dans la montagne
eft étroite; elle s’étend en partie vers le midi, jufqu’aux en-
virons de Scepfis, en partie vers le nord jufqu’a Zéléia, ville
des Lyciens {.”

&é

66
6e

13

. ON
* Srraso, p. 893. i P. 891.
+ P. 895.

48 TABLEAU de la

ON reconnoit ici clairement ce vallon étroit, et bordé de pré—
cipices, ol coule le Simois, et qui s’étend vers le fud, depuis la:
plaine de Bounarbachi, dont il n’eft qu’une continuation,.
jufqu’a celle d’Ené, voifine d’E/ki-kupichu, Pancienne Scep/is :
On voit auffi, que cette feconde plaine, prend a Ené une direc-.
tion qui s’éloigne du fud; mais les bornes de la carte n’ont pas.
permis qu’on la repréfentat dans toute fon étendue, e’eft a dire, ,
jufqu’au Cotylus, et a l’ancien pays des Lyciens, qui fe trous-
‘vent, en effet, au nord.

La plaine de Troye n’a done point changé de: face depuis.
Strapon. fétois fuffifamment autorifé a placer l’ancienne:
Troye a l’origine des collines, et’ la nouvelle a leur extrémité ;;
et ce géographe ne pouvoit m’accufer d’infidélité, dans des pofi- _
tions auffi clairement défignées par lui-méme. Des recherches. —
particuliéres m’ont fait découvrir l’emplacement de ces. deux.
villes ; ainfi il fera déformais-inutile de recourir avec Mr Woop.
aux tremblemens de terre, dont rien n’offre la trace dans la:
plaine de Troye, et dont tout, au contraire, démontre la fauffeté, .
pour expliquer la difparition, ou la deftruction des monumens,
des fleuves, et des vallées, qu’on retrouve encore dans le lieu:
méme ot HomERte les a vus, et od STRABON n’auroit pas man--
qué de les trouver lui-méme, fi, au lieu de s’en rapporter a
Y’autorité de Demetrius de Scepfis, il: avoit pris-la peine de fe: |
tranfporter dans la Troade.

In eft furprenant que le Docteur CHANDLER ait cru: nécef--
faire d’informer fon lecteur, que le Simois avoit. été confondu:
avec le Scamandre, et foit, en méme tems, tombé dans |’erreur-
qu’il cherche a corriger, en avancant, que le Simois étoit la ri--
viére la plus voifine du Cap Sigée et. du Leétos, tandis qu'il:
auroit du dire cela du Scamandre. . |

Homerg, plus exact que tous les voyageurs. qui l’ont. fuivi-
dans la plaine de Troye, indique la fituation relative du Sca-
mandre, avec la plus grande précifion et la plus grande exacti-

tude, quand il dit:
—de

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PLAINE de TROYE. 49>

—— 202 rw" Exrue
Tlevder’- eres por paying ex CULIS ECOL OLVATO TOONS.
*

"Oybos rae roran010 Daopwovoes®

“ Et Hector ne favoit pas ce qui fe paffoit, parcequ’il com--
“ battoit a la gauche de l’armée (des Troyens), fur les rives du
© Scamandre.”’

ees RS nD a ET ET A RN eS
—————

CipH. AiR: *| LX.
Examen de la carte de la Plaine de Troye par Pope.

A critique amére que Mr Woop fait de la carte, qu’on:
voit a la téte de la traduction de I’Iliade, par le célébre
Pope, m’a:infpiré la curiofité d’examiner cette carte, et de la.
eomparer avec la mienne ft. A la feule maniére dont elle eft dé-
fignée, il eft aifé de juger, qu’elle n’eft pas l’ouvrage d’un géo-
graphe ; car les objets n’y font pas repréfentés fuivant la con-
vention a vol d’oifeau, mais en perfpective, comme dans um
tableau de payfage. Cette faute eft de peude conféquence aux
yeux des litterateurs, et je pardonnerois 4 Pope lui-méme de
Vavoir commife, pourvuque fon mauvais deffin fut exad, et
qu’on put y appliquer les différentes circonftances de la guerre
de Troye, dont il donne la defcription la plus complette, et la:
plus détaillée ; mais cette carte offre des erreurs fi extraordi-
naires, que j’ai d’abord été tenté de croire, qu’elles ne pou--
voient provenir que de la mal-adrefle du. graveur, qui a tranf--
Vor. III. £ porté=
* Thad. xi. 497.
+ Voyez An Effay on the original Genius and Writings of Homer, p. 87, -

50 TABLEAU de la

porté fur la droite les objets deftinés 4 occuper la gauche. En
-effet, comment put-on fuppofer que Pope ait placé le Cap Sigée
a la gauche du camp des Grecs?

Les erreurs au fujet du tombeau d’#syerks, et de celui
d’ILus font moins choquantes, et plus pardonnables que la pré-
cédente. Il a placé le premier de ces tombeaux entre les deux
fleuves, fur la rive gauche du Scamandre, tandis qu’il fe trouve
fur la droite ; mais le poéte s’étoit contenté d’indiquer ce tom-
beau comme I’endroit le plus avantageux que PoLiTEs, fils de
Priam, put choifir pour obferver les mouvemens des Grecs *;
il n’avoit pas porté le fcrupule jufqu’a défigner le point mathé-
matique ou il étoit fitue.

QuanT 4 la pofition du tombeau d’ILus, Pope a evidem-
ment mal compris le fens d’ Homerg, en la placant 4 moitié
chemin du camp des Grecs et de la ville de Troye; ce n’eft
pas la ce qu’Homere a voulu dire, en nous apprenant, que le
tombeau d’ILus étoit au milieu de la plaine: STRABON nous ex-
plique fa penfée, quand il nous dit, qu’ILus fut enterré au milieu
de la plaine, parce qu’il avoit ofé Vhabiter le premier +.

Du refte,il a parfaitement devine la fituation du camp des Grecs,
entre les deux caps ; la réunion des deux fleuves, a peu de diftance
des vaiffeaux ; la forme générale de la plaine ; le cours du Simois,
plus étendu que celui du Scamandre; la jufte diftance de la ville
a la mer; le voifinage de la méme ville, et des deux fources du
Scamandre: Mais quel motif peut l’avoir déterminé 4 les placer
du cété oppofé a celui ou elles fe trouvent dans la nature? J’y
ai réfléchi long tems, et avec d’autant plus d’intérét, que parmi
tous les auteurs qui ont écrit fur la Troade, il en eft peu qui
m’en impofe plus que Pore.

NE pourroit-on pas fuppofer, que ce grand homme, ayant
découvert dans quelque paflage de I’Iliade, que les fources du
Scamandre étoient au couchant ; accoutumé d’ailleurs a regarder,
fuivant lufage recu, la gauche d’une carte comme le couchant,

ait,

* Iliad. iis 79%. + Srraso, p. $86. Edit. Amft. 1707.

PLAINE de TROYE. 5Y

ait, a défaut de connoitre les petites reflources de la géographie,
facrifié toutes fes autres pofitions, telles que celles du Cap Sigée,
du Simois, &c. a limpérieufe loi d’étre fidel a fon original?
C’eft ainfi, fi l’on me pardonne de fuppofer qu’un trés grand
poéte puiffe étre un médiocre géographe, c’eft ainfi dis-je, qu il
faut rendre compte des défauts de cette carte, qui, avec toutes
fes imperfections, a di cofiter 4 Pops, infiniment de peine, et
exiger de fa part de grandes combinaifons. Je ne vois, du
moins, que ce moyen, d’expliquer comment le méme homme
peut produire une carte aufli défeCtueufe, a Vappui de l’eflai
le plus complet, et le plus exact, fur les batailles d HomMERE.

J’ar été tellement enchanté, Meflieurs, de la précifion avec
laquelle cet effai s’accorde avec ma carte, que j’ai cru devoir le
mettre fous vos yeux, a fin d’augmenter votre confiance dans
mes travaux, par une autorité d’un grand poids parmi vous, et
dans le refte du monde favant. )

“ L’aANCIENNE ville de Troye étoit,” dit il*, “ a une plus
“ srande diftance de la mer que les ruines d’Alexandria Troas,
** qu’on a mal-a-propos confondues -avec les fiennes. Les
“« Troyens, en effet, n’oferent combattre hors de leurs murailles,
** qu’aprés la retraite d’AcHILLE ; mais dans la fuite ils atta-
‘“* querent les Grecs, jufqu’ aupres de leurs vaifleaux, trés éloig-
“ nés de laville. D’ailleurs, comme obferve STRABON, fi cette
“ ville avoit été voifine du rivage, 11 y auroit eu de la folie, et
“ de Vimprudence de la part des Grecs, a attendre la dixiéme
‘© année du fiége, pour fortifier leur camp, contre un ennemi
gui les auroit menacés de fi prés; et il y auroit eu de la
Jacheté de la part des Troyens, a refter fi long tems dans 1’in-
“ adtion, et a rien tenter contre une armée fans retranchemens +.
De plus, dans la fuppofition ou la ville eut été prés du rivage,

| G2 “ Vefpace

* Voyez l’Effai au commencement du liv. v. de fa traduction de 1’ Iliade.

+ Srraso, p. 893. Edit. Amft. 170%.

52 TABLEAU de la

‘* Pefpace intermédiaire n’auroit pas été fuffifant pour les com-
** bats, et les événemens dont il a été le théatre.

“* Les lieux les plus remarquables autour de Troye,” conti-
nue toujours Pops, “ étoient: 1. Les portes Scées. Elles
‘* souvroient fur le champ de bataille, et c’étoit par la que
** fortoient les Troyens, lorfqu’ils alloient au combat. Tout
*“* prés de ces portes étoit le chéne, confacré a Fupiter. 2. La
* colline des figuiers fauvages, ou VErineos. Elle étoit ad-
‘f jacente aux murailles de la ville, puifqu’ ANDROMAQUE
cherche a diriger l’attention d’HecTor du cédté de cette
colline, comme étant le feul endroit par ou l’ennemi pouvoit
efcalader la ville *. Il paroit qu’elle s’étendoit jufqu’au grand
‘‘ chemin; car dans la courfe d’HEcTor et d’AcHILLE, ‘ces
“* deux guerriers, apres avoir paflé la colline des figuiers, parvi-
“ ennent a la grande route +. 3. Les deux fources du Scaman-
“ dre, étoient un peu plus loin, fur la méme direction ¢.””?. En
effet, les deux guerriers aprés avoir traverfé la colline des fi-
guiers, et la route publique, s’arrétent prés de ces fources.
“ 4. Callicoloné étoit le nom d’une agréable colline, qui s’étendoit
** fur le bords du Simois de l’autre cété de la ville ||. 5. Batieza,
© oi le tombeau de Myrinne, étoit en face de la ville, 4 peu
“ de diftance §. 6. Le monument d’ILus, vers le milieu de la
*) plainetee?

Pops, apres nous avoir fait connoitre la fituation des princi-
paux objets qui avoifinoient la ville, et qui étoient fitués dans la
plaine, nous trace celle des différens champs de bataille.

“ Tx paroit,” dit-il, “ par le quatre-cens foixante-feptiéme
“* vers du fecond livre de l’Iliade, que l’armée Greque, fous la
“* conduite de différens chefs, étoit rangée fur les rives du Sca-
“* mandre, du coté des vaiffeaux ; pendant que celle de Troye et

“* des

ce
(79

“66

* Iliad. vi. 4326 jj Iliad. xx. 53.
+ Ibid. xxi. 145. § Ibid. ii. 823.
{ Ibid. xxi. 147- ** Ibid. xi. 166.

66

PLAINE de TROVE. 53

des auxiliaires, étoit vers le tombeau de Myrinne*. Le.
premier champ de bataille, of Diomepe fit de fi grands ex-
ploits, étoit prés de la réunion du Simois et du Scamandre ;
car JUNON et Patxas venant a lui, defcendent au confluent
des ces deux rivieres fT. Les Grecs, alors, n’avoient pas en-

‘core paffé le Scamandre, puifque JuNon dit, que /es Troyens

les bravent jufques pres de leurs vaiffeaux {. Mais au com-
mencement du fixiéme livre, les batailles fe donnent entre
les rives du Simois et du Scamandre. k

“‘ On fe bat dans le huitiéme livre, prés des retranchemens
des Grecs fur le rivage de la mer; et dans l’onziéme livre,
aux environs du tombeau d’ILus: Dans le douziéme, le trei-
zicme et quatorziéme, prés du retranchement des Grecs; et
dans le quinziéme, aux vaifleaux.

“* Dans le feiziéme, les Troyens étant repouflés par PATRO-
cite, le combat s’engage entre la flotte, la riviere, et les
hautes murailles des Grecs ||. Dans le méme livre, PATRO-
CLE savancant de plus en plus, va combattre jufqu’aux
portes de Troye §. Dans le dix-feptiéme, on fe difpute le
corps de PATROCLE fous les murailles de Troye **. Dans le
méme livre, HEcTor et ENEE pourfuivent, jufques dans
leurs retranchemens, les Grecs, qui emportent le corps de
PATROCLE tt. Dans le dix-huitiéme, ACHILLE, venant a
paroitre, les Troyens fe retirent, et placent leur camp en
dehors des fortifications.

“ Dans le vingtiéme, on combattoit encore prés de la mer ;
puifque les Troyens pourfuivis par AcHILLE, traverfent le
Scamandre, en fuyant vers leur ville tf.”

Pore paroit furpris de ce qu’ HOMERE n’ait point exprimé

de quelle maniére les armées paffoient le fleuve. La raifon de

fon
* iad. ii. 815. § Iliad. xvi. 700.
+ Ibid. v. 773. ** Ibid. xvii. 403.
t Ibid. 79. +i ibid: xviii 6c

}] Ibid. xvi. 396: tt Ibid, xx. tr

54 T ABIRE AW ide da...

fon filence, a cet égard, eft bien fimple; c’eft que le Scaman-
dre eft un ruiffeau, qui a tout-au-plus, quinze pieds de large, et
trois pieds de profondeur. TI] auroit du foupconner cette raifon,
puifqu’il a trés bien remarqué lui-méme, que les batailles fui-
vantes fe donnoient dans le fieuve, ou fous les murs de la ville.
Comment auroit-on pu fe battre dans un fleuve qui auroit eu
quelque profondeur ?

Gyll St ArSP 2 | sey,

Examen de la méme carte par Mr Wood.

A certitude de notre propre fupériorité, peut nous porter %
négliger l’opinion et les travaux des autres. Ce fentiment,
quoique peu modelte, provoque lindulgence, quand il eft cou-
ronné de fuccés ; mais quand, au meépris des guides, on vient
a s’égarer, on perd des lors tous les droits a la compaffion, et
Von meérite toute la févérité de Ja critique.

Je ne crains pas de le dire, Meflieurs, parce que je vais le
prouver, Mr Woop a mal vu la Troade. Cette partie de fon
effai fur Homerg, n’eft pas feulement imparfaite, elle eft déci-
démment mauvaife. Il n’eft pas étonnant, au refte, qu’ayant
pour but principal, de nous faire connoitre les intéreflantes
ruines de Palmyre, et de Balbec, il n’ait pas pu donner a la
plaine de Troye, le tems, et l’attention qu’elle méritoit. Ce
n’étoit pas un crime a Mr Woop a l’omettre, mais c’en eft
un véritable, d’avoir mieux aimé la boulverfer, que de l’étudier
avec l’ouvrage de PocockE a la main.

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PLAINE de TROYE. 55

Survons cet homme célébre. Vous allez étre étonnés, Mef-
fieurs, de la peine qu il fe donne, pour découvrir la fituation de
Pancienne Troye, et les fources du Scamandre, a plus de quinze
lieues de la mer ; vous ferez étonnés, qu'il ait vu le Scamandre *,
qu’il l’ait deffiné fur fa carte, fans le reconnoitre; vous ferez
étonnés, qu’il ne faffe aucune mention de ces monumens extra-
ordinaires, qui avoient au moins fixé l’attention de PocockE;
vous ferez étonnés, de ne pas trouver une feule fois le nom de ce
voyageur dans fa bouche.

“ Sr Pon examine ma carte de la Troade,” dit Mr Woop,
** on ne la trouvera pas d’accord avec le pays que décrit Ho-
“ MERE f.” Tant pis. Comment fe fait-il que vous ayez
trouvé ce grand poéte partout d’accord avec la nature, et que
vous le trouviez juftement en faute, dans les lieux qu’il a du
obferver, et dépeindre avec le plus de foin?

“ Certe différence,” continue Mr Woop, “ vient d’un
“ accroiflement de terrein qui a augmenté la diftance de Troye,
“ ala mer {.’’ Mais, de grace, Mr Woop, quelle preuve avez-
vous, que la Troade s’eft élargie de dix lieues? Car il n’en faut
pas moins, pour vous autorifer a placer la ville de Troye aux
fources de ce torrent que vous appellez votre Scamandre.

Dawns quelle partie de la Troade s’eft fait cet accroiffement, et
quelle ena été la caufe? Eft-ce le Simois quia allongé la plaine,
a force de charier des fables 4 fon embouchure? II eft aifé de
mefurer la petite augmentation, qui en a réfulté pour la plaine
de Troye, entre les deux caps. Il eft aifé méme, de prouver, que
cette augmentation ne put pas devenir plus confiderable, parce-
que les impétueux courans de I’Hellefpont s’y oppofent fans
ceffe, et entrainent les fables dans la mer Egée, a mefure que le
fleuve Jes accumule a fon embouchure.

Cz

* Defcription of the Troade, p. 326. t Ibid. p. 320,
+ Thick. @. 328,

56 TABLEAU de la

Cz n’eft donc pas a l’embouchure du Simois que l’accroiffe-
ment de la Troade peut avoir eu lieu ; mais dans quel endroit
de la céte s’eft-il donc fait? Les ruines d’Alexandrie fe voient
encore dans le lieu méme ou cette ville étoit autrefois fituée.
Le haut promontoire de Sigée, forme encore avec la pointe de
la cherfonefe l’entrée de l’Hellefpont, comme au tems d’ ACHILLE
et d Homere. Encore une fois, ou s’eft donc operé cette pro-
digieufe révolution que Mr Woop appelle a fon fécours ?

“‘ Je fuis pareillement trés fur,’’ dit enfuite Mr Woop,
“ que la fituation du Scamandre eft confidérablement changée ;
“ et ce qui fond mon opinion a cet égard, c’eft que cette ri-
“ viére avoit une fource chaude; mais cette fource eft beaucoup
“‘ plus bas que celle que nous avons découverte, et n’a point de
* communication avec le Scamandre.”

It ne faut que jetter un coup d’oeil fur la carte de Mr Woop,
pour appercevoir, que c’eft un ouvrage negligé, et fait ala hate.
On n’y voit ni villages, ni routes, ni monumens. Lorfque
Mr Woop parle d’une fource chaude infericure, ce n’eft pas de
celle de Bounarbachi dont il prétend parler, puifqu’il ne l’a pas
connue, c’eft fans doute des fources thermales de Lidja, prés.
d’Alexandrie *. Enun mot, et pour ne point prolonger une cri-
tique inutile, a laquelle Mr Woop donne lieu dans tout le cours.
de fa defcription, voici, je penfe, comment il a procédé dans fes
obfervations, et comment il a été entrainé dans fes erreurs :

PERSUADE que le Simois fe réuniffoit au Scamandre, il a fuivi
le cours de ce premier fleuve, et il n’a rien trouvé jufqu’a Bou-
narbachi ou la plaine fe termine; parceque le Scamandre avoit
déja, fans doute, été detourné de fon ancien lit, et que Mr
Woop n’aura pas été aflez heureux pour appercevoir ce change-
ment particulier, qui a été la véritable caufe de mes principales
découvertes.

In a vu les fources de Bounarbachi; mais foit qu il les ait
obfervées légérement, foit qu’il les ait vues dans une faifon, ou

il

* Voyez ci-devant, p.8.

y

PLAINE de TROYE. 3

il y avoit peu de difference dans leur temperature, foit qu'il ait
ignoré la langue Turque et Grecque, ou qu'il n’ait pu tirer
aucun renfeignement de l’Aga, et des habitans du village voifin,
le fait eft, qu’il n’a pas reconnu les véritables fources du Sca-
mandre.

Du moment ou il a été hors de la plaine, et qu’il s’eft enfoncé
dans les défilés et les montagnes de I’Ida, fon erreur eft deve-
nue fans reméde: Plus il s’eft éloigné de la mer, plus les de-
{criptions d’Homere font devenues inexplicables pour lui.
Tout autre a fa place, ou plus modefte, ou moins entété, feroit

revenu fur fes pas, ou, dumoins, auroit abandonné la partie, en
convenant qu’il n’avoit pas réuffi. Mr Woop eft intrépide:
Les difficultés rehauffent fon courage: II s’avance jufqu’a ce
qu’il trouve un large torrent, qui a travers des montagnes
impraticables vient fe joindre au Simois prés d’Iné. Voila le
Scamandre de Mr Woop!

In faut maintenant aller chercher la ville de Troye, jufqu’aux
fources de ce torrent; Mr Woop ne perd pas courage; il voit claire=
ment qu’1l eft égaré, mais il ne veut pas fortir de la Troade fans l’a-
voir boulverfée. I] cherche un compagnond’infortune, il le trouve
dans STRABON, qui a la vérité s’eft trompé comme lui; mais ne
s’eft pas trompé fur les lieux, comme il l’en accufe; car tout le
monde fait, et Mr Woop ne devroit pas l’ignoré, que ce géographe
n’a parlé de la Troade que fur l’autorité de DemETRIUs de
Scepfis.

ApREs avoir invoqué les tremblemens de terre, les convul-
fions de la nature; aprés avoir extravagué fur la fituation de
ancienne Troye, et avoir fait méme une defcription riante de
la fource de ce hideux torrent, qui baigne les murs d’Iné;
apres l’avoir complaifamment enrichie d’une joli bafin, d’un
beau platane, et d’un bois romantique; aprés avoir retrouvé
dans ce torrent tous les caractéres du. Scamandre, il finit, par
conclure, “ que d’aprés l’autorité de Vhiftoire, il faut rogner de

Vou III. h , ** plufieurs

—

58 TABLEAU de la

“ plufieurs milles la nouvelle carte de Troye pour retrouver l’an-
“ cienne *.” .

On voit par. ces derniers mots, que Mr Woop déchiroit les
cartes, avec autant de facilité qu’il:les: faifoit ; mais la. Nature
ne fe laiffe pas ainfi mutiler ; et quand on annonce fes révolu-
tions pour appuyer un fyftéme, il faut y étre autorifé par des
faits hiftoriques, bien prouvés, ou par quelques traces fubfiftantes
des défordres paflés.

6, BoA. Be. ek

Comparaifon du Scamandre et du Simois.

Ligne fources du Scamandre, fortent de la terre avec une ra-
pidité, qui annonce qu’elles defcendent d’un lieu trés:
élevé. Lie fleuve qu’elles forment, conferve cette rapidité re-
marquable, jufqu’a l’endroit ou il entre dans fon nouveau canal
artificiel: Les fréquents tourbillons, que l’on voit fe former
4 fa furface, et qui font occafionnés par le violent choc de fes.
eaux contre Jes nombreufes. finuofités qui leur font oppofées,
font, peut-étre, ce qui a engagé le. poéte 4 lui donner l’épithete,
de dngess F-
Jamals
* Defcription of the -Troade, p. 330.
$ "AAD? ore dy wogov bEov ciged®- mora polo
Eavle AINHENTOZ— : Wiad. xxi. Ie

BA Exper vd
Oics: AINHEIE—-—— — bid. 124. et alibi paffim.

PLAINE de ROY E, io;

Jamats ce fleuve n’augmente ni ne diminue. Les eaux
font claires et limpides comme le criftal *. » Les rives font cou-
Vertes des fleurs +. Les mémes arbres et les mémes plantes qui
croifloient fur fes bords, lorfqu’il combattoit Vuicarn, ‘y croif-
fent encore aujourd’hui; on y voit des /aules, des lotos, des ormes,
et des joncs; et l’on y péche encore des anguilles t.

Mais, fi le grand Homere eft d’une exactitude frappante
dans les épithetes, et dans les attributs particuliers qu’il donne
au Scamandre, il n’eft pas moins admirable, dans la comparaifon
quwil fait de ce fleuve avec le Simois. I] les characterife tous
deux d’une maniere parfaitement analogue a la nature, et a leur
état actuel.

LorsqueE le Scamandte, combattant ACHILLE, craint d’étre
vaincu par ce guerrier, il appelle le Simois a fon fécours: “ Ré-
** uniflez-vous a moi,’’ lui dit-il, “ mon frere, pour terraffer
ce vaillant guerrier ; raflemblez toutes vos eaux; déracinez les
8 arbres, et entrainez les rochers ||.

Homere ne pouvoit pas peindre avec plus de verité, la foi-
bleffe du Scamandre, et les ravages du Simois ; mais il n’eft pad
encore content de fon tableau, il veut nous faire connoitre la
largeur du Scamandre:

bh 2 ACHILLE;

# __.___ "FYPPEIOE roreuois—uti jam citat.

oxire Payrain due. Iliad. xxi. 345.

+ "Esav tv Acpears Excpcrdpiw ANOEMOENTI
Ibid. ii..467.

Mvgeios

} Kavovro wrsrtas re, x) itary nde pevgixas,
Kalero 8 Awros 7”, 408 Oguor, not xumesgor,
Ta megh nerd dtebpe BAss morepeio maPuxei

Trlgovs’ eyyeaves te, x) ingOves me Ibid. xxi. 350;

I] D/A xecolynte, &c. Ibid. xxi, 308,

60 FTABLEAU de la

“ AcuHILue, fur le point de fuccomber lui-méme, arrache un
“ orme qui croiffoit fur les rives du Scamandre, il le renverfe
“ d’un bord a l’autre, et en forme un pont, fur lequel il échappe
“ 4 la fureur du fleuve *.”

CHAP. XL .

Tombeau d’ Efyetées.

* A Baffle Egypte,” dit Mr Bryant f, “ étant un pays
“ plat, et fujet 4 de frequentes inondations, fes habitans
“ étoient forcés, d’élever le terrein fur lequel ils batiffoient leurs
“ édifices. Plufieurs de leurs tours facrées étoient de hauts.
* monticules de forme conique : On voyoit auffi dans beaucoup
“ d’endroits des éminences, fur lefquelles il n’y avoit point "
“ dédifice, et qui étoient deftinées pour les cérémonies de la
‘““ religion. On les appeloit dans certains lieux, Zaph : Comme
“© ‘Taph-hanes, Taph-Ofiris, et dans d’autres Taphioufa, Taphitis,
% TAPE. | |
“ Mais comme c’étoit auffi, l’ufage, d’enterrer les perfon-
* nes de diftinction, fous des monceaux de terre de la méme
“© forme, toutes les éminences confacrées de la religion, furent
“« regardées comme les monumens des héros ; et les Grecs, fur-
“ tout, en avolent tous cette opinion. Ils prétendoient mon-
“* (SE

So ew be

Pe OE writen EAS XEpoIV
EiQvia, pesyxany’ &c. Ibid. xxi. 2422

+ New Syftem of Mythology, vol. i. p.449-

PLAINE de TROYTE. 6n

“ trer le tombeau de BAccuus, a Delphes; celui de JupiTeRr,.
* en Crete.”

Mr Bryant cherche a prouver ici, que les Grecs étoient dans.
Verreur, en confondant les monticules facrés avec les tombeaux
des héros; mais Homere, et toute l’antiquité, s’accordent a
nous.convaincre, qu’on n’avoit pas d’autre manicre de confer-
ver leurs cendres, qu’en les dépofant fous ces éminences. On
en trouve de la méme forme, et de la méme efpace dans tous
les pays; et partout ou on prend la peine de les fouiller, on y
trouve toujours quelques débris du corps humain. Il pouvoit
y avoir quelques unes d’elles particuli¢rement confacrées aux
cérémonies de la religion ; mais on ne peut pas nier, que le plus
grand nombre étoit deftiné a renfermer les cendres des héros, et
de grands. perfonnages.

