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S  ^  \ 


Vasts' 


MEMOIRS 


OF  THE 


6*  •  -  ^  v  ^  v 


LITERARY 


AND 


*  *  ' 

PHILOSOPHICAL  SOCIETY 


OF  MANCHESTER . 


VOL.  I. 


I 


/ 


SECOND  EDITION. 

.  .<* 

i 

LONDON: 

PRINTED  FOR  T.  CADELL,  IN  THE  STRAND. 
M  DCC  LXXXJX. 


/ 


f 


I 


\ 


TO  THE 


king, 

I  *  S  ' 

THESE  VOLUMES  ARE  HUMBLY  INSCRIBED 

•S’* 

V 

BY  THE  MEMBERS  OF  THE 

LITERARY  AND  PHILOSOPHICAL  SOCIETY 
OF  MANCHESTER, 

WITH  THE 

I 

PROFOUNDEST  RESPECT  AND  LOYYLTYs 

AND  WITH  PECULIAR  GRATITUDE 

fOR  HIS  GRACIOUS  PATRONAGE  OF  THE 
FIRST  FRUITS  OF  THEIR 

INSTITUTION. 

' 


THE 


R  E  P  A  .  C  E. 


H.E  numerous  Societies,  for  the  pro¬ 
motion  of  Literature  and  Philofoph)^ 
which  have  been  formed  in  different 
parts  of  Europe,  in  the  courfe  of  the  laft  and 
prefent  centuries,  have  been  not  only  the  means 
of  diffufing  knowledge  more  extenfively,  but 
have  contributed  to  produce  a  greater  number  of 
important  difcoveries,  than  have  been  effe&ed 
in  any  other  equal  lpace  of  time. 

The  progrefs  that  has  been  made  in  Phyfics 
and  the  Belles  Lettres,  owes  its  rapidity,  if  not 
its  origin,  to  the  encouragement  which  thefe 
Societies  have  given  to  fuch  puifuits,  and  to  the 
emulation  which  has  been  excited  between  dif¬ 
ferent  academical  bodies,  as  well  as  among  the 
individual  Members  of  eacli  inftitution.  The 
colle&ing  and  publifhing  the  more  important 
communications  which  have  been  delivered  to 

A  3  them. 


VI 


PREFACE. 


them,  have  faved  from  oblivion  many  very  valu¬ 
able  difcoveries,  or  improvements  in  arts,  and 
much  ufeful  information  in  the  various  branches 
of  fcience.  Thefe  their  modeft  authors  might 
have  been  tempted  to  fupprcfs,  but  for  the  re- 
fpedable  fandion  of  focieties  of  men  of  the  firft 
eminence  and  learning  in  their  refpedive  coun¬ 
tries,  and  the  eafy  mode  of  publilhing,  which 
their  volumes  of  Tranfadions  afford. 

Though,  in  France,  Societies  for  thefe  pur- 
pofes  have  been  inftituted  in  feveral  of  the  pro¬ 
vinces,  in  England,  they  have  almoft  been  con¬ 
fined  to  the  Capital  3  and  however  great  have 
been  the  advantages  refulting  from  the  refearches 
of  the  learned  bodies,  who  are  incorporated  in 
London,  it  feems  probable,  that  the  great  end 
of  their  inftitutions,  the  promotion  of  arts  and 
fciences,  may  be  more  widely  extended  by  the 
forming  of  Societies,  with  fimilar  views,  in  the 
principal  towns  in  this  kingdom. 

Men,  however  great  their  learning,  often  be¬ 
come  indolent,  and  unambitious  to  improve  in 
knowledge,  for  want  of  affociating  with  others 
of  fimilar  talents  and  acquirements :  Having 
few  opportunities  of  communicating  their  ideas, 
they  are  not  very  folicitous  to  colled:  or  arrange 
thofe  they  have  acquired,  and  are  ft  ill  lefs 
anxious  about  the  further  cultivation  of  their 
minds. — But  fcience,  like  fire,  is  put  in  motion 
bv  collifton. — Where  a  number  of  fuch  men 

have 


PREFACE.  vii 

have  frequent  opportunities  of  meeting  and  con- 
verfing  together,  thought  begets  thought,  and 
every  hint  is  turned  to  advantage.  A  fpirit  of 
inquiry  glows  in  every  bread.  Every  new  dis¬ 
covery  relative  to  the  natural,  intelle&ual  or 
moral  world,  leads  to  a  farther  invedigation  5 
and  each  man  is  zealous  to  didinguilh  himfelf  in 
the  intereding  purfuit. 

Such  have  been  the  confiderations  that  have 
led  to  the  inditution  of  the  Literary  and  Phi- 
lofophical  Society  of  Mancheder. — Many  years 
fince,  a  few  Gentlemen,  inhabitants  of  the  town, 
who  were  infpired  with  a  tade  for  Literature 
and  Philofophy,  formed  themfelves  into  a  kind 
of  weekly  club,  for  the  purpofe  of  converfing 
on  fubje&s  of  that  nature.  Thefe  meetings 
were  continued,  with  fome  interruption,  for 
feveral  years ;  and  many  refpedlable  perfons 
being  defirous  of  becoming  Members,  the  num¬ 
bers  were  increafed  fo  far,  as  to  induce  the 
founders  of  the  Society  to  think  of  extending 
their  original  defign.  Prefidents,  and  other 
officers  were  elected,  a  code  of  laws  formed, 
and  a  regular  Society  condituted,  and  deno¬ 
minated,  THE  LITERARY  AND  PHILOSOPHICAL 
SOCIETY  OF  MANCHESTER. 

This  Society  now  prefents  the  fird  fruits  of 
its  inditution  to  the  public  j  and  from  the 
affiduity  of  the  Members,  and  the  correfpondence 
of  others,  there  is  reafon  to  prefume,  that  a 

A  4  volume 


P R  E  F  A  C  £. 


viii 

volume  may  be  regularly  fent  to  the  prefs,  every 
fecond  or  third  year.  The  feleflion  of  the  papers 
has  been  made  with  as  much  impartiality,  and 
as  drift  attention  to  their  comparative  merits, 
as  could  be  expe&ed,  in  decifions  of  fo  delicate 
a  nature.  Yet  the  committee  are  fenfible  that 
a  majority  of- votes,  delivered  by  ballot,  is  not 
an  infallible  ted  of  excellence,  in  literary  or 
philofophical  productions.  This  confideration^ 
they  trud,  will  give  them  a  reafonable  claim 
to  the  candour  of  the  reader,  if  there  fhould 
be  found  occafion  for  its  exercife  :  And  they 
hope  that  Gentlemen,  who  have  favoured  the 
Society  with  valuable  communications,  will 
deem  it  no  injudice  or  difparagement,  that  their 
Efiays  have  not  been  inferted,  through  the  im¬ 
perfection  of  neceflary  forms  and  regulations. 
They  are  preferved  in  the  Archives  of  the  Society, 
and  may  again  come  under  review,  when  fub- 
jefts  of  a  fimilar  nature,  to  thofe  on  which  they 
treat,  are  offered  for  difcudion.  * 

No  fydematic  order  has  been  obferved,  in 
the  difpofition  of  the  mifcellaneous  materials, 
which  compofe  thefe  volumes  j  becaufe  fuch  an 

*  Several  Diflertations,  by  Dr.  Percival,  Mr.  Henry, 
and  others,  enumerated  in  the  printed  Report  of  the  Society, 
were  publifhed  by  their  refpedlive  authors,  long  befoie 
thefe  Memoirs  were  committed  to  the  prefs. 

arrangement 


PREFACE. 


ix 

arrangement  would  have  required  the  completion 
of  the  work,  before  any  part  of  it  could  have 
been  committed  to  the  prefs. 

The  fan&ion  which  the  Society  gives  to  the 
work,  now  published,  under  its  aufpices,  ex¬ 
tends  only  to  the  novelty,  ingenuity,  or  im¬ 
portance  of  the  feveral  memoirs  which  it  con¬ 
tains.  Refponfibility  concerning  the  truth  of 
fafrs,  the  foundnefs  of  reafoning,  or  the  accuracy 
of  calculation,  is  wholly  difclaimed  ;  and  mult 
reft  alone,  on  the  knowledge,  judgment,  or 
ability  of  the  authors,  who  have  refpedtively 
furnifhed  fuch  communications. 


LAWS 


t 


\ 


t 


I 


LAWS  AND  REGULATIONS 


i 

FOR  THE  GOVERNMENT  OF  THE 


LITERARY  AND  PHILOSOPHICAL  SOCIETY 
OF  MANCHESTER^ 

1 

TOGETHER  WITH  A 

LIST  OF  THE  MEMBERS. 


LAWS. 

I.  Hp  HAT  the  number  of  the  Members  of  this 
Society,  inverted  with  the  privilege  of  voting, 
electing  members,  See.  be  Emitted  to  fifty. 

II.  That  Honorary  Members,  refiding  at  a  diftance 
from  Manchefier,  be  eligible  into  this  Society,  provided 
no  Gentleman  be  recommended,  who  has  not  diftin- 
guiflied  himfelf  by  his  literary  or  philofophical  publi¬ 
cations  ;  or  favoured  the  Society  with  fome  paper,  which 
fhall  have  received  the  approbation  of  the  Committee 
of  Papers. 

III.  That  every  Candidate  for  admiffion  into  the 
Society,  whether  as  an  Ordinary  or  Honorary  Member, 
fhall  be  propofed  by  at  leaf!  three  Ordinary  Members, 

Who 


LAWS. 


xii 

who  fhall  fign  a  Certificate  of  his  being,  from  their 
knowledge  of  him,  or  of  his  writings,  a  fit  perfon  to  be 
admitted  into  it  :  which  certificate 'fhall  be  read  at  four 
fucceffive  meetings  of  the  Society,  previoufly  to  the  elec¬ 
tion — Such  election,  with  refpe£t  to  an  Ordinary  Mem¬ 
ber,  to  be  void,  if  he  do  not  attend  within  four  meetings 
afterwards,  unlefs  he  can  plead  fome  reafonable  apology. 

IV".  That  every  election  fhall  be  conduced  by  ballot ; 
That  the  majority  of  votes  fhall  decide  ;  thirteen  Mem¬ 
bers  at  leaft  being  prefent  ;  and  that  the  Prefident  fhall 
have  a  cafting  voice,  if  the  number  of  votes  be  equal. 

V.  That  two  Prefidents,  four  Vice-Prefidents,  two 
Secretaries,  a  Treafurer,  and  a  Librarian,  be  eledled 
annually,  by  the  majority  of  members  prefent,  on  the 
laft  Wednefday  in  the  month  of  April  :  The  election 
to  be  determined  by  ballot. 

VI.  That  a  Committee  of  Papers  fhall  be  appointed, 
by  ballot,  at  the  fame  time,  which  fhall  confift  of  the 
Prefidents,  Vice-Prefidents,  Secretaries,  Treafurer  and 
Librarian,  together  with  fix  other  members  of  the 
Society :  And  that  this  Committee  fhall  decide,  by 
ballot,  concerning  the  infertion  in  the  Regifter,  or  the 
publication,  of  any  paper  which  fhall  have  been  read 
before  the  Society  ;  and  fhall  be  authorized  to  feledl, 
with  the  confent  of  the  author,  detached  parts  of  any 
paper,  the  whole  of  which  may  not  be  deemed  proper 
either  for  infertion  or  publication  :  But  that  the  prefence 
of  feven  members  of  the  Committee  fnall  be  neceflary 
for  fuch  difcuffion,  or  decifion. 

VII.  That  Vifitors  may  be  introduced  by  any  Mem¬ 
ber  to  the  meetings  of  the  Society,  with  the  permiflion 
of  the  Chairman. 

VIII.  That  the  fubjects  of  converfation  comprehend 
Natural  Philofophy,  Theoretical  and  Experimental  Che- 
miftry,  Polite  Literature,  Civil  Law,  General  Politics, 

Commerce, 


X1U 


L  A'W  S. 

Commerce,  and  the  Arts.  But  that  Religion,  the 
Pradtical  Branches  of  Phyfic,  and  Britifh  Politics,  be 
deemed  prohibited  ;  and  that  the  Chairman  fhall  deliver 
his  Veto,  whenever  they  are  introduced. 