Iz eft bien extraordinaire, que les Turcs leur ayent confervé
le méme nom que leur donnoient les Egyptiens. Cette tradition,
que j’ai étudiée avec foin, n’a point été, comme beaucoup d’au-
tres, tranfmife par les Grecs. 4 leurs conquérans. Les Turcs
qui habitent le fond de.l’Afie, et les montagnes du.Caucafe, ceux-
la qui n’ont jamais.eu de communication avec les. Grecs, ems
ployent le méme nom pour défigner cette efpéce de monumens, ,
et ils ne peuvent l’avoir regu que des Arabes.

Je ne balance donc point 4 croire, que le monticule fitué
' prés d’Udjek, et qu’ils appelent. Udjek-Taper, ne foit un tom-
beau. Et tout m’engage a penfer.que c’eft celui d’Esyerés,
monument de la. plus haute antiquité, puifqwil fubfiftoit déja
avant la guerre de Troye.

_CeE tombeau, fuivant HoMERE, étoit tres élevé, c’eft dumoins
Pépithete qu'il lui donne: “ Poxrrés, fils de Prram; fe fiant:
“ fur fon agilité, alloit de la ville fe placer fur le fommet de ce
“ tombeau, pour obferver les mouvemens del’armée Greque *.”
Ii-ne pouvoit pas, en effet, choifir une fituation plus avantageufe
pour diftinguer dans fon entier l’efpace compris entre les deux<

Ca Sig?
* Niad..ii 792. P

62 TABLEAU de la

caps. II falloit aufli, qu'il eut une grande ‘confiance dans fon
agilité, caril fe trouvoit alors fort éloigné de la ville.

Ce que STRABON écrit relativement a la fituation de la vieille
et de la nouvelle Ilium, contribue ‘merveilleufement a détermi-
ner la pofition du tombeau d’AisyeTEs. Ix prouve, avec le fe-
cours de DemeTrRius, que la vieille Ilium, étoit beaucoup plus
éloignée de lamer que la nouvelle: ‘O re Moxirns—

‘Os Today oxowos iZe roduxeinos reroiws

Tou ex dxgorairy Awvnrao yegovr@ *,

poroiG qv xt. r “ Et en fuppofant,” dit-il, “ que la vieille
“et la nouvelle Ilium fuffent la méme ville, Potir&s auroit
fait une folie, fi en qualité d’efpion Troyen, et fe fiant fur fon
agilité, il avoit été fe placer fur le monument d’AsvETEs,
(pour obferver les mouvemens des Grecs); car en accordant
qu'il étoit alors fur un lieu trés élevé, il faut convenir que
l’acropolis, ou la citadelle de Troye, !’étoit encore davantage ;
qu'elle étoit, 4 peu prés, a la méme diftance, et qu’il n’au-
roit pas eu befoirt alors de recourir a fon agilité, puifque le
monument qu’on montre aujourd’hui comme le tombeau
“ qd EsvETES eft 4 cing ftades de diftance, et prés de la route
“ qui conduit 4 Alexandrie .”

Novus pouvons ajouter, que la méme raifon qui eut fait accu-
fer Porites de folie, pour aller fur la tombe d’/EsyerTes re-
connoitre l’ennemi, fi l’ancienne Troye avoit été fituée ou €toit
la nouvelle, le rend trés excufable, dans la fuppofition, ou I’an-
cienne étoit au fond de Ja plaine; car alors, il lui avoit été im-
poffible d’appercevoir le cap Rhetée du fommet de l’acropolis, ot
de la citadelle, puifque les collines qui s’avancent dans la plaine,
du cété du nord, l’auroient entiérement dérobé a fa vue.

CHAP.

ce
ce
66
66
6¢
“ce
“se

6s

* Iliad. 13. 792. + Srrazo, p» 894-

PLAINE de TROYE. 63

CG HH, AF... AUT.

Situation. du Camp. des. Grecss

> ES anciens Grecs avoient coutume, et cette coutume s’eft
encore confervée parmi les modernes, de tirer leurs vaif-
feaux a fec, far le rivage, lorfqu’ils devoient faire quelque féjour
dans les lieux ou ils abordoient. La flotte d’7AGAMEMNON,
compofée de mille vaiffeaux, ne pouvant pas trouver place fur
une feule ligne, dans l’efpace compris entre le cap Sigée et le cap
Rhetée, on fut obligé de les difpofer fur deux rangs, en forme
d’échelle, en- forte que ceux des vaiffeaux qui avoient abordé les
premiers, étoient plus avancés vers la plaine, et les derniérs
reftoient plus voifins du rivage de la mer. Entre les deux rangs:
des vaiffeaux, on avoit placé les tentes, les ftatues des dieux, et
le fiége du confeil*. Latente du Général occupoit le milieu du
camp. ACHILLE étoit 4 laile droite, au cap Sigée, et Ayax a
la gauche, au cap Rhetée. HOMERE nous donne, lui-méme, la
difpofition de-ce-camp, dans le quatorzi¢me livre de I’Iliade f.
Mr d’Anvit_e et Mr Woop f, s’accordent tous deux, a placer
le cap Rhetée:a Ja pointe: de Berbier, qui fe trouve 4 plus de fix
milles du cap de Jeni-chehr, ou du cap Sigée. .A coup far, fi
les mille vaiffeaux, ou plutdt les mille bateaux, d’AGAMEMNON,
avoient eu un aufli grand efpace pour fe mettre en bataille, ils
n’auroient pas ew befoin de doubler les rangs.
je
* Thad. xi. 805. t Ibid. xiv. 30,
¢ Vid. Beceprios of the Troade, p, 317... Mem, de |’Acad. des Infcrip« tom. xxviii,
p- 318. ,

64 TABLEAU de la

Je pardonne cette erreur 4 Mr d’ANVILLE, qui n’étoit jamais
forté de PARIS, ét qui n’en étoit pas moins l’un des meilleurs
géographes de Europe; mais Mr Woop me paroit d’autant
plus criminel, et plus impardonnable encore, que le Dr PococKE
lui avoit tracé la route du tombeau d’Ajax, et que c’eft a cet
excellent voyageur que j’en dois la découverte moi-méme. _

“ Vers l’oueft du village de It-guelmes,’’ dit Pocockeg,

j’appercus une pointe de montagne, que je fuppofai étre
“ |’ Aiantéum, ou étoit le tombeau d’Ajax, et fa ftatue. En de-
“ fcendant la plaine de Troye, j’obfervai un monticule, fur
lequel il y avoit encore des débris de marbre, mais je n’ofe
* pas décider fi c’eft-la le tombeau d’Ayax ou non*.” Trop
modefte Pococke! quel motif a pu vous rendre auffi timide
dans vos jugemens fur les tombeaux de la Troade? Avez-vous
jamais appris que les nations modernes ayent élevés de pareils
monumens a la mémoire de leurs guerriers? Ne faviez-vous pas,
que la forme, et la ftructure, de ces tombeaux étoient adoptées
par les plus anciens peuples du monde? Pourquoi votre exceflive
modeftie nous condamne-t-elle 4 paroitre téméraire en avancant
comme certain, ce que vous n’avez regardé que comme dou-
teux?

Du moment que Mr Woop 4a trouvé, que la diftance entre
le cap Jeni-chehr et la pointe des Berbiers, (qu’il a confondu avec
le cap Rhetée), étoit de douze milles, il n’eft pas étonnant, quwil
ait accufé le poéte d’exageration, quand il nous repréfente AGa-
MEMNON faifant entendre fa voix jufqu’au vaifleau d’ULyssz, |
qui étoit au centre de l’armée J. :

Au refte, il eft probable, que c’eft SrRABON lui-méme qui.
a égaré Mr Woop et Mr d’Anvitte, en affurant que la diftance.
du Cap Sigée au Cap Rhetée étoit de foixante ftades {.

yai

* Defcription of the Eaft, &c. vol. ii. part ii. p. 104, 105;

+ Defcription of the Troade, p. 336. Iliad. viii, 220:

t Srraso, p. 890: Edit. Amft: 1707.

PLAINE de TROYE. 65

J'ai fixe géometriquement cette diftance, et je l’ai trouvée de
trois mille toifes, mefure qui fe trouve parfaitement d’accord avec
celle de trente ftades, que PLINE nous a laiffée *

En confidérant les marais qui occupent, maintenant, une
partie de l’efpace compris entre les deux caps, et qui l’occu-
poient de méme au tems de Strazson; en reflechiflant,
d’ailleurs fur les inondations du Simois, on a peine a2 com-
prendre que les Grecs aient affis leur camp fur un terrein auffi
défavantageux, et particuliérement, qu ‘ils alent pu s’y main-
-tenir pendant dix ans. :

Mats quoique la guerre ait duré pendant ce ieee intervalle,
il ne paroit pas, méme d’aprés HomMeReE, que les Grecs foient
reftés; tout ce tems, campés entre le Sigée et le Rhetée. On
convient généralement qu’ils ne déployerent tous leurs efforts
contre'la ville, que pendant le printems et I’éré de la derniére
année; et qu’ils ne firent-jufqu’alors que ravager les pays
voifins, 4 deffein d’affoiblir leurs ennemis, de diminuer-et d’in-
tercepter leurs reffources, et d’oter, enfin, tout moyen de defenfe
a cette ville, qu’ils avoient d’abord regardée comme imprenable.
Dans le cours de cette guerre, les Grecs, fans doute, devoient
tranfporter leurs vaiffeaux d’un lieu 4 un autre, felon qu’ils le
trouvoient plus convenable a leurs opérations, et 4 leur fireté ;
et il y a méme quelques raifons de conclure, de certains
paflages de I’Iliade, que lorfqu’ils entreprenoient une expédition -
dans les pays voifins, ils divifoient leurs forces en plufieurs dé-
tachemens, qui, fous la conduite de leurs chefs refpectifs, re-
tournoient au rendez-vous commun avec le butin qu’ils avoient
fait fur )’énnemi.

ENFIN, a la dixiéme année il eft probable, qu’ils camperent
avec l’enfemble de leurs forces a l’embouchure du Scamandre,
pendant I|’été, faifon ot le Simois étoit continuellement a a fec,
excepté aprés des pluies accidentelles et de courte durée; et.
quils refolurent alors, de porter un coup décifif 4 leur ennemi.
~ Dans cette fituation, et fans doute, bientot apres qu'elle fut

Vor. Ill. : i campeée,

* Hilt. Nat. ibe Va (6033,

66 TABLEAU de la

campée, l’armée fut attaquée de Ja pefte ; et ce redoutable fléaw
qu Homere dans fon enthoufiafme poétique attribue 4 la colére.
d’APOLLON, et aux imprécations du Prétre Curysks, n’étoit,
vraifemblablement, que l’effet trés ordinaire des vapeurs mé-
phitiques, qui s’exhaloient du terrein marécageux ou elle fe:
trouvoit.

J’ar déja remarqué dans le journal de mon voyage, qu’on
trouve encore une quantité de joncs et de tamarins dans ces.
marais. Cette obfervation nous rappelle, que DiomEDE aprés
avoir tué le traitre DoLon, dans les environs du camp, met fes
armes fur un tamarin, et de peur de ne pas reconnoitre, au
milieu des ténébres, l’endroit ou il les avoit placées, il a foin de le
marquer par un amas de rofeaux, et de branches de tamarins *.

QuanT au large baffin circulaire, qu’on voit prés du cap.
Rhetée, et que les Turcs appelent Karanlik-Limani, le port fermé,
parce qu’il eft en effet obftruié par une barre de fable, je ferois.
affez tenté de-croire que c’eft le port des Achéens.

CHAP. XIV...

Fombeau ad’ Ajax.

OmERE ne défigne pas. avec précifion la pofition du tom-
beau d’AjAx 3; mais il nous apprend, aumoins, que fes
cendres repofoient dans la plaine de Troye, avec celle des autres
guerriers Grecs. a
| PLUT-

* Iliad. x. 465. vide etiam xxi. 17:

PLAINE ;de. fT ROLE. 67

“ Prut-a-Dieu,’’ dit ULyssE, dans fon voyage aux enfers,
** que je n’eufle pas remporté la victoire fur Ajax ; la terre ne.
*€ couvriroit pas aujourd’hui les reftes de ce héros *.”’

NEsTorR racontant a TELEMAQUE hiftoire de la guerre de
Troye, lui dit: ‘* C’eft 1a que repofent le vaillant Ayax, AcuIL-
“ bE, et PATROCLE femblable aux Dieux, et mon fils, le cou-
* rageux et l’innocent ANTILOQUE f.”

Ayax, fuivant Dictys de Créte, indigné de ce que I’on avoit
adjugé 4 Unyssz le Palladium, menaca de fa vengeance, et fes
juges, et fon rival. Comme ceux-ci redoutoient, fans doute,
fon courage, ils fe tinrent fur leurs gardes pendant la nuit fui-
vante, etcomme le jour fuivant l’on trouva le guerrier fans vie,
chacun d’eux fe montra trés empreflé de connoitre la caufe de
fa mort. N£EOPTOLEME, en attendant, fit apporter du bois
pour bruler fon corps ; il raffembla fes cendres dans une urne
d’or, et il les dépofa dans un tombeau, qu’il éleva en fon hon-
neur, prés du cap Rhétée f.

STRABON, comme on I’a déja dit, s’exprime clairement, a
légard de la pofition de ce tombeau, dans fa defcription générale
de la plaine de Troye.

Un certain Myfien apprit 4 Pausanias, que le tombeau
d’Ajax étoit fitué prés du rivage de la mer ; qu’une inondation
en avoit altéré les formes, et découvert l’entrée: Et que l’on
pouvoit fe faire une idée de l’énorme taille de ce héros, par la
grandeur des offemens qu’on y avoit trouvés ||.

L’ouvERTURE dont parle ici Pausanias, fur le rapport
d’un Myfien, fe voit encore au cap Rhetée, et les Turcs l’ap-
pellent, comme je I’ai déja dit, In Tapé-gheulu, /a caverne
du marais. Comme le monument eft renverfé depuis le fommet
jufqu’a fa bafe, on diftingue toute fa con{truction interieure,
qui confifte d’abord dans une voute, en forme de croix, qui fe
trouve vers le milieu de fa hauteur, et dans un noyau de macon-

fe @eihae nerie,

* OdyM xi. 547. £ De bello Troj. lib.v. c. 15.

+ Ibid. iii. 109. | Lib. v. 616.

68. TABLEAU de la

nerie, autour duquel on a élevé des murailles. circulaires 4 une
petite diftance les unes des autres, et décrites de differens centres.
L’HIsTOIRE ‘garde le filence fur l’époque ot le tombeau
d’Ayax a été renverfé. Faut-il croire avec le Myfien, que les
dieux indignés contre ce blafphemateur, dirigerent les flots’ de
!’'Hellefpont contre fa fépulture? non. J’aime mieux fuppofer,
que le grand Pompe, lorfqu’il. enleva fa ftatue, s’empara: de:
fes. cendres en, méme tems, pour les tranfporter en Egypte...

1h Fl ic Big SRL. cya onthe

Fallée de Thy mbra. pe a ; i

E nom trés peu alteré de Thimbrek, que ‘Jes Turcs donnent-

4 cette jolie vallée, qui s’ouvre du cété du nord. dans la.
plaine de Troye, fa fituation dans le voifinage du tombeau. d’Izus,,
et du camp des Grecs, me rappela, fur le champ, le récit du:
traitre Doon, qui pour éviter la mort, fait connoitre 4 ULyssE
et 2 Diomepe les différens poftes, qu’occupoient les. Troyens.
et les auxiliaires.. ‘© Hector,’ leur dit-il, “ tient confeil fur
~“ Ye tombeau d’ILus *, les Cariens, les Poeoniens, les Léleges,

** Tes Myfiens, les Biapeues et les Mceoniens font dans. la vallée
* de Thymbra +.”

Lorsqu’ aprés avoir reconnu cette vallée, et le fleuve qui la:
traverfe, je vins a obferver au milieu d’un large marais, le
point ou ce fleuve fe réunit au Simois, il me parut impoffible
d’expliquer comment les anciens, qui placoient ordinairement-
leurs temples dans les fituations les plus avantageufes, ou fur

de
* Thad, x. 414. + Ibid. 428,

PLAINE dT ROE. 6g

de hauts promontoires, ou au milieu de riantes vallées, avoient
auffi mal choifi celle du temple d’APOLLON. Ce point d’ailleurs
afligné par STRABON, ou plutét par fes traducteurs, fe trou-
voit en contradiction avec la diftance de cinquante ftades, que
ce géographe établit lui-méme, entre la nouvelle Ilium et le
temple d’APOLLON.

Jz foupconnai donc encore, quelque erreur dans STRABON,
ou dans fes traducteurs, et je ne tardai pas 4 m’en convaincre,
lorfque je découvris les ruines d’un temple prés du village de
Halil-Eli, dans la vallée de Thimbrek, et que parmi ces ruines,
je trouvai l’infcription d’une offrande faite 4 APottow par les
habitans d’[lium. Pourquoi, en effet, auroit-on donné le fur-
nom de Thymbréen au dieu qu’on adoroit dans ce temple, s’il’
n’avoit pas été fitué dans la vallée de Thymbra?

On fait qu’AcHILME fut tué dans ce temple, en allant époufer
PoLYXENE, accompagné feulement de quelques fideles compag-
nons, et s abandonnant a la foi des traités*. Comment Paris
et les Troyens auroient-ils eu la hardieffe de tendre une pareille
embuche au vaillant AcHILLE, et de l’exterminer, s’ils n’avoient:
pas été a une diftance refpectueufe du.camp des Grecs ?

Av refte, il n’eft pas peut-etre difficile de trouver dans Stra- .
BON, un fens analogue a ces idées; il fuffit de le ponétuer a
propos pour le concilier avec la vérité.

“* Le Thymbrius,” dit-il, ‘ fe jette dans le Scamandre.” Si.
Yon fuppofe ici une fufpenfion, la phrafe fuivante nous apprend,
“ que prés du Thymbrius fe trouve le temple d’APoLton, a cin-
“ quante ftades d’Ilium zeceas, ou:la nouvelle Ilium.” Voila fans.
doute ce que STRABON voulu dire, et non pas que le Thym-
brius fe jette dans le Scamandre “‘ prés du temple d’ APOLLON:
* Thymbréen ft.”

C HAP..
* Danzs Phryg. de Excidio Troj. c. xxiv. t Srrazo, p. 893.

70 TABLEAU de la.

CHAP XVI.

Tombeau d’Ilus.

\

N paffant prés des ruines du pont, qui fe trouve vers l’em-
placement de la nouvelle Hium, j’appercus, comme je

Vai déja dit, fur les bords du fleuve, une éminence qui, quoique
trés affaifée, prefentoit une forme et des dimenfions 4 peu prés |
femblables 4 celle du tombeau voifin d’Udjek. |

ComME cette éminence fe trouvoit dans la plaine a trés peu
de diftance du rivage de la mer, c’eft 4 dire du camp des Grees,
je me rapelai, en la voyant, Vinquiétude de NEsToR, qui éveille
DiomeEpg, en lui difant que les ennemis font a deux pas des
vaifleaux, fur le ¢hro/mos de la plaine *.

In ne me parut donc pas douteux, que cette éminence ne fut
le throfmos ; mais je ne bornai pas la mes conjectures, je me
permis de les étendre plus loin, et je crus entrevoir que le throf-
mos et le tombeau d’ILus, étoient le méme monument, com-
me la colline Batieia et le tombeau de la courageux Myrinnz f.
En .effet, DioMEDE averti par Nestor, dont l’experience et
la fageffe ont fait un efpece de propheéte, fe met en marche avec
Utyss£, pour aller vérifier la pofition de l’ennemi. Ces deux
guerriers rencontrent Doton, efpion Troyen, qui pour éviter la
mort dont ils le menacent, leur apprend qu’en effet les Troyens
font campés dans le voifinage, (comme Nestor le leur avoit
déja dit), et que Hector tient confeil fur le tombeau d’ILus,
avec les généraux Troyens {.

SI
* Tliad. x. 160. xi. 56. xX. :3 t Ibid. x. 414.
+ Ibid. ii, 814. ;

PLAINE de TROYE. 71

Sr la réunion de ces témoignages ne prouvent pas mathéma-
tiquement que le throfmos eft la méme chofe que le tombeau
d’Inus, il eft au moins évident que ces deux monumens ne
doivent pas étre éloignés l'un de |’autre.

SuIVONS maintenant Priam, lorfqu’il va redemander 4
AcHILLE le corps de fon fils. Mercure rencontre le vieux roi,
a lentrée de la nuit, au moment ou il arrivoit au tombeau
d’Inus *; et il le blame de s’expofer ainfi en voyageant de nuit
avec fes tréfors, dans la plaine de Troye +. Le tombeaud’ILus
étoit, donc, 4 une diftance confiderable de la ville, puifque
PRIAM quien étoit part: de bonne heure dans l’aprés-dinée,
comme on peut le voir dans la partie précédente du vingt-
quatriéme livre, n’y arrive que prefque a l’obfcurité de la nuit;
la diftance du méme monument aux retranchemens des Grecs,
devoit étre beaucoup moindre, puifque Mercure dit 4 Priam,
qu’il en arrive 4 l’inftant, et qu'il y conduit fon char dans un
clin d’ceil f.

D’aILLEuRS le tombeau d'Itus ne devoit pas étre éloigné
des bords du fleuve, puifque Priam “ aprés l’avoir paflé, détache
‘* le chevaux et les mules pour les faire boire ||.”’

CHAP.

® liad. xxiv. 349. ¥ Wiad. xxiv. gor. 443.
+ Ibid. 365. || Ibid. xxiv. 350.

72 TABLEAU de la

CHAP. XVII.

Situation de lancienne Troye.

UaNnpD les tombeaux trouvés fur l’éminence de Bouwnar-

bachi, ne prouveroient pas d’une maniére inconteftable

la pofition de l’ancienne ville de Troye, il y a plufieurs circon-

ftances dans les deux poémes d’HoMERE, qui feroient inexpli-
cables et impoflibles, fi on la plagoit par tout ailleurs.

Le village de Bounarbachi eft fitué fur le penchant d’une
éminence, expofée a tous les vents. Homer®, en parlant de la
ville de Troye, lui donne l’épithéte d’jvepoeeon *.

Ce méme village fe trouve au fond d’une plaine immenfe,
dont le terrein gras et noiratre annonce la plus grande fertilité,
et dont les productions actuelles nouriffent Jes nombreux vil-
lages qu’on y voit. PaARis repondant aux injures d’HEcToR,
lui propofe de fe mefurer avec MENELAUs dans un combat fin-
gulier, et lui dit: “ quelque foit le vainqueur, vous autres
‘* Troyens, aprés la paix, vous habiterez la fertile plaine de
“ Troye t, et les Grecs retourneront a Argos, pays abondant
‘* en bons chevaux.” .

LE village de Bounarbachi eft 4 quatre lieues de la mer. Le
Troyen PoLyDAMAS, aprés avoir combattu long tems prés des
vaifleaux des Grecs, donne a fes compagnons le confeil de ne
pas attendre l’aurore pour retourner a Troye; “ car,” leur dit-
il, “ nous fommes trés eloignés des murailles {.”’

Tout

* Iliad. iii. 305. viii. 499. xii. 115. xili. 724. xviii. 174. xxiii. 64. 297.

+ Naloire Tedeny tgiBaranat—— Iliad, iii, 75. 257. vie 305. Rvi-g6r. xxiv. 86. ix. 329.
xviii. 67. xxill. 215.

$ Iliad. xviii. 256.

oa
;
E

PLAINE de. TROYE. 73

Tout prés du village de Bounarbachi, on voit un marais
couvert de rofeaux trés épais et trés élevés. Uxysse raconte 4
fon fidele EumEE, qu’il avoit paffé la nuit en embufcade, prés de
la ville de Troye, et au milieu de rofeaux *.

La ville de Troye étoit inattaquable de tous les cdtés, excepté
du coté de la colline des figuiers fauvages, qui sétendoit entre
"les portes Scées, et les fources du Scamandre }. Les précipices
qui bordent l’eminence de Bounarbachi, et le Simois qui coule
au pied de ces précipices, offriroient encore aujourd’hui des dif-
ficultés infurmontables a toute armée qui voudroit s’en empa-
rer; l’on n’en pouroit tenter l’attaque que du cété des fources
du Scamandre. Il ne croit plus de figuiers fauvages dans cette
efpace. particulier ; mais cet arbrifleau eft trés commun dans la
plaine de Troye, et j’ai déja fait obferver la finguliére analogie
du nom que porte le village d’Evin, avec celui d’Erineos {, que
portoit la colline voifine de Troye; c’eft prés de cette colline,
qu’étoient fitués les jardins de Priam, ou Lycaon fut furpris.
par ACHILLE ||, coupant des branches nouvelles. C’eft la que font
encore aujourd’hui ceux de l’Aga de Bounarbachi, qui, aprés
quarante ficcles, fuccéde au roi des Troyens dans fa capitale,
dans une partie de fes poffeffions, et dans fon empire abfolu fur
les habitans de la plaine de Troye, et fur les Agas inférieurs quiv
les commandent.

Les épithétes d’ dxgos, &xeorciros, qu’HOMERE donne partout
@ la citadelle de Troye, m’autorifoient bien a croire, qu'elle
étoit fituée fur une eminence §; mais je m’étonnois toujours,
que ce grand poéte n’eut pas fait mention de ces précipices de
Bounarbachi, qui dominent le Simois, et dont Vafpect effrayant
et pittorefque, étoit cependant fi digne de fon pinceau. Ce
n’eft qu’en fuivant fes deux poémes vers par vers, mot par mot,

Vor. II. k que ©
* Odyff. xiv. 473. $ Iliad. vi. 433.
+ Iliad. vi. 433. xxii. 145. || Ibid. xxi. 35

§ Ibid. v. 460. vi. 88. 257. 30% GEM XK. $2, KKie 172% iV» 508, vii. 2%. xxiv. 700,
Odyfl. viii. 494. 504.

°4 GP ABLEAU We la

que j’ai pu découvrir, que ces hauts rochers qui faifoient la plus
fure défenfe de la ville de Troye, n’avoient pas été oubliés. De-
mMopocus vantant les exploits, et les rufes d’ULyssz, raconte
comment le cheval de bois fut conduit dans la citadelle : ** Auffi-
“ tét,” dit-il, ‘ que les Troyens l’eurent trainé fur le. fommet
“ de Pacropolis, ils tinrent confeil, pour délibérer fi on Ini
“ ouvriroit les flancs, fi on en feroit hommage aux dieux pour
“ les appaifer, ou fi on le précipiteroit du haut des rochers*.”’