IX-  That  each  Member,  wlTo  (hall  favour  the  Society 
with  any  intending  fads  and  obfervations,  refpeding 
Philof.  phy,  Polite  Literature,  &c.  which  may  occur  to 
him,  either  from  refleftion,  experiment,  reading,  or 
corrcfpoiidence,  fhall  fend  his  paper  to  one  of  the 
Secretaries,  the  Monday  before  the  meeting  of  the 

Society. 

X.  That  the  Secretary,  to  whom  the  paper  fhall  be 
delivered,  fhall,  with  the  approbation  of  one  Prefident, 
or  two  Vice-Prefidcnts,  have  the  power  of  fufpending 
the  recital  of  it,  if  deemed  improper  to  be  read,  until 
the  pleafure  of  the  Committee  of  Papers  be  known,  a 
meeting  of  which  fhall  be  called  by  the  Secretary  to 
infpeait:  And,  if  the  Committee  difapprove  of  its 
being  introduced  to  the  Society,  they  fhall  be  empower¬ 
ed  to  reject  it. 

XL  That  all  papers  which  fhall  be  delivered  to  the 
Secretary,  and  not  prohibited  as  above,  fhall  be  read 
by  him,  or  the  author,  according  to  the  order  of  fuc- 
ceffion  in  which  they  were  prefented. 

XII.  That  each  paper  fhall  be  read  to  the  Society 
without  interruption;  and  that  more  than  thirty  minutes 
fhall  not  be  allowed  to  the  reading  of  any  Angle  paper : 
]f  more  time  be  required  in  the  delivery  of  it,  the 
remainder  fhall,  except  the  Society  determine  otherwife, 
be  deferred  to  the  fucceeding  evening.  No  paper, 
however,  fhall  engage  more  than  two  evenings,  with¬ 
out  the  confent  of  the  Society  expreffed  by  a  ballot. 

XIII.  That  a  fecond  paper  fhall  not  be  read,  before 
the  fubjed  of  the  former  one  has  been  difeuffed. 


5UV 


REGULATIONS. 


XIV.  That  the  Society  fhall  meet  every  Wednefday 
evening,  except  during  the  Months  of  June,  July, 
Auguft,  and  September:  And  that  each  meeting  {hall 
commence  at  half  paft  fix,  and  be  concluded  at  half 
paft  eight  o’clock. 

XV.  That  each  Member  fhall  pay  one  guinea  an¬ 
nually,  at  half  yearly  payments,  into  the  hands  of 
the  Treafurer,  to  defray  the  rent  of  the  room,  and 
other  incidental  expences  ;  and  alfo,  to  eftablifh  a  fund 
for  the  benefit  of  the  Society.  And  if  any  Member 
fhall  refufe  or  negledl  to  pay  his  fubfcription,  he  fhall 
be  excluded  the  Society.  Each  Member,  on  his  elec¬ 
tion,  to  pay  his  fubfcription  for  the  current  half  year, 
together  with  one  guinea,  admiffion  fee. 

XVI.  That  it  be  recommended  to  each  Member  to 
enter  the  Society’s  room  with  filence,  and  without 
ceremony. 

XVII.  That  no  Laws  fhall  be  ena&ed,  refcinded, 
or  altered,  but  at  the  quarterly  meetings,  on  the  laft 
Wednefdays  in  the  Months  of  January,  April,  and 
October  :  And  that  notice  fhall  be  given,  at  leaf!  four¬ 
teen  days,  previous  to  thofe  meetings. 


REGULATIONS. 

I.  THAT  the  Society  fhall  publifh  a  volume  of 
mifcellaneous  papers,  every  two  years.  And  that,  at 
ftated  times,  the  Committee  fhall  feledt  from  the 
papers,  which  fhall  have  been  read  to  the  Society, 
fuch  as  fhall  appear  to  be  mod  worthy  of  publication  : 
But  that  no  papers  fhall  be  publifhed,  again!!  the  con- 
fent  of  the  authars. 


II.  That 


REGULATIONS. 


xv 


II.  That  a  Library  be  formed  for  the  ufe  of  the  Mem¬ 
bers  of  this  Society  ;  and  that  the  Librarian  be  autho¬ 
rized  to  purchafe  fuch  books,  as  fhall  be  ordered  at  the 
quarterly  meetings  of  the  Society  :  But  that  no  books 
(hall  be  taken  out  of  the  Library,  without  a  written 
order  from  one  of  the  Secretaries,  limiting  the  time  of 
keeping  it  to  feven  days. 

III.  That  the  refolution  to  eflabl ifh  a  Library  be 
announced  to  the  Honorary  Members  of  the  Society; 
and  that  it  be  intimated  to  them  by  the  Secretaries,  that 
donations  of  their  paft  and  future  publications  will  be 
highly  acceptable. 

IV.  That  a  gold  medal,  of  the  value  of  feven  guineas, 
be  given  to  the  Author  of  the  beft  Experimental  Paper 
on  any  fubjeCt  relative  to  Arts  and  Manufactures,  which 
fhall  have  been  delivered  to  the  Secretaries,  and  read  at 
the  ordinary  meetings  of  the  Society  before  the  laft 
Wednefday  in  March  1786. 

V.  That  the  adjudication  of  this  premium  be  referred 
to  the  Committee  of  Papers;  that  their  decifion  fhall 
be  made  by  ballot ;  and  that  the  medal  fhall  be  deliver¬ 
ed  by  the  Prefident,  to  the  perfon  to  whom  it  fhall  have 
been  adjudged,  or  to  his  reprefentative,  at  thefirft  meet¬ 
ing  of  the  Society  in  OClober  1786. 

VI.  That  if  the  perfon,  to  whom  the  medal  fhall 
have  been  adjudged,  be  not  one  of  the  Society,  his  name 
fhall  be  enrolled  in  the  lift  of  Honorary  Members. 

VII.  The  regular  attendance  of  members  being  eflen- 
tial  to  the  profperity  and  ufefulnefs  of  the  Inftitution, 
that  if  any  Member  fhall  abfent  himfelf  during  the  fpace 
of  three  months,  from  the  meetings  of  the  Society, 
notice  fhall  be  fent  to  him,  at  a  quarterly  meeting,  that 
the  Society  confiders  his  abfence  as  a  mark  of  difrefped, 

and 


xvi  A  LIST  OF  THE  MEMBERS. 


and  that  a  more  punctual  obfervance  of  the  Laws  is 
expected  from  him. 

V HI.  To  encourage  the  exertions  of  young  men, 
who  attend  the  meetings  of  the  Society,  as  vifitors,  that 
a  Fiver  medal,  not  exceeding  the  value  of  two  guineas, 
be  annually  given  to  any  one  of  them,  under  the  age  of 
twenty-one  years,  who  fhall,  within  the  year,  have  fur- 
nifhed  the  Society  with  the  bell  paper  on  any  fubjedi  of 
Literature  or  Philofophy ;  and  that  fuch  adjudication 
fhall  be  made  by  the  Committee  of  Papers, 


A  LIST  OF  THE 

MEMBERS. 


*  James  Mafley,  Efq.  ^ 

*  Thomas  Percival,  M.  D.  F.  R.  S.  &  >  Prefidents* 

S.  A.  &  R^g-  Soc.  Med.  Par.  Soc.  3 

*  The  Rev.  Samuel  Hall,  A.M. 

■*  Charles  White,  Efq.  F.R.S.  Hono¬ 


rary  Mem.  R.  M.  S.  &  Cor.  Mem. 
R.  S.  A.  in  Scotland,  &c. 

*  George  Lloyd,  Efq. 

*  Mr.  George  Bew, 

*  The  Rev.  Thomas  Barnes,  D.  D. 

*  Mr.  Thomas  Henry,  F.  R.  S. 

Mr.  lfaac  MolTe, 

Mr.  Thomas  Robinfon, 

Mr-  Jofeph  Atkinfon, 

Mr,  John  Barrow. 


Y  Vice-Prefidents. 

|  Secretaries. 

Treafurer. 
Librarian.  • 


Thomas 


A  LIST  OF  THE  MEMBERS,  xvii 

Thomas  Butterworth  Bayley,  Efq.  F;  R.  S. 

*  Mr.  John  Bill. 

Mr.  John  Birch. 

Mr.  Charles  Frederick  Brandt' 

Mr.  Alhworth  Clegg. 

Mr.  Robert  Darbey. 

Mr.  James  Dinwiddie. 

Mr.  John  Drinkwater. 

*  Mr.  George  Duckworth^ 

Alexander  Eafon,  M.  D. 

Mr.  Edward  Hall. 

Mr.  Richard  Hall. 

*  The  Rev.  Ralph  Harrifon. 

Mr.  Samuel  Hibbert. 

*  Mr.  Thomas  Kerfhaw. 

Mr.  John  Lawrence. 

Mr.  James  Macaulay. 

Peter  Mainwaring,  M.  D, 

John  Mitchell,  M.  D. 

Mr.  John  Orme. 

Mr.  George  Philips. 

Mr.  John  Philips. 

Mr.  Robert  Philips; 

*  Mr  John  Leigh  Philips. 

Mr.  Thomas  Philips. 

*  Mr.  James  Potter. 

Mr.  John  Powel. 

The  Rev.  Frederick  Robert  Slater.’ 

Mr.  George  Wakefield. 

Mr.  George  Walker. 

Mr.  John  Wilfon. 

Ttaje  worked  tin  •  art  of  the  Committee  of  Paferu 

*>  HONORARY 


i 


xv’rii  A  LIST  OF  THE  MEMBERS. 


HONORARY  MEMBERS. 

John  Aikin,  M.  D. 

Felix  Vicq  d’Azyr,  R.  S.  Med.  Par.  Sec.  &  R.  A.  Sc- 
Soc.  &c. 

Sir  George  Baker,  Bart.  F.  R.  S.  Medic.  Regin. 

James  Beattie,  L  L-  D. 

Patrick  Brydone,  Efq.  F.  R.  S. 

Mr.  John  Buchanan. 

The  Right  Rev.  Beilby,  Lord  Bifliop.of  Cheftcr. 
Edwood  Chorley,  M.  D. 

Mr.  Thomas  Cooper. 

James  Currie,  M.D. 

Erafmus  Darwin,  M.  D.  F.  R.  S. 

Edward  Hufley  Delava!,  Efq.  F.  R.  S.  Reg.  S.  S.  Got- 
ting.  &  Upfal,  &  Inftit.  Bologn.  Soc. 

The  Hon.  Sir  John  Talbot  Dillon,  Knight  and  Baron 
of  the  Holy  Roman  Empire. 

Rev.  William  Enfield,  L  L.  D. 

William  Falconer,  M.D.  F.  R.S. 

Anthony  Fothergill,.  M.D.  F.  R.S. 

Benjamin  Franklin,  L  L.  D.  R.  S.  L.  &  R.  Acad. 
Scicnt.  Par.  Soc.  &c. 

The  Rev.  — — <  Froflard,  D.  D.  of  Lyons,  in  France. 
William  Hawes,  M.D. 

John  Haygarth,  M.  B.  F.  R.  S. 

Mr.  George  Hibbert. 

Thomas  Houlfton,  M.  D. 

Alexander  Hunter,  M.  D.  F.  R.  S. 

James  Johnftone,  M.  D. 

Monfieur  Lavoifier,  Reg.  Ac.  Scient.  P.  Soc. 


The 


A  LIST  OF  THE  MEMBERS,  xix 


TheRightRev.  Richard,  Lord  BilhopofLandaff,  F.R.S. 
John  Coakley  Lettfom,  M.  D.  F.  R.  S.  8c  S.  A. 

Air.  J.  Hyacinth  Magellan,  F.  R.  S.  8c  R.  Acad.  Petrop, 
8c  Paris.  Correfp. 

Mr.  Patrick  Mac  Morlahd. 

Henry  Moyes,  Al.  D. 

The  Rev.  John  Pope. 

The  Rev.  Jofeph  Prieftley,  LL..D.  F.R.S.  Acad.  Imp. 
Petrop,  R.  Holm.  8c  Med.  8c  Reg.  Acad.  Scienc. 
P.  Soc. 

Mr.  William  Rathbone. 

Mr.  William  Rofcoe,  Liverpool. 

Benjamin  Rulb,  M.  D.  ProfelTor  of  Chemiftry  at 
Philadelphia. 

Doming  Ralbotham,  Elq. 

Samuel  Foart  Simmons,  M.  D.  F.  R.  S.  &  R.  S.  Al.  P. 

Soc.  8c  R.  S.  Monfpel.  Correfp. 

The  Rev.  William  Turner. 

The  Rev.  George  Travis,  A.  Al. 

Air.  Alexander  Volta,  ProfelTor  of  Experimental  Philo- 
fophy  at  Como,  8tc. 

Martin  Wall,  M.  D.  Clinical  ProfelTor  in  the 
Univerfity  of  Oxford. 

Mr.  John  Warltire.  .  Tj 

The  Rev.  Gilbert  Wakefield,  B.  D. 

Jofiah  Wedgwood,  Efq.  F.  R.  S. 

The  Rev.  John  Whittaker,  B.  D.  F.  S.  A. 


b  2  CONTENTS 


X, 


i  •  •!.>  . 

*■  »  v  ; 

i  :  1  • :  .  ..j  , 

CONTENTS 

OF  THE 

•  *  -  >  *  •  » 


FIRST  VOLUME, 


£OME  Remarks  on  the  Opinion  that  the 
Animal  Body  poffeffes  the  Power  of  genera¬ 
ting  Cold.  Ay  George  Bell,  M.D.  Page  i. 

On  the  Advantages  of  Literature  and  Philoso¬ 
phy  in  general  and  efpecially  on /^Consistency 
of  Literary  and  Philosophical,  with  Com¬ 
mercial,  Pursuits.  By  Thomas  Henry, 
F.R.S.  -  -  P.  7- 


On  Crystallization.  Ay  Alexander  Eason, 
M.  D.  -  -  P.  29. 

On  the  Preservation  of  Sea  Water/™#/  Putre- 
paction  by  Means  </ Quicklime.  By  Thomas 
Henry,  F.  R.  S. — Bo  which  is  added,  an  Ac - 
count  of  a  newly  invented  Machine  for  impreg¬ 
nating  Water,  or  other  Fluids  with  Fixed 
Air,  &c.  Communicated  to  Mr.  Henry  by 
J.  Haygarth,  M.  B.  F.  R.  S.  -  P.  41. 

On 


XXI 


CONVENES. 

On  the  Nature  end  EJfential  Characters  of 
Poetry,  as  dijlinguifhed  from  Prose.  By 
Thomas  Barnes,  D.  D.  -  Page  54. 

On  the  Affinity  fulfilling  between  the  Arts  :  with 
a  Plan  for  'promoting  and  extending  Manufac¬ 
tures,  by  encouraging  thofe  Arts  on  which  Ma¬ 
nufactures  principally  depend.  By  Thomas 
Barnes,  D.  D.  -  "  P.  72. 

Remarks  on  the  diferent  Success  with  Refpebl  to 
Health,  of f owe  Attempts  to  pafs  the  Winter 

in  HIGH  NORTHERN  LATITUDES.  By  JOHN 

Aikin,  M.  D.  -  ”  P.  89. 

On  the  Pleasure  which  the  Mind  receives 
from  the  Exercise  of  its  Faculties;  and 
that  of  T aste  in  particular.  By  Charles  de 
Polier,  EJq.  -  “  P.  no. 

On  CEconomical  Registers.  By  Mr.  J.  Wimpey. 

P.  134. 

On  the  Pleasure  which  the  Mind,  in  many  Cafes , 
receives ,  from  contemplating  Scenes  of  Distr ess. 
By  Thomas  Barnes,  D.  D.  -  P*  *44* 
Observations  on  BlJndness,  and  on  the  Employ¬ 
ment  of  the  other  Senses  to  fupply  the  Loss  of 
Sight.  By  Mr.  George  Bew.  -  P.  159. 
On  Salt-petre.  By  J  ames  Massey,  EJq.  P.  184. 
sin  Attempt  to  JloeWi  that  a  Taste  for  the 
Beauties  of  Nature  and  the  Fine  Arts,  has 
no  Influence  favourable  to  Morals.  By  the 
Rev.  Samuel  Hall,  A.  M.  -  P*  223. 

Observa-' 


xxii  CONTENTS. 

Observations  on  the  Ufe  of  Acids  in  Bleaching 
of  Linen.  By  Alexander  Eason,  M  D. 

Page  240. 

Conjectural  Remarks  on  the  Symbols  or  Charac¬ 
ters,  employed  by  Astronomers  to  reprejent  the 
feveral  Planets,  and  by  Chemists,  to  exprefs 
the  feveral  Metals:  in  a  Letter  to  Thomas 
Percival,  M.  D.  (Ac.  By  Martin  Wall, 
M.  D.  Clinical  Professor  in  the  Univer - 
fity  of  Oxford.  -  -  P.  243. 

Remarks  on  the  Knowledge  of  the  Ancients. 
By  William  Falconer,  M.  D.  F.R.S.  Com¬ 
municated  by  Dr.  Percival.  -  -  P.  261. 

«■ 

An  Inquiry  concerning  the  Influence  of  the 
Scenery  of  a  Country  on  the  Manners  of  its 
Inhabitants.  By  William  Falconer,  M.D. 
F.  R.  S.  -  -  -  P.  271. 

A  Tribute  to  the  Memory  of  Charles  de 
Polier,  Efq.  By  Thomas  Percival,  M.  D. 
(Ac.  -  -  -  -  P.  287. 

Thoughts  on  the  Style  and  Taste  of  Garden¬ 
ing  among  the  Ancients.  By  William  Fal¬ 
coner,  M.D.  F.R.S.  P.  297. 

On  the  Regeneration  of. Animal  Substances. 
By  Charles  White?  Efq.  F.  R.  S.  (Ac.  P.  325. 

On  the  Diversions  of  Hunting,  Shooting, 
Fishing,  (A confidered  as  compatible  •pith 
Humanity.  -  -  -  P,  341. 

Observa- 


CONTENTS .  xxii* 

Observations  on  Longevity.  By  Anthony 
Fothergill,  M.  D.  F.  R.  S.  -  P.  355. 

On  the  Influence  of  the  Imagination  and  the 
Passions  upon  the  Understanding.  By 
Thomas  Barnes,  D.  D.  -  -  P-375* 

On  the  Ascent  of  Vapour.  By  Alexander 

•  Eason,  M.  D.  -  P.  395. 

On  the  Comparative  Merit  of  the  Ancients 
and  the  Moderns  with  Refpeft  to  the  Imitative 
Arts.  By  Mr.  Thomas  Kershaw.  P.  405. 

On  the  Impropriety  of  allowing  a  Bounty  to  en¬ 
courage  the  Exportation  of  Corn,  &c.  By 
Mr.  Joseph  Wimpey.  p.  413; 

On  the  Natural  History  of  the  Cow ,fo  far  as 
it  relates  to  its  giving  Milk  ;  particularly  for  the 
Use  of  Man.  By  Charles  White,  Efq. 
F.  R.  S.  <fc.  ...  P.442. 

On  the  Natural  History  and  Origin  of  Mag¬ 
nesian  Earth,  particularly  as  connected  with 
thofe  of  Sea  Salt,  and  c/Nitre  ;  with  Obser¬ 
vations  on  fome  of  the  Chemical  Properties 
of  that  Earth,  which  have  been ,  hitherto ,  either 
unknown ,  or  undetermined.  By  Thomas  Henrv, 
F.R.S.  -  -  P.448. 


EXPLANA- 


EXPLANATION  of  the  PLATES 


in  Vol.  I. 

P  L  A  T  E  I. 

Machine  for  impregnating  Liquors  with  Fixed 
Air. 

E  The  Effervefcing  Veffel. 

TtThe  Tubes  through  which  the  Air  is 
conveyed. 

A  The  Air-VeiTel. 

O  The  Opening  through  which  the  Com¬ 
mon  Air  is  expelled. 

B  The  Bellows. 

W  The  Water-Vefiel. 

PpThe  Pipe  through  which  the  Air  is 
drawn  into  the  Bellows, 
cc  A  Pipe  forming  the  communication  be¬ 
tween  the  Air  and  Water-Veflels. 

PLATE  II. 

Symbols  ufed  by  the  Aftronomers  and  Chemifts. 

PLATE  III. 

A  Reprefentation  of  the  Stump  of  the 
Humerus  mentioned  in  page  337. 

The  dotted  Line  (hews  the  Part  where  the 
Arm  was  amputated. 


MEMOIRS 


1 


MEMOIRS 


OF  THE 

LITERARY  AND  PHILOSOPHICAL 
SOCIETY  OF  MANCHESTER. 


Some  Remarks  on  the  Opinion  that  /^Animal 
Body  pojfejfes  the  Power  of  generating  Cold. 
By  George  Bell,  M.  D.  Read  May  1 6,  1781. 

A  CURIOUS  and  important  difcovery 
was  announced  to  the  world  in  the 
lx y,  vol.  of  the  Philofophical  Tranf- 
aflions.  We  are  there  informed,  that  Dr.  For- 
dyce  and  other  gentlemen,  feveral  different  times, 
went  into  a  room,  the  air  of  which  was  heated 
to  a  degree  far  above  that  of  the  human  blood; 
and  though  they  remained  there,  fometimes 
for  the  fpace  of  half  an  hour,  yet  the  heat  of  their 
bodies  was  not  increafed  by  more  than  3  or  4  de¬ 
grees.  From  hence  they  concluded,  that  the 
living  body  poffeffes  a  peculiar  power  of  generat- 
Vol.  I.  B  ing 


1 


Dr.  Bell  on  the  Generation  of 

ing  cold  by  fome  occult  operation.  The  expe¬ 
riments  feem  to  have  been  made  with  fufHcient 
accuracy  ;  but  the  conclufion  drawn  from  them 
is  liable  to  ftrong  objedlion.  For,  in  forming  it, 
feveral  circumftances  have  been  overlooked, 
which,  in  my  opinion,  afford  an  eafy  explanation 
of  all  the  phenomena,  on  principles  already 
known,  without  referring  them  to  a  new  law  of 
the  animal  body,  which  probably  does  not  exift. 
Thefe  circumftances  I  fhall  endeavour  to  point 
out. 

I.  The  firfl  caufe  which  prevented  their  bodies 
from  receiving  a  greater  increafe  of  heat  was, 
‘The  rarefaction  of  the  air  with  which  they  were  fur- 
rounded. 

The  quantity  of  heat  which  different  fubftances 
contain,  is,  in  general,  in  proportion  to  their 
denfity ;  and,  in  this  proportion,  they  communi¬ 
cate  more  or  lefs  of  it  to  others.  A  cubical  foot 
of  water,  contains  a  much  greater  quantity  of 
heat,  than  a  cubical  foot  of  air,  of  the  fame 
temperature:  and,  if  a  third  fubftance  be  added, 
its  temperature  will  be  confiderably  changed  by 
the  hot  water,  while  by  the  hot  air  it  will  hardly 
be  changed  in  any  perceptible  degree.  Many 
fa£h  may  be  adduced,  which  fcrve  to  illuftrate, 
and,  at  the  fame  time,  are  explained  by  this 
caufe.  Thus,  the  fleam  of  boiling  water  will 
fcald  a  perlon’s  hand,  which  can  fupport  the  heat 
of  air,  of  the  fame  temperature.  And  thus  per¬ 
haps 


Cold  in  Animal  Bodies. 


3 


haps  the  weather,  when  hazy  and  loaded  with 
vapour,  Teems  to  our  feeling,  hotter  than  when 
pure  and  rare  although  by  the  thermometer  it 
is  found  to  be  equally  warm  in  both  inftances. 

This  alfo  was  the  true  reafon  why,  in  making 
thofe  experiments,  Dr.  Fordyce  always  found  that 
he  could  bear  a  greater  degree  of  heat  in  dry, 
than  in  modi  air.  But  nothing  Thews  more 
clearly  the  flownefs  with  which  heat  is  imparted 
to  a  denfer  fubftance,  from  one  that  is  highly 
rarefied,  than  a  circumftance  mentioned  in  the 
paper  in  queftion  :  “  that  even  the  fmall  quan¬ 
tity  of  mercury,  contained  in  a  thermometer 
which  the  gentlemen  carried  with  them  into  the 
room,  did  not  arrive  at  the  degree  to  which  the 
air  was  heated,  during  the  whole  time  they  re¬ 
mained  there.” 