La colline Batieia, ou le tombeau de la courageufe MyrINNE
étoit en face de la ville t. C’étoit la, que les Troyens, et les
-auxiliaires, fe rangeoient en bataille, tandis que l’armée des
Grecs s’étendoit du cété des vaiffeaux [. Ce tombeau ne fub-
fifte plus, mais il fuffit d’examiner la carte; on voit qu’en dif-
pofant l’armée Troyenne entre les rives des deux fleuves, de
maniére qu’une des ailes foit appuyée fur les bords du Simois,
vers Aktché Keu, ot eft Callicoloné, et l'autre vers les bords du
Scamandre, un peu au deffous de Bounarbachi, ot devoit étre
le tombeau de Myrinne, alors elle fait face a l’armée Greque,
fituée entre le cap Sigée et le cap Rhetée. :

Les divinités proteCtrices de ces deux armées, ne pouvoient
mieux exciter leur courage, qu’en parcourant alternativement ~
leurs lignes ; c’eft ainfi qu’en agiffent tous les généraux, au mo-
ment ou ils conduifent leurs troupes al’ennemi. Aufli voyons-
nous Mars appeler les Troyens, a grands cris, du haut de la
citadelle, et volant comme un tourbillon fur les bords du Simois
vers Callicoloné ; tandis que PALLAS, animant, de fon coté;
Parmée Greque, fe trouve, tout a la fois, au cap Sigée, au cap
Rhetée, et fur le rivage de la mer |. :

La route publique pafloit prés des fources du Scamandre,
puifqu’ Hecror pourfuivi par ACHILLE arrive aux fources,
apres l’avoir traverfée §. On arrive encore aujourd’hui des

rivages.

* Odyff. viii. 504. || Iliad. xx. 48.
+. Ibid. ii. 811. § Ibid. xxiie 345.
t Thad. it. 464.

PLAINE de TROYE. 745

rivages de l’Hellefpont au village de Bounarbachi en pafiant fur
les fources du Scamandre.

Si toutes ces preuves réunies, ne fuffifent pas pour fixer irre-
vocablement la fituation de l’ancienne Troye, je me flatte
qu’on fe laiffera dumoins convaincre, par la démonftration
mathématique et rigoureufe qui va fuivre.

Les portes Scées, (ou les portes du couchant), étoient celles
qui faifoient face a la plaine*. C’eft par ces portes, que les
Troyens fortent, pour aller combattre dans la plaine; c’eft 1a,
qu’HecrTor étoit placé lorfque PR1AM et HEcuBeE veulent le dé-
tourner de fe mefurer avec AcHILLE ft. C’eft enfin du haut de
ces portes, que ces infortunés parens, voyent perir leur fils aux
fources du Scamandre {.

Les fources du Scamandre étoient, donc, en face, et a la
vue, des Portes Scées. Elles étoient, donc, au couchant de la
ville. Dés qu’une fois l’on m’accorde la pofition des fources
du Scamandre, on ne fauroit me refufer celle de la ville de Troye.
La fituation de cette ville a l’orient des fources, eft inconteftable
et rigoureufement démontrée.

Rk 2 CHAP.

* Evsrarn. in Iliad. vol.i. p. 394. Edit. Rom. 1550.
+ Iliad. xxii. 35. { Ibid. xxi. 405.

46 TABLEAU de Ia

Cae. XML

Te ombeau d’ Heétor.

. une opinion généralement répandue parmi les érudits,

que les anciens ne placoient jamais leurs fépultures dans

Vintérieur des villes.. Les ruines de celles qu’on a découvertes,

et les ufages a€tuels des nations orientales, femblent confirmer
cette opinion ; mais on fait que quelques peuples, tels que les

Lacédémoniens, par exemple, n’imitoient point en cela les
autres, et qwils entaffoient avec autant d’inhumanité que nous,

les morts, et les vivans, dans l’étroite enceinte de leurs mu-

railles. .

Les Troyens n’auroient-ils point imité cé barbare ufage? et
les tombeaux que l’on voit fur l’éminence de Bounarbachi, et
qui devoient d’aprés leur fituation préfente, étre enfermés dans
la ville, ou aumoins dans la citadelle de Troye, ne fembleroient-
ils pas Vindiquer? non. Les tombeaux d’Asyeres, d’ILus,
de la courageufe MyrINNE, étoient hors des murailles, et méme
a une grande diftance de la ville; pourquoi donc ceux-ci fe
trouvent-ils dans l’interieur? La raifon en eft fimple.

Loxsqu uN des chefs des Grecs venoit a perir dans le com-
bat, on le portoit aux vaiffeaux, et on lui élevoit un tombeau:
fous la protection du camp. Les Troyens, au contraire, lorf-
qu’ils vouloient executer la cérémonie des funerailles de leurs.
guerriers, n’avoient d’autre défenfe contre les incurfions des
Grecs, que les murailles de leur ville. I] ne feroit donc point

étonnant, quwils ayent été forcés pendant le tems de la guerre,
; de

PLAINE de TROVE. a4

de déroger 4 leur ancien ufage, et d’enterrer les morts dans leur
enceinte.

J’ar déja dit, que des quatre tombeaux qui fe trouvent fur
V’éminence de Bounarbachi, trois font abfolument femblables a
ceux gu’on voit fur les rivages de l’Hellefpont, et que le qua-
triéme eft un énorme amas de pierres, qui femble avoir été
bouleverfé ; et aprés m’étre affuré mathématiquement de la fitu-
ation de l’ancienne Troye, ma premiere idée fut, qu’ils conte-
noient les cendres des guerriers Troyens; et ma conjecture a
cet égard me paroiffoit d’autant plus raifonnable, que plufieurs
auteurs anciens nous apprennent que long tems aprés la guerre
de Troye, on montroit.aux voyageurs les tombeaux des Troyens,
aufli bien que ceux des Grecs. ‘‘ Le corps de Paris,” dit DAREs
de Phrygie *, “‘ fut porté dans la ville, et Prram lui éleva un
** tombeau.” \

CrsAr, parcourant la plaine de Troye, marchoit fans s’en
appercevoir fur un monceau de pierres et de gazon, qui n’avoit
plus la forme d’un tombeau. “ Arretez, Crsar,’’ s’écrie fon
conducteur, “ vous foulez aux pieds les cendres d’HEcTOR.’”

Securus in alto
Gramine ponebat greffus; Phryx incola manes
Hectroreos calcare vetat +.

.

Cal

PAUSANIAS, qui nous a déja fait le récit fabuleux des caufes.
qui avoient renverfé le tombeau d’Ajyax, nous apprend auffi le
motif qui fit ouvrir celui dHecror: “ Les habitans de
“* Thebes,” dit-il, “ furent engagés par l’oracle d’aller 4 Troye,,.
“ chercher les cendres d’HEcTor, et de les tranfporter &
“ Thebes ft.”

VIRGILE:

* De Excidio Troje, cap. xxxv. + Lucan. Pharf ix. 975.
t Grac. Defcrip. lib. ix. p. 568. Edit. Hanov. 1613.

78 TABLEAU dela. *

_ VirGILE nous défigne d’une maniére trés ingenieufe, la vé-
maki fituation du tombeau d’HEcTor. -
“ Eneée,” dit-il, ‘‘ abordant fur les rivages de l’Epire, y_
“* rétrouve la ville de Troye, le Scamandre, la Citadelle, et les —
‘ portes Scées :

Procedo, et parvam Trojam, fimulataque magnis
Pergama, et arentem Xanthi cognomine rivum )
Agnofco, Sceaque amplector limina porta *. ‘

Il rencontre ANDROMAQUE, faifant des libations fur le tombeau
de fon époux :

——_—— falfi Simoéntis ad undam,
Libabat cineri ANDROMACHE, manefque vocabat
Hec1oreum ad tumulum +.

CreTre infortunée Princeffe, cherche dans fa nouvelle patrie,
ce qu’elle a perdu dans l’ancienne. Elle donne a un ruiffeau
defféché le nom du Scamandre dont les eaux limpides ne tariffent
jamais, et dont les bords font toujours fleuris. Elle éleve le
cenotaphe d’Hecror, fur les rives du faux Simois, fes fouve-
nirs douloureux alimentent fes larmes, et ils lui font trop pre-
cieux pour qu’on puifle les accufer d’étre infideles. On peut
s’en rapporter a cette veuve affligée, pour le foin d’imiter le
tombeau de fon cher Hector, et dés qu’ ANDROMAQUE pleure
fur les bords du faux Simois en Epire, c’eft que les cendres de
fon époux repofent fur les rives du véritable Simois dans la
plaine de Troyes YF

Jz les ai vus, Meffieurs, ces rivages de 1’Epire, ou regnoit
autrefois HELENus. La plaine de Butrinto, fituée en face de
"ile de Corfou, a, en effet, des rapports finguliers avec la plaine
de Troye; et le village de Butrinto, comme celui de Bounar-

bachi,

+ JEn. iii. 349: + Ib. 302.

PLAINE de TROYE, 4Q°

bachi, eft auffi fitué fur une éminence, a l’extremité d’une
plaine entourée de montagnes, traverfée de deux petits torrents;
et s’étendant jufqu’a la mer.

La defcription qu’ HoMERE nous a laiffée, lui-méme, des fu-
nerailles d’Hecror, s’accorde merveilleufement avec tous les
témoignages que je viens de citer; ‘‘ On brule le corps de ce
- “ guerrier, on éteint la flamme avec du vin; fes parens, et fes
“‘ compagnons raffemblent fes cendres en verfant des larmes ;
** ils les enferment dans une urne d’or, et ils les dépofent dans
** une foffe, qu’ils couvrent d’une quantité de pierres, et fur
“ laquelle ils élevent un tombeau *.”’

CHAP. XIX.

Des Sources du Scamandre.

a dit dans mon journal, en décrivant les fources trouvées:
dans la plaine de Troye, qu’elles étoient voifines du village
de Bounarbachi; j’ai ajouté, que celle qui eft ifolée, et qui
jaillit du fond du. baffin bordé de piliers de marbre et de granit,
étoit en hyver chaude, et couverte de fumée; tandis que les
autres nombreux filets d’eau, qui fortent du pied de la colline
voifine, et qui fe réuniffent enfuite, pour former la feconde
fource du plus petit des fleuves, confervoient en tout tems la
méme temperature. Voyons fi ces caractéres correfpondent 4a.
la peinture qu’HOMERE nous a laiffée des fources du Scaman-
dre.

GES:

* Vliad. xxiv..797-

a 3 TABLEAU de la

Ces fources, fuivant lui, n’étoient pas éloignées de la ville,
puifque les femmes Troyennes alloient y laver leurs vétemens,
avant l’arrivée des Grecs *. I] paroit auffi, que le phénomene
trés extraordinaire qui diftingue ces fources, n’a pas échappé
non plus a ce grand poéte. On voit clairement dans le tableau —
détaillé qu’il en donne, qu’il n’avoit pas été moins frappé de
leur fingulicre différence que de leur abondance, et de leur
beauté ; mais l’idée qu’il nous en donne n’eft pas tout-a-fait
conforme a la nature, ou n’eft pas, au moins, exa¢tement ren-
due: ‘“* L’une de ces fources,’’ dit-il, ‘* eft tiede, et couverte
““ de fumée, l’autre, en été, eft froide comme la neige ou la
“ gréle ¢.”’ La premiere fource, eft réellement tiede et cou-
verte de fumée; mais elle ne l’eft pas toujours, comme HOMERE
femble l’indiquer, et ne l’eft qu’en hyver ; et l’autre eft toujours -
froide.

Les environs des fources du Scamandre, étoient couverts de
rofeaux trés épais, et trés élevés, dans lefquels les jeunes filles
de Troye, alloient fe baigner avant leurs néces, et ou la jeune
‘CALLIRHOE fut abufée par l’Athenien Cimon, fuivant l’aven-
ture qui forca Escuine de s’échapper précipitamment de la
Troade, et qui eft racontée dans la dixiéme des lettres qu’on at-
tribue communement a cet orateur; aventure véritablement
déplorable, puifqu’elle ’empécha d’obferver la plaine de Troye,
et qu’elle nous a privé du réfultat de fes recherches.

ON peut, quoique il en foit, conclure de cette lettre, que la
ville de Troye exiftoit encore au tems d’EscHINE ; qu'elle étoit
voifine du Scamandre; que ce fleuve étoit couvert de rofeaux,
comme aujourd’hui; qu’Escuine s’attendoit a rétrouver la
plaine, 4 peu prés, dans le méme état od Homere l’avoit de-
peinte.

In n’eft pas inutile de remarquer, non plus, que ce meme
lutteur ATTALUs, cité dans la lettre d’Escuine, eft le méme

qui

* Uiad. xxii. 154. + Ibid. 149.

PLAINE d TROYE. “Sa

qui eft mentionné dans Vinfcription trouvée parmi les ruines
du temple d’Apotton Thymbréen.

Sr je ne craignois paroitre romanefque dans ma defcription
de la plaine de Troye, j’ajouterois, que j’ai trouvé des femmes
Turques du village de Bounarbachj, lavant leur linge aux
fources du Scamandre, comme les époufes et les filles des Troyens
le faifoient lorf{qu’avant l’arrivée des Grecs, elles jouifloient des
douceurs de la paix:

¢/ 4 f f
Ob ELUATE oMyoAoETO
/
TlAvvecxoy Today arovor, xaras re Soyarges,
To rely tr elonuns, mew erAdesy Drees “Ayo *,

Gian PoC.

Courfe d’ Hector et d’ Achille. |

Orsqu’AcHILLE va provoquer HecTor aux portes Scées f,
Yarmée Gréque eft rangée en bataille dans la plaine, a la
vue des murs de Troye. Les Troyens font réduits aux abois.
HecrTor eft le feul obftacle qui puiffe fufpendre un moment
leur perte: Les citoyens font fur les murs, qui font face a la
plaine, et aux fources du Scamandre. PriAm et HeEcuse font
fur les portes Scées ft ; toutes les forces de la ville font dirigées
au point que les ennemis menacent d’attaquer; chacun tremble
pour le fort du vaillant HecTor, qui eft, en ce moment, le feul
rempart qu’on puifle oppofer aux Grecs victorieux ACHILLE
WOE. LU, L va

* Thad. xxii. 154. f Wiad. xxii 76, 78:

+ Ibid. 35. 131

82 TABLEAU de la

va a fa rencontre, fon afpect Vintimide, il prend la fuite *,
(et s'il faut s’en rapporter a l’opinion commune des traducteurs
d’Homere), il fe met a courir autour des murs de la grande
ville de Troye +. Chaque fois qu’il cherche a gagner les portes,
ou 2 s’approcher des murs, ACHILLE le détourne vers la plaine,
et fait figne a fes foldats de ne pas attenter a fa vie f.

Crs deux guerriers ne courent pas pour une victime; il s’agit
de la vie du grand HecTor §, c’eft a dire, du falut ou de la perte
de Troye. ‘Tous fes concitoyens, et fa famille, font rangés -
fur les murs, pour attendre de quel cété la balance de JuPITER
penchera. La courfe des deux guerriers eft l’époque la plus dé-
cifive, et le fpectacle le plus intéreflant pour les Troyens, et pour
les Grecs. Ils ne doivent pas en perdre la moindre circonftance..
Chaque pas que fait Hecror, doit retentir au fond du coeur
de Priam et d’HeEcuBgE, et les braves. Theflaliens doivent ex-
citer 2 grands cris la vitefle de leur roi. }

S1 ces deux guerriers s’étoient dérobés aux yeux de leurs ar-
mées, et avoient continué leur courfe autour des murailles, de.
Vimmenfe ville de Pr1aM, les portes Scées feroient-elles reftées.
4 la difcretion de Parmée Greque? Cette armée n’étant plus.
contenue par la préfence de fon chef, et dans I’incertitude de
ce qui fe paffoit entre les deux guerriers, lorfqw’ils étoient dans
la partie oppofée de la ville, feroit-elle reftee dans inaction, et:
auroit-elle pu moderer fon impatience, jufqu’a ace quwils euffent.
fait trois fois le tour des murailles?

ComMpPARONS, maintenant, le combat de Turnus et d’ENEz,
avec celui d’HecTor et d’AcHILLE. Ceux-la combattoient fous
les murailles de Laurentum, entre deux armées qui attendoient
avec une égale impatience l’arrét de leur deftinées ; voyons com-
ment VIRGILE aura terminé cette importante bataille.

TurRNus ayant ‘réfolu d’engager Enke dans un combat fn-
gulier, et celui-ci étant informé du projet de fon adverfaire,.

tous deux fe préparent au: combat. De bonne heure le matin.
fuivant,.
* liad. xxii. 136.. f Iliad. xxii. 194. 205.
+ Ibid. 144. 155. § Ibid. 158.

PLAINE de TROYE. 83

faivant, les Troyens et les Rutules tracent le champ de bataille,
fous les murailles de la grande ville *. Les méres inquietes, la
foule du peuple, et les foibles vieillards, fe placent fur les tours,
fur le toit des maifons, et fur le haut des portes. JuNon du
fommet de la montagne voifine, domine fur le champ de ba-
taille, fur les deux armées, et fur la villede LATinus. Ce roi,
accompagné de TurNus; et ENEE, accompagné de fon fils As-
CAGNE, conviennent des préliminaires du combat, et font un
traité qu’ils confirment par les fermens les plus folemnels.

EN attendant, JururNE, foeur de Turnus, a linftigation
de Junon, fe prépare a faire violer le traité, et a déconcerter
les projets du combat. Une bataille générale eft la fuite de
cette rufe. ENEE y eft bleffé, et fe retire; fa bleffure eft gue-
rie bient6t aprés, par le fecours de Venus. Mais Turnus,
profitant de l’abfence de fon rival, fait un carnage affreux dans
fon armée. Le poéte place ici plufieurs incidens. ENEE re-
tourne au combat, il attaque la ville de Laurentum, et brule
les maifons les plus voifines du rempart. TurRNus, enfin, dans
un accés de violence et de défefpoir, cherche partout fon rival.
“Tl s’avance jufques fous les murailles, ou le combat eft le plus
“ acharné, et ou les dards fifflent a travers les airs ; il fait figne
“‘ aux Rutules de la main, et leur crie de ne plus combattre, en
*¢ leur declarant, que c’eft a lui feul de courir les hazards de cette
“journée, quels qu’ils puiffent étre ; et qu’il doit remplir pour
“ eux toutes les conditions du traité, par la feule force de fes
“‘ armes ; auflitot les armées fe féparent, et laiflent entr’elles un
“ grand efpacey.’’ ENEE, qui s’en appercoit, abandonne l’attaque
des murailles, et court fe mefurer avec TurNus. Le combat
s engage, l’attention des deux armées eft enti¢rement fixée fur
leurs chefs: JupiTeR pefe leurs deftinées, comme il avoit autre-
fois, fuivant Homerg, pefé celles d’Hector et d’AcHILLE.
L’épée de TurNus, qui n’étoit pas la fienne, mais qu'il avoit
arachée par hazard a fon cocher Meriscus, fe brife en éclats,
contre la divine armure d’ENEE. II n’a plus d’autres refources

ae a ue
* JEn. xi. 116. + ZEn. zii. 690. 4

‘West 5 TABLEAU dela

que la fuite; alors les deux combattans font cing fois, en
courant, le tour du champ de bataille, et autant de fois ils ies
retrouvent au méme sail
TuRNus s’arréte pres d’un olivier confacré au dieu FAUNE,
comme Hector s’arréte pres des fources du Scamandre. Si
dans le combat Hecror lance, en vain, fa pique contre A-
CHILLE, dont les armes divines refiftent a fon effort; s’il crie
vainement a DE1pHOBE de lui en donner un autre; TurNus
voit, de méme, fe brifer dans fes mains l’épée qui le trahit, et
il en demande une autre aux foldats qu’intimidoient les menaces
VENEE. oe
CetTe courfe circulaire de TurNus pourfuivi par ENEE,
s’exécute non pas autour de la ville de Laurentum, mais fous les
murs de cette ville, toujours du méme coté, et dans un terrein
compris entre cette méme ville, un marais, et l’armée des
Troyens + ; circonftance que VirGiLe femble avoir fuppofée
pour former 3 fes combattans une aréne, femblable a celle
qu’offroit la plaine de Troye, pour les contenir fur le méme
théatre, toujours fous les yeux de leurs concitoyens ; enfin pour
donner 2 fa compofition une forte d’unité, et pour ne pas |
bleffer la vraifemblance, et le bon goiit. f
PourQuo! ViRGILE, aprés avoir fuivi fon modéle pas a pas,
depuis le commencement de 1’épifode, paroit-il s’en écarter, re-
Jativement a la courfe particuliere de fes deux guerriers? Au-
roit-il rifqué de corriger fon fublime original dans une circon-
ftance aufli importante? L’ouvrage d’HomERE qu'il avoit,
étoit-il différent de celui qui exifte aujourd’hui? Ou le texte
meme

Re |

* Duingue orbes explent curfu, totidemque retexunt
Huc, Wluc eee a. FERC

+ Et nunc huc, inde huc, incertos implicat orbes;
Undique enim denfa Teucri inclufere corona ; At
Atgue bine vafta. palus, hine ardua meuia cingunt. Thid.. 7475 a

PLAINE de TROVE. | 85

méme feroit-il fufceptible d’admettre l’explication que VIRGILE |
femble lui avoir donnée ?

En fuppofant que le texte n’ait pete été alteré, il ne me pa-
roit pas impoflible d’y trouver un fens analogue a limitation
de VirGILE, et de juftifier ainfi fon modele.

L’ExaMEN fcrupuleux que j’ai fait de cet épifode m’a con-
vaincu, que la difficulté préfente confifte effentiellement, et
uniquement, dans la maniere d’interpréter la prépofition sgl,
qui fignifie fouvent autour, mais qui eft également employée
dans plufieurs auteurs, et dans Homers lui-méme, pour les
mots juxta, prope, ad, qui defignent le voifinage d’un lieu. Si
au lieu d’adopter regi dans le premier fens, on le prend dans le
dernier, la difficulté difparoit, les guerriers courent devant,
ou pres de la ville; il ne fubfifte plus aucune différence entre
les deux epifodes de I’Iliade et de l’Enéide ; et le grand HomErE
eft juftifié d’une faute de got dont la mal-adreffe de fes com-
mentateurs l’a, jufqu’a préfent, fait accufer.

2 Wg

@

86 TABLEAU de la ~

.

Col AP... XX

Tombeaux d’ Achille, de Patrocle, et d’ Antiloque.

| Ele le moins éclairé, le fimple matelot lui-
méme, eft frappé de ces éminences coniques, qui font
rangées fur les bords de la mer, et qu'il appercoit fucceflive-
ment, a mefure qu’il s’avance dans l’Hellefpont. Il faut bien
que ces monumens ayent un but, et une deftination; on n’é-
léve pas des mafles de cette importance, fans un objet quelcon-
que. Les Turcs qui ont, fans doute, recu cette tradition des
Grecs, prétendent que ce font des tombeaux d’anciens Sultans,
et d’anciens Vizirs, c’eft a dire, d’anciens rois, et d’anciens
généraux 5 car on fait, que les Turcs, comme les autres nations,
donnent a tous les fouverains, et a tous les chefs, le nom des
leurs. Jamais les Sultans ni les Vizirs n’ont été enterrés a la
maniére des guerriers Grecs. A Broufle, 4 Magnefie, 4 Con-
ftantinople, dans toutes les villes ou ils ont refidé, leurs cen-
dres repofent dans de magnifiques mofquées, qu ils ont prefque
toutes éleveés de leur vivant.

Le Do@teur PococKeE a mal interprété cette tradition des
Turcs. Sil l’avoit adoptée dans fon véritable fens, elle auroit,
peut-étre, levé fes doutes, et il fe feroit montré moins timide
dans le jugement qu'il a porté fur les monumens de la Troade.

PLINE, STRABON, PAUSANIAS, D1oN CHRYSOSTOME, et
beaucoup d’autres anciens rapportent, comme je l’ai déja dit,
que les tombeaux des guerriers Grecs étoient encore de leur
tems en evidence, fur les rivages de l’Hellefpont. Ils avoient
donc refifté plus de dix fiécles aux injures des faifons. Lees re-

{pect

PLAINE de TROVE. 87

fpect des peuples, autant que leur folidité, les avoit garantis de
la deftruction, pourquoi n’auroient-ils pas fubfifté vingt ficcles
de plus? lorfque, fur-tout, les peuples devenus dans la fuite
maitres du pays ou ils fe trouvent, n’ont pas moins de, véné-
ration pour les fépultures que ceux qu’ils en ont chailés.

In n’y a donc rien d’étonnant, fi les deux célébres Anglois
qui m’ont précédé dans la Troade, n’ont pas craint, l’un de
foupconner, l’autre d’afirmer hardiment quw'ils exiftoient en-
core; mais quand tous les voyageurs, tant anciens que moder-
nes, ne m’auroient pas guidé dans la recherche des monumens
de la Troade, la precifion avec laquelle Homere décrit leur
fituation, leur conftrution et leur forme, |’affurance avec la-
quelle il prophétife en quelque forte leur éternelle durée, au-
roient fuffi pour me les faire decouvrir, et pour m’autorifer a
croire a leur exiftence actuelle. Ecoutons, d’abord AcHILLE
faifant executer les funérailles de PaTRocLE, “ Je lui ai fait,”
sili “ élever un tombeau d’une grandeur médiocre, mais

“ jordonne aux Grecs qui me furvivront, d’en conftruire un

“ plus. haut, et plus étendu = celui-ci *.”’

AGAMEMNON racontant 4 ACHILLE dans les enfers, les cé-.
_ rémonies de fes funérailles: ‘ La déeffe, votre mére,” lui dit-
il, ‘ donna une urne d’or pour enfermer vos cendres, et elle:
“ dit, que c’étoit un préfent de Baccuus, et un chef-d’ceuvre:
“de Vutcatn. Vos os font dans cette urne, mélés avec ceux.
“ de PATROCLE; et dans la méme urne on mit féparément,
“ ceux d’ANTILOQUE, qui, aprés. PATROCLE, étoit celui de:
“ yos compagnons que vous chérifliez le plus. Toute l’armée.
“ travailla enfuite a élever fur ces précieux reftes un tombeau,
“ que l’on placa fur le haut rivage de l’Hellefpont, afin qu’il.
‘ foit appercu de loin par les navigateurs qui pafleront dans

cette mer, non feulement dans ce fiécle, mais dans les fecles:

a venir +.”

L’1mMaGE des tombeaux des grands hommes, a quelquechofe:
de touchant, qui intéreffe le coeur a coup fir. Homers,.

qui:

3 J

* Iliad, xxii, 245, + OdyM. xxiv. 73.

88 TABLEAU de la’ at

qui connoiffoit tous les refforts qui peuvent emouvoir la fenfi-
bilité, n’a pas manqué d’employer un moyen dont il attendoit,
avec raifon, les plus grands effets fur Ame de fes leCteurs.
Voyez combien de fois il rapelle le fouvenir de ces lugubres
monumens, et avec quel intérét il les décrit; 11 femble qu'il y
voit d’avance bruler l’encens des facrifices, qu’il entend les fou-
pirs, et qu'il voit couler les. larmes des voyageurs qui les vifiteront
un jour. o

Quanp Hector provoque les guerriers Grecs au combat
fingulier, il propofe au milieu des deux armées les conditions du
combat: ‘ Si je fais tomber,’’ dit-il, ‘‘ mon ennemi fous mes
“ coups, fi APOLLON m/accorde la victoire, j’emporterai fes
‘© armes dans la citadelle d’Ilium ; je les fufpendrai au temple
* de ce dieu, et je renverrai fon corps dans fes vaifleaux, afin
“© que les Grecs lui faffent des funérailles honorables, et qu'ils &
“ lui élevent un tombeau fur le rivage de l’Hellefpont, en forte _
‘‘ que dans les fiécles 4 venir, quand les voyageurs pafleront
“ dans cette mer ils difent: Voila le tombeau d’un vaillant
“ uerrier, qui dans le tems paflé, fut vaincu par le belliqueux |
“ Fecror dans un combat fingulier; ainfi parleront tous les’
‘ yoyageurs, et ma gloire paflera d’Age en age *.”