II.  Another  caufe  which,  in  the  given  fituation, 
would  diminifh  the  effed  of  the  heated  air,  is, 
’The  evaporation  made  from  the  fur  face  of  the  body. 

That  evaporation  produces  a  confiderable  ab- 
forption  of  heat  is  well  known  :  and,  in  making 
the  experiments,  there  is  reafon  to  believe,  that  it 
took  place  in  a  confiderable  degree.  Dr.  Fordyce, 
anxious  perhaps  to  eftabl ifh  his  general  law, 
feems  unwilling  to  allow  its  influence.  But  when 
it  is  confidered,  that  by  the  operation  of  the  heat, 
the  force  of  the  circulation  was  increafed,  the 
pores  of  the  (kin  relaxed,  and  the  prtflure  of  the 
internal  air  diminifhed  j  when  we  are  told,  that 

B  2  a  turgef- 


4 


Dr.  Bell  on  the  Generation  of 

a  turgefcence  of  the  veins,  and  an  univerfal  red- 
nefs  of  the  furface  of  the  body,  took  place  ;  we 
are  compelled  to  refufe  credit  to  the  affertion, 
even  of  Dr.  Fordyce,  that  there  was  no  evapora¬ 
tion.  The  evaporation  mufi:  have  been  great,  and 
would  diminifh  the  effect  of  the  external  heat  by 
furrounding  the  furface  with  a  cool  atmofphere, 
from  its  temperature  fit  for  the  abforption  of  heat, 
and  from  its  rarity,  unfit  for  the  ready  tranfmif- 
fion  of  it  into  the  body. 

III.  But  another  very  powerful  caufe  of  the 
body’s  having  preferved  its  temperature  in  the 
given  fituation,  remains  to  be  noticed  ;  which  is, 
<The  fuccefflve  afflux  of  blood  to  the  furface,  of  a  tem¬ 
perature  inferior  to  that  of  the  furrounding  air. — By 
this  means,  the  fmall  quantity  of  heat  which 
penetrated  the  fkin  would  be  immediately  carried 
off,  and  transferred  throughout  the  body:  and  it 
would  have  required  the  fpace  of  many  hours, 
before  the  whole  mafs  could  have  received  any 
confiderable  increafe  of  heat  *. 

It  has  been  adduced,  in  proof  of  the  exiftence 
of  the  power  of  the  living  body  to  generate  cold, 
that  frogs,  lizards,  and  other  animals  of  the  fame 

•  It  may  here  be  remarked,  that  the  two  Iaft  mentioned 
caufes  aft  more  powerfully  in  moderating  the  heat  of  the 
external  air,  according  to  the  neceffity  there  is  for  their 
aftion :  for  both  the  evaporation  from  the  furface,  and  the 
velocity  of  the  circulation  of  the  blood,  are  in  proportion 
to  the  degree  of  heat  applied. 

lbrt 


Cold  in  Animal  Bodies. 


5 

fort  poflefs  it;  for  if  touched,  they  feel  cold. 
This  proves  only,  that  their  heat  is  lefs  than  that 
of  the  hand,  with  which  they  are  felt;  and  per¬ 
haps  lefs  than  that  of  the  air,  when  the  trial  is 
made. 

But  it  is  extremely  probable,  that  no  animal 
whatever  can  live  in  health,  for  any  confiderable 
time,  in  an  atmofphere  of  a  temperature  fuperior 
in  heat  to  that  of  its  own  blood.  Thus  we  find, 
that  the  animals  in  queftion  hide  themfelves  in 
the  day-time  among  thick  grafs,  where  there  is 
a  great  evaporation ;  and  in  places,  into  which 
the  rays  of  the  fun  cannot  penetrate.  Worms,  in 
hot  weather,  during  the  day,  lie  deep  in  the 
ground ;  but  in  the  night-time,  when  it  is  cool, 
rife  to  the  furface  to  refrefli  themfelves  in  the  dew. 
When  frogs,  worms,  and  fuch  other  animals  are 
expofed  to  air  warmer  than  their  blood,  its  influ¬ 
ence  is  counteracted  by  the  fame  caufes  which 
counteract  its  influence  on  the  human  body,  the 
evaporation  from  the  furface  of  their  bodies,  and 
the  coldnefs  of  their  blood.  Such  accidental 
expofure  happens  more  frequently  to  them,  than 
to  the  human  fpecies  ;  and,  from  the  inferiority 
of  their  fize,  they  would  be  fooner  heated  through, 
and  lefs  able  to  refi ft  the  noxious  effeCis  of  the 
hot  air,  were  not  their  power  of  refilling  it  made 
up  in  another  refpedt.  In  fuch  fituations,  the 
evaporation  from  the  furface  of  their  bodies  is 
greater;  for  their  fkin  is  more  lax,  and  is  always 

B  3  covered 


6  ~  Dr.  Bell  on  the  Generation  of,  &c. 

covered  with  moifture.  It  is,  perhaps,  for  this 
purpofe  alfo,  that  it  is  rough  and  uneven  ;  which, 
by  extending  the  furface,  caufes  a  greater  evapo¬ 
ration. 

Thefe  may  be  faid  to  be  the  means  through 
which  the  human  body  is  preferved,  in  nearly  the 
fame  temperature,  when  it  happens  to  be  placed, 
for  a  time,  in  an  atmofphere  of  a  fuperior  degree 
of  heat.  They  feem  to  me  fo  adequate  to  this 
effed,  that  I  would  even  venture  to  impute  the 
increafe  of  the  temperature  of  the  body,  from 
96  to  100  degrees,  which  happened  in  the  expe¬ 
riments,  rather  'to  the  acceleration  of  the  blood, 
than  to  the  influx  of  heat  from  the  external  air. 
While  the  caufe  of  animal  heat  remains  unknown, 
it  would  be  prefumption  to  aflert,  that  thefe  are 
the  only  means,  by  which  the  body  is  enabled 
to  refill  the  effeds  of  external  heat.  There  may 
be  others ;  and  it  is  not  unreafonable  to  fuppofe, 
that  as  external  cold,  perhaps  by  its  tonic  influ¬ 
ence,  increafes  the  power  of  the  body  to  generate 
heat,  fo  external  heat  may  diminifh  that  power, 
and  thus  leflfen  the  quantity  of  heat  generated 
within,  while  the  evaporation,  produced  by  the 
fame  caufe,  guards  it  againfl  receiving  any  accef- 
fion  from  without. 


My.  Henry  on  the  Confifiency  of  Literature ,  &c.  7 

On  the  Advantages  of  Literature  and  Philoso¬ 
phy  in  general,  and  efpecially  on  the  confifiency  of 
Literary  and  Philosophical  with  Commer¬ 
cial  Pursuits.  By  Thomas  Henry,  F.  R.  S. 
Read  October  3,  1781. 

To  either  India  fee  the  merchant  fly, 

Scar’d  at  the  fpeftre  of  pale  poverty  !  — 

See  him  with  pains  of  body,  pangs  of  foul, 

Burn  thro’  the  tropic,  freeze  beneath  the  pole! 

Wilt  thou  do  nothing  for  a  noble  end, 

Nothing  to  make  philofcphy  thy  friend  ? 

Pope’s  Imitations  of  Horace,  Epift.  I.  Book  I« 

THE  purfuit  of  knowledge,  when  properly 
directed,  and  under  due  influence,  is  of 
the  greateft  importance  to  mankind.  In  propor¬ 
tion  as  a  nation  acquires  fuperior  degrees  of  it, 
her  ftate  of  civilization  advances,  and  (he  becomes 
diftinguifhed  from  her  lefs  enlightened  neigh¬ 
bours  by  a  greater  refinement  in  the  manners  of 
her  inhabitants,  and  a  departure  from  thofe  fero¬ 
cious  vices,  which  mark  the  features  of  favage 
countries.  Vices  Ihe  will,  indeed,  ftill  be  addict¬ 
ed  to,  but  of  a  different  complexion  from  thofe 
of  her  more  uncultivateddays.  For,  wherever  alove 
of  learning  and  the  arts  makes  any  confiderable 
progrefs,  even  crimes  themfelves  lofe  fomething 
of  their  atrocioufnefs,  and,  though  ftill  offenfive, 
are  divefted  of  thofe  ftrongj  marks  of  brutality, 
which  generally  accompany  ignorance.  The 

B  4  horrors* 


8 


Mr.  Henry  on  the  Confifiency  of 

horrors  of  war  itfelf  are  foftened  :  an  enemy  is 
treated  with  humanity  and  kindnefs :  the  milder 
virtues  find  admittance  amongft  the  clafh  of 
arms;  and  men,  when  compelled  to  hoftilities* 
feek  victory,  not  to  enflave  or  deftroy,  but  in  the 
moment  of  triumph  rejoice  in  opportunities  to 
evince  their  clemency  and  generofity  to  the  van- 
quifhed  foe. 

That  this  pi&ure  is  not  too  ftrongly  coloured 
will  appear  from  an  appeal  to  hiftory,  In  the 
earlier  ages,  we  fee  a  conquering  army  hurling 
deftru&ion  and  defolation,  murder  and  rapine 
around  them,  and,  with  unrelenting  fury,  fcarcely 
diftinguifhing  between  friends  and  enemies.  In 
thefe  more  polilhed  times,  and  the  polifh  may  be 
fairly  attributed  to  the  diffufion  of  learning  and 
philofophy,  fuch  cruel  excefies  are  difcounte- 
nanced  and  prohibited  by  the  general  confent  of 
every  civilized  people. 

Nor  are  thefe  improvements  confined  to 
national  manners :  thofe  of  individuals  have 
been  equally  benefited.  The  natural  tendency 
of  a  cultivation  of  polite  learning,  is,  to  refine  the 
underftanding,  humanize  the  foul,  enlarge  the 
field  of  ufeful  knowledge,  and  facilitate  the  at¬ 
tainment  of  the  comforts  and  accommodations 
of  life. 

How  great  is  the  contraft  between  the  chara&ers 
of  the  elegant  fcholar,  and  the  man  whofe  uncul¬ 
tivated  mind  feels  no  reftraint,  but  thofe  which 

the 


Literature ,  6?r.  with  Commerce.  9 

the  laws  of  his  country  impofe  !  A  tafte  for  po¬ 
lite  literature,  and  the  works  of  nature  and  of  art, 
is  effentially  neceffary  to  form  the  Gentleman, 
and  will  always  distinguish  him  more  completely 
from  the  vulgar,  than  any  advantage  he  can  de¬ 
rive  from  wealth,  drefs,  or  titles.  Thefe  external 
decorations,  without  thofe  refined  manners  which 
proceed  from  a  proper  Study  of  books  and  men, 
ferve  only  to  render  his  ignorance  more  confpi- 
cuous ;  whereas  a  man  of  a  polite  imagination, 
not  only  fecures  himfelf  a  favourable  reception 
in  the  world,  but  as  Mr.  Addifon  obferves,  “  is 
let  into  a  great  many  pleafures  that  the  vulgar 
are  not  capable  of  receiving.  He  can  converfe 
with  a  picture,  and  find  a  companion  in  a  Statue. 
He  meets  with  a  fweet  refreshment  in  a  defcrip- 
tion,  and  often  feels  a  greater  fatisfadtion  in  the 
profpedt  of  fields  and  meadows,  than  another  does 
in  the  poffefiion.  It  gives  him  a  kind  of  pro¬ 
perty  indeed  in  every  thing  he  fees,  and  makes 
the  mod  rude  and  uncultivated  parts  of  nature 
administer  to  his  pleafures.”* 

Affluent  circumstances  and  abundant  leifure 
give  the  Gentleman  great  advantages  over  his 
inferiors,  in  the  more  refined  Studies.  The  cold 
and  heavy  hand  of  poverty  chills  and  repreSTes 
the  efforts  of  genius ;  wealth  cheriShes,  and,  if 
I  may  be  allowed  the  metaphor,  manures  and 

*  Spedlator,  No.  41 1. 

puShes 


IO  Mr.  Henry  on  the  Confijlency  of 

putties  it  forward  to  maturity.  Sometimes,  in¬ 
deed,  in  io  rich  a  foil,  weeds  will  fpring,  which, 
if  not  timely  rooted  up,  may  endanger  the  fafety 
and  health  of  the  nobler  plant.  But  a  careful 
cultivator  will  exterminate  them  early,  and  fedu- 
loufly  prevent  their  deleterious  effects. 

The  importance  of  the  Gentleman  will  ftilj  rife 
higher,  his  mind  be  enlarged,  and  his  pleafures 
be  increafed,  if,  to  the  accomplittments  of  the 
polite  fcholar,  he  add  the  knowledge  of  the  phi- 
Jo  fop  her,  and  endeavour  with  a  noble  ambition. 

Thro’  vaft  immenfity  to  pierce  ; 

See  worlds  on  worlds  compofe  one  univerfe  $ 

Obferve  how  fyftem  into  fyftem  runs. 

How  other  planets  circle  other  funs.  * 

Defcending  from  this  ftupendous  elevation, 
he  will  find  this  globe,  which  we  inhabit,  an 
ample  field  for  phyfical  enquiries.  Befides,  that 
man  himfclf  is  the  proper  ftudy  of  mankind,  he 
will  find  the  whole  univerfe  replete  with  fubjeds 
for  his  contemplation.  The  air,  the  ocean,  the 
vegetable  and  animal  creation,  the  furface  of 
the  earth,  and  her  mod  profound  cavities  to 
which  human  induftry  has  reached,  will  all  fup- 
piy  abundant  food  for  his  intellectual  powers, 
turmfh  him  with  infinite  fources  of  amufement, 
ttew  to  his  wondering  eye 

All  matter  quick  and  burning  into  birth,  f 


Literature \  Sc.  with  Commerce.  \  i 

and  teach  him  to  admire  that  wife,  that  omnif- 
cient  Being,  whofe  fuperintending  providence 
infpe&s  and  regulates  the  whole,  even  the  moft 
minute  parts  of  his  creation. 

And  fees  with  equal  eye,  as  God  of  all, 

A  hero  perilh,  or  a  fparrow  fail.* 

I  believe,  few  will  controvert  the  advantages  I 
have  pointed  out,  as  arifing  to  the  Gentleman  and 
profeffionalift,  from  the  ftudy  of  the  Belles  Lettres 
and  philofophy ;  but  I  am  lorry  to  fay,  many 
are  the  adverfaries  we  have  to  encounter,  if  thefe 
arguments  be  extended  to  another  wealthy  clafs 
of  men — the  Merchant  and  Manufacturer.  The 
commercial  man,  fay  they,  fhould  confine  his 
knowledge  to  trade.  His  compting-houfe  fhould 
be  his  ftudy;  his  ledger  his  hourly  amufement. 
Gold  and  filver  are  the  only  metals  with  which  he 
ought  to  be  acquainted  ;  and  of  thefe  to  know  no 
more,  than  the  different  coins  into  which  they 
are  formed,  and  the  current  price  of  bullion.  For 
poetry,  painting  and  mufic,  he  muft  have  no  at¬ 
tachment,  no  tafte  for  engravings,  but  thole  of 
bank  bills,  and,  if  a  fingle  philofophical  idea 
fhould  enter  his  head,  thefe  inveighers  againft 
knowledge  would  expeCt  to  fee  his  name  imme¬ 
diately  in  the  lift  of  bankrupts. 

*  Pope’s  Eflay  on  Man,  Ep.  I. 


To 


12 


Mr.  Henry  on  the  Confiftency  of 

To  be  ferious — So  far  have  thefe  prejudices 
extended,  that  many  parents  entertain  the  moft 
difmal  apprehenfions  of  their  fons  acquiring  a  tafte 
for  literature,  and  look  on  an  inclination  to  natural 
philofophy  as  highly  dangerous  to  their  progrefs 
in  trade.  Behold,  fay  they,  that  wealthy  manu¬ 
facturer!  Without  any  knowledge,  beyond  that  of 
the  goodnefs  of  his  raw  materials,  and  of  judging 
whether  his  wares  were  properly  fabricated  and 
finifhed,  joined  with  a  tolerable  acquaintance  with 
figures,  and  a  moft  cautious  prudence,  he  has 
amaffed  an  affluent  fortune.  On  the  other  hand, 
fee  that  man  of  erudition  l  Inftead  of  attending  to 
the  manufacture  of  his  goods,  his  time  was  em- 
ployed'in  reading  hiftory  j  inftead  of  keeping  his 
books,  and  ftating  his  accounts,  he  was  lolving 
problems  in  Euclid,  or  making  chemical  experi¬ 
ments  in  order  to  effeCt  new  difcoveries,  when  he 
might  have  availed  himfelf  of  thofe  already  made, 
by  the  labour  and  at  the  expence  of  others.  His 
refined  ideas  had  taught  him  that  fulpicion  is  mean, 
and  his  learning  and  credulity  have  plunged  him 
into  ruin. 

Thefe  are  fpecious  but  deceitful  reprefentations. 
That  an  imprudent  young  man  may,  by  devoting 
thofe  hours  to  philofophical  or  literary  purfuits, 
which  ought  to  have  been  given  to  bufinefs,  have 
precipitated  himfelf  into  poverty  and  diftrefs,  can¬ 
not  be  denied.  But  the  mifchief  arifes,  not  from 
a  tafte  for  thofe  ftudies,  but  from  the  improper 

arrange- 


V 


Literature ,  i£c>  with  Commerce.  j  * 

sJ 

arrangement  of  time.  Want  of  oeconomy  in  this 
point  is  equally,  if  not  more  injurious,  than  in 
pecuniary  matters. 

It  will  be  alfo  allowed,  that  the  profeflion,  in 
which  each  individual  is  engaged,  Ihould,  next 
to  the  more  important  interefts  of  religion,  at¬ 
tract  and  employ  his  principal  attention.  But  the 
mind  of  man,  and  efpecially  of  young  men,  muft 
be  provided  with  amufements.  The  young  trades¬ 
man  of  fortune  has  generally  many  hours  of  lei- 
fure,  and  if  amufements  be  neceflary  to  footh  the 
rugged  paths  of  bufinefs,  (hall  we  choofe  thofe 
which  lead  to  difiipation,  to  extravagance,  to  vice, 
or  fuch  as  tend  to  civilize  the  mind  and  improve 
the  underftanding,  by  developing  the  operations 
of  nature,  explaining  the  nice  connexion  which 
fubfifts  between  the  lowed:  and  higher  order  of 
beings. 

To  man’s  imperial  race. 

From  the  green  myriads  in  the  peopled  grafs ; 

and  tracing  the  hand  of  Omnipotence  through 
every  link  of  that 

Vaft  chain  of  being,  which  from  God  began. 
Nature’s  etherial,  human,  angel,  man, 

Bead,  bird,  fifti,  infedl,  what  no  eye  can  fee. 

No  glafs  can  reach.  * 

Will  not  the  time  he  can  Spare  from  bufinefs  be 
more  ufcfully  employed  in  the  ftudy  of  hiftory, 

*  Pope’s  Effay  on  Man,  Ep.  I. 

and 


14  Mr.  Henry  on  the  Couftjlency  of 

and  the  reading  of  our  bed:  authors ;  or  at  an  air 
pump,  an  electrical  machine,  or  a  microfcope, 
than,  as  is  too  often  the  cafe  with  thofe  youths 
who  have  not  received  that  culture  which  their 
fortunes  entitled  them  to,  at  the  tavern,  the  gam¬ 
ing  table,  or  the  brothel ;  or,  if  their  minds  be 
not  fufficiently  aCtive,  and  paffions  ltrong,  to  im¬ 
pel  them  to  thefe  exceffes,  in  idlenefs,  low  com¬ 
pany,  and  mean  and  degrading  purfuits  ?  “  There 
are  indeed,  but  very  few,”  fays  an  excellent  ob- 
ferver  of  human  nature,  <c  who  know  how  to  be 
idle  and  innocent,  or  have  a  reiilh  of  any  plea- 
fures  that  are  not  criminal  ^  every  diverfion  they 
take  is  at  the  expence  of  fome  one  virtue  or  ano¬ 
ther,  and  their  very  firft  ftep  out  of  bufinefs  is 
into  vice  or  folly.  A  man  fnould  endeavour,  there¬ 
fore,  to  make  the  fphere  of  his  innocent  pleafures 
as  wide  as  poflible,  that  he  may  retire  into  them 
with  fafety,  and  find  in  them  fuch  a  fatisfaCtion, 
as  a  wife  man  would  not  blufh  to  take.” 

The  arguments,  which  have  hitherto  been  ad¬ 
duced  in  favour  of  commercial  men  endeavour¬ 
ing  to  attain  liberal  knowledge,  have  been  prin¬ 
cipally  confined  to  thofe,  whofe  parents  have 
already  acquired  fuch  fortunes,  as  raife  their  fons 
above  the  level  of  the  more  necefTitous  tradefman, 
in  whom  a  greater  degree  of  afiiduity  in  bufinefs 
is  necefiary.  But,  even  in  this  cafe,  if  his  dili¬ 
gence  and  application  degenerate  into  an  in¬ 
ordinate  defi  e  of  accumulating  wealth,  and  this 

ruling 


Literature ,  &c.  with  Commerce.  15 

ruling  po.JJion  be  allowed  to  conquer  reafon ,  to  fup- 
prefs  every  wifh  of  the  mind  for  improving  and 
fitting  itfelf  for  higher  enjoyments  in  this  life, 
and  the  participation  of  flill  more  exalted  plea- 
lures  in  a  future  flate,  it  then  becomes  criminal, 
and  ought  to  be  refilled. 

But  it  may  be  faid,  that  all  men  are  not  in¬ 
tended  by  nature  for  fcholars  or  philofophers  j 
and  that  there  are  flations  in  life  that  will  not 
admit  of  profound  lludy  and  invefligation.  Yet 
there  are  few,  whofe  minds  may  not  receive  a  bias 
to  fome  ufeful  refearch,  whereby  they  may  be 
pleafingly  and  ufefully  employed.  And  we  may 
be  bold  to  aflert,  that,  though  it  is  not  in  the 
power  o-f  every  man  to  fhine  as  a  diftinguifhed 
literary  character,  yet  there  is  lcarcely  any  one 
fo  meanly  fituated,  as  to  renden  fome  fhare  of 
learning  inconvenient  to  him;  or  who  will  be 
a  worfe  man,  or  a  worfe  member  of  fociety,  by 
having  advanced  a  few  fleps  higher  in  the  fcale 
of  human  knowledge. 

Nemo  adeo  ferus  eft,  at  non  mitefcere  poffit. 

Si  modo  culture  patientem  commodat  aurem.  * 

It  is  one. thing  to  be  a  profejfed  fcholar  or  phr- 
lofopher,  and  another,  to  poffefs  fuch  a  degree  of 
information  on  a  fubjeft,  as  is  compatible  with 
our  other  avocations.  To  be  a  complete  aflro- 

*  Horatii,  Epift,  I.  Lib.  i,.  ~ 


nomer 


i6  Mr.  Henry  on  the  Confijlency  of 

nomer  would  almoft  monopolife  the  bufinefs  of 
a  man's  life.  To  procure  a  general ,  but  fatisfac- 
tory  idea  of  the  motions  of  the  planetary  fyftem  ; 
of  the  diftance  of  the  fun  from  the  earth,  and  of 
the  yet  more  immenfe  diftance  between  us  and 
the  fixed  ftars,  &c.  only  a  moderate  degree  of 
application  is  requifite. 

Among  thofe  objects  of  ftudy  which  may  be 
recommended  to  the  attention  of  the  young 
tradefman,  fome  may  be  confidered  as  ornamen¬ 
tal,  while  others  deferve  to  be  clafied  in  a  higher 
rank,  with  refpeft  to  the  utility  he  may  expedft 
to  receive  from  the  cultivation  of  them ;  and  of 
thefe  again,  fome  may  be  more  particularly 
adapted  to  fome  branches  of  trade  than  others. 

A  knowledge  of  hiftory  is  an  indifpenfible  ac- 
compliftiment  to  the  opulent  tradefman.  Hiftory 
has  been  elegantly  and  emphatically  defcribed 
by  a  poet,  who  is  an  honour  to  the  age  and 
country  in  which  he  writes ; 

Nature’s  clear  mirror  !  life’s  inftruttive  guide  ! 

Her  wifdom  four’d  by  no  preceptive  pride  ! 