Homere nous apprend expreflement, que le monument
d’AcHILLE et de PATROCLE, étoient de cette efpece, et qu’ils
étoient fitués fur le rivage de la mer, en nous difant: ‘ Que
“ Jes hommes chargés de tranfporter du mont Ida les bois né-

“ ceffaires pour le bucher de PaTROCLE, les jettent, par ordre,
“ fur le rivage, 4 V’endroit qu’AcHiLLE avoit défigné pour le
“ tombeau de PATROCLE, et pour le fien t.”’

In va nous décrire maintenant leur conftruction et leur

- forme: “ Les chefs,” dit-il, “ en parlant du tombeau de Pa-
“ pRoOcLE, en marquent l’enceinte circulaire, ils en jettent les
“© fondemens, et il les couvrent d’un monceau de terre.”
| Je

* gJliad. vii. St. + Ibid, xxiii. 1233

PLAINE de TROYE. 89

4 Je m’arréte avec enchantement fur ce tableau, dont les dé-
tails font fi précieux pour établir l’authenticité des monumens
que jannonce. ‘On trace l’enceinte du tombeau en forme de
‘* cercle:” En effet, tous les tombeaux de la plaine de Troye
font en forme circulaire. ‘‘ On en jette enfuite les fonde-
“ mens :”’ Il y avoit donc des con{tructions intérieurs ; et Ho-
MERE nous apprend quel étoit leur ufage: “ On verfe de la

“ terre fur ces conftructions*.”’ Cette terre dont il défigne la
mobilité par lPépithete yur7, fe feroit aifément éboulée, et n’au-
roit pas refifté long tems aux injures de I’air, fi 1’on n’avoit pas
eu foin de la foutenir par un noyau de maconnerle.

Ir. exifte encore, ce précieux monceau de terre élevé par la
main des Grecs. Ce ne font plus comme autrefois des ormeaux
qui lentourent ; ce font aujourd’hui de hauts peupliers, et de
lugubres cyprés encore plus triftes et plus amis des fépultures.

Le Docteur CHANDLER regarde avec raifon comme celut
@ANTILOQUE, le tombeau voifin d’Jeni-chehr, fur le fommet
du promontoire ; mais je ne fais quel motif il a de regarder le
fuivant comme celui de PENELEUS. |

Quoigu’it en foit, if eft probable d’aprés la defcription.
d’HomeEreE, que les deux tombeaux élevés en Phonneur de Pa-
TROCLE et d’ANTILOQUE font de fimples cénotaphes, ou qu’ils
ne contiennent rien, puifque les cendres de ces deux guerriers:
furent mélées avec celles d’AcHILLE, et placés dans fon: tom-
beau.

PENETRE de cette idée, dirigé d’ailleurs par la groffeur de
celui de ces monumens qui eft le plus prés de la mer, et par le
nom fingulier de Dios-Tapé, “‘ tombeaw du dieu,’’ que lui donnent
encore les Grecs du cap Sigée, je le marquai, comme devant,
étre l’objet de la fouille que je confeillai d’entreprendre.

Apres mon départ de Conftantinople, malgré la vigilance.
des Turcs, on eft venu a bout, au moyen de. quelques préfens.

Vor. LE. m1 faits:

* Tliad. xxiil. 255; 256.

‘99 A BOE Bid 0, deh le

faits aux commandans du fort voifin, d’executer cette perillenfe
entreprife. Vers le centre du monument, on a trouvé deux
larges pierres, appuyées a l’angle l’une fur autre, et formant
un efpece de tente, fous laquelle, on a trouvé d’abord une petite
ftatue de M1nERVE Panthée, montée fur un quadrige, et une
urne de metal, remplie de cendres, de charbons, et d’offemens
humains. Cette urne, qui eft maintenant entre les mains du
Comte de CuorseEvuL, eft entourée d’une branche de vigne, a_
laquelle font fufpendues des grappes de raifin execut‘es avec un
art infin.

SontT ce-la les cendres d’AcHILLE? Je n’en fais rien; mais
ce font, a coup fir, celles d’un perfonnage qui honoroit Mr-
NERVE d’un culte particulier, puifque la ftatue de cette déefle
fe trouve avec fes cendres. De plus, il eft mort dans un fiécle
oti c’étoit l'ufage de bruler les cadavres, puifque voila des cen-
dres, des charbons, et des offemens encore trés réconnoiflables ;
et quand je vois cette urne de bronze, ornée de pampres, j’avoue
qu’il m’eft bien difficile de ne pas fonger a cette autre urne,
préfent de Baccuus et ouvrage de VuLcaINn, que THETIs don-
na aux Grecs, pour y enfermer les cendres de fon fils.

Mats, me dira-t-on, Comment ces cendres fe font-elles con-
fervées filong tems ? Comment ont-elles refifté plus de trois mille
ans a l’injure des faifons? C’eft qu’elles n’y étoient pas expofées.
La voute fous la quelle elles fe trouvoient, étoit couverte d’une
couche énorme de fable fin, fur laquelle on en avoit étendu une
autre, encore plus épaiffe, de terre glaife; et fur le tout, on
avoit élevé une haute montagne. Par ce moyen, lurne étoit
défendue de Phumidité, et du contact de V’air, qui font les deux
grandes caufes de la diffolution.

“ Ce n’eft pas tout,’ ajoute le célébre auteur du Voyage
d’ Anacharfis, \e favant et vertueux Abbé BarTHELEMY, “ ces
“* srappes de raifin placées fur l’urne font executées dans une
*¢ perfeGtion qui ne convient point au ficcle d’HOMERE.”

. ’ A

PLANE de F ROLE. | gI

' AceTre difficulté je pourrois répondre, avec BOULANGER,
* Que le fiscle dHomere, quel qu'il foit, a été fuivi de
* plufieurs fiécles “d’ignorance, qui n’ont confervé fon livre
“que dans la poufficre, et qui en ont fait oublier ’auteur.”’
Je dirois de cet auteur, quel qu’il foit encore, qu’1l n’a pu ap-
partenir gu’a un fitcle éclairé, parce qu'il nous préfente un
genie fublime, orné de connoiflances trés étendues 5 et parceque
le language de la Grece a, dans )’Iliade, une beauté, une finefle,
et une perfection, qui n’ont pu étre que les fuites d’un progrés
infini dans le commerce, dans les arts, et dans les lettres.

CEPENDANT pour ne pas choquer gratuitement les érudits,
pour ne pas contredire fans raifon les annales, les marbres, et
la chronologie de la Gréce, nous pouvons comparer, je penfe,
le dégré de civilization des Grecs au tems d’HOMERE et d’A-
CHILLE, a celui des Turcs de nos jours. Ceux-la, quoique trés
ignorans dans les arts, commercoient avec l’Egypte et l’Afie,
comme les Turcs le font avec la France et l’Angleterre. J’ai
vu chez plufieurs Pachas, des pendules 4 Equation, et des fpheres,
et je ne les ai pas accufés pour cela, d’étre aftronomes. AcHIL-
LE put acheter un bouclier d’un Egyptien, comme un janiffaire
achete un fufil d’un Anglois, et ceux qui prirent foin de fes fu-
nerailles purent, de la méme maniére, fe procurer une urne
élégante pour y dépofer fes cendres.

QuANT a ceux qui demandent, fi j’ai trouvé des infcriptions
fur les tombeaux de la Troade. je leurs réponds, qu’il ne pa-
roit pas certain, que les infcriptions en caractéres écrits, fuffent
en ufage au tems de la guerre de Troye, puifque HomMeERE, n’en
fait aucune mention ; mais les vers d’un grand poéte, lorfqu’ils
peignent la fituation et la forme d’un monument, que fa foli-
dité et fa maffe impofante mettent a l’abri des injures du tems,.
font des infcriptions plus durables qu’une plaque de marbre ow
dairain. HomERE comptoit autant fur la durée des tombeaux.

m 2 quik:

ae

92 TABLEAU de la, &e,

qu’il chantoit, que fur ’immortalité de fes tableaux: Tots, os vu
yeycot, 2 os meroriabe eoovros *.

Si ces preuves fuffifent, Meffieurs, pour détruire tous vos
doutes fur l’exiftence de ces précieux reftes de l’antiquité, j’ac-
quiers des droits a4 la méme confiance de la part de tous les Sa-
vans ; et je me plais a efperer, que lorfque la Société Royale
d’Edimbourg aura prononcé un jugement favorable fur l’authen-
ticité de ces monumens fameux, toutes les Académies de |’Eu-
rope s’emprefleront de l’adopter, et que les voyageurs éclairés —
de toutes les nations, que leurs affaires ou leur curiofité, con-

duiront dans 1’Hellefpont, fe feront un devoir, de dedommager __

par un culte nouveau, les tombeaux des héros de I'’Iliade, de
l’oubli criminel dans lequel la barbarie les avoit plongés depuis
tant de fiécles.

* Odyff. xxiv. 84.

.

N.B. The above Paper has been tranflated into Englifh, and accompanied with large
Notes and Illuftrations, by Mr Dauzex, Profeflor of Greek in the Univerfity of
Edinburgh ; with the approbation of the Committee of Publication of this Society :
And it has been printed in the fame form with thefe Tranfactions, and publifhed by
T. Cavett, in the Strand, London; and W. Creeca, Edinburgh. 1791.

Il. 4n Essay upon the Urinity of DEFINING SYNONYMOUS
Terms in all Languages; with Illuftrations by Examples .
from the Latin. By Foun Hitt, LL.D. F.R.S.Epin, and
Profeffor of Humanity in the Univerfity of Edinburgh.

[Read by the Author, Feb. 18. 1788.]

ORDS that are precifely equivalent are rarely, if at all,
to be met with in any language. Thofe properly called
Jynonymous, exhibit one leading circumftance in which they all
agree, and one or more acceffory circumftances in which they
differ. When the point of their general coincidence, and the
grounds of their particular diverfities, are clearly afcertained,
it is then in the power of the writer to ufe them with propriety.
By the affiftance of the grammarian, he knows which to adopt ©
and which to reject, and can reconcile embellifhment with ac-
curacy and precifion. _

THE excellence of any language may ina great meafure be
judged of, by the number of fynonymous terms that belong to
it. A multiplicity of them, under fkilful management, creates
no hurtful redundancy. On thecontrary, it enables every au-
thor of tafte to exhibit his thoughts with energy and luftre.
For the moft delicate variety of fhades in thought, he is fur-
nifhed with a correfponding variety in expreflion ; and the lan-
guage in which he conveys his idea, becomes a complete pic-
ture of the idea itfelf.

Tue author of this effay is abundantly fenfible, that though
the Latin tongue prefents many clafles of fynonymous terms,

yet

94 Oe ie the UTILITY of defining

yet to catch the circumftance on which their differences reft, is
no eafy matter, and may often leave room for diverfity of opi

nion. After a careful examination of the claflical writers, he a

fufpedts it will be found, that in the glow of compofition, the
ftrict diftinctions between fuch words have not been always at-
tended to, and that the pureft writers have occafionally de-
viated from the ftandard which their general. pra@tice had efta-
blifhed. Still, however, he apprehends, that there is room for
a critical and fcientific difcuffion of the Latin fynonymous
terms. As this is a fubject to which, in the line of his pro-
feffion, he was led to give particular attention, and as he confi-
ders it to be of no {mall importance to thofe who with to dif
_criminate the flighteft violation of purity in the Roman lan-
guage, he has made a very large collection of its fynonymous
words, with remarks upon them. The following fpecimen of
the inftances he has collected, he fubmits, with much diffidence,
to this learned Society.

ROGARE, PETERE, POSTULARE, POSCERE, FLAGITARE, agree
in denoting the expreffion of a defire to obtain fomething not |

pofleffed, but differ in refpe@t to the urgency with which this. q

defire is announced. They are all diftinguifhed from the verbs |
cupere and optare, which, though not equivalent, fuppofe, like
them, the exiftence of defire, but not the expreffion of it, with
a view to its being fulfilled.

Tuer power of the verb rogare extends no farther than to ihe
fimple intimation of defire. By means of it, a want is fug-

gefted to the perfon addrefled, of which he was before ignorant, — |

and both he and his petitioner are fuppofed confcious, that com-
pliance with the requeft muft be voluntary and the effect of
good-will. ‘ Moleftum verbum eft, et onerofum, et demiflo
“ yultu dicendum rogo *.”.—** Malo emere quam rogare T.”’

HE

* Sen. Ben. 22. , + Cic. in Ver. 4. 12

SYNONY MOUS TERMS. 05

Or

He who propofed a law m the Roman Comitia, and was then
faid rogare legem, prefented his requeft refpectfully, and left it
to the Affembly to judge as to the expediency of granting it.

PETERE differs from rozare, in fuppofing a certain difficulty
in coming at the object defired, and a greater degree of keen-
nefs upon the part of the petitioner. “‘ Ad te confugimus, a
“ te opem petimus *.”—‘* Cum a me peteret et fumme conten-
“« deret, ut propinquum fuum defenderem +.”—‘ Id fibi ut do-
“ naret, rogare et vehementer petere coepit f.” In the laft ex-
ample, the verbs rogare and petere are evidently contrafted.
‘The latter denotes a degree of zeal upon the part of the perfon
who afks, which the former does not. |

_ THE definition now given of petere does not correfpond with
that given by Servius. “ Petere,” fays he, “ eft cum aliquid
“ humiliter, et cum precibus poftulamus §.’’ With all the
refpe@ due to fo great a critic, it may be urged, that this
power of fetere is not to be difcerned in the verb when taken
by itfelf, though it may be exprefled by words with which it is
occafionally accompanied. Thus, Ca@sar, De Bello Gallico,
fays, ‘* Suppliciterque locuti, flentes pacem petiffent. al iy
*€ mulierefque, paflis manibus,
Nothing in either of thofe inftances ferves to prove, that the
keennefs of the petitioner, which marks the verb, may not ex-
ift, independently of the manner in which the requeft is pre-
fented. The manner is in fact exprefled by thofe terms that
happen to be adjuncts to the verb.

PeTERE, from the Greek verb zezw, ferri, volare, fhews | its

native force in fuch derivatives as impetus and prepes**, It
| feems
# Cie. Tufc. Q. 5. 5. + Cic. Quin. 14. a. f Cic. Ver. 215. a.

§ neid. 9. 193. | t.27. & 2.13.

** The obfervations of the celebrated Gusner upon this verb, are worthy of that ex-
tenfive erudition and acute difcernment for which he is juftly diftinguifhed. By means of
his accurate remarks upon the force of fome fingle terms, my labour in tracing the cir-
cumftance by which they are allied to other ones, has been abridged; and no {cholar
fhould be afhamed to avow his obligations to fo able a guide.

96 “On the UTILITY of defining - -

Rane to have originally expreffed an effort to come at objets
not within reach, and to have been transferred from material —

objects to intellectual conceptions. Its primitive power appears * 4

in fuch inftances as the two following: ‘“‘ Sciebam CATILINAM _
“ non latus aut ventrem, fed caput et collum petere folere*.”"
—“ Malo me GaLaTza fetit, lafciva puella +.”

THE power of petere, thus limited, appears to have been after-
wards extended, fo as to exprefs a defire, accompanied with an _
effort to obtain any object whatever ; and thus the original idea _
of bodily exertion was loft in that of the eagernefs of any pur-
fuit. Candidates for offices at Rome were faid petere magiffra-
tus; and from a fenfe of the value, as well as of the difficulty
of obtaining the object, they were keen in the purfuit of it.

From a paflage in Horace, it fhould feem, that any means
for the acquifition of an object that are lefs than coercive, a?
be exprefled by the Mi peteres

— CzSAR, qui cogere poffet,
Si peteret per amicitiam patris atque fuam, non
Quidquam proficeret f.

Nothing more is fuggefted here by petere, than Czsar’s keen-
nefs to hear this mufician perform. It were abfurd to fuppofe,
that the Emperor, who poffeffed the power of compulfion,

would ever ftoop to beg the favour, according to ait. i

** humiliter et cum precibus.’” }
PosTULARE differs from petere, in as far as it fuggefts nei- ‘
ther keennefs nor difficulty in the acquifition of the object. Be- —
fides the fentiment of defire, which is common to all the five |
verbs compared, the idea of claim, which is manifeftly not in-
herent in either of the two former, is effential to’ po/fulare. Upon
a proper limitation of this claim, however, a due -apprehenfion

of the power of the verb depends.
THE

* Cic. pro Muren, 136. 6. + Virc. Ec. 3 64, - } Hos. Suteapee

SY NONYMOUS TERMS. 97

Tue diftintive character of po/fulare feems to reft on the ac-
knowledged reafonablenefs of that which is demanded. “ Geo-
“ metrz folent non omnia docere fed pofulare, ut quedam fibi
“ concedantur, quo facilitis que velint explicent*.” When
geometers require any conceflion of thofe they are about to in-
ftruct, they appeal to their reafon, and tacitly bind themfelves
to allow the validity of that which they require. The axiom
again, which is an undeniable principle, carrying with itfelf
its own proof, is not to be confounded with the poftulate or
entreated maxim. Other philofophers, as well as mathemati-
cians, eftablifh poftulates, though often in terms lefs definite,
and of courfe more readily miftaken. “ M. Dafne igitur hoc,
** Pompont!, Deorum immortalium vi, natura, ratione, naturam
“ eam regi? A. Do fane fi poftulas +.” |

Cicero ufes the expreflion, ‘‘ Impudenter rogare, impu-
“ dentiffime poffulare { ;”’ and thus intimates, that the inde-
cency which was culpable in the bare fuggeftion of a defire, as
implied in the former verb, rofe in a fuperlative degree, when
to this was diditiuait the idea of a claim, as sibicitasieit in the
latter.

Ir appears from Quintus CurrTivus, that the infolence of
Darius, after a fevere defeat, provoked ALEXANDER. He
not only took to himfelf the appellation of King, without gi-
ving it to his Conqueror, but prefented his requefts in terms
that became not his fituation. The hiftorian of ALEXANDER
accordingly fays, “ Poflulabat autem magis quam petebat §.”

PoscerE agrees with pofudare, in fuppofing, that the petitioner
has a claim to have his requeft granted ; but it befides denotes,
that he himfelf is entitled to judge as to the validity of that
claim, without regard to the opinion of the perfon requefted,
or to the acknowledged equity of the demand. Thus, Cicero

‘Vois il. ete

* Cre. de Off. 58. 5. Tithe t Cic. de OF. 1. 88.

+ Cre. de Legg. 1. ». — § Quin. Cur. 4.1.

fays,

98 On the UTILITY of defining

fays, “ Nemo tam audax qui fo/ceret, nemo tam impudens qui
' pofularet *.” ‘The pointed oppofition made here by the ora-
_ tor between the two verbs, fhews clearly the meaning affixed
by him to each. Impudence, he tells us in the laft claufe, or
a contempt for the opinion of the world, who would judge as
to the propriety of the demand, is all that would be needful —
for enabling the petitioner to prefent it in the form denoted by
poftulare. With regard to pofcere, however, the cafe is different.
A fentiment of courage is fuppofed needful, when a petition,
implying the violation of fome private right, was to be prefent-
ed. A matter of favour would, with an unbecoming boldnefs,.
have been held forth as a matter of right, fo that the perfon
requefted might reject the petition, as being an infult to him-
felf.

Tue definition given by Varro of fo/cere feems ‘perfe@ly.
juft, except only in as far as a compound is prepofteroufly
taken to ftate the power of the verb itfelf. ‘ Pofcere,” fays
he, ‘ eft quoties aliquid pro merito noftro depofcimus+.’? Had’
the critic taken the trouble previoufly to define ‘ depofcere,’””’
we fhould have been at no lofs to underftand his account of
the fimple verb. His definition appears to be, in other refpeéts,
complete, as he fuppofes the petitioner enue of | he ait a
of meafuring the extent of what he ftyles “ meritum.’

Tue different ufes of the verb pofcere may be all reconciled
- with the definition now given, when it is applied to the inter-
courfe that takes place between man and man. In its applica-
tion, however, to thofe petitions that were prefented by the an-
cients to their'gods, its power becomes more myfterious. The:
idea of ‘right is not‘eafily reconciled: with that of fupplication ;.
fo'that, according to the definition given’ of the verb, thofe
who were faid pofeere deos ean might well ‘be accufed of

profanenefs.
In.

* Cic. in Ver. 4..44: + Serv. /En. 9..193:.

SYNONYMOUS TERMS. 99

In order to obviate this feeming objection, it muft be re-

membered, that a difference of opinion refpeting the fame a@t
im any two countries, may very naturally produce a difference
in the interpretation of thofe words, that are expreflive of this
act in each. Undefined terms have in this way become a fruit-
ful fource of controverfy in matters both civil and religious; and
even the {cience of grammar has futfered by thofe inaccuracies
of expreflion, which it profefles to remedy in all other fubjects.
The religious fentiments of the Romans were by no means re-
fined. Vows were prefented as bribes to their deities, into
whofe ear they whifpered petitions, which they were. afhamed
to acknowledge in the face of the world. “ Turpiffima vota
“ diis infufurrant; fi quis. admoverit aurem, conticefcent, et
‘ quod fcire hominem nolunt deo narrant *.’’ The prayer of
fuch worfhippers, then, was a matter of traffic, not an act of
devotion. That difinterefted benevolence, in reliance upon
which more pious fupplicants prefent their requefts, was none
of the attributes of a Roman deity. The humiliation of the
devotee was in his own eyes an article of merit; and he left
the altar on which he had laid his offering, feeling the obliga-
tion impofed on that being to whom it was prefented.

Many paffages in the Latin claffics confirm the truth of the
obfervations now made.

———- non tu prece po/cis emaci,
Que nifi feductis nequeas committere divis +.

Antequam limen Capitolii tangant, alius.donum promittit,
fi propinquum divitem extulerit, alius fi thefaurum effoderit.
Ipfe Senatus recti bonique preceptor, mille pondo auri Capitolio
* promittit. Omnibus diis hominibufque formofior videtur mafia
auri, quam quicquid APELLES Puip1Asve, Greculi delirantes

n 2 “ fecerunt.
* Sen. Ep. to. q + Pers. Sat. 2. 3.

-
v.

100 On the UTILITY of defining

“ fecerunt *.”” —'“ Brith inftituto rebus diwinis opera datur.. — f
* Cum aliquid commendandum ett, ating 3; cum folvendum,
““ gratulatione ; cum expo/cendum, voto ft.” The vow then a-
mong the Romans was a bribe, the acceptance of which was _
deemed obligatory upon the party who took it: As means lead-
ing to an end, it neceflarily preceded the claim, and was the
foundation on which it was built. ;
_ Tue fame notions refpecting vows prevailed among the
Greeks, as well as the Romans. In the prayer of the prieft
who had been affronted by AGAMEMNON, the Grecian bard
makes him ftate his claim to be heard in the moft exprefs.
terms.

— € more Tor yagierr” ext voor everbo,
Hees dn wore ror ware wiove pener exna

Tavewy 40 aiywy, Tobe [os Hennvov 22r.0ue cick

FLAGITARE differs from pofulare, and agrees with po/cere,,
in fuppofing the juftnefs of the privilege affumed by the peti-
tioner, of judging as to his own claim. Its power, however,
is more extenfive than that of po/cere, becaufe to the idea of be-
ing the judge of the validity of his right, it fuperadds that of
effeGing his purpofe by fuch means as he reckons fit for doing ©
fo. In thofe means, at the fame time, there may be a confi-
derable variety. The petitioner may either diftrefs the perfon
requce{ted with inceflant importunity, or he may threaten ven-—
geance, if the claim which he feels himfelf entitled to enforce:
is not fulfilled. That flagitare has more power than rogare and
pofulare, appears from the two following fentences: ‘‘ Metuo.
“‘ ne te forte flagitent, ego autem mandavi ut ragarent.” —“ Ta-
“ metfi caufa pofulat, tamen quia poftulat, non flagitat, ego pre-
“ teribo §.”

In,
* Petron, Arbit. 98. 8. Lae | f IATAA, a. 39-
+. Val. Max. 1. 1.1. § Cic. Ep, Fam.o8. et pro Quint: 73.

ae

‘ SY NONYMOUS TERMS. TOI

tw the oration of Cicero for PLancivs, he calls upon La-
TERENSIS to fpecify his charge, and to mention any one tribe
that his friend had corrupted in his competition for the A¢dile-
fhip. “ Etiam atque etiam infto atque urgeo, infector, pof/co
“ atque adeo flagito crimen*.’” There is evidently a climax in
the five verbs that compofe this fentence, and the gradation is
very happily fupported. By means of fo/cere, the orator makes
a requifition in behalf of his client, of the juftice of which he
had a right to judge, and by the public manner in which this
requifition was made, he virtually threatens him with the pe-
nalties of law, if it was not complied with; which laft concep-
tion is involved in the verb flagitare.

Avsontus Porma defines this verb very properly, “ Vehe-
“© menter et plerumque cum {trepitu et convicio po/cere F.”’

Tue gentleft power of flagitare, which is that in which the
petitioner propofes to effect his purpofe only by teazing, ap-
pears in fuch examples as the two following: “ Implorare et
“ flagitare auxilium Confulis {.”

—

-— nec potentem amicum
Largiora flagito,
Satis contentus unicis Sabinis §.

THERE are other inftances again, in which /lagitare implies,,
that the petitioner threatens the perfon paneled; and excites.
fear, in order to effect his purpofe.

Ejicite ex animo curam atquealienum zs,
Ne quis formidet fagitatorem fuum ||.

** PETREIUS:
* Cic. pro Plan. 48. § Hor. Car. 2,18. 12.
+ De diff. Verb. lib. 2. l| Plaut. Prol. Caf 23.
¢, Cie. pro Rab. 9.

NOR Siac On the UTILITY of defining

‘“‘ PETREIUS atque AFRANIUS quum ftipendum ab legionibus
‘ poene feditione facta flagitarentur, cujus illi diem nondum
“¢ veniffe dicerent, Czsar ut cognofceret poflulatum eft *.” The
requeft made by the foldiers, in order to obtain their pay be-
fore it was due, was very different from that made to Casar
in order to have the matter fettled.
THERE is a paflage in Tacitus, in which the three laft of
the five verbs confidered are fo placed, that the meaning of each
is very elegantly and decifively brought forth. The hiftorian
is defcribing the fentiments both of Orno and of the army at
Bedriacum, which he had left juft before the engagement that
was to decide the conteft between him and Virexttius. “ Ibi
“ de proelio dvbitatum ; OTHONE per literas flagitante ut ma-
‘“* turarent; militibus ut imperator pugne adeffet po/centibus ;
‘ plerique copias trans Padum agentes acciri po/fulabant +.”
By forming this anticlimax, Tacitus gives information to the
grammarian which is worthy of his attention. The terms of
the Emperor’s mefflage, in which flagitare is ufed, are expref-
five of his authority, and intimate the danger of not comply-
ing with his requeft. Thofe which announce the fentiments of
the foldiers, by means of fofcere, are. expreflive of no unbe-
coming menace towards their commander, but make the ful-
filment of their right to be led on to battle by him, the condi- ~
tion of their obedience. Many, again, whofe requeft is an-
nounced by pofulare, fuggeft a reafonable claim, in. which
there is not even the fhadow of contumacy. They are willing
to obey the orders of their commander with all prudent dif-
patch, and even in his abfence, and they require a reinforce-
ment, not asaright, but as the means of doing juftice to their
own courage, and to the caufe which they had efpoufed. The
delicacy exhibited by the hiftorian in this defcription, will pleafe
the more the longer it is contemplated. He not only delights
his
* Caf. Bell. Civ. 1. 87. + Tac. Hift, 2. 39.

SYNONYMOUS TERMS. 103

his reader by an elegant and matterly difcrimination of the va-
rious fentiments then prevalent in the minds of Oruo-and his
followers, but furnifhes him alfo with fome curious eTammati-
cal facts, which few other writers had ingenuity to perceive.