Age  from  her  leffon  forms  its  wifell  aim. 

And  youthful  emulation  fprings  to  fame.  * 

That  of  our  own  country,  in  particular,  fhould 
attradl  the  regard  of  the  commercial  ftudent.  Few 
hiftories  afford  more  interefting  matter  than  that 
of  this  ifland.  How  mult  the  heart  of  a  Briton 


*  Hayley’s  Eflay  on  Hiftory. 


burn 


Literature ,  tic,  with  Commerce.  17 

burn  within  him,  when  he  reads  of  the  glorious 
ftruggles  which  our  anceftors,  through  many  ages, 
have  made  to  fecure  to  us  that  liberty  we  now  fo 
amply  enjoy!  How  clofely  fhould  he  grafp  that 
ineflimable  jewel  which  has  been  purchafed  by 
the  blood  of  fo  many  heroes  !  How  muft  he  glory 
in  that  conftitution  which  renders  Great  Britain 
the  objedt  of  univerfal  envy  and  admiration  ! 

Nor  are  the  objedts  of  hiflory  confined  to  the 
atchievements  of  war,  the  revolutions  of  govern¬ 
ments,  and  the  intrigues  of  ftatefmen.  The  origin 
and  progrefs  of  commerce  and  of  arts,  come  alfo 
within  her  province.  And  the  philofophical 
hiftorian  does  not  content  himfelf  with  the  mere 
relation  of  fadts ;  he  endeavours  to  trace  effedts 
to  their  caufes,  to  fhew  the  principles  by  which 
commerce  ihould  be  adluated ;  how  the  various 
interefls,  fituations  and  connedtions  of  different 
countries  fhould  lead  to  different  kinds  of  traf¬ 
fic  ;  and  in  what  manufaclures  the  particular 
genius  of  a  people  may  fit  them  to  excel.  Such 
difquifitions  as  thefe  have  lately  tended  to  the 
eflablifhment  of  a  new  fyftem  which  may  be,  not 
improperly,  denominated  commercial  philofo- 
phy.  Here  the  tradefman  is  more  immediately 
concerned.  Thefe  are  fubjedts  which  come  di- 
redlly  within  the  fphere  of  his  inquiries. 

The  Engl i fh  Clafiics  will  be  a  rich  fund  of 
entertainment  and  improvement.  Shakefpeare, 
Milton,  Pope,  Addifon,  Thomfon,  Gray,  Mafon, 

Vol.  I.  C  with 


1 3  Mr.  Henry  on  the  Confijlency  of 

with  a  long  lift  of  excellent  writers  in  profe  and 
verfe,  will  yield  him  charming  refrefhments,  after 
the  fatigues  of  the  day.  He  may  even  indulge 
himfelf  in  fweet .  converfe  with  the  fair  fex.  A 
Montague,  a  Carter,  a  Barbauld  and  a  Seward, 
iuftly  demand  his  notice,  and  will  prove  mcft 
delightful  companions,  refine  his  tafte,  polifli  his 
manners,  and  meliorate  his  morals. 

The  fciences  of  Natural  Hiftory  and  Botany 
require  fo  much  time  to  be  devoted  to  the  ftudy 
of  them,  and  fuch  minute  inveftigation,  that, 
however  pleaftng ,  they  may  be  juftly  confidered 
as  improper  objects  for  the  man  of  bufinefs  to 
purfue  Jcientifically,  fo  as  to  enter  into  the  exaX 
arrangement  and  claffification  of  the  different 
bodies  of  the  animal,  vegetable,  and  mineral 
kingdoms.  But  reading,  and  perfonal  obferva- 
tion,  will  fupply  him  with  ample  matter  for  re¬ 
flexion  and  admiration.  He  will  fee  the  great 
univerfal  caufe  aXuating  every  part  of  nature. 
He  will  fee  animals,  which  a  lefs  accurate  ob- 
ferver  beholds  with  the  moft  contemptuous  eye, 
executing  works  far  above  human  abilities  to  per¬ 
form.  He  will  behold  them  aXing,  and  conduX- 
ing  their  affairs,  with  a  prudence  and  forcfighr, 
which,  whether  it  be  the  effeX  of  reafon  or  of 
inftinX,  may  juftly  humble  the  pride  of  human 
wit.  With  what  attention  has  Providence  be¬ 
llowed  on-  the  various  clafies  of  animals,  thofe 
endowments  which  are  particularly  adapted  to 

their 


Literature ,  &c.  with  Commerce .  19 

their  refpedtive  functions  !  Perhaps  man,  that 
Jord  of  the  creation,  as  he  vainly  boafts  himfelf,  is 
indebted  for  many  ufeful  lefifons  to  very  inferior 
animals.  The  voice  of  Nature  is  thus  defcribed 
as  crying  out  to  him, 

Go  from  the  creatures  thy  inftruftion  take; 

Learn  from  the  birds  what  food  the  thickets  yield; 

Learn  from  the  bealts  the  phyfic  of  the  field  ; 

The  arts  of  building  from  the  bee  receive  ; 

Learn  of  the  mole  to  plow,  the  worm  to  weave  ; 

Learn  of  the  little  nautilus  to  fail, 

Spread  the  thin  oar,  and  catch  the  driving  gale. 

But  feveral  branches  of  Natural  Philofophy 
feem  peculiarly  adapted  to  fill  up  the  vacant 
hours  in  which  the  tradefman  can  withdraw  from 
his  employments.  A  general  knowledge  of  all 
will  tend  to  open  and  enlarge  his  underftanding, 
at  the  fame  time  that  it  affords  him  the  mod 
rational  amufcment.  While  the  ftudy  of  fome, 
in  particular ,  may  not  only  tend  to  effedt  thefe 
defirable  purpofes,  but  fupply  him  with  a  kind  of 
information  which  may  turn  to  good  account, 
by  furnifhing  him  with  the  means  of  extending 
his  commercial  concerns,  and  conducting  them 
to  greater  advantage;  of  improving  thofe  manu¬ 
factures  in  which  he  is  already  engaged,  or 
inventing  new  fabrics,  which  may  give  addi¬ 
tional  life  and  fpirit  to  trade. 

As  Pneumatics,  or  the  dodtrine  of  the  nature 
and  properties  of  air,  .difplay  an  ample  field  of 
inveftigation  to  the  philofopher,  fo  will  they  alfo 

C  2  fupply. 


CO  Mr.  Henry  on  the  Confijlency  of 

fupply,  to  the  more  fuperficial  inquirer,  much 
indrudtion  and  entertainment.  Every  man  is 
intereded  in  the  properties  of  a  fluid  to  which  he 
is  fo  intimately  related,  and  without  which,  he 
cannot  fubfid  a  moment.  Its  various  degrees  of 
gravity,  elafticity,  heat,  moiflure,  and  purity, 
all  affe£t  the  human  race.  Many  of  the  mod 
dire  difeafes  which  afflifl  mankind,  are  occafioned 
by  noxious  impregnations  of  the  atmofphere,  or 
cured  by  more  favourable  dates  of  it.  And 
many  of  the  operations  of  nature  and  art  are 
eflfentially  influenced  by  the  changes  which  are 
Continually  occurring  in  it. 

Philofophy  has  lately  made  mod  rapid  ad¬ 
vances  in  difcovering  the  conditution  of  com¬ 
mon  air.  The  ingenious  Dr.  Priedley  has  even 
taught  us  the  art  of  fabricating  it  artificially,  of 
producing  it  in  a  degree  of  purity  far  exceeding 
that  of  the  mod  falubrious  climate,  and  of  re¬ 
ducing  it  to  the  date  in  which  we  commonly  breathe 
it  when  debafed  by  exhalations  from  the  various 
bodies  which  it  lurrounds.  From  him  we  have 
alfo  learned  a  mode  of  judging  of  the  different 
degrees  of  purity  in  air,  by  means  of  the 
eudiometer,  as  of  its  gravity  and  heat  by  the 
barometer  and  thermometer.  This  excellent 
philofopher,  to  whom,  as  a  learned  foreigner 
has  obferved,  <c  Nature  takes  delight  in  revealing 
her  fecrets,”  has  alfo  fird  difcovered,  and  Dr. 
Ingenhoufe,  treading  in  his  paths,  has  more 

completely 


2  J 


Literature ,  &c,  with  Commerce . 

completely  demonftrated  the  method  by  which 
Nature  makes  ufe  of  the  leaves  of  vegetables  to 
purify  the  atmofphere,  when  contaminated  with 
putrid  or  pldogiftic  vapours.  When  in  this  Itate, 
every  leaf  ads  as  a  flrainer  to  the  air,  imbibing 
and  applying  to  the  nurture  of  the  plant,  fuch 
parts  as  are  unfit  for  animal  refpiration,  and 
throwing  it  out,  thus  filtered  and  fuited  to  ad 
again  as  a  menftruum  for  the  phlogifton,  which 
is  continually  evolving  by  the  breathing  of  ani¬ 
mals,  the  corruption  of  vegetables,  and  by  the 
many  various  proceffes  which  are  by  nature  and 
by  art  continually  carrying  on. 

Eledricity  is  another  branch  of  fcience  which 
has  afforded  great  light  to  the  operations  of 
nature.  A  knowledge  of  its  leading  principles, 
and  a  dexterity  in  making  a  number  of  entertain¬ 
ing  experiments,  may  be  attained  by  moderate 
application,  and  thereby,  a  field  of  amufement 
opened  to  the  mind,  at  an  eafy  expence  of  time 
and  money. 

To  obtain  a  perfed  acquaintance  with  the 
fcience  of  Optics,  much  attention  and  clofe  ap¬ 
plication  would  be  requifite.  Such  a  knowledge 
of  it,  however,  as  is  l'ufficient  for  general  pur- 
pofes,  is  eafily  arrived  at.  The  nature  of  the 
refledion  and  refradion  of  the  rays  of  light,  of 
vifion,  and  of  colours,  the  properties  of  lenfes, 
are  ufeful  and  entertaining  objeds  of  inquiry.  But 
the  very  minute  divifibility  of  the  rays  of  light 

C  3  fills 


2  2  Mr.  Henry  on  the  Ccnfijlency  of 

fills  the  mind  with  aftonifhment.  When  we 
are  informed,  that  there  proceeds  more  than 
6,coo,ooo,ooo,ooo  times  as  many  particles  of 
light  from  a  candle,  in  a  fecond  of  time,  as  the 
whole  earth  contains  grains  of  fand,  fuppofing 
each  cubic  inch  of  it  to  contain  i,ooo,oooj  when 
we  are  told  that  light  in  its  paflage  from  the  fun 
to  the  earth,  moves  with  the  immenfe  velocity  of 
95>I73>°°°  >n  feven  minutes  and  a  half,  we 
are  impreffed  with  the  mod  profound  veneration 
for  that  Almighty  Being,  who  has  fo  wifely  ad- 
jufted  the  proportions  between  the  bulk  and 
velocity  of  thefe  rays,  as  to  make  them  anfwer  all 
his  benevolent  intentions  to  mankind  whereas, 
an  increafe  or  decreafe  in  the  one  or  the  other, 
might  have  been  fatal  to  the  animal  and  vegeta¬ 
ble  world. 

By  the  Telefcope  and  Microfcope  our  eye  is 
enabled  to  reach  far  beyond  the  limits  of  our 
natural  vifion.  By  the  former,  objedls,  at  con- 
fiderable  diftances,  are  brought,  as  it  were,  within 
our  grafp,  and  we  can  loar  upwards  into  other 
worlds.  By  the  latter,  we  are  impowered  to 
fearch  into  the  minutiae  of  nature,  to  admire  the 
delicacy  of  her  operations,  and  the  wonders  of 
creation/exhibited  in  the  perfed  fabrics  of  the 
fmallert  animals  and  plants. 

The  acquifition  of  knowledge  in  the  fciences 
which  we  have  already  recommended,  may  per- 
'  haps  be  confidered  rather  as  amufing  and  orna- 

mental. 


Literature,  &c.  with  Commerce.  23 

mental,  than  neceffary.  But  there  are  other 
branches  of  natural  philofophy  which  may  be 
deemed  highly  ufeful  and  important  to  commer¬ 
cial  men.  Thefe  are  Geography,  Mechanics,  and 
Chemiftry. 

Geography  is  fo  clofely  connected  with  com¬ 
merce,  that  it  would  be  almoft  as  great  a  reflec¬ 
tion  on  the  merchant  to  be  ignorant  of  it,  as  of 
the  rules  of  Arithmetic.  Shall  the  man,  whofe 
vefiels  traverfe  every  quarter  of  the  globe,  be 
unacquainted  with  its  form,  its  motion,  its  di- 
vifions,  its  kingdoms,  feas,  rivers,  lakes,  iflands 
and  mountains  ?  Shall  he  be  uninformed  of  the 
nations  and  people  with  whom  he  traffics,  their 
perfons,  manners,  cuftoms,  governments  and 
religion  ?  Are  not  the  flux  and  reflux  of  the  tides, 
the  fituation  and  courfe  of  currents  in  particular 
feas,  and  the  direction  of  thofe  winds,  which 
prevail  in  certain  feafons  and  latitudes,  pheno¬ 
mena,  into  the  nature  and  caufes  of  which  he  is 
interefted  to  inquire  ?  And,  above  all,  fhould 
he  not  endeavour  to  know  the  produce  of  every 
country,  and  the  articles,  which,  not  being  fup- 
plied  in  their  own  climate,  may  be  mod  accept¬ 
able  objects  of  commerce  to  the  inhabitants? 

*  The  remaining  branches  come  more  immedi¬ 
ately  within  the  province  of  the  manufafturer. 
Manufactures  bear  fo  intimate  a  relation  to  the 
Mechanical  Powers,  as  to  be  incapable  of  fub- 
iifling,  in  any  degree  of  vigour,  without  their 

C  4  fupport. 


24  Mr  Henry  cn  the  Confiftency  of 

fupport.  How  tedious,  how  expenfive,  and  how 
imperfect  would  many  operations  be  found,  if 
performed  by  the  mere  efforts  of  human  drength, 
or  manual  fkill,  unaffided  by  mechanical  aid  ! 
The  mechanic  powers  facilitate  their  perform¬ 
ance,  and  render  their  products  more  complete. 
How  much  do  we  owe  to  them  for  the  improve¬ 
ment  and  extenfion  of  the  manufactures  of  this 
town  !  I  am  addreffing  a  fociety,  all  of  whom 
are  daily  eye-witneffes  of  the  beneficial  confe- 
quences  which  have  arifen  from  thefe  improve¬ 
ments  ;  Jome  of  whom  are  reaping  the  fruits  of 
them.  It  would  be  fuperfluous,  it  would  be 
impertinent  to  enlarge  on  the  fubjeCt:  for  it 
mud  be  evident,  that  as  Mechanics  are  fo  effen- 
tially  neceffary  to  manufactures,  a  knowledge 
of  their  principles  muft  be  ufeful  to  every  man 
engaged  in  fuch  branches  of  trade. 

With  Mechanics,  Hydrodatics  and  Hydraulics 
are  fo  clofely  connected,  that  a  knowledge  of 
them  may  be  confidered  as  a  neceffary  adjunCt. 
Tor,  on  the  principles  of  thefe  fciences  often 
depends  the  fird  movement  of  the  mod  complete 
machines  j  and  fire  and  water  engines,  mills, 
aqueduCts,  pumps,  and  other  mechanical  druc- 
tures,  can  only  be  brought  into  aCtion  by  their 
abidance. 

Nor  is  the  utility  of  Chemidry  more  confined, 
or  lefs  connected  with  manufactures,  than  Me¬ 
chanics, 


Literature ,  &£.  with  Commerce.  2$ 

chanics.  Indeed  Chemiftry  may  be,  not  impro¬ 
perly,  called  the  corner  ftone  of  the  arts.  They 
not  only  are  fupported  by  her,  but  many  of  them 
derive  their  very  exiftence  from  this  fource. 
She  even  furnilhes  inftruments  to  every  one  of 
the  branches  of  natural  philofophy  we  have 
enumerated.  The  truth  of  this  propofition  will 
be  evinced,  when  it  is  confidered  that  metals 
cannot  be  feparated  from  their  ores,  nor  glafs 
produced  without  her  aid.  She  fupplies  the 
aftronomer  with  his  lenfes,  and  the  mathema¬ 
tician  with  his  inftruments.  The  air  pump, 
eleftrical,  hydroftatical  and  hydraulic  machines 
cannot  be  conftru&ed  without  her  intervention; 
and  fcarcely  a  piece  of  mechanifm  is  formed,  to 
which  fhe  does  not  contribute  fomething. 

In  the  finer  arts  the  influence  of  Chemiftry  is 
very  confpicuous.  To  her  the  painter  owes  molt 
of  thofe  colours,  by  which  he  is  enabled  to  give 
the  refemblances  of  diftinguilhed  perfonages  to 
the  inquiring  eye  of  a  grateful  pofterity ;  to 
place  before  their  view,  more  clearly  than  words 
can  exprefs,  the  martial  deeds  of  the  hero,  and 
the  firm  virtue  of  the  patriot ;  and  to  reprefent 
thofe  beauteous  fcenes  of  nature,  to  the  defcrip- 
tion  of  which,  language  is  inadequate.  Without 
Chemiftry,  the  fine  colouring  of  a  Titian  could 
never  have  delighted  the  enraptured  beholder. 
Nay,  even  the  works  of  the  philofopher,  the 

hiftofiarj 


l6 


Mr.  Henry  on  the  Confijlency  of 

hiftorian  and  the  poet,  are  indebted  to  her  for 
their  diffufion  and  permanency. 

To  fhew  the  advantages  arifing  from  this 
fcience  in  all  the  arts  through  which  they  might 
be  traced,  would  carry  me  far  beyond  the  limits 
of  my  prefent  defign.  It  may  be  fufficient  to 
point  out  the  connexion  which  fubfifts  between 
Chemiftry,  and  thofe  manufactures  which  are 
the  pride  and  glory  of  this  refpeCtable  commer¬ 
cial  town. 

Bleaching  is  a  chemical  operation.  The  end 
of  it  is  to  abftraCt  the  oily  and  phlogiftic  parts 
from  the  yarn  or  cloth,  whereby  it  is  rendered 
more  fit  for  acquiring  a  greater  degree  of  white- 
nefs,  and  abforbingthe  particles  of  any  colouring 
materials  to  which  it  may  be  expofed. 

The  materials  for  this  procefs  are  alfo  the 
creatures  of  Chemiftry,  and  fome  degree  of  che¬ 
mical  knowledge  is  requifite  to  enable  the  oper¬ 
ator  to  judge  of  their  goodnefs.  Quick-lime 
is  prepared  by  a  chemical  procefs.  Pot-afh  is 
a  produCt  of  the  fame  art;  to  which  alfo  vitriolic, 
and  all  the  acids  owe  their  exiftence.  The 
manufacture  of  foap  is  alfo  a  branch  of  this 
fcience.  All  the  operations  of  the  whitfter  ; 
the  fteeping,  wafhing  and  boiling  in  alkaline 
iixiviums  ;  expofing  to  the  fun’s  light,  fcouring, 
rubbing  and  blueing  are  chemical  operations,  or 
founded  on  chemical  principles.  The  fame  may 

be 


27 


Literature ,  &c.  with  Commerce. 

be  faid  of  the  arts  of  dying  and  printing,  by 
which  thofe  beautiful  colours  are  impreffed  on 
cloths,  which  have  contributed  fo  largely  to  the 
extenfion  of  the  manufactures  of  this  place. 
How  few  of  the  workmen,  employed  in  them, 
poflfefs  the  lead  knowledge  of  the  fcience  to  which 
their  profeffion  owes  its  origin  and  fupport !  If 
random  chance  has  Humbled  on  fo  many  im¬ 
provements,  what  might  induhry  and  experience 
have  effected,  when  guided  by  elementary  know¬ 
ledge  ?  The  misfortune  is,  that  few  dyers  are 
chemifts,  and  few  chemifls  dyers.  Practical 
knowledge  fhould  be  united  to  theory,  in  order 
to  produce  the  moll:  beneficial  difcoveries.  The 
chemift  is  often  prevented  from  availing  himfelf 
of  the  refill t  of  hjs  experiments,  by  the  want  of 
opportunities  of  repeating  them  at  large  :  and 
the  workman  generally  looks  down  with  con¬ 
tempt  on  any  propofals,  the  fubjeCt  of  which  is 
new  to  him.  Yet  under  all  thefe  difadvantages, 
I  believe  it  will  be  confefled,  that  the  arts  of 
dying  and  printing  owe  much  of  their  recent 
progrefs  to  the  improvements  of  men  who  have 
made  Chemiftry  their  ftudy.  Much  however  re¬ 
mains  to  be  done  j  and  perhaps  in  no  refpeCt  are 
the  manufactures  of  this  country  more  defective 
than  in  the  permanency  of  their  colours.  Sen- 
fible  as  our  manufacturers  are  of  this  defeCV,  is  it 
not  firange,  that  fo  few  of  them  fhould  attempt 
to  acquire  a  knowledge  of  thofe  principles  which 

would 


2  8  Mr.  Henry  on  the  Conftfiency  of ,  &c. 

would  moft  probably  fupply  them  with  the  means 
of  improving  and  fixing  their  dyes  ? 

This  fubjeCt  would  afford  matter  for  very  ex- 
tenfive  difquifition ;  but  I  fear  I  have  already 
trefpafled  on  the  patience  of  the  fociety.  Suffer 
me,  therefore,  only  to  requeft  your  indulgence 
while  I  point  out  one  other  fource  of  improve¬ 
ment  and  pleafure,  confident  with  the  purfuits, 
and  frequently  advantageous,  and  even  neceflary 
to  the  bufinefs  of  the  tradefman. 

A  tafte  for  the  Polite  Arts,  efpecially  thofe  of 
drawing  and  defign,  fhould  appear  a  defirable 
acquifition  to  the  manufacturer  of  the  finer  and 
more  elegant  wares.  If  not  poflefled  of  this, 
he  is  always  dependent  on  others  for  the  patterns 
of  his  fabrics.  Whereas,  were  he  capable  of 
inventing  them  himfelf,  he  would  poflefs  con- 
fiderable  advantages  over  his  lefs  accomplifhed 
neighbours.  His  imagination  would  continu¬ 
ally  fupply  him  with  fomething  new;  and  of 
what  importance  novelty  is,  in  thefe  times  of 
fafhion  and  fancy,  every  day’s  experience  furnifhes 
convincing  proofs.  It  is  this  fupereminent  tafte 
that  has  diftinguilhed  the  productions  of  a  Wedg¬ 
wood  and  a  Bentley  above  all  their  competitors 
in  the  fame  line  of  bufinefs.  Such  a  tafte  would 
doubtlefs  be  equally  beneficial  to  the  manu¬ 
facturer  of  the  fine  cotton  and  filk  goods  of 
Manchcfter ;  and  he  would  be  enabled  to  equal 

in 


Dr.  Eafon  on  Cryjlallization.  29 


in  elegance  of  pattern,  as  he  excels  in  ftrength 
of  fabric,  the  manufactures  of  our  neighbouring 
and  inimical  rivals. 


On  Crystallization.  ^Alexander  Eason, 
M.  D.  Read  November  14,  1781. 

LTHOUGH  Nature  always  a£ts  by  general 


A  and  not  by  partial  laws,  yet  the  particular 
mode  of  her  operations  is  frequently  removed 
beyond  the  limited  powers  of  the  human  under- 
ftanding.  The  truth  of  this  obfervation  is 
ftrongly  confirmed  by  all  the  phenomena  in  the 
cryftallization  of  falts  and  other  fubftances, 
■which,  under  proper  circumftances,  never  fail 
to  (hoot  into  mafles  or  cryftals,  with  more  or  lefs 
regularity,  according  to  the  manner  in  which 
the  procefs  may  have  been  carried  on. 

Molt  bodies,  during  their  pafTage  from  a  fluid 
to  a  folid  ftate,  feem  to  difcover  a  tendency  to 
form  themfelves  into  regular  mafles  of  a  conftant 
or  given  form.  This  tendency  is  highly  con- 
fpicuous  in  the  various  kinds  of  fahne  fubftances, 
and  perhaps  is  dependent  on  a  law  of  nature 
which  exerts  itfelf,  in  a  more  general  manner, 
than  philofophers  are  apt  to  imagine. 