DoceERE, ERUDIRE, INSTITUERE, IMBUERE, agree in deno-
ting a change produced upon the mind by communication from
others, but differ in refpe@, either to the ftate of that mind to
which the communication is made, or to the means employed
in making it. Docere, which, according to Varro, comes
from do, fignifies to give information ‘to thofe. who need it,
without reference to their previous knowledge, and is a corre-
lative term in refpeé to difeere. Thus, SENECA fays, “ Ho-
“mines dum docent, difcunt *.”—“ Itaque not facile eft inve-
“ nire qui quod fciat ipfe, alteri non tradat. Tta non folum
“ad difcendum propenfi fumus, verum etiam ad docendum se
That docere is applicable to all who receive inftru@tion, whether
ignorant, or in a certain degree previoufly inftructed, appears
from the following paffages: “ Quid nunc te Afine literas.
“* doceam? Non opus eft verbis fed fuftibus ‘ker =

Hoc quoque te manet, ut pueros elementa docentem,,
Occupet extremis in vicis balba fenectus §.

In the paflages now quoted, docere fuppofes the minds receiving
the information to be completely ignorant ; but in the three that
follow, they appear to be in a ftate directly contrary. “ Et
“ docebo fus (ut aiunt) oratorem eum, quem quum CatTutus
“ nuper audiffet, foenum alios aiebat effe oportere ei 7

Plura recognofces, pauca docendus eris **,
“ Quid:
* Epift. 7. ‘ § Hor. Ep. 1. 20. 17.
+ Cre. de Fin. 104. a, || Cre. de Or. 2. 233,
t Cic. in Pif'gs.a. . ** Ovip. Faft. 4. 418.

104 On the UTILITY of defining

“ Quid eft enim aut tam arrogans, quam, de religione, de rebus
“ divinis, ceremoniis facris, pontificum collegium docere co-
© nari *,” :

Docere is almoft the only one of the verbs mentioned, that
is employed to denote information given as to an event, as well.

as the acquifition of a new conception. ‘ Cum interea ne li- —

“‘ teras quidem ullas accepi, que me docerent quid ageres {.”

_ Ervpire, from e and rudis, differs from docere, in referring —
always to the rude ftate of the perfon inftrudcted, and to the
gradual progrefs by which he becomes learned. No fuch ex-
preffion as “ fus erudio oratorem,’’ can exift, becaufe, when
docere is thus ufed, it vilifies the ability of the teacher, and
heightens the information of the fcholar.. When the Romans
ufed the phrafe. /us Minervam, the conftruétion was to be com-—
pleted by dacere, not by erudire. Vhey only admitted in idea the |

poffibility of adding one or a few facts to the ftock of know--—

ledge, poffeffed by the goddefs of learning.

Tue inftances that follow thew clearly, that erudire oe
implies the abfence of information fPOF the part of the perfon
to be inftructed. é

—— qui mollibus annis
In patrias artes erudiendus erat {.

“ Inde puerum liberim loco coeptum haberi, erudirique aris
“ quibus ingenia ad magne fortune cultum excitantur §.”—

“ Philofophia omnium mater artium nihil aliud eft quam deta e
‘ num inventum deorum. Hee nos primum ad illorumcul-

“ tum, deinde ad jus hominum, quod fitum eft in generis hu-.
*¢ mani focietate, tum ad modeftiam magnitudinemque animi
* In this laft:example, the progrefs of man, as

the

9?
.

* Cic. pro Dom. 219. 4. § Liv. 1. 39.
+ Ep. 34. a. | Circ. Tutc. Q. 161. b
{ Ovip. Ep. 1. 112. ;

SYNONI'MOUS TERMS. . 105

the pupil of philofophy, is beautifully painted by erudire in its
pureft fenfe.

THERE is no inconfiftency in docere and erudire appearing in
one fentence, and being applied to the different degrees of pro-
ficiency made by thofe acquiring knowledge. ‘‘ Neque folum
*¢ vivi atque prefentes ftudiofos difcendi erudiunt atque docent,
** fed hoc idem etiam poft mortem monumentis literarum affe-

‘ guuntur *.”” Saxuust fays of Syiya, that he was “ literis
“ Grecis, atque Latinis juxta, atque doctiffime eruditus +.’ Upon
the principles laid down, this compounded expreffion will bear
to be analyfed. The participle, it fhould feem, denotes, that
he had been regularly inftruéted in Greek and Roman literature,
and the adverb, that the ftock of his knowledge was fuch, that
few, if any, were able to add to it.

One inftance occurs in Cicero, in which erudire Geaae to
inform as to an event which docere does often. ‘‘ Obviz mihi
“* velim fint litere tuz, que me erudiant de omni republica, ne
“ hofpes plane veniam{.”” This uncommon ufe of erudire
feems to juftify the definition given of it. CiczRo modeftly .
confefles that ignorance of the affairs of the ftate, in confe-
quence of his abfence, which is perfectly confiftent with the.
pure ufe of erudire, and which, when duly reprefented, his cor-
refpondent was able to remove.

INsTITUERE differs from the preceding verbs in denoting
the firft ftep of a progrefs in teaching, and the communication
of the elements of whatever is the ground of inftruction.. The
fimple verb /atuere, in a figurative fenfe, denotes the determi-
nation to act, while the compound denotes the commencement
of the action that had been refolved upon. It is only, how-
ever, as applied to teaching, that this verb can be held fynony-
mous with the reft of the fet. “ Socrates jam fenex in/flitui
“ lyra non erubefcebat §.”’ The verb here evidently refers to

Vot. III. 0 the

* Cic. de Off. 31. b. f Circ. Ep. 24. &.

+ Jug: 95- $ Quindtil. 1. 27.

106 On the UTILITY of defining

the firft leffon in an art, of which the philofopher was before
utterly ignorant. “ Sufceperas enim liberos non folum. tibi,,
‘“ fed etiam patriz. Eos inflituere, atque erudire ad majorum
‘* inftituta atque civitatis difciplinam, non ad tuas turpitudines
“ debuifti*.” Inflituere here refers to the firft ftep in a pro-
cefs, which erudire fuppofes to be carried on in the education
of children. The arrangement of the verbs, however, may be
reverfed, and each refpectively applied to that particular ftate
of certain pupils with which it beft accords. ‘ Senedctus ado-
“ lefcentes docet, inftituit, ad omne officii munus inftruit +.”

ImBuere differs from in/ffituere, in denoting the inftilment of
fentiments that fit the pupil for making progrefs in a particular —
line. It implies intention upon the part of the agent, like the
former verbs, and fuppofes the means of inftruction to operate
without the confcioufnefs of him who receives it. In its ori-
ginal application to material objects, it had denoted an affeCtion
of them in refpect to colour, tafte, or {mell, communicated by
means of a fluid, and has been afterwards applied to the pro-.
duction of a mental difpofition or aptitude not eafily to be de-~
ftroyed. ‘“* Appium CLAupium prefectum urbis. relinquunt;, »
jam inde ab incunabulis imbutum odio tribunorum plebif
“ que f.”,—‘* Ad hanc legem non doci fed facti, non in/lituté
“ fed zmbuti fumus §.”’ Facti here fuggefts the purpofe of the
Creator in oppofition to that of a teacher, at whatever time he
might communicate his inftruGtions, and iméuti the inftilment
of preparatory fentiments, before any leffon was given, as in-
volved in the verb im/ituere.

IMBUERE does not always imply the complete abfence of in-
formation on any fubjeét, but it uniformly implies an effect
produced as the means tending to future improvement. “ Sin
“ fit is qui et doétrina mihi liberaliter -2/fitutus, et aliquo

: it9 jam:
* Cic. in Ver. 184. as. | t Liv. 4. 36.
+ Cic. de Sen. 82. 4, § Cic. pro Mil. 103.4.

SYNONYMOUS TERMS. 109

‘jam imbutus ufa*.’” Inftitutus here denotes, that a good
foundation had been laid upon which the fcholar’s progrefs
refts; and imbutus, that by habit he had acquired fuch predif-
pofitions, as fit him to advance in that line of {tudy which the
orator chalks out.

WueEN Horace ftates the good qualities of a flave Sposne
to fale, he fays he was

Literulis Grecis zmbutus, idoneus arti
Cuilibet : argilla quidvis imitaberis uda +.

Though the power of the diminutive in the noun falls properly
on the participle, yet no ambiguity is thereby produced in re-
{pect to the meaning of imbutus. From the words that follow,
it evidently implies, that the {mattering of Greek literature
acquired by the flave, fitted him for making further profi-
ciency. .

ERRARE, VAGARI, PALARI, agree in denoting the uncer-
tainty of thofe who have moved as to the point at which their
motion is to terminate, but differ in refpedt, either to the
ground of the uncertainty, or to the number of thofe involved
in it) Errare properly fignifies to wander, or to deviate from
the path leading to a certain point which it is propofed to
reach. It fuppofes, that both before and during the act of
moving, an intention exifted of coming toa certain place, but
that this intention is fruftrated from ignorance of the road
that leads to it. “ Que tot veftigiis impreffa, ut in his errart
“ non poflit f.”

Paffibus ambiguis fortuna volubilis evrat,
Et manet in nullo certa tenaxque loco §.

_———_— procul avius evras **,
0 2 “* Maxime
* Cic. de Or. 123. § Ov. Met. 3. 175.
+ Hor, Ep..2. 2::4. ** Lucret. 2. 739:
$ Cic. Ep. Fam. 5. 20%

a On the UTILITY of defining

‘* Maxime vero mirabiles funt motus earum quinque ftellarum,
“ que falfo vocantur errantes*.’’? It is in this laft example
- faid, that there is both- -defign, and the power of fulfilling de-
fign, in the author of that feemingly irregular motion obferved
by the planets. Evrare is applied to animals grazing. They |
dire their motion not in a ftraight line, and may often mifs
the beft of the pafture they are in queft of.

Mille mez Siculis errant in montibus agne +.
—-—armento teneras errante per herbas f.

Vacari differs from errare in implying, that the wanderer
means only to quit the fpot he occupies, and has no intention
to direét his courfe to any particular place. The perfon errans
commits a miftake, which the perfon vagans never can, becaufe
he has formed no plan that can be fruftrated. “ Non fumus
“ ij quorum vagetuy animus errore, nec habeat unquam quid
‘Sfequatar §7’-=" Curandum eft ne vagum villicum, nec aver=
“ {am contubernio fuo habeamus **.”—‘t Nam fuit quoddam
‘“ tempus quum in agris homines paflim beftiarum more vaga-
“ Lantur ++.” Men, at the period referred to, were vagabonds,
who, knowing no place more defirable than another, continually:
changed their abode.

Tue following figurative acceptation of errans and vagus:
feems to confirm what has been faid of the verbs with which
they are refpectively connected. “ Eft enim et philofophi, et pon-
“ tificis, et Corr, de diis immortalibus habere non errantem
“ et vagam, ut academici, fed ut noftri, ftabilem certamque fen-
“ tentiam {{.” In the antithefis, evvans is oppofed to /labilis,

and ©
* Cic. Nat. D. 36. a. ° ** Colum. 12. I.
+ Virg. Ec. 2. 21. ++ Cic. de Inv. I. 2.
t Ov. Met. 15. 14. tt Cic. Nat. D. 26. 4.

§ Cic. Off. 34. a.

SYNONYMOUS TERMS. 109

and fuggefts, that the philofopher occupies a point at which he
is difpofed to reft, without making any attempt to go to ano-
ther, in which he might fail. Vagus again is oppofed to certus,
and implies, that he is free from that want of determination
as to the point he is to arrive at, which is peculiar to vaga-
bonds.
PALARI agrees with vagari, in implying the act of roving
without any fettled direction; but differs both from it and
errare, in. fuggefting the difperfion of a multitude and the
ftraggling of {cattered parties. The two former verbs apply ei-
ther to one or a number, and have no reference to any party
with which they were previoufly connected. It is otherwife
with palari; which fuppofes more than one feparated from a
company that has been broken. :

Foemina palantes agit, atque hac agmina vertit *?

“ Teucrorum auxilia, foeda fuga difperfa, totis campis pa-.
“ lantur +.”

Tue purity of the following expreffion in Lucretius, in
which errare and palari are found in the fame fentence, may
_ be queftioned :.

Defpicere unde alios queas paflimque videre
Errare, atque viam palantes querere vite tf.

The fame wanderers cannot be both with and without an object
at the fame time. While fa/ar7 then marks only their number
and their difperfion, the terms ‘‘ viam querere vite” an-
nexed to it fhew, that it is not to be underftood in its full ex--
tent.

MacGnus

* Virgs Ain. 11. 736. t Lucret. 2. 9.
+ Tacit. Hift. 4. 18,

110 : On the UTILITY of defining

MAGNUS, INGENS, AMPLUS, PROCERUS, agree in denoting
the magnitude of objets, but differ in refpeé either to its de-
gree, or to the manner in which it is eftimated. The notion
of abfolute magnitude, it mutt be obferved, is inconceivable.
Men have compared the object they denominate great with
others of the fame kind with itfelf, and have given it its ap-
pellation from obferving its relative greatnefs. Thus, “‘ magna
balena” fignifies either a whale that is larger than other animals
of its own fpecies, or that, compared with other forts of fifhes,
exceeds them in fize. As magnus relates to every kind of great-
nefs, and embraces every object within that predicament, fo
it may be regarded as the general term. “‘ Magna dii curant,
** parva negligunt *.” ,

In the original application of magnus to material objeéts, it
fignifies their greatnefs in refpect both to quantity and number.

Heu magnum alterius fruftra {pectabis acervum +!

“ Magnum numerum frumenti pollicentur ft.” The mafs which
in both the above examples is denominated magnus, receives
this appellation, both from the fize of the whole, and from the
number of its parts confidered feparately.

Macwnus is figuratively applied to immaterial objects, and
denotes a fuperiority in fome refpeét among them, analogous to
that of the largeft over the fmalleft material fubjects of a fpe-
cies. ‘* Si ut fapientibus placet, non cum corpore extinguun-
“ tur magne anime 4.”

Magnum pauperies opprobrium jubet **.

Incens differs from magnus in denoting a greatnefs that is
preternatural, and is unexampled in the clafs of objects to which
that
* Cic. N. D. 51. 2. § Tac. Ag. 46. .
+ Virg. Geor. 1. 150. | ** Hor. Car. 3. 24: 42:
f Cic. Ep. ad Att. 82. a.

SYNONYMOUS TERMS. IIT

that fpecified belongs. It furpaffes the power of maximus, the
fuperlative from magnus, as the latter marks the greateft only
among the objects of a fpecies, in refpect to a quality, which,
though exifting in different degrees in each, admits comparifon
in all. The fuperiority of that denominated ingens, again, is
fo decided, as to eclipfe the reft that participate in its nature.

Scilicet et fluvius qui non eft maximus, ei eft,
Qui non ante aliquem majorem vidit : ——

et omnia de genere omni,
Maxima que vidit quifque hec zngentia fingit *.

He. Quid jubeam? Er. Ignem cagentem fieri.
He. Ignem ingentem? Er. Ita dico magnus
We hes.

INGENS agrees with magnus in admitting an application to
objects, of which quantity is not an attribute.

Turas. Magnas vero agere gratias Tuats mihi?
GnaTu. Ingentes ft.

CicERO comments upon this pafflage in a way that puts the
precife difference between the terms in the cleareft light pofli-
ble. ‘ Satis erat refpondere magnas = ingentes inquit. ‘Semper
“ auget affentatio id, quod is, cujus ad voluntatem dicitur, vult
“ effe magnum $.”

Durine the Auguftan age, the profe-writers never ufed de-
grees of comparifon from ingens, When Vireit ftyles ZZNEAS
“ fama ingens, ingentior armis,” his doing do muft be confider-
ed as a poetical licence, fuch as that of Minton fpeaking of
the leviathan.

Hugeft of. living creatures, in the deep
Stretch’d like a promontory, fleeps or fwims,
And feems a moving land.

THE
* Lucret. 6. 674. fer on, 3.01. 1

+ Plaut. Capt. 4. 2. 64, § Cic. in Leel, 26..

412 On the UTILITY of defining

Tue fuperlative zagentifimus is not found but in fuch writers
as SyYMMACHUS and VEGETIUS, who lived late, and whofe
practice fhould not be regarded as a ftandard. The ab-
furdity, at the fame time, is equal, in giving ingens either a
comparative or a fuperlative degree-; as the eflence of hugenefs
depends on there being nothing in nature in which the quality
that it is made to denominate, is to be found in a fuperior de-
gree. |

Ampuus differs from magnus and i ingens, in being limited to
that kind of greatnefs among material objects which confifts in
fuperficial capacity. It properly denotes fuch an extenfion of a
furface as fits it for receiving what it is defigned to contain.
** In qua amplifima curia, amplifimum gymnafium et complures
id des facre: coliturque ea pars et habitatur frequentifli-

me *,”’ arr es

Illos porticibus rex accipiebat in amplis +.

** Ad eam multitudinem urbs quoque amplificanda vila eft t.”
In this laft example, the compounded verb marks the ‘power of
the adjective very diftinétly. It denotes the neceffary extenfion
of the precinéts of the city, fo as to afford commodious _habi-
tations for the growing multitude. “ Loci preter modum —
** ampli vagas imagines reddunt, et nimis angufti fepe non vi-
** dentur pofle capere imaginum collocationem §.”’

Amp.us, like the two words defined, is often transferred
from material to immaterial objects. “ Sore omnes per fe
“ effe ampliores volebat **.”’

ProceRus differs from all the words alte’ in never being
transferred from material to immaterial objects, and in imply-

ing,

* Cic. in Ver. 228. a. § Auét. ad Her. 22.4,

+ Virg. En. 3. 353: ‘ ** Cic. Am. 109. a.

t Liv. 1. 44.

SYNONYMOUS TERMS. 113

ing, that the magnitude is eftimated, not from the extenfion of
the object in all the direétions that can take place on a furface,
but in that of a ftraight line, that is either perpendicular or ho-
rizontal, according to the nature of the object fpecified. Ap-
plied to the human form and to trees, it denotes tallnefs ; and
to fifhes and four footed animals in their natural pofition,
length. The general proportions in each, at the fame time, are
underftood to fubfift, according to the law obferved in the reft
of their kind. ‘“ Gallorum quifque procerifimus ad pompam
“ triumphi lectus *.”—'‘‘ Sues procero corpore, capitibus ut fint
“ parvis f.” Z

Proceras manibus vertere fraxinos f.

——-— quo pertinet ergo
Proceros odiffe lupos? quia f{cilicet illis
Majorem natura modum dedit, his breve pondus §.

HuMIDUS, UVIDUS, MADIDUS, agree in denoting the quality
of wetnefs, but differ as to the manner in which it is generated
and retained. Humidus implies, that the object which it f{pe-
Cifies not only contains moifture, but is fitted to fupply the
wafte of it, whether by evaporation or otherwife. It comes
from humor, and that from humus, and regards the ground as
furnifhing a conftant fupply to thofe fprings which break forth
at different parts of its furface. ‘‘ Premiffo Cecina ut occulta
** faltuum pontefque et aggeres, humido paludum, et fallacibus
** campis imponeret **.” Humidus then, in its primitive fenfe,
refers to a fubject as formed by the hand of nature, and poflef-
fed of a quality which, when abfent, cannot be imparted, and
when prefent, cannot be deftroyed.

Vot. III. p THE
* Sueton. Calig. 47. § Hor. Sat. 2. 2. 35.
+ Var. de Re. R, 2.13. ** Tac, Ann. I. 61.

<{ Hor. Car. 2. 25. 16.

Ir4 On th UTILITY of defining

THE-definition given by Servius of humidus, feems to have

been very properly rejected by Ausonius Popma, whofe re- P, :

”

marks “de differentiis verborum,” are often both ingenious
and folid. _ “ Humidum,” fays Servius, “ quod extrinfecus
“* habet aliquid humoris * ;’? to which Popma refufes to affent,
“* Cui non adfentior. Huumsidam enim proprie eft quod in ‘Pe
“‘ fundo continet humiditatem, ut terra +.”

Humipus is transferred from the fubject to which, from. its
etymology, it appears to have been originally applied, to others
that ftrongly refemble it. Thus, Vireit fpeaks of the “ humida
“ nox,’”’? and means by it that dampnefs which prevails in the air,
next the furface of the earth, from the conftant falling of the

dew in the courfe of the night. It is transferred by Ovip to — a

the clouds, and by Vitruvius to thofe winds which ordinarily
produce rain.

—— cadit Eurus et bumida furgunt
Nubila {.

“ Aufter et reliqui (venti) qui a folis curfu funt humidiffimi §.”

In both thofe applications of the word, there is a reference
to a fupply of the wafte, and of courfe to the long continuance
of the fall expected.

Humivus is occafionally applied to bodies impregnated with
moifture, which they receive from others that generated it.
Cicero fpeaks thus of a bed bedewed with tears, “ Qui
jacet in lecto humido,

False; queftu, gemitu, fremitibus,
Refonando, multum flebiles voces refert **. GE
The
* In Virg. Ec. 10. 20. - § Vitruv. 8. 21. ;
+ Lib. 2. 133. ** Cic. Tule. 9. 2. 33.
t Virg. ZEn. 3. 198.

SFENONYMOUS TERMS. 115

The wood of a tree, too, when vegetating, may be ftyled du-
midus, on account of the communicated moifiure which fup-
ports it. Nay, Cicero, in one inftance; applies the term to.
wood that is green and newly cut. “ Ignem ex lignis viridi-
“* bus atque 4umidis in loco angufto fieri juffit *.” :

Uvipus agrees with humidus, iri fuppofing, that the fubftance
to which it is applied contains moifture, but does not fuggeft
the means of fupplying the wafte, from whatever caufe it arifes.
The definition given by Servius of this term is more accurate
and fatisfactory than that given of humidus. It were better, at
the fame time, not to derive ava from uvidus, but to confider
the fhorteft of the two words as the root. ‘‘ Uvidum eft,’ fays
he, ‘‘ quod intrinfecus habet aliquod humoris, unde uvz di-
‘euntaer f.”

- Arboribus redeunt detonfx frigore frondes,
Uvidaque in gravido palmite gemma tumet {.

THE hand of art, it may be obferved, can operate in the
deftrudtion of the quality denoted by wvdus. A grape may lofe
its juice by its being exprefled, or by a forced evaporation fu-
perinduced by heat, fo as to avoid putrefaction in the fub-
{tance containing it. When the fucculent quality is deftroyed
completely, the fubftance left behind quits both the natural te-
nacity of its parts, and the flavour which diftinguifhed the
fruit, and gets into the ftate denoted by aridus. When this
quality is removed by an intended evaporation, it is removed
only in part. Such a quantity of the juice is retained as is
confiftent with the prefervation of the fruit, and as will emit
its flavour. The fubftance is then in the ftate denoted by the

p 2 adjective

* Cic in Ver. 2. 45. ft Ovid. Faft. 4. 235.

+ In Virg. Ec. 10. 20.

116 On th UTILITY of defining

adjective /iccus, which implies no tendericy towards decay. ‘‘ Ne
* fint fragilia et arida potius quam ficca folia *.” /

Tue abftract noun /ccitas is occafionally taken to denote the
firmnefs of the flefh, and of courfe the ftrength of an animal.
It implies a quality oppofite to what is meant by flaccid, or be-
ing without due tenfion, and fuppofes this quality to arife from
the natural juices neither being in a fuperabundant nor a de-
ficient ftate. Thus, Cicero, talking of thé wonderful ftrength
of MAsinissA when at the age of ninety years, fays of him,
“€ Nullo imbre, nullo frigore adduci, ut capite shia fit: fum-
“* mam in eo effe corporis /iccitatem +.”

Some very fubtle obfervations of ARIsTOTLE feem to juftify
what has been faid of humidus, aridus and ficcus, and will.
throw light on what is afterwards to be faid of madidus.
Keaveov yae, ro rerews Engov, wee nou memnyevos Ov ehrcurpiv vygornros.
—avrinerros yoe tT» Enpy nos To VYeOV HH TO Osecov—xau Osegov ev ESb
TO EYOV HAAOTeLOY vyeoryra ETIOANS® BeCeeymevor de vo ei Cxlloct Enoov
de, TO ES EONMEVOY TavTIS—vyeov bev yue ESb, TO eyo Ome yp vyeornra ey -
ro Cabe—* Aridum enim eft quod omnino ficcum eft, adeo
* ut humiditate deficiente corpus etiam concreverit. Adverfa-
“ tur ficco humidum et madidum. Madidum enim eft quod
‘‘ habet humiditatem non a fe ortam, fuperficie tenus. Humi-
“© dum vero quod introrfus habet ; Siccum autem quod hac va-
* cat. Humidum enim eft quod in penitiore parte propriam
*¢ continet humiditatem {.”

THE term wvidus is applied to the earth as well as humidus,
but the quality fuggefted by it is different. Thus, COLUMELLA
fays, ‘* Nifi prepingui et wvida terra§.” By wvida, he does
not mean the poor foil that is {wampy, and generates water which
it emits at its furface, but fuch as, though moitt, is rich and loamy.

Uvinus is transferred from thofe vegetable fubftances to which
it is originally applicable, to others which ftrongly refemble
them, by imbibing and retaining a quantity of moifture.

— me

* Plin. 12. 12. 26." f Agioror. wigs yeversws nas POogas. xs. Ce

+ Cic. de Sen. 10. 83. d. § Lib. 7. cap. 3.

SYNONYMOUS TERMS. 117

—— me tabula facer
Votiva paries indicat wvida,
Sufpendiffe potenti
Veftimenta maris deo *.

The mariner’s clothes hung up in the temple of NEPTUNE are
here fuppofed to have been foaked in the fea, and, like the
grape, to contain a quantity of moifture, which would either
free itfelf by evaporation, or might be eafily wrung from them.

Uvidus hiberna venit de glande Menalcas +.

Longas O utinam, Dux bone, ferias

Preeftes Hefperiz, dicimus integro

Sicct mane die: dicimus uwvidi,

Cum fol oceano fubeft f.

In the laft of the above examples, it appears, that wvidus dif-
fers from humidus, in being applied to mind, as well as matter,
and in fuggefting the notion of drunkennefs. This application
feems to be founded on the kind of the drink which produces
the intoxication. The amplificative adjective “ vinofus,’’ denotes
the quality of being a lover of wine, and wvidus as taken in
the paflage laft quoted, denotes having drunk it plentifully, and
feeling its effects. .

Mapivpus differs from bumidus and uvidus, in exprefling
moifture that is not contained in the fubftance fpecified, but
which is adventitious, and affects its. furface. It agrees alfo.
with the laft term, in fuppofing it void of the capacity of fup-
plying the wafte of moifture, in whatever way that wafte may
be effected. It applies to the extrinfic or fuperficial wetnefs of a
fubftance, whether this is produced by a natural or an artificial

caufe..

* Hor. Car. I. 5. 14 t Hor. Car. 4. 5. 37.

‘+ Virg. Ec. 10. 20.

118 On the UTILITY of defining

caufe. In the primitive and literal applications of humidus and: °
uvidus, they denote fubjeéts furnifhed by the hand of nature

with the attributes they refpectively denote. Thus, moifture a

is naturally inherent in humid ground and in a ripe grape.
_Drynefs, again, is the natural ftate of that which, being acci-
dentally wet, is then faid to be madidus.

—— nam dum fe continet Aufter,
Dum fedet et ficcat madidas in carcere pennas,
Contemnunt mediam temeraria lina Charybdin *.