To  me  it  feems  highly  probable,  that  the 
cryftallization  of  falts,  the  freezing  of  water. 


the 


Dr.  Enfcn  on  Cry Jl alligation . 

the  formation  of  precious  ftones,  bafaltes,  Sec, 
are  all  the  effects  of  the  famecaufe;  and  if  we 
conjedure  that  the  fetting  of  metals  is  a  fpecies 
of  cryftallization,  we  fhall  hot  be  wide  of  the 
truth.  This  much  is  certain,  that  all  the  femi- 
metals,  when  broken,  difeover  a  laminated  tex¬ 
ture,  and  in  each  particular  metal  thefe  lamina 
are  always  of  a  given  or  conftant  form. 

That  we  may,  therefore,  proceed  with  due  per- 
fpicuity,'.it  will  be  necefifary  to  take  a  nearer 
view  of  the  fubjed,  and  to  confider,  fhortly,  the 
phenomena*attending  the  cryftallization  both  of 
fimple  and  compound  bodies.  The  cry ftalliza- 
tion  of  a  fimple  cryftallizable  body  may  be 
affeded  merely  by  removing  the  caufe  of  its 
fluidity,  fince  by  this  means,  its  component  parts 
will  have  an  opportunity  of  arranging  themfelves 
into  mafles  more  or  lefs  regular  and  tranfparenr, 
according  to  the  nature  of  the  body,  and  the  law 
of  its  cryftallization. 

The  leaft  refledion  will  ferve  to  difeover,  that 
bodies  may  be  converted  from  a  folid  to  a  fluid 
Hate,  in  two  different  ways,  viz.  either  in  the 
way  of  folution,  or  fufion  by  heat. 

Of  the  fir  ft,  we  have  endlefs  examples  from  the 
folution  of  falts  in  water,  and  other  fluids  ;  and 
the  fecond  may  be  very  well  illuftrated  by  the 
procefs  of  making  glafs.  * 

*  Jn  the  lx v i  vol.  of  the  Phil.  Tranf.  No.  34,  Mr.  Keir 
gives  an  account  of  glafs  forming  cryftals  when  it  paffes 
from  a  fluid  to  a  folid  hate  by  flow  degrees. 


In 


Dr.  Eafon  on  Cryftallization.  Sr 

In  the  firft  of  thefe  cafes,  the  cryftallization 
is  carried  on  by  the  feparation  of  the  fluid  which 
keeps  the  cryftallizable  body  in  a  ftate  of  locu¬ 
tion ;  and  in-  the  fecond,  the  fame  effeCt  is  pro¬ 
duced  by  the  cooling  of  the  materials,  or  jhe 
extraction  of  their  heat.  If,  for  inftance,  a  fo- 
lution  of  the  foftil  fixed  alkali  in  water  be-firft 
evaporated  to  a  pellicle,  and  afterwards  oe 
luffered  to  cool  gradually,  without  being  dis¬ 
turbed,  the  fait  will  fhoot  into  beautifully  trans¬ 
parent  cryftals;  and  in  like  manner,  if  water 
be  deprived,  of  that  degree  of  heat  which  is 
requifite  to  preferve  it  in  a  fluid  ftate,  it  will  lhoot 
into  radii  or  needle-iike  cryftals,  which,  at  their 
union,  form  conftant  angles  of  6 o  degrees.  If, 
however,  the  water  in  the  firft  cafe,'  and  the  heat 
in  the  fecond,  be  feparatea  with  too  much 
rapidity,  the  cryftals  will  be  fmall,  and  more  or 
lefs  irregular,  according  to  the  celerity  with 
which  the  procefs  may  have  been  conduced; 
The  fame  obfervations  are  equally  applicable  to 
all  bodies  of  the  cryftallizable  kind. 

Although,  in  general,  every  cryftallizable  fub- 
ftance  difeovers  a  manifeft  tendency  to  fhoot 
into  mafles  or  cryftals  of  a  peculiar  form,  yet  we 
muft  hereobferve,  that  the  forms  of  thofe  cryftals 
are  liable  to  great  variation  from  various  cir- 
cumftances  attending  their  formation. 

Gypfum,  for  example,  is  well  known  to  be 
a  vitriolic  fait  with  a  calcareous  bafls,  and  yet 

the 


2t  Dr-  Eafon  on  Cryjlallization . 

the  fubftance  is  prefented  to  us  by  nature  in  five 
different  fhapes,  to  each  of  which  naturalifts 
have  given  different  names ;  firft,  the  Lapis 
Specularis.  2dly.  Striated  Gypfum.  3dly.  Gyp- 
feous  Alabafter.  4thly.  Selenites,  properly  *fo 
called.  5 thly.  A  Gypfeous  Spar,  frequently  found 
adhering  to  the  Tides  of  veins  in  mountains,  parti¬ 
cularly  thofe  inclofing  the  ores  of  metals.  All 
thefe  fubflances  when  chemically  examined,  ex¬ 
hibit  precifely  the  fame  phenomena,  and  are,  in 
reality,  nothing  but  different  cryftallizations  of 
the  fame  compound  fait.  * 

Befides  the  gypfums,  there  is  another  fubftance, 
which  though  claffed  by  naturalifts  with  earthy 
bodies,  is  neverthelefs  a  compound  fait,  and, 
like  the  gypfums,  has  a  natural  tendency  to 
cryftallize  or  fhoot  into  maffes  of  regular  forms. 
This  fubftance  ftrongly  promotes  the  fufion  of 
earthy  fubflances,  particularly  thefe  of  the  cal¬ 
careous  and  argillaceous  kind,  and  on  this  account 
is  generally  denominated  a  fluor  or  flux,  but, 

*  La  nature  fournit  beaucoup  de  matlere  faline  de  meme 
efpece  que  celle  dont  nous  parlons  (viz.  felenite)  mais 
qui  a  differentes  formes,  &  a  laquelle  les  naturaliftes  one 
donne  differentes  noms  comme  gypfe  ou  miroir  d’Ane, 
pierre  a  platre,  albatre,  fpath  gypfeux,  See.  mais  tomes 
ces  matieres  font  un  feul  &  meme  fel,  &  nous  les  confide- 
rerons  comme  telles. 

Chvmie  Experimentale  Sc  Raifonee,  par 
Mr.  Baume,  Tom.  I.  p.  154. 


in 


Dr.  Eajon  on  Cryftallization .  33 

in  England,  is  better  known  by  the  name  of 
Derbyfhire  Spar.  All  the  bodies  belonging  to 
this  clafs  have-  lately  been  (hewn  to  confift  of 
a  calcareous  earth,  and  an  acid  of  a  very  peculiar 
nature,  which  has  the  property  of  corroding  glafs, 
and  of  converting  water  into  flint.  Flint,  there¬ 
fore,  is  probably  not  a  Ample  earth,  as  philofo- 
phers  have  generally  fuppofed,  but  a  compound 
fubltance,  confiding  of  water,  and  this  lately 
difcovered  acid. 

The  verifiable,  or  flinty  earths,  bear,  never- 
thelefs,  ftronger  marks  of  a  Ample  fubftance,  than 
any  body  hitherto  known  ;  and  we  are  now  cer¬ 
tain,  that  it  forms  the  bafis  of  rock  cryftals,  * 
and  a  part  of  the  whole  tribe  of  precious  ftones4 
except  the  diamond.  All  thefe  (tones  have 
evidently  been  formed  by  the  cryftallization  of 
the  matters  which  enter  into  their  compofition  ; 
and  all  the  phenomena  relating  to  their  figure. 


*  II  feroit  d’ailleurs  difficile  de  penetrer  affiez  profonde- 
ment  dans  le  interieur  du  globe  pour  recueillei4  de  la  terre  pri¬ 
mitive,  &  qui  n’auroit  eprouv6  aucune  alteration.  11  paroit 
certain,  que  fi  Ton  pouvoit  fe  procurer  de  cette  efpece  de 
terre,  &  un  degre  de  feu  fuffifant  pour  la  faire  entrer 
Cn  fufion,  on  la  reduiroit  en  une  maffie  auffi  belle  que  Ie 
beau  cryftal  de  roche,  &  qu’on  ne  pourroit  dillinguer  l’un 
de  l’autre. 

Chymie  Experimentale  &  Raifonnee,  par 
Mr.  Baume,  Tom.  I.  p.  104. 


VOL.  I. 


D 


tranf- 


34  X)r.  Eajon  on  Cryfiallization. 

tranfparency,  &c.  bear  a  ftrong  analogy  to  thofc 
of  the  faline  cryftals  already  defcribed. 

Each  faline  fubftance,  of  which  there  is  a 
great  variety,  fhoots,  as  already  obferved,  into 
cryftals  of  a  figure  and  degree  of  tranfparency 
peculiar  to  itfelf :  and  the  fame  thing  is  true,  in 
general,  with  regard  to  gems  or  precious  ftones. 
Thus,  the  diamond  is  naturally  of  one  form,  the 
ruby  of  another,  the  fapphire  of  a  third,  &c.  and 
each  of  them  poflefles  a  degree  of  tranfparency 
different  from  all  the  reft. 

Among  philofophers  it  has  long  been  a 
queftion,  from  what  ftate  the  precious  ftones 
have  cryftallized  ?  that  is,  whether  their  particles 
were  originally  fufpended  in  water,  or  reduced 
to  a  fluid  ftate  by  the  adtion  of  a  very  intenfe 
heat  ?  Each  of  thefe  opinions  has  been  efpoufed 
by  men  of  the  firft  abilities  and  reputation,  and 
feveral  arguments  have  been  urged  on  both  fides 
of  the  queftion. 

From  analogy,  and  feveral  fadls,  which  will 
afterwards  appear,  there  is  room,  I  am  per- 
fuaded,  to  conjecture,  that  all  precious  ftones, 
with  many  other  mineral  bodies,  have  been 
originally  in  a  ftate  of  fufionj-  by  means  of  heat, 
from  which  they  have  been  formed  by  the  law  of 
cryfiallization. 

Pure  verifiable  earth,  indeed,  cannot  be 
brought  into  fufion  by  the  heat  of  our  furnaces  > 
but  black  flint  has  been  melted  without  addi¬ 


tion 


Dr.  Eafon  on  Cryftallization.  35 

tion  by  the  concentrated  rays  of  the  fun ;  and, 
perhaps,  there  are,  or  have  been,  degrees  of 
heat  in  nature,  fufficient  to  produce  the  fame 
effect.  Is  it  not  poffible,  that  thofe  immenfe 
fires,  which  feem  to  be  the  caufe  of  earthquakes 
and  burning  mountains,  are  fufficiently  ftrong 
to  bring  into  fufion  the  pureft  kind  of  verifiable 
earth  ?  Is  it  not  probable,  that  from  fufions 
thus  effected  the  whole  tribe  of  precious  Hones 
have  been  formed  by  cryftallization  ?* 

If  this  conjefture  has  any  foundation  in  nature, 
it  will  enable  us  to  account  in  a  very  fatisfadtory 
manner  for  all  the  peculiar  properties  obfervable 
in  this  clafs  of  bodies.  If  the  melted  matter,  in 
which  the  vitrifiable  earth  is  diffufed,  be  fuffici¬ 
ently  fluid,  and  if  the  cryftallization  be  carried 
on  with  due  regularity,  the  cryftals  will  be  well 
formed,  and  will  exclude  from  their  compofition 
all  heterogeneous  matters.  If,  however,  the 
melted  matter  be  too  tenacious,  or,  if  the  procefs 
be  carried  on  with  too  much  rapidity,  the  cryftals 
will  be  irregular,  and  involve  in  their  compofition 
more  or  lefs  heterogeneous  matters,  according  to 


*  The  difficulty  of  accounting  for  the  fufion  of  the 
earth,  conftituting  the  precious  Hones,  is  obviated  by  the 
experiments  of  the  celebrated  Bergman,  whofe  analylis  of 
thefe  fubflances  had  not  been  feen  by  the  author,  at  the 
time  of  writing  this  paper.  For,  from  thefe  it  appears, 
that  the  gems'contain  not  only  vitrifiable,  but  argillaceous 
and  calcareous  earth. 

D  a 


circum- 


3  6  Dr.  Eqfon  on  Cryjiallizatidn. 

cil'cum (lances,  which  need  not  be  mentioned.  * 
Thus,  for  inftance