“ Sed ille eripfit ad BaLBu illum fafciculum epiftolarum totum
“ fibi aqua madidum redditum efie +.”” This packet was fo much
wetted from an accidental caufe, that Cicero tells us the letter
addreffed to him was not legible. A fuperficial wetting would
produce this effect. It is not neceflary to fuppofe, that the
fajciculus would be drenched like the ve/is uvida before men-
tioned, which, from the poroufnefs of the materials, had ab-
forbed a quantity of water, and retained it as the fkin of the
grape does its juice.

Mapipbus agrees with wvidus, in being spiel to perfons ©
as well as to things, and in fuggefting the idea of drunkennefs.
He who was faid madere vino, was underftood to be “ vino riga-
“ tuys,’? that is, bedewed with wine. ~

Faciam ut fit madidus fobrius t.

The wit of the comic poet here refts upon his apprehenfion,
that madidus refers to an external or fuperficial wetting in its

primitive fenfe.
WHILE

* Juv. Sat. 5.98. t Plaut. Amph. 3. 4. 18.
+ Cic.ad Quint. Frat. 2. 14.

SYNONYMOUS TERMS. 119

Wute madidus agrees with uvidus in the refpect juft men-
tioned, it differs from it in denoting proficiency in fcience and

in letters.

Si quis Cecropie madidus Latieque Minerva
Artibus, et vera fimplicitate bonus *.

Non ille quanquam Socraricis madet
Sermonibus te negliget horridus.
Narratur et prifci CATONISs,
Szpe mero caluiffe virtus f.

The critics have very properly explained madidus and madere, in
the above and other fuch paflages, by means of the term zm-
butus. Both the adjective and the verb refer to a veffel tinc-
tured in refpe to colour, tafte, or fmell, by a fluid with which
it was wet when made to contain it.

CoMMODUS, OPPORTUNUS, TEMPESTIVUS, agree in deno-
ting the fuitablenefs of objects or events to thofe interefted in
their nature, but differ in refpect to the circumftances upon
which that quality is founded. The firft comes from con and
modus, and denotes, that the thing {pecified is neither more nor
lefs than it fhould be, and poflefles an inherent aptitude for
fome purpofe to which it is juft adequate. In the original ap-
plication of commodus, it denotes the agreement of things as
being adjufted by one common ftandard. Thus, when Ho-

RACE fays,

Mifcentur cyathis pocula commodis tf,

he means, that thofe “ cyathi’’ were neither more nor lefs than
they fhould be. In confequence of this equality, each gueft
got
* Martial. 1. 40. t Car. 3. 19. 12. Z
+ Hor. Car. 3, 21. 9. :

\

120 On the UTILITY of defining

got that fhare of the wine which was, on the one hand, fuffi-
cient to excite his vivacity, without producing, on the other,
too quick an intoxication. When PLautus alfo fays,

Viginti argenti commodas minas *,

he means, that the pieces were of a regulated weight.

- WHEN commodus is applied to perfons, it denotes their agree-
ablenefs as companions. It implies a mental temperament,
which is mild from the reftraint of fentiments, that always
give difguft when extravagant. It accordingly fignifies that
pliancy of character which, without fervility, endears a perfon
to thofe with whom he lives. ‘‘ Nemo CATOoNE proavo tuo
““ commodior, comior, moderatior fuit ad omnem rationem hu-
© manitatis T.”,—‘ Qui antea commodis fuerunt moribus, eos
“ profperis rebus immutari .”’ ’

WHEN commodus is applied to events, it denotes, that they
are agreeable, as being commenfurate to the wifhes of thofe
concerned in their occurrence. It regards that medium, the
happinefs of which would be deftroyed either by defe&t or ex-
cefs. ‘ Nihil poteft fieri nec commodius nec aptius, quam ut
“ fcribis. Ex literis tuis, ea que in agro Piceno gefta funt cog-
“ novi commodiora efle multo, quam ut erat nobis nunciatum $.”

- OprorruNus differs froza commodus, in having no natural re-
ference to the adjufted quantity of that which is fpecified, and
in regarding the fuitablenefs as founded on the exigency or
prefling neceflities of thofe to whom the objects or events pre-
fent themfelves. It comes from 0) and portus, and its force refts
on the agreeablenefs of any harbour to a mariner when con-
tending with a ftorm. The fuitablenefs implied in opportunus

may

* Afin. 3. 3. 135. ¢ Cic. Am. 106. 4.
+ Cic. pro Muren. 66. § Cic. Ep. Att. 13. 37. & 126. a.

SYNONY MOUS TERMS. Vay

may be difcerned either between objects and objects, or between
events and the times and places of their occurrence.

Nihil homini amico eft opportuno amicius *.

“ Cetere res quz expetuntur opportune funt fingule rebus fere
“ fingulis: divitie ut utare: opes ut colare: honores ut lau-
** dere: voluptates ut gaudeas f.” In the firft of the above
examples, the friend may prefent himfelf either accidentally,
or in confequence of being fought for; in the laft, the diffe-
rent things mentioned are all the objects of an intended and a
keen fearch. Both examples imply, that the occurrence or the
attainments are highly feafonable, from the circumftances of
the perfon concerned. ‘‘ Ad hofce proferendos, et tempus et
* locum opportunifimum elegi t.”’ In this laft example, we fee
the fuitablenefs between the event and both the time and the
place of its occurrence.

Trempestivus denotes the fuitablenefs of obje@s and events
from neither of the circumftances already mentioned, but from
the former being in their ftate of full maturity, and the latter
occurring at their proper feafon. As applied to objects, tem-
peftivus fuppofes them belonging either to the animal or the ve-
getable kingdom, and of courfe having a progrefs toward per-
fection, and afterwardsadecline. “ Vindemia tempe/tiva §.”

Aut tempefiivam fylvis evertere pinum **.

Tandem define matrem,
Tempeftiva {equi viro tf.

Vou. TW. q . WHEN
* Plaut. Epid. 3. 3.44. § Colum. rr. 12.
+ Cic. de Am. 100. a. ; ¥* Virg. G. 1. 256.

Z Plin. lib, 8. ++ Hor. Car. 1. 23. 11.

ae On the UTILITY of defining

WHEN ‘empefiivus is applied to events, it fuppofes them ci-
ther as returning in a regular viciffitude, or as happening at
their proper period, and of courfe being well-timed. ‘“ Quam

tempe/ftivos. autem dedit, quam falutares non modo hominum,
fed etiam pecudum generi, iis denique omnibus que oriun-
tur ex terra, ventos etefios ? Quorum flatu nimii temperantur
calores *.’’—‘‘ Ego vero propter fermonis dele€tationem tem-
peflivis quoque conviviis deletor }.”’

Et tempeflivum pueris concedere ludum f.

NAVIS, RATIS, CYMBA, SCAPHA, LINTER, agree in de-
noting a machine for conveying both perfons and the fubjects
of trade by water from one place to another, but differ, in re-
{pect to the fize or the conftruction of that fpecies, to which
each can be properly applied. The firft indeed is a generic
term, applicable to a veffel of any kind, of whatever dimenfions,
or SA ieee formed.

Navem agere ignarus zavis timet §.

The poet has here no intention to fpecify the kind of fhip, as
the danger from ignorance is the fame in all kinds. “ Confi-
“ cit optime curfum navis, que fcientiffimo gubernatore uti-
46 tur **,”?

Tue generality of the term avis is often limited by the ap-
plication of adjectives, which mark the ufe of particular {pe-
cies; as, Navis longa, marina, fluviatilis, pycatoria, oneraria,
_actuaria, &c.

Ramis differs from avis in denoting the rudeft vehicle to
which a perfon can commit himfelf on water. The poets fome-

; times

* Cic. N. D. 52. 4. § Hor. Ep. 2. 1. 114. — :

+ Cic. de Sen. 14. ** Cic. in Ver. 244. 0.

+ Hor. Ep. 2. 2. 142.

SYNONYMOUS TERMS. 123

times ufe satis as a general term, but the profe-writers never
do. The term exprefles a raft, formed by the junction of a few
beams, which can be ufed with fafety only in fmooth water.
It had at firft been but a floating platform, and when improved
a little, got the appellation of cava.

Ipfa vides coelum pice nigrius et freta ventis
Turbida, perque cavas vix adeunda rates *.

Boru Festus and Isrporvs fupport the account now given
of ratis. ‘‘ Rates vocantur tigna inter fe colligata, que per
“ aquas agantur.’—“ Rates primum et antiquiflimum genus
“© navigil e rudibus tignis afferibufque confertum.”

In the two following inftances, Cicero and Livy feem to
juftify the diftinétion made between zavis and ratis. “ Cum aut
“‘ navibus aut ratibus conarentur accedere }.’?—‘! Navibus ab
“ HANNIBALE incenfis, rates ad trajiciendum in magna inopia
*¢ materiz zegre comparabat {.””> When any reference is made
to ratis as the fubjeét of a fimile, it is always regarded as de-
noting a rude veflel, capable of giving but very imperfect fe-
curity. ‘“ Tanquam rafis in mari immenfo, noftra vehitur
“€ oratio §.”’

Cymsa differs from ratis, in referring to a veffel fabricated
with more art, and that is always of a {mall fize. It denotes a
boat, fuch as is ufed upon a ferry or lake, but fo formed as to
give all the fecurity to be expected from its dimenfions.

Non ideo debet pelago fe credere, fi qua

Audet in exiguo ludere cymba lacu **.

q 2 | CyMBA
* Oy. Ep. 17. 7. § Cic. Tufc. Q. 164.40. |
+ Cic. in Ver. 236. 5. ** Ovid. Trift. 2. 329.
t Liv. cap. 36.

Le On the UTILITY of defining

CyMBA is often applied to the boat in which Cuaron wafted. a
the fouls of the dead acrofs the Stygian lake.

Scandenda eft-torvi publica cymba fenis *.

This boat, we are told by VirciL, was fo fmall, that it could
hardly fupport the body of AZNEAs.

—— gemuit fub pondere cymba +.

Scapua differs from cymba in denoting a yawl that attends
a fhip for the convenience of thofe who belong to it. As coming
from the Greek verb czarrew, it feems originally to have fig-
nified a canoe, or boat formed out of the trunk of a tree;
but the circumftance which diftinguifhes it, is that above men-
tioned. ‘ Ut dominus navis cum idem gubernator effet in
“‘ /capbam confugeret, et inde funiculo qui a puppi religatus
_“ fcapbam annexam trahebat, navim quoad poflet moderare-
tur f.”—* Quum merfiffent quaffas naves in alto, exceptis.
“‘ in preparatas /caphas nautis §.”

LinTEeErR differs from /capha, in implying no connection be-
tween it and a larger veffel, and in denoting a “ navis fluviati-
* lis,” or wherry ufed only on frefh water, fuch as that of ri-
vers and lakes. They agree as to the original mode of their
formation, that is, as being povofvrxw, or hollowed out of a folid
piece of wood. .

durum procudit arator
Vomeris obtufi dentem, cavat arbore /intres **.

Partitur /ntres exercitus; Actia pugna
Te duce per pueros hoftili more refertur,
Adverfarius eft frater, lacus Adria +}. ©

Propert. 3. 18. 24. | , § Liv..23. 3.
/En. 6. 413. ** Virg. Georg. 1. 261.
Cic. de Inv. 81. & tt Hor. Ep. 1. 18. 61.

SYNONYMOUS TERMS. 125

“ Qui cum non impetraflet, ut infulam in lacu prcelio vende-
“ ret, repente lintribus in eam infulam, materiam, calcem, ce-
«¢ menta atque arenam convexit *.”

CoMES, SATELLES, SOCIUS, SODALIS, agree in denoting a
conneCtion that fubfifts between one perfon and either one or
a number, but differ as to the end for which this conneétion is
formed, and the conditions upon which it is maintained. Co-
mes is properly applied to one who voluntarily gives his at-
tendance to another as to his fuperior. That parity which
fubGifts between a number of comites, does by no means take
place between them and their patron. Reciprocal obligations
are underftood to fubfift between the parties, but the duties
vary according to the refpetive fituations of each. ‘The at-
tendance of the comites is {uppofed to be given at all times, but
efpecially when the fuperior is moving from one place to ano-
ther, and the attachment of his followers is roufed by a fenfe
of his danger.

—— tibi parvula res eft
Arcta decet fanum comitem toga t..

** Creusa matre, Ilio incolumi, natus, come/que inde paterne:
“ fuge t.”’—“ Quanta illi in oratione majeftas ? Ut facile Du-
* cem populi Romani non comitem diceres’§.’’—‘* Non enim:
“ paruit ille TiseR1r GRaAccuI temeritati, fed prefuit: nec fe
“« comitem illius furoris, fed ducem prebuit **.’”

SATELLEs differs from comes in implying, that the difference
of rank is greater between the fuperior and his attendants ;
that the latter do not neceflarily at from. affection, and give:
their attendance as the inftruments of protection or pageantry,,.
or of both.

Aurum per medios ire: /atellites,

Amat—— TT.
« Janitores
* Cic. pro Mil. 27. § Cic. Amicit. 113. 5.
+ Hor. Ep. 1. 18, 29. #* Cic, ibid. 103. 5.

$ Liv. 1. 3. ++ Hor, Car. 3. 16. 9,

>

126 On the UTILITY of defining

“€ Janitores ducentos in annos fingulos ftipatores corporis con-
** fticuit, eofdem miniftros et /atellites poteftatis *.”’

Socius differs from the two former words in implying, that
parity of rank fubfifts between the parties, and that each has an
equal right to enjoy the good that belongs to their common
concern, and is under an equal obligation to take a fhare of its
evils. The /ociws is actuated, not by refpect to a fuperior, but
by love to a party, in the fuccefs of which he feels that he has
an intereft. ‘‘ Nam /ociz putandi quos inter res communicata ~
eft t.,—“ Sed me movet unus vir, cujus fugientis comes,
rempublicam recuperantis /ociws videor effe debere {.”’ The
fentiment of refpectful affection expreffed towards the fugitive
in adverfe times, is held the foundation of a claim to become
his ally in times that were profperous.

It is to be obferved, that the perfonal attendance neceflary
to preferve the relation between comites and /atellites, and thofe
with whom they are refpectively connected, may be difpenfed
with in the cafe of foci. When the terms of the alliance are
defined, any mode of communication is fufficient to maintain
it. The fame perfons, too, may, at the fame time, be confider-
ed both as /ocii and comites. In the one cafe, they are regarded

(33

as having a common fate with their leader, and in the other,

as aflociating with their friend in a common adventure. Thus,
TEUCER is made to addrefs his comites, or followers, by ae en-
dearing appellation of foci alfo.

Quo nos cunque feret melior fortuna parente
Ibimus, O /ocit comite/que §.

SoDALIs agrees with /ocius in fuppofing thofe connected to
be upon an equal footing, but differs from it in refpect to
: the
* Cic. Rull. 72.5. t Cic. Ep. Att. 132. a.
F Cic. Ver. 3. 50. § HorsCar. 1. 7. 25.

SYNONYMOUS TERMS. 127

the principle leading to the affociation, and to the purpofe of
maintaining it. Men become /odales, not to promote their in-
tereft, but to enjoy fociety. Their alliance is formed and_ pre-
ferved for their mutual entertainment; it is never under{tood
to lead to any thing difagreeable, and it may at any time be
abandoned without the violation of compact. ‘‘ Et tempeftiva
“ convivia, et pervigiles ludos, advocata /odalium turba, folutus
“* atque affluens agerem *.”

Pompe! meorum prime /odalium,
Cum quo morantem fepe diem mero
Fregi ——-— {..

7

“ Primum habui femper /odales. Epulabar cum /odalibus om-
“‘ nino modice f{.”’

Copia, ABUNDANTIA, UBERTAS, agree in denoting plenty,
but differ according as this refers to the removal of every
want, to what is more than fufficient for this purpofe, or to the
regular fupply of a neceflary wafte. Copia, which feems to be
compounded of con and opes, denotes an affemblage of the
means fit for effeCting any purpofe. It ftands oppofed to znopia,
which denotes the abfence of fuch means, and which is alfo
derived from the fame root. “ Nec in fumma znopia levis effe.
“* fenectus poteft ne fapienti quidem, nec in fumma copia infi--
“ pienti non gravis §.”—‘“‘ Rerum copia verborum. copiam
gignit **.”

obnoxii ambo :
Vobis fumus propter hanc rem, cum que volumus nos:

Copia eft, ea facitis nos compotes —— +t.
| The
* Quiné&. Decl. 9. 10. § Cic. de Sen. 78. 5.
+ Hor. Car. 2. 7. 5. ** Cic. Or. 3. 123.
f Cic. Sen, 86, a. tt Plaut. Cap. 2. I. 21.

128 On the UTILITY of defining

The obligation mentioned in this laft example refts upon the |
complete fupply afforded in refpe& to the obje@ defired. It
muft not, at the fame time, be underftood, that the fupply de-
noted by copia, is always much more than adequate to the exi-
gency. The term cannot be applied where there is any want,
but it occupies all the interval between the mere abfence of
this and that exuberance, which fuggefts a quantity more than
adequate to any poflible demand. ‘“ Minimam copiam poetarum
“ eoregiorum extitifle *.” Though there was no want of diftin-
guifhed poets at the period referred to, yet there was the {malleft
number to which copia could be applied. “ Ex majore copia nobis
© quam illi fuit eligendi poteftas +.” The major copia is here op-
pofed to the mznor,and the exiftence of that latitude clearly proved,
in which it has been faid that the fubftantive is taken. In the
one cafe, copia denotes what minifters to the gratification of the
caprice, and in the other, to the full fupply of the wants of
mankind. alin

ABUNDANTIA differs from copia, in denoting greater plenty,
and in implying that the objet to which it is afcribed, poffeffes
more than fufficient means for fatisfying any want. It comes
from ab and uada, and has at firft referred to a river when over-
flowing its banks.

Preefertim incertis fi menfibus, amnis abundans

Exit, et obducto late tenet omnia limo f.
** Circumfluere omnibus copzis atque in omnium rerum adun-
‘* dantia vivere §.”” In the climax formed in this fentence, the
laft fubftantive denotes fomething beyond the fatisfaétion of
want. It exprefles fomewhat to fpare, which would be loft if
not ufed. “ Non erat abundans, non inops tamen**. CrcERO

here
* Cic. de Or. 85. 5. § Cic. de Am. 52.

t Cic. de Inv. 62. 4. ** Cic, in Brut. 238.
t Virg. Georg. I. 115-

SYNONYMOUS TERMS. 129 «

here fuggefts the exiftence of that interval, in all the different
points of which copia finds a place. There is faid to be on the
one hand nothing fuperfluous, and on the other nothing de-
ficient.

WHILE 4bundantia denotes a greater plenty than copia, yet
that implied even in it, may be occafionally carried to excefs,
and to what in Englifh is ftyled “‘ fuperabundance,” when
the quantity is fo great, as to be cumberfome and ufelefs.
“‘ Ludos et inania honoris modo rationis atque abundantie
** duxit, uti longe a luxuria ita famz propior *.” In the con-
duct of AGRIcOLA, there was on the one hand no blameable
ceconomy, and on the other no needlefs wafte, that might be
termed extravagance. “ Non illa quidem /uxuriofi hominis fed
“ gbundantis +.”

Usertas differs from the two former words, in referring,
not to the abfolute quantity alone exifting at a fpecified time,
but to the regular fupply of a neceflary wafte, and in fuppo-
fing the plenty denoted by all the terms uniformly continued.
The adjective uber, of which it is an abftradt, takes its power
from the fubftantive uber, fignifying that which contains the
milk of an animal giving fuck. “* Nuper nati mammas appe-
“ cunt, earumque wertate faturantur [.’’ From denoting the
regular fupply of this juice, defigned for fupporting the young
of animals, it has been transferred to another operation of na-
ture, vifible in the fertility of fields and trees. ‘‘ Ubertatem
* frugum et fructuum a diis fe habere §.””>—“ Facile eft reme-
“ dium wbertatis, fterilia nullo labore vincuntur **.”

Last of all, whertas has been figuratively applied to that in-
exhauftible ftore of fentiment and expreffion which forms a di-

Vo. III. r ftinguifhed
* Tac. Agric. 6. § Cic. de N. D. 77.5
+ Cic. Phil. 2. 66. ** Quindt, 2. 4.

} Cic. de N. D, 52. a.

q
i)
ae
i
}
t
'
+i

-

130 «On the UTILITY, &e.

ftinguifhed orator ; and in the example fubjoined, the metaphor 4

begun in the firft member of the fentence, is happily fupported - )
in fome of the words that follow. ‘* Omnis enim wbertas, et —
* guafi /ylva dicendi duéta ab academicis eft *.”” mr te
nec v7.25 fhe ay y aR

* Cic, Orats 198. a Mrnbaeci ty bn aed bello don

j _

Ill. Ou the ANcIENT HELLENES. By Davip Dotc, LL. D.
F.S.S.A. and Mafer of the Grammar School at Stirling.

[Read Nov. 15. 1790, and April 18. 1791.]

ry fome other differtations, I have endeavoured to inveftigate
BR the original country of the loves, Dores, oles and Achai
or Achivi; and have, I hope, fhewed, that none of thefe tribes
were aborigines of Greece. In this paper, I fhall trace the
origin of the Hedlenes, a people who, in procefs of time, be-

came fo confiderable, that all the other fepts and petty clan-
| fhips of that nation were proud of being called by that venera-
ble name. It was the diftinétion which they deemed the moft
honourable; and “Eadgves and Baglaeo, at one time, compre-
hended the whole human race.

THE more ancient Greeks, however, as well as the people of
the eaft, knew nothing of this appellation. The Italians were
equally ftrangers to it. The ancient name by which the Greeks
diftinguifhed themfelves, and by which they were known
to the weftern nations, was that of Graii or Greci, which, it is
pretended, they derived from TpausG@, Grativs, a very ancient
King of Theflaly. This very ancient perfonage was probably
an imaginary chief, who owed his creation to the fertile fancy
of the Grecian genealogifts. The Greeks themfelves muft have
abandoned this denomination at an early period, fince it néver

rane occurs

¢

132 On the Ancient HELLENES.

occurs in Homer, and indeed very ra rely in other Greeku-
thors. ArisToTLE, fpeaking of the inundation of Theflaly
in the reign of Devcation, is, I believe, the moft ancient
writer who mentions that name *.

Puiny, in the beginning of his defcription of Greece, in-
forms us, that Grecia was the name given by the Romans to
that region. ‘* Ab [fthmi angufliis Hellas incipit, noftris Gracia
“ appellata }.”’ The word Grecia was peculiar to the Romans;
for we never meet with the word I'gaszsa in any Greek author. As
Homer never ufes the word P'gaszo, we may juftly conclude, that
it was become obfolete in his days. Whence then did the Ro-
mans borrow this Gentile appellation? According to Dionys1-
us of Halicarnaflus }, a confiderable body of the Pelafgi, expel-
led from Theflaly by Deucation, after hovering fome time
about Dodona, crofled over into Italy, and poffeffed themfelves
of aconfiderable part of that country. Thefe Pelafgi carried
over the name [gamo: and Team into Italy at that early pe-
riod, and the Romans, a people by no means fond of innova-
tions, retained it to the laft.

Hesycuivs informs us, that [ges fignifies the earth, and
likewife Ceres. Every body knows, that the ancient Heathens
looked upon the earth as the moft ancient of beings. By con-

fequence,

—#* Oiney yee os LeAAos evravde, HOt Ob xarepevos Tere wey Tpatnos, vur.de "EAAn@ Ese Meteor.
Lib. i. cap. 14. Lycornron, an author who affects the antique ftyle, calls Prorrsitavus
Tpaixay agrees, Alex. 532. and in another place he fays,—I'zaixosrer, apeveepeats TE Tos Egex=
9iws. Ib. 138. Upon this place TzetTzes has the following obfervation,—Igaixos yee
meoregey of Ts EMAados seadvvro. Grorcius Syncetius to the fame purpofe,—Evany ines
Aswxarsaros EyrogiGero a? & “EAAnves of Tgaixos weerexavOncav. Edit. Par. p. 153. Edit. Ven.
p- 122. Hesycntvs is of opinion, that the word was changed by the Romans. Paes,
“EAAny. Paypctos oe zo meooderrEs Teaimoy Pact In voce PuixG@. But this conjecture. 2s.
evidently falfe. See Auserri’s Edit. of Hesycuivus, Vol. ii. p. 1098.

+ Lib. iv. cap. 7.
+ Lib.i. p. 13. Edit. Stern.

“On. the Ancient HELLENES: 143

rv)

fequence, the Greeks employed a word derived from the ori-
_ ental name of that element, to fignify the Jeginning, and Ceres
was the fame deity with TELLus, or the earth. In Greek, the
word Igavs, nearly the fame with grai or grau, fignifies an ald
woman. Indeed, grai and grau are actually the fame ; for the
ancient Greek alphabet had no upfflon. The words Teas: and
Teasnos, according to this deduction, imported the original inha-
bitants of Greece, and was applied to them by the Pelafgi, in
order to exhibit this very character. Every body knows, that
the mythologifts of Greece made no {cruple to forge imaginary
perfonages, upon every occafion, when they found themfelves
embarrafled in tracing out the progenitors of a nation. Thus,
according to them, Mepeus was the father of the Medes, PEer-
sEus of the Perfians, PHoreNIx of the Phcenicians, Syrus of
the Syrians, &c. According to the fame arrangement, Gratus,
if he was not the father of the Greeks, was at leaft the father
of their Gentile name. Hetiten, Ion, Dorus, Eotus,.
Acuzus, were beings of the like equivocal generation.
HoweEver far and wide the term Hellas came to be diffufed’
afterwards, it was at firft confined to one {mall city of Theflaly.
It lay in Phthiotis, a fmall diftrict of that country, toward the
fouth. According to StrRABo, fome were of opinion, that
Phthia, Hellas, and Achaia, were the fame. ®Siav ze, of per,
ry avrny evar ty “EdAads xaos Ayoue * Anda little after, he
adds :—‘‘ Now thofe who fay fo, fhew you, about fixty ftadia
“ from their city, the ruins of a city which they believe to
“ have been He//as, and near it two fountains, the one called
* Mefleis and the other Hyperiea.’’ He goes on to inform us,
that the people of Melitza alleged, that Hellas being fituated
on a low ground beyond the Enipeus, the inhabitants, pro-
bably on account of the unhealthinefs of the fituation, de-
*« ferted it, and went over to their city T. The author of the
Brevia Scholia on the Iliad is of. the fame opinion. ‘“ Not in-
- ** deedi
* STRABO, p. 431. + P. 431.

134 On the Ancient HELLENES.

“* deed all the Theffalians, but only thofe who dwelt in the
“ city of Hellas *.”’? Thus it appears, that the Theflalian Hel-
las was a very ancient city of the fmall diftrict of Theffaly
called Phthiotis, and that lay in the neighbourhood of the river
Enipeus.

But the Hellas juft now defcribed was by no means the ori-
ginal one called by that name. We learn from ArisToOrre the
following circumftances }: “ For this deluge, fays he, happened
“ chiefly about the diftrict of the ancient Hellenes, and that
near the city Hellas. Now, that city lay near Dodona, on
the Achelous; for this river hath often changed its name.
‘« The Selli inhabited that canton. Thefe were at that time
“ called Greci, and now are denominated Hedlenes.’’ Here then
we have difcovered the original He/las, the refidence of the
Selli or Helli, who were firft called Helladians, then Tecmo, and
laft of all Hellenes. Thefe Helli or Selli were the original Hel-
lenes. From them the Gentile name, that afterwards became fo
famous over a great part of the world, was derived, and not
from HELLEN, the fictitious fon of DEucALrton.

Lzt us now fee who thefe Helli or Selli were who dwelt
about the Theffalian Hellas, and from whom, we hope to make
it appear, that the later He//enes were denominated. StTraso,
in his defcription of Epire, gives the following account of that
remarkable people t. ‘‘ Now, concerning Dodona, that the
“ people who dwelt about the temple were Barbarians, even
‘* Homer himfelf has inferred from the peculiar aufterities of
“ their manner of living §: They fleep, fays he, on the bare

“ ground

ce

ce

* Ad Tliad. ix. 437.
+ Kes yae S05 mee’ TOV “EAAnyixov SYEYETO LLAIGTE Ke Te Ae Meteor. lib. i. cap. ult.
t Wee de Avdwrig %. Ts Ae Lib. vii. p- 328.

§ Iliad. xvi. 233. Sor. Trach, 1180.

On the Ancient HELLENES., 135

* ground with their feet unwafbed. But whether we ought to
** call them He//, as PinDARUs does, or Selli, as they imagine
** the name ftands in Homer, the ambiguity of the orthogra-
‘* phy does not fuffer us to determine. PHitocuorus tells us,
* that the diftrict about Dodona, as well as that of Eubza, was
“ called Hellopia: For Heston fpeaks thus: There is a certain
“ place called Hellopia, diverfified with dales and meads. Here, in
** the utmoft corner, is built the city of far-famed Dodona.’’ From
the concluding part of this quotation, it appears, that the coun-
try about Dodona was called Hellopia, as well as Hellas, which
are indeed names nearly of the fame import, as .we hope to
make appear in the fequel. With refpect to the difference of
the terms He/li and Se//i, we may obferve, that the confonants
4 and s being both afpirates, are often ufed promifcuoufly in.
different dialeéts, and that of confequence the Heli of PINDAR.

and the Se//i of Homer were one and the fame people.
From.the above quotation it plainly appears, that the original
Hellas was a city inthe neighbourhood of Dodona; that the
diftrict where it ftood was called Hellopia ; that the inhabitants
were called Helli and Selli; and that thefe were the minifters of the
temple there eftablifhed. The Theffalian.Hellenes were a colo-
ny of the Dodoneans, who emigrated from that canton at a.
very early period. The Pelafgi were at that time mafters both
of Theflaly and Epire. Under their protection the Helli ereét-
ed the oracle of Dodona*. With them a numerous body of
thofe people found a fanctuary when expelled from Theflaly by
DeucaLion and the Curetes . It was then natural enough for
the fuperfluous numbers of the Epirotic Helli or Hellenes to
emigrate to. Phthiotis in Theflaly, and to colonize a. part of.
that country, efpecially as it was fituated at no great diftance.
from their native feat, and was then in the pofleflion of thefe.-
very.

* HEROD. Lib. ii. cap. 52.-

+ Dion. Halic. Antiqg. Rom. Lib.i. p. 43. Edit. StEpu.

136 On the Ancient HELLENES:

‘wery people under whofe protection, and by whofe permiffion,
they had formed their original eftablifhment at Dodona. This
detail acquires farther confirmation, when it is confidered, that
the city which they built in Phthiotis was called Hellas, after the
name of their metropolis, in the neighbourhood of Dodona. In-
deed, it is highly probable, that there was a Dodona in Theflaly
as well asin Epire. This was the opinion of PHILOXENUs, a
very ancient writer, quoted by SrepHanus Byzantinus *,
though the author laft quoted condemns that opinion. As
PHILOXENUsS was much more ancient than the Byzantine, the
probability is, that truth lies on his fide. We therefore con-
clude, that the Theffalian Hellas was built by a colony of emi-
grants from the city of that name near Dodona in Thefprotia,
a diftrict of Epire.

Tue inhabitants of Hellas and its neighbourhood were call-
ed Hellenes. Accordingly, STRABO actually fo denominates
the inhabitants of that city. Ex de rag ‘Eadados ev ramen yooin
HELENS, ES TNY EaUTOD ETON OS TES “EAA gvas Hs I know that the
Greeks afcribe the building of this city to HELLEN, the fon of
Devucation; but had this been the cafe, the city, according to
the idiom of the Greek language, muft have been denominated
Hellenia, and not Hellas.

Tuese Hellenes, in procefs of time, extended themfelves
over all the fouth part of Theflaly. HzEroporus is clearly of
opinion, that the Hellenes were a Pelafgic tribe. Speaking of
the Pelafgi and thefe people, he expreffes himfelf in the follow-
ing manner :—To de ‘EAAnnnov [eSvos] yAwoon mer, exes re eryevero,
CELNOTE TH HUTN OsAVEATHs, WS EOL KOOTADUIVET HE EVOL, COTOTYIONEY [LEV
Tok aro TB Tlervaoyine, cov aordeves, aro oUiKes TEO THY HEYnY OG LueLEVOY»
cuventos 66 TAndos, THY EIvEwY TOAAMY LAAISC TLOTKEYWENKOTH) AVTW 2OLb
array edvewr, BagBoewv cvyvar ws On, ws emor re doweit. As this paf-
fage is of more than ordinary importance, I fhall fubjoin a li-

1 teral

* In voc. Dodona. +P. 4g. t Lib. 1. cap. 58.

On the Ancient HELLENES. 33%

eral tranflation of it. “ But the nation of the Hellenes, fince
< ever it exifted, continues, as far as to me appears, to ufe the
“ fame language; being a branch cut off from the Pelafgic
ftock, and weak and inconfiderable at the firft, in a fhort ~
“ time it increafed into a multitude of people; vaft numbers of
“ the neighbouring nations in particular, and multitudes of other
‘* barbarians in general, having joined it, as I imagine to have
‘6 been the cafe.’’? According to this detail, the Fellenes were
fprung from the Pelafgic ftock, and were not fo called from the
fabulous Hextcen. Nor is it furprifing that Heropotus
fhould imagine, that thefe Hellenes were of Pelafgic extraction,
when it is confidered, that they lived among thofe people from
the time of their firft arrival in thofe parts, and were conftant-
ly under their patronage and protection.

Havine thus endeavoured to prove, that the Hellenes of
Theflaly were a colony of emigrants from the Helli- or Selli of
Epire, in the neighbourhood of Dodona, let us try if we can-
not difcover who thefe people were, and from what country
they emigrated, when they came to fettle in thofe parts. We
have already feen, that they were the minifters of the temple of
Jupiter Dodoneus, and that they were an auftere, afcetic, felf-
denied race of men. The origin of the temple of Juprrer at
Dodona is accurately defcribed by Heropotus*. Its vocal
oaks, prophetic doves, and tinkling kettles, have been minutely
explained by a great variety of writers, both ancient and mo-
dern. It was fituated in Chaoniaf, a {mall territory of Epi-
rus, which formerly belonged to Thefprotia, but afterwards to
the Moloffi. The temple itfelf lay at the foot of a mountain
called Tomarus or Tmarus, As that mountain rofe from the
plain, fomewhat refembling a palm-tree, I imagine the name is
derived from the oriental word Tamar, which actually fignifies

Vou. Il. if a

* Lib, ii. cap. 54. et feq. + STRABO, p. 328, 3269.

138 On the Ancient HEL LENES,.

a palm-iree. Herroporus tells us,. that. this was the moft an-
cient oracle of all Greece. The fame hiftorian gives us an ex-
act account of the tradition of the Egyptian eftablifhment of
that oracle * ; a tradition “‘ which,”’ fays he, ‘“‘ was authenticated
“* by the priefts of Dodona in my days.” |

IT appears plainly from Heroporus, that this oracle was in-
flituted by a prieftefs from Egypt f, and that it was copied
from that of JupiTER at Thebes, or Diosponis of Egypt.
Both were originally confecrated to the fun, who was undoubt-
edly the primary Jupirer of the Pagan world. STRABo in-
fers {, I believe not juftly, from HomeEr’s account of the Selli
who miniftered in the temple of Dodona, that the original re-
tainers of that eftablifhment were men, and not women. Hz-
Ropotus, who had a much fairer opportunity of difcovering
the genuine tradition, plainly intimates, that the perfon who
firft inftituted the oracle, was one of the prieftefles of the E- —
gyptian Thebes. Though the Greek poet mentions only “ the
“ Selli, who lay on the ground with feet unwafhed,” it does
not follow, that there were not likewife Sed/@ of the like afcetic
_ character. ‘The fame geographer informs us, “ That in pro-
“* cefs of time, when DIONE was admitted to a fhare of that
“ temple, three old women were appointed to officiate as her
“ priefteffes §.”” Thefe female minifters were called Peleiades,
which, in the language of Theflaly, fignifies doves ||, and hence
the origin of the fable concerning the oracular pigeons of Do-
dona.

Heropotus, who had converfed with the Egyptian priefts
upon the fubject of the eftablifhment of the oracle and temple
of Dodona, informs us, in the pafflage above quoted, that they
homologated the tradition of the Dodoneans with relation te

| the
* Lab, ii, i¢apdiis SBS ia § P. 320.
+ Ibid. || Hesyeu. in voc. Tenia.

{ P. 329.

On the Ancient HELLENES. 130
the certainty of that ancient fact. But it will fcarce, I imagine,
be fuppofed, that one fingle old Egyptian prieftefs had the ad-
drefs and courage to erect the oracle in queftion. Whatever
the modern Greeks may have dreamed upon that fubject, fhe
muft have had men as her co-adjutors in that operation. Thefe
co-adjutors were the original Selli. Thefe people were actually
emigrants from Egypt and Phoenicia. As the Egyptians, in the
earlieft times, were averfe to navigation, all the Egyptian chiefs
who brought colonies into Greece, were obliged to tranfport
themfelves on board Pheenician veflels, and of courfe generally
imported a mixture of thefe people. The fact then was,—The
original inhabitants of the neighbourhood of Dodona were a
colony of Egyptians and Phoenicians *. The Egyptians were,
however, the leaders in that emigration. Some part of thefe
belonged to the facerdotal tribe, and had been originally mini-
{ters of the temple of No-ammon, Thebes or Diofpolis. Thefe
probably confifted of both fexes, and thefe actually founded
the oracle and built the temple of Jurrrer Dodonzus, in imi-
tation of that of the fame Deity in Egypt. Like the pricfts of
Delphi of a later date, they employed a prieftefs to publifh the
oracles to thofe who confulted them. After fome years, Diowe,
or the Moon, was admitted to a participation of the worthip
there eftablifhed. Upon this occafion, three additional prieft-
effes were appointed to minifter to that divinity.

From this dedudtion, it appears obvious, that the Helli or
Selli of Dodona were originally a colony from Egypt and Phae-
nicia ; that the leaders of this colony were Egyptians from The-
bais of Egypt; that thefe brought in their train. fome of the
priefts of Jupirer at Thebx, or were perhaps themfelves a
fwarm difcharged from that feminary; that from them the re-
gion about Dodona was called He/las, and the natives Hellenes;

yer that
* I fay Phoenicians, becaufe moft of the names of the objeéts about the spring
appear to be Pheenician,

T40 On the Ancient HELLENES.

that from them were defcended the Theffalian Hellenes, whofe
name was, in procefs of time, adopted by all the nations of
Greece.—Let us now try if we cannot produce fomething ftill
more plaufible in confirmation of this hypothefis.

Tue original term Hel fignifies light, brightne/s, /plendour.
Perhaps it is the fame with the word £/, without the afpiration,
which is one of the epithets of the true Gop among the He-
brews; for ‘‘ Gop is light, and in him is no darknefs at all.”
When the luminaries of heaven became the objects of religious
worthip among the ancient Pagans, moft of the names, titles
and epithets which had originally belonged to the true Gop,
were transferred to the folar light ; confequently E/ or Hel
became a title of the fun. A'mong the heathens, it was a pre-
vailing practice to denominate the feveral claffes of priefts from
the title of that deity to whom they refpectively miniftered.
This point needs no confirmation. If then the Helli in que-
{tion were originally priefts of JupiTer, that is, the Sun, they
were of courfe denominated from that deity. Another oriental
word now prefents itfelf, which, if admitted into the compofi-
tion, will naturally produce the word we are endeavouring to
inveftigate. In Hebrew, En, or perhaps Ez, fignifies both an
eye and a fountain. From a combination of the words He/ and
En, (doubling the / in order to ftrengthen the found), we have
Hellen, which may fignify, either the fountain of light, or the
eye of light, both terms naturally applicable to the fun. The
original import of the word He//en was then, according to this
etymology, @ worfbipper or votary of the fountain of light,
z.¢. the Sun. As a collateral proof of the juftnefs of this ety-
mology, it may be obferved, that among the ancient Greeks,
the word Helena was actually a name of the moon*, and, by a

parity

* The Greek word Zeanm feems to be the very fame with ‘Exe. only changing

the {piritus afper into 2, according to the ARolic dialect. Ziaev@ was allo a name.
of the fun.

On the Ancient PEDLEN ES. PAI

parity of reafon, Helenus muft have denoted the /uz. The
difference between Helenus, if you cut off the affix us, is next
to nothing. But that the original word Hellenes actually im-
ported worshippers of the fun, or at leaft of the bof of heaven,
will, it is hoped, appear obvious from the following obferva-
tions.

Ir is a well known fact, that the fathers of the Chriftian
church have divided the early ages of the world into three
epochs, which they have diftinguithed by the names of BaeSa-
eionos, Savbiowos and ‘EAAnuopos, Barbarifm, Scythifin and Helie-
nifm. Thetwo firft we omit as foreign to our purpofe; the
laft is a point of great importance towards eftablilhing our po-
fition, and therefore its purport muft be fully elucidated. It
muft indeed appear fomewhat extraordinary, to find people talk
of a Hellenic period as exifting many centuries before the Hel-
lenes of Greece had rifen into exiftence. But thefe holy men
were ignorant of the import of the name. They did not know,
that the term Hellen imported a votary of the fun, the Hel-En
or fountain of light, and intimated the very fame thing with
Zabians, or worfbippers of the hoft of heaven. EpipHANnius
fixes the rife of Hellenifm to the age of S—ERucH. “ RaGAmM
““ begat Srerucu, and then idolatry and Hellenifm began
““ among men *.’”’ Hellenifm was then coeval with SERuCcH,
many ages before the Hellenes of Greece. Indeed, Eusesiis.
and SyNcELLUS make SErucH the author of the firft apoftacy
from the true religion {. CEDREN‘ s makes Hellenifm only as
ancient as THARRA. ‘* And Nacwor begat PHARRA; then
** was introduced the fabrication of images by the fkill of
“ TuHarra {.”’ Here then we have the origin of Hellenifm
fixed to a very early period. ‘This apoftacy confifted in wor-
fhipping the hoft of heaven, the Hel-En, the fountain of light.

I Thofe

* Wolsi.-~Her.3. cap. 6. p47. # Vol.i, p25.

+ Chron. p. 15. SYNCEL. p. 34,

T42 On the Ancient HELLENES.

Thofe who were addicted to that f{pecies of idolatry were called
Hellenim, or fun-worfbippers, and the appellation was probably
fixed on them by thofe who perfevered in the worfhip of the
true Gop.

Tue Babylonians, according to the moft authentic accounts,
were the firft people who worfhipped the hoft of heaven, and
of confequence were the firft Hellenes. This name they re-
tained much longer I believe than is generally imagined. The
prophet JEREMIAH, foretelling the overthrow of the Egyptians
at Carchemifh on the river Euphrates, introduces the auxilia-
ries of that army as exhorting one another in a fpeech to the
following purpofe: “‘ Arife, and let us go again to our own
“ people, and to the land of our nativity, from the face (edge)
“ of the fword of the Fonim*.’”? The. Seventy tranflate the
laft claufe, Aro mgorurs pmayoiwas EAAguans Again, in another
place +, we have the very fame words tranflated in the fame
manner. It would be abfurd to imagine, that the tranflators
were fo ignorant as to fuppofe that the Greeks were really in-
tended in thefe paflages. They could not but know, that the
infpired writer alluded to the Babylonians ; and that the Gre-
cian Hellenes at that period, could have no manner of connec-
tion with'the Babylonians. The fa& is, they knew that thefe
people thad been often ftyled Hellenes, i. e. worfhippers of the
jun. They knew that this was a general appellation by which
thefe people were known over all the neighbouring countries,
and confequently applied it to them without the leaft hefitation.
This account, in my opinion, furnifhes a very ftrong prefump-
tion, that the Babylonians were the original Hellenes, and that
this name was applied to them in confequence of their attach-
ment to the worfhip of the fun.

Jouannes Antiochenus ftyles the Midianites Hellenes. He
calls JETHRO, the father-in-law of Moszs, Agysegeus rav “EAAg-

VO,

* Chap. xlvi. ver. 16. + Ghap. 1. ver. 16, 2

On the Ancient HELLENES. 143

van *, bigh prieft of the Hellenes. Of what Hellenes? Surely not
of the Grecian Hellenes, but of the Midianitith, that is, of the
Midianites who were worfhippers of the fun, moon and ftars.

On the upper recefs of the Arabian gulf, there was a city
called Elana, and fometimes Az/ane. On the oppofite fide are
fountains, called by the Arabians E/-4za to this day. El-Ain,
the very peafants of the neighbourhoed know to import fontes
folis, “‘ the fountains of the fun,” This fa&t again furnifhes a
very plaufible argument in favour of the etymology propound-
ed above.

Tue invafion and conqueft of Egypt by the Paftor Kings, is:
an event generally known, and as generally admitted. _ AFrt-
cANus { calls thefe people, Tosmeves “EAAqves and BaciAesg “EAA-
vec, ‘‘ Hellenic fhepherds and Hellenic Princes.’ It cannot be
pretended, that thofe foreigners had the moft diftant relation to
the Hellenes of Greece, except from the identity of name.
No; they were only worfhippers of Hel-an, “ the fountain of
“ light.” For the fame people are called 4urite and Orite,
from Aur and Or, originally /zght, beat, and, by a very com-
mon metonomy, the fun. Thofe intruders were probably ad-
dicted to the worthip of the folar Deity, and were confe-
quently ftyled Hellenes, Aurite and Orite, that is, Sunites, or
votaries of the fun. It then appears, that there were Hellenes
in Chaldza and Arabia at a very early period, (for I take it for
granted, that the Paftors who invaded Egypt were Arabians),
and in Midian ; and that, from the import of the term, thefe
Hellenes were fo denominated from their being addiéted to the
worfhip of the heavenly bodies.

_ As there were Hellenes in the countries above-mentioned in:
the very firft ages after the flood, fo it will appear by the fol-
lowing quotations, that there were Hellenes likewife in Egypt
much about the fame period of time. Puito Judzus, in his

life
PPC 70g 9 i t Apud Syncerium, p. 61.

144 On the Ancient HELLENES,

life of Moses, after informing his readers, that this lepiflator
_ had been inftrueted, during his youth, in arithmetic, in geo-
graphy, in hieroglyphics, adds, rvoE aAAnY EyununAsay ToLOebOLC , xe
vr. *, “ the remainder of the circle of fciences he learned from
“ the Hellenes ;”’ not I fuppofe from the Hellenes of Greece,
who, if they did exift at that early period, were ftill a race of
barbarians, if not abfolute favages; but from the Fgyptian
priefts of that denomination, who had actually by that time
eftablifhed feminaries or colleges in feveral parts of Fgypt, as
early as the age of Moses. ‘The learned Jew was acquainted
_with the term Hellenes, but was ignorant of its import and fig-
nification. He is indeed grofsly miftaken in his application of
it; as is likewife CL—emeNs Alexandrinus, who borrows it from
him, and applies it to the fame purpofe f.

Dioporus Siculus informs us, that the great Ostris, return-
ing from his travels over moft parts of the then known world,
‘* inftituted religious ceremonies, and founded {chools of elo-
“ quence in Egypt. Of thefe he appointed Hermes the Pre-
“« feet, who taught the Hellenes the rites relating to augury and
‘* divination t.” Thefe Hellenes could be none other than the
priefts of Hel-En, that is, the Sun. The fcholiaft on APouto-
Nius’s Argonautics informs us from Dicearcuus, that ‘ SEson-
“ cHOSIS, 2. ¢ SESOSTRIS, was a zealous imitator of the Hel-
“* lenic way of life §. The author’s meaning is no doubt, that
he was an admirer of the auftere manner of life prad¢tifed i
the Hellenes, or priefts of the fun.

From the foregoing detail, we hope it will appear, that there
were in the eaftern parts of the world people called Hellenes,
many ages before the Hellenes of Greece were known or ex-
ifted; that this was originally not a Gentile, but a facred or
religious name; that it meant.worfhippers of the fun, and

imported
* Vol. ii. p. 84. t Lib.i. p.16. Edit. Stern.
+ Vol. i. p. 443. § Lib. v. ver. 273.

On the Ancient HELLENES. 146

imported much the fame idea with the term Zadian; that in
Egypt in particular there was a race of priefts denominated
Hellenes. —Let us now fee to what purpofe we mean to apply
the foregoing obfervations.

We have already fhewn from Heroporus, that the oracle
of Dodona was an Egyptian erection; that the Helli or Selli
were the minifters of the Deity ; that thefe Helli, afterwards
Hellenes, were originally worfhippers of the Sun, this planet
being the primary JuPiTER of the Greeks and Romans; that
there was in the neighbourhood of that temple, a city called
Hellas, the capital of a diftridt called Hellopia ; that the inha-
bitants of this canton were the original Hellenes of Greece ;

and, laftly, that the Theflalian Hellenes were a colony of emi-
- grants from the laft mentioned people. I fhould now proceed
to inveftigate by what means the Hellenes of Theflaly grew fo
confiderable, as to communicate their name to all the other
communities of Greece. But before I enter upon this part of -
the fubjeét, I fhall take the liberty to hazard a few etymologi-
cal conjectures, which, if admitted, will operate as collateral
proofs of the hypothefis. |

I oBSERVED in that part of this difquifition where I treated
of the emigration of the Dodonean Helli, that, though the
leaders of the colony were undoubtedly Egyptians, yet a num-
ber of Phoenicians were probably mingled with thefe emi- —
grants. I fhall now fhow, that moft of the names connected
with the temple, and oracle, were aCtually Phoenician. Hello-
pia, the name of the canton around the temple, fignifies a ter-
ritory facred to the fun and the moon. I have fhewn above,
that E/ or Hel was a name of the fun. Ops, Opis, Upis, was a
Pelafgic name of the moon. In the Egyptian language, Od
was a name of the fun, and of courfe Ola became a title of
his fifter divinity. The confonants 4 and p being-both labials,
naturally pafs into each other. Hence Ola or Uba became Opa
and Upa. From Hel and Opa combined originates Hellopa ;

Vou, Til, t whence

1 46 On the Ancient HELLENES:

whence the adjective ‘EAAwra, with the word yen underftood,
intimating the Flellopian diftrictt. Again, Hedas, originally |
Hellad, as is obvious from the genitive Hedlados, is compound-
ed of Hel, light, fplendour, &c. and Ad, an original name of ~
the fun *. Hellas is then much the fame with Heliopolis, the
city of the fun. I have obferved above, that Tmarus or Toma-
“rus, the mountain overhanging the temple, might fignify a palm- —
tree; but it may, with more probability, be compounded of
the words Tam, integer, perfectus, and Or or Ur, heat or light.
As it was an univerfal. practice among the heathens to confe-
crate particular mountains to particular deities, and as the one
in queftion lay contiguous to the temple of the fun, there can
be no doubt of its being confecrated to that deity. The name
Dodona itfelf I take to be a vox hybrida, compounded of the
Greek word Aw, domus, and the Phoenician Adon, dominus; fo
that Dodona is the fame with Do-Adon, the houfe of the Lorp.
The priefteffes of the temple were called zeAzis +. The Chal-
dean word Peleh fignifies fervivit, coluit, and is upon fome oc-
cafions actually employed to intimate the minifters of the houfe
of Gop}. HeEsycurius informs us, that the word weaga in the |
Theflalian tongue fignified a dove. This bird every body
knows was facred to VENUS among the Greeks and Romans, .
and to the Moon among the Syrians. Hence the prieftefles
were called wersias, becaufe they miniftered to Dione in the
temple of Dodona; and the pigeon had the fame denomina-
tion, becaufe it was facred to the fame deity. The Lacedemo-

nians called the temple of JupITER in Dodona ‘Eada §, a term

evidently derived from He/; and this was perhaps its original
denomination. All thefe names are clearly of Phoenician ex-
traclion, nor are the etymologies obfcure and equivocal. Eve-
ty
* Macrob. Sat. lib. i. cap. 23. + Hesycu. in voce.
t See Ezra vii. 24. e¢ alibi.

§ HeEsycu. z# vace “Enna, nabedea, was Atos Tepov ev Aodom. Aouncavece

On the Ancient HELLENES. t47

ry one verfed in etymological enquiries will, I am perfuaded,
admit them as probable, if not abfolutely certain. Perhaps the
Phoenicians conftituted the more numerous part of the colony,
and of courfe, though the leaders were Egyptians, the lan-
guage of the majority, as is ufual in fuch cafes, might become
the prevailing dialect. This too muft have been mingled with
the Pelafgic, which was probably a branch of the old Phceni-
cian, or, at the moft, very little different from that language.
At the fame time, it is generally allowed, that the Egyptian and
Phoenician were no more than different modifications of the
fame tongue. Thus, it appears, that moft of the names of
places and perfons connected with the temple of Dodona, as
well as that of the temple itfelf, were of a Phoenician or E-
gyptian original ; a circumftance which, in my opinion, ought
to give additional weight to the arguments above adduced in
confirmation of my pofition.—I fhall now endeavour to point
out the means by which the Hellenes of Theflaly grew fo con-
fiderable as to communicate their name to all the other tribes
of Greece.

Tue Hellenes, when they arrived in Greece, brought along
with them a large fhare of the culture and civilization both of
Egypt and Pheenicia, at that time the two moft polifhed coun-
tries upon earth. The emigrants from Dodona to Phthiotis
no doubt carried along with them all the improvements of the
parent colony. The inhabitants of Theflaly were at that time
a race of barbarians. This affertion ftands in no need of be-
ing authenticated by quotations. It is confirmed by the una-
nimous confent of antiquity. It is no hard matter to conceive
how quickly a race of people, prodigioufly fuperior both in
arts and arms, muft gain the afcendant among a rout of uncul-
tivated, vagabond favages. Their mianners, their dexterity,
their {killin the mechanical arts, their policy, perhaps their
fuperior courage and difcipline, would naturally enough excite
the admiration, and conciliate the affeCtions, of all the tribes of

£2 | barbarians

148 On the Ancient HELLENES.

barbarians around them. The religious ceremonies which they
introduced would render them venerable, and gain them mul-
titudes of profelytes. The arts of augury, vaticination, and
magic, would all co-operate to enhance their reputation. Agri-
culture, in that age little known, and ftill lefs pradctifed in
Greece, would be embraced with grateful hearts by the half-
famifhed favages. "hey would look up to the authors of that
blefling with the fame fentiments which prompted the Roman
poet to invoke Baccuus and CerEs benign:

Liser et alma Ceres, vefiro fi munere tellus
Chaoniam pingui giandem mutavit arifia.

Tue alliance of fuch a fuperior people would be eagerly courted,
their manners would be imitated ; to incorporate with them by
blood and affinities would be deemed honourable, and would,
at the fame time, be found fafe, improving, and advantageous.
Their neareft neighbours would be firft drawn into the vortex ;
the infection would gradually diffufe itfelf far and wide, till,
in procefs of time, it extended its influence to all the oriental
colonies at that zra newly eftablifhed in Greece. Indeed, all
thefe colonies looked upon themfelves as. brethren, as appears
from the relation they all claimed to the family of their imagi-
nary HELLEN. All thofe tribes might, in reality, look upon
themfelves as brethren, as they had emigrated from the fame
quarters, and were defcended of patriarchs who actually ftood
in that relation to each other. Thus, the colony of the Hel-
lenes, which, according to HEropDotus, quoted above, was at
the firft weak and inconfiderable, by the acceflion of its neigh-
bours and numbers of the barbarous nations around, became
ftrong, populous, and confiderable. The original name of
_ Graii was forgot ; and firft the cantons in the neighbourhood of
- Phthiotis, and afterwards, in a fhort time, almoft all the fepts
of Greece, became Hellewes. Nothing lefs than the moft exalt

i ed

On the Ancient HELLENES., 149

ed idea of the fuperior dignity and accomplifhments of the Hel-
lenes could, I think, have induced the circumjacent nations to
abandon their refpeCtive Gentile denominations, and adopt that
of an inconfiderable tribe of foreigners, but lately eftablifhed
among them. This. opinion they muft have excited by the
means enumerated in the preceding pages.

Tue ancient Egyptians, like the modern Chinefe, were the
moft vain-glorious nation upon earth. Accordingly, Heropo-.
Tus affures us, that they ftigmatifed all nations with the title of
barbarians. BugCagous Og TOVTAS Ob Asyorrios HOAACOUCL TRS en oPios
émoyrweoous *. The Helladians or Hellenes brought this epithet
with them into Greece, and, we believe, applied it literally to
all thofe clanfhips around them which had not entered into al-
liance with them, or had pot affumed their name. This epi-
thet was at firft confined to fuch of the nations of Greece as
were not connected with the body of the Hellenes. In procefs
of time, however, it became fo widely extended as to produce
the general divifion of mankind into ‘EaaAqves xa Baeeagos,
** Greeks and Barbarians.” The influence of this diftin@tion
foon became irrefiftible among a conceited, vain glorious peo-
ple.’ We learn from Heroporus, that the Athenians, who,
according to him, were a Pelafgic tribe, changed both their
name and language in order to become Hellenes. To Arrizop
ebvG- cov Tedacyinov, amo ry wernSorn ry e6 EAAnvas, woes TAY YRaooey
perewobe T.

But nothing contributed fo much to extend the name and
influence of tlie Hellenes, as ‘the inftitution of the council of
the Amphittyones. The inftitution of this patriotic and truly
beneficial diet is generally afcribed to the wifdom and policy of
one AMPHICTYON, adefcendent of HELLEN, and a King of the:
Athenians}. That Ampuicryon, if any fuch perfon ever ex-

chee ifted,

* Lib. ii. cap.158. in fine. De de) Sys

t M. Gezetin, in his Dife. Prelim. fur les Orig. Grees, has given a very ex-
a& account of the inftitution of this council. According to him, AMPHIcTYON is-

Anu

150 ~ On the Ancient HELLENES.

ifted, was of the Hellenic race, cannot be doubted. The: de-
fign, the ufefulnefs, the arrangement of the inftitution, evi-
dently breathe an Hellenic original. It is not my intention at
prefent to enter upon a detail of the functions or regulations of
that celebrated court. I fhall only obferve, that the confederated
ftates being twelve in number *, lodged their refpective interefts
in the hands of that council or diet; that this council was
formed of a certain number of deputies from each of the allied
cantons ; and that thefe cantons were at firft fituated around the
city of Delphi in Phocis, where the Amphictyones held their

affembly. |
Tue arrival of new colonies, time after time, from the coatt
of Phceenicia, which generally conquered, expelled, fubjected,
or extirpated the indigenous inhabitants of thefe countries,
when they refpectively made their defcents, fuggefted the idea
of the confederacy juft mentioned. The Hellenes, in all pro-
bability, projected the alliance. It was a fcheme fuitable to
the refined fagacity of a political and enlightened people. This
fuppofition becomes the more plaufible, when we reflect, that
the arrangement is afcribed to a branch. of the Hellenic fa-
mily t. The Attics, ever prone to engrofs every thing great
or meritorious to themfelves, have, of courfe, dignified this ideal
perfonage with the Royal title. He always appears in the lift
of their Kings. Self-prefervation, the moft powerful of all mo-
tives,

an imaginary perfon, which I think is highly probable. His etymology of the
name is altogether fanciful; «ug: fignifies round, around, about ; and he imagines there
might be an obfolete Greek verb xtvw, defendo, whence the Latin zueo, now tueor.
After the fame manner, we have xtaw, poffideo, now xraouat, xtewa, occido, &c. The
«is a mere adventitious prefix, calculated to invigorate the pronunciation. Ac-
cording to this etymology, the word 4mphiétyones will import perfons whofe office
jt was to protect all the circumjacent people.

* Authors only enumerate eleven. See more on this fubjeét in the Appendix,
Pit53-
+ Some make him the fon of Devcation, others that of HELLEN,

On the Ancient HELLENES. 1gt

tives, would readily determine the petty ftates lying between
the modern Theflaly and Peloponnefus to prefs into the alliance. _
At the fame time, gratitude for this benefit, as well as for thofe
enumerated in the preceding pages, might naturally enough
engage them to adopt the Gentile denomination of their gra-
cious benefactors.

At firft the Gentile name Hellenes was confined to the can-
tons connected by the Amphictyonic confederacy ; and thefe,
as was juft now obferved, were all fituated between the con-
fines of modern Theffaly and the Ifthmus of Corinth. When
the Dores, who were members of that confederacy, invaded
and conquered Peloponnefus, they communicated that name,
which themfelves had adopted before they left their original
feats, to the inhabitants of their new conquefts ; and now all
the Grecian tribes without diftinction became Hellenes. At
length the epithet of Barbarians, which at firft comprehended
only the tribes in the neighbourhood of the Hellenes who did
not accede to the alliance reprefented by the Amphi¢tyones,
was extended to all the nations unconnected with the Hellenic:
tribes.

To conclude ; the Hellenes were not a particular race of peo-
ple, nor were they denominated from Hrxiuen, the fabulous
fon of DEucation. They were a fect of idolaters, peculiarly
addiéted to the worfhip of the fun, who was, in fome of
the eaftern dialects, called AHel-En, i. e. the fountain of light.
They were found in Babylon, in Midian, in Arabia on the
confines of Egypt, and more particularly in Egypt itfelf, where
there were feminaries of learned men called Hellenes. From
one of thefe facerdotal feminaries, eftablifhed at Thebes or Di.
ofpolis, emigrated the leaders of the colony of Helladians,
which fettled in the neighbourhood of Dodona. Thefe built
the city of Hellas, and from them the canton which they pofleffed.

2 was;

152 On the Ancient HELLENES.

was called Hellopia. They likewife built the temple and infti-
tuted the oracle of Dodona, under the proteétion of the Pelaf-
‘gi, who had emigrated from the fame quarters, and who at that
time were mafters of that region. As thefe Hellenes mutt
have tranfported themfelves to their new fettlements on board

Phoenician veflels, a goodly number of Phoenicians muft have ~

joined them, and mingled with them in Hellopia and its vici-
nity. Hence moft of the names of perfons, offices, places, &c.
connected with the temple are evidently of Phoenician original.
In procefs of time, a new colony emigrated from Hellopia into
Phthiotis, a fmall diftrict toward the fouth of Theffaly, where
they built the city of Hellas, and where they ftill retained their
original name. Thefe new colonifts brought along with them
all the arts, culture, politenefs, &c. which their anceftors had
imported from Egypt and Phoenicia, at that period the moft
highly civilized countries upon earth. ‘Thefe new fettlers, in
confequence of their fuperiority in arts and arms, and the be-
nefits their more eminent accomplifhments enabled them to
confer, eafily gained the afcendant among the neighbouring
Theffalians, who were at that time a race of barbarians. The
profpect of fharing thefe advantages allured the neighbouring
tribes either to join or fubmit to them, and rendered them am-
bitious of the honour of being called by their name. The ort-
ginal Hellenes had learned from their Egyptian countrymen
to brand with the name of barbarians all who did not fpeak the
fame language with themfelves. This epithet the vain-glorious
Hellenes liberally beftowed upon all the neighbouring nations
which were too proud or too obftinate to court their alliance.
It appears from the example of the Athenians, that the dread
of being branded with this epithet contributed not a little to
draw the adjacent people into a confederacy with the Hellenes.

The inftitution of the Council of the Amphictyones under the —

aufpices of the Hellenes completed their triumph; and the
dread

On the Ancient HELLENES. 153

dread of being fwallowed up by the oriental colonies which
were from time to time arriving in Greece, engaged all the
petty dynafties in the neighbourhood to folicit admittance into
that confederacy. At firft this affociation confifted only of
- twelve petty ftates, and reached from the fouthern confines of
modern Theflaly to the Ifthmus of Corinth. When the Dores,
who had been included in the Amphidtyonic league, and had
confequently adopted the name of Hellenes, fell into Pelopon-
nefus, and madethemfelves mafters of the greateft part of that
country, they communicated their name to their new fubjects ;
fo that, in procefs of time, the original name Graz was aban-
doned and forgotten, and all the tribes of the Greeks became
Hellenes ; a name which they retained as long as the nation ex-
ifted. Hence, in procefs of time, all mankind came to be di-
vided into ‘EAAnves xo BaeSaeos, ** Greeks and Barbarians.’’

END OF THE DISSERTATION.

APPENDIX concErninc THE AMPHICTYONES.

"B *HOUGH I have omitted the explication of the council of

the Amphidtyones in the body of the preceding differta-
tion, in order to avoid prolixity, I fhall here add a few {ftric-
tures upon that fubject.

Ir was obferved in the foregoing paper, that the Greeks a-
fcribed the inftitution of this council to AMpuHicTyon. This
Prince, according to them, was the fon of DeucaLion, and

VoL. III.. u the

154 | APPENDIX concerning

the brother of the far-famed Hertien, though fome pretend
that he was his fon. The Athenians, who arrogate every thing
to themfelves, affert, that he was one of their Sovereigns.
They tell us, that he came to Athens, and married the daugh-
ter of CraNaAus, the fecond King of Athens *. This unna-
tural Prince dethroned his father-in-law, and ufurped the
Crown. He reigned eleven, fome fay twelve years}, and was
in his turn expelled by Ertcutnonius. According to APOLLO-
pDoRus, fome were of opinion, that this fame AMPHICTYON
was not the fon of Devcation, but a native of Atticat; and
if ever fuch a perfon did aCtually exift, I fhould imagine the
latter opinion by far the moft probable. But in either cafe,
nothing can be more abfurd than to fuppofe, that a petty fove-
reign of a territory, fituated at a confiderable diftance from the
centre of union, and unconne¢ted with all the other ftates en-
gaged in the confederacy, fhould have been poflefled of fuff-
cient influence and authority to accomplifh an enterprife of
fuch magnitude and importance. The very idea carries incon-
fiftency in its afpect. This claim we mutt therefore place to
the account of Athenian vanity.

Some have afcribed the inftitution to Acrisius, King of
Argos §, a pofition ftill more improbable, if poffible, than the
former. That Prince was too inconfiderable, and lived at too
great a diftance, to have projected fuch a plan, or, if he had, ~
he could never have carried it into execution. What could
have induced a Sovereign of Argos to intereft himfelf in the
concern of a temple fo remote from his own dominions? What
motive can we imagine could have engaged AcRISIUS to pro-
ject an inftitution calculated to promote the union and fecurity
of a number of tribes with which he was altogether uncon-
need ?—an inftitution from which neither himfelf nor his

fubjects

* Apottop. Bib. cap. iii. p. 221. Pausan. in Att. cap. 2. p. 7. bottom.
+ Id. ab. + Id. ib. § StRago, lib. ix. p. 420.

The AMPHICTYONES. 155

fubjects could ever hope to derive the fmalleft advantage. The
_ opinion which attributes this eftablifhment to the wifdom and
penetration of the Argive Prince, is therefore, in all refpects,
bafelefs and nugatory.

ANDROTION, quoted by PAUSANIAS*, appears to me to
have given the genuine account of the inftitution of this cele-
brated council: Avdewtiay de ev rq Arbids, en, ovvyendy, x. 7. A.
“ But ANnpDRoTION, in his Hiftory of Attica, tells us, that
** from the moft early period, deputies from the neighbouring
“-ftates allembled at Delphi, and that thefe deputies were,
“ from that circumfance called Amphidlyones, and that confe-
ee quently, 1 in procefs of time, chi became the prevailing de-
‘ nomination of that high court.’’ However this author may
be miftaken in his etymology, he is certainly orthodox in
his opinion relating to the original of this renowned affembly.
It was an original inftitution. It did not derive its primary
exiftence, either from AMPHICTYON or Acrisius, or indeed.
from any particular perfon. It was a convention so c% wounses
It exifted from the earlieft ages of antiquity.—Let us now fee:
whether it is not poffible to give at leaft fome probable account
of its primary erection. ©

As the Hellenes had founded the oracle of Dodona, fo the
fame people, in all probability, eftablifhed the oracle of Del-
phi. They had feen the amazing credit and fuccefs of the
former, and expected the like reputation and aggrandizement of
the latter. The event proved, that the conjecture was founded.
in reafon and fagacity. The renown of the Delphic ereion
in a fhort time eclipfed that of the fane of Dodona, The
Greeks, who have ever been diftinguifhed by their itch for no-
velty, quickly reforted in crowds to this newly ereted office..
In a few years, the temple became flourifhing and opulent.
The Delphic Pythonefs, tutored by the Hellenes. uttered her
myfterious prediftions with fuch fuperior fagacity, that the
events, in many inftances, verified their divine original, or at

UB. leatt:
* Lib. x. cap.8. p. 815.

156 APPENDIX conéerning

.

leaft were imagined to do fo by the deluded votaries. The re-
{fponfes were generally conceived in fuch equivocal terms as left
it in the power of the Hierophant to explain them in fuch a
manner as might fave the credit of the Pythian god, be the iffue
what it might. Numberlefs fables were circulated among the
Greeks, with relation to the portents and prodigies which
prompted the people in the neighbourhood of Parnaflus to erect
this facred edifice, and which attended the ereGing of it. For
my own part, | am fully convinced that it was a Hellenic efta-
blifhment, founded by the emigrants of that colony from the
neighbourhood of Dodona, and a¢tually copied from that ora-
cle. Such changes were probably made as experience had
pointed out for a courfe of feveral ages, during which the mo-
ther Oracle had been in reputation. [mean not to compile a
hiftory of this oracle; my intention is only to fhew, that the
inftitution of the council of the Amphictyones is a¢tually con-
nected with this oracular eftablifhment.
Tue concourfe to the temple of Delphi foon ceca im-
menfe. Its fituation was happily chofen for that purpofe *
It lay nearly in the centre of thofe petty tribes which after-
wards formed the Amphiétyonic affociation. Thefe ftates, as
was obferved in the differtation, became jealous of the growing
power of the oriental colonies. Delphi appeared to them a con-
venient place for holding their conventions, agreed upon in or-
der to concert meafures for their mutual fecurity. Both its
fanétity and centrical pofition pointed it out as a place altoge-
ther

~

* Srraso, wbi fupra. It lay nearly in the centre of Greece, but the Greeks
entertained an opinion, that it was fituated in the centre of the world—oupanos rns
omavuens, the navel of the habitable world. So StTRABO, lib.ix. p. 419. SoPHOCE.
in Orvir. Tyr. Eurir. in Mepea. et alibi. Puut. de defect. Orac. fub Init.
Paus. lib.x. p.835. Pinp. Pyth. iv.6. It was originally called Lycorea, Two
Egyptian words compofe it. Av in many languages fignifies ight, and Op fig-
nifies the Suz. :

The AMPHICTYONES. 157

ther fitted for that purpofe. The Hellenic Prefeéts of the tem-
ple, fuperior to the Barbarians in political fkill and fagacity,
would ftrain every nerve to promote a fcheme calculated to ad-
vance both their honour and their intereft.

Iw all ages, and in all countries, to partake of the fame com-
mon fa¢rifices has been deemed an infallible fign of amity and
concord, Fir{t of all, then, the confederates aflembled at Del-
phi, at certain ftated feafons, to offer facrifices, and perform o-
ther religious rites in name of all the affociated tribes *. This
was the moft indiffoluble bond of their foederal union. Upon
thefe public and folemn occafions, magnificent donations were
offered to the Pythian god, and his ‘minifters no doubt fhared
largely in thefe munificent effufions of devout liberality. As
in confequence of thefe public donations, and the bountiful
largeffes of private individuals, who crowded from all quarters
to confult the oracle, the treafury of the temple became ex-
ceedingly rich, the confederates imagined, that it concerned
their honour, and perhaps their intereft, to appoint officers to
faperintend that treafure. Srraso tells us exprefsly, that this
was one of the ends of the inftitutions of the Amphiétyones +.
Kou rz ieee, x. 7. A. “ And they were to have the fuperintendency.
“ of the temple in a more public capacity, which, as there was a

‘ prodigious mafs of treafure and donations depofited 1m lif,
*« needed to be carefully watched and hallowed with purity.”
Thus it appears, the the original Amphictyones were a kind of
wardens of the temple of Delphi, elected by the mere of
the confederated tribes. -

In

* See Heron. lib.i. Ephefus, and the temple of Diana there, was the cen-
tre of union among the people of Leffler Afia, and we find that Tareurnius
Priscus projected a like centre of union among all the petty ftates of Latium.
CxSar informs us, that the Gauls had a like centre of refort in the territory

of the Carnutes, where the Druids affembled once a-year to offer facrifices in
name of all the communities of Gaul.

+ Lib. ix. p. 420.

Dd

158 APPENDIX concerning

In procefs of time, it was imagined, that another clafs of
officers fhould be added to the former, whofe province it fhould
be to watch over the civil interefts of the confederacy. Thefe
two claffes of fuperintendents gradually coalefced into one, and
both united in difcharging the facred and civil fun@tions an-
nexed to their office. Each of the confederated ftates fent two
deputies, without any regard to its extent or populoufnefs.
The one was denominated Iegovmevor, Hierumenon, and the other
Mvaayogas, Pylagoras. The former was chofen by lot, and his
bufinefs feems to have been more immediately to infpe@ and
fuperintend matters relating to religion, fuch as facrifices, au-
guries, rites, ceremonies, &c. Thefe officers I take to “have
been a part of the original conftitution. The latter was ele@t-
ed by a plurality of voices, and his province feems to have
been originally confined to the civil department. Both thefe
had an equal right to deliberate upon, and vote in all matters
that came before the aflembly. |

Tuese ftated times of aflembling were twice in the year,
once in fpring, and once in autumn. Their fpring meeting -
was called Eaeiwov ruraioy, their autumnal Merwxwewov. ‘The rea-
fon of this appellation was, according to the writers of Greece,
owing to their having been originally inftituted at Py/e, after-
wards called Thermopyle. The duration of their fitting was
not limited, but extended in proportion to the multiplicity,
magnitude, or difficulty of the bufinefs which came before
them. Before they entered on bufinefs, they jointly facrificed
an ox, cut into fmall pieces, which was a facramental fymbol
of their amity and concord. Though their ordinary place of
meeting was at Delphi, they fometimes adjourned to Thermo-
pyle. But this only happened when that city was threatened
with a hoftile invafion, or when the exigencies of the commu-
nities made the latter a more commodious ftation. When they
affembled at Thermopylz, they held their feflions in the temple
of Ceres, near the mouth of the river Afopus. The fifth epo-

2 cha

The AMPHICTYONES. 159

cha of the Arundelian marbles, marks the inftitution of this
council.

Tue Amphiétyones, before they began their deliberations,
were obliged, as we learn from A®scuINEs, to take the follow-
ing moft dreadful oath. ‘‘ I fwear never to overthrow any of the
cities which enjoy the privilege of fending deputies to this
council; never to divert the courfe of any river, either in
peace or war. If any people fhall come with any fuch de-
fign, I engage to carry war into their country, to raze their
cities, boroughs, and villages, and to treat them, in all re-
{pects, as my moft implacable enemies. If any fhall be
found fo impious as to dare to rob the temple of APOLLo at
Delphi of the rich donations laid up there, or to favour fuch
an attempt, to employ all my efforts, with hands, feet, and
voice, to inflict vengeance on the facrilegious wretch.’”’ This
oath was accompanied with a moft dreadful imprecation againft
thofe who fhould violate or falfify it. The imprecation was
conceived in the following terms : “ If any man fhall violate this
“¢ oath, be he private man, city, or people, may he feel the ven-
geance of ApoLLo, of Diana, of Larona, of Minerva the
Provident! May his lands yield no fruit! May their wives, and
even their cattle, bear nothing but monfters! May tlie facri-
legious wretches lofe their law-fuits! May they be vanquith-
ed in battle, and finally perifh, themfelves, their houfes, and
all their offspring ! Let their facrifices never be accepted by
APOLLO, Diana, Minerva the Provident! May thefe dei-
ties abhor their vows and their offerings!’ Let us now fee
with what powers and privileges this auguft aflembly was in-
vetted. .

No private caufes were determined by this court. Thefe were
deemed too trivial and uninterefting to engage the deliberation
of this auguft convention. Their fun@tions were partly of a
facred, and partly of a civil complexion. The former have
been elucidated in the preceding pages. As civil magiftrates,

ce

they

160 APPENDIX concerning

they were employed in maintaining peace and concord among
the confederated ftates, by oppofing fuch injuries as they mu- —
tually committed againft each other ; by determining fuch dif-
putes as might arife between neighbouring people, with relation
to their boundaries, poffeflions, privileges, claims, jurifditions,
&c.; by concerting fuch meafures as they deemed neceflary for
maintaining the general confederacy. They endeavoured to
‘protect the weaker ftates from the oppreflion of the more power-
ful; to determine the caufes and nature of complaints ; to re-
drefs public grievances of every defcription, and to promote
every project that might conduce towards advancing the public
weal, tranquillity and profperity. In fhort, all public differences
among the confederates, whether relating to matters of peace,
of war, or of religion, fell under the cognizance of this vene-
rable court. Its decifions were figned by the high-prieft of
Delphi, after which they were received with the deepeft vene-
ration, and engraved upon pillars of marble, in order to be
preferved as authentic monuments. We meet with frequent
inftances of the power of this court in the Grecian hiftory.
Even the Phcenicians, the very people among whom it was firft
erected, felt, in latter times, the dreadful effets of its power
and refentment.

WE are affured, that the cantons affociated in the Amphic-
tyonic league were twelve in number, and yet no author that I
have had an opportunity of confulting mentions more than
eleven. The reafon, I believe, is this: The name of the Hel-
lenes, who were originally at the head of the afflociation, was,
in procefs of time, abforbed by that of the Theflalians. Ac-
cording to AXscuINnEs, the confederacy confifted of the Thef-
falians, the Boeotians, the Dorians, the lonians or inhabitants.
of Attica, the Perrhebians, the Magrietes, the Locrians, the
Oeteans, the Phthiotes, the Maleans, and the Phoceans. Har-
POCRATION names likewife eleven; the Dorians, the Ionians,
the Perrhebians, the Boeotians, the Magnetes, the Acheans, the

3 Maleans,.

The AMPHICTYONES. 161

Maleans,’ the’ Dolopes, the /nianes, the Delphians, and the
Phocians. PAvusanras° enumerates only ten; the Iones, the
Dolopes, the Theffalians, the Unianes, the Magnetes, the Ma-
leans, the Phthiotes;the Dores, the Phocians, the Locri, who
bordered upon Phocis under Mount Cnemis. ‘The reafon of
this diverfity probably arifes from this circumftance: Some of
the confederated ftates might: affume new names, and fome
ftates might be ftruck out of the alliance, in confequence of
fome mifdemeanour, and others fubftituted in their room.

Sucu was the far-famed Council of the Amphiétyones ; a tri-
bunal which refleéts immortal honour upon Greece, and de-
monftrates the wifdom, fagacity and political talents of the
Hellenes, who eftablifhed fo noble and fo ufeful an inftitution.
Happy, had it been invefted with power fufficient to check
the ambitious enterprifes of fome of the confederated fates,
which formed projects for reducing the reft to a ftate of de-
pendence and fervitude. Had its members been always anima-
ted with a fpirit of peace, of juftice, and good order, it would
have rendered itfelf for ever refpectable, and the affociated
ftates under its direCtion fhould never have.become a prey to
the once defpifed Macedonians.

STRABO pretends, that the college of the AmphiCtyones was
abolifhed with the Achzan league. But PaAusaniAs.mentions
it as exifting in his time, and as confifting of thirty conftituent
members. Nicopolis, Macedonia, and Theflaly, fent two a-piece.
The Beotians, Phoceans, and Delphians, fent each two mem-
bers. One was furnifhed by the ancient diftrit of Doris. The
fEtolians, called Ozoli, and the people beyond the ftrait of Eu-
boea, fent one member each. The Eubceans and the Athenians
furnifhed each one delegate. ;

AFTER the conqueft of Greece by the Macedonians, this
tribunal was fhorn of its primitive luftre. AucustTus too
made fome new regulations with refpeét to the ftates which

Vot, III. x weré

; ul
; -\

2. ess APPENDIX, &c.

were ave feed with the privilege of fending’ deputies to that
Council. Though it fubfifted in the days of Pauvsanias, who
flourifhed under ANTONINUS Pius, it was probably of fo little”
repute, in the age of StRABO, that this em ie ae bienin
it as in a manner annihilated. ; | riod

END OF THE THIRD VOLUME. . , sha

Page 2%,

Page

45>
50,

89,

iit.

Ba Re ACT OAS

,

PHYSICAL CLASS.

line 20, for fourteenth, read fixth
‘21, for concave lens of a difperfive fluid,
read convex lens of a difperfive fluid:
21, for then, read there

LITERARY CLASS. ~
hfex commencée

figne 25, commencé,
19, de,
21, put,
5, remplis,
15, qui,
4, avoit,
17, lorque,
31, je pu,
g, pafla,
14, architects,
16, fut,
21, détaché,
24, fuivie,
26, leurs,
17, n’eft,
4, fecond,
6, de,
10, et,
4, quit,
17, elle,
21, une,
33, permit,
16, quoique 4,
16, renoncé,
35. 4e,
20, s’ecumant,
azure,
21, mediocre,
7, le longue,
14, m’avez,
15, fois,
1, d’épreuve,
24, cefte;
4, les princes,
22, application,
8, Grecque,
8, defignée,
2, put-on,
30, arien,
23, a,
23, Vignoré,
30, d’une,
8, efpace,
6, interieurs,

du
pu
remplies
que
avois
lor{que
jai pu
paffai
architectes
fus
détachés
fuivi
leur
n’eut
feconde
des.
eft
qui
elles.
un
permets
guoiqu’a:
renoncer
je le
ecumant
azuré
mediocres
les longs
m’avoit
foi
de preuve
cet
les grands
explication.
Greque
deflinée
plut-on
a ne rien.
de
Vignorer. -
dun
efpece
interieures

line 25. for his doing do read his doing fo
113. —— 24. between faltuum and frontefque in/ert {erutaretur-
125.——— 1. for prelio read prelio

DIREC--

. oe 2

*
OT hy

DIRECTIONS FOR THE BINDER.

The Binder is defired to obferve that the Vo. confifts of Three
Sets of Pages, to be arranged in the following order, immediately after

the TasLe oF Contents, viz. Parr I. containing the History oF ~

THE Society: Part II. containing, I. Papers oF THE PHYSICAL
Cuass; II. Papers of THE Literary Crass: And to obferve with
re{pect to the Pirates as follows, viz. that there are in all 24; vz.
15 for the Puysicat Crass, and 9 for the Lirzrary Crass: Which

are to be placed exactly according to the references marked on the
eorner of each.

N. B. Five"of the Plates have been caft off without the abeve men.
tioned references, by omiflion of the Engravers, Place thefe as follows:
TAB. I.

TAB. II. ly
Thofe marked ¢ T ne a all to face p.264. Phyf. Cl.

TAB. VI. [forTAB.IV.] J
That entitled —Carrte de Pancienne Trot, &c, to face p. 72. Lit. CL

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7s

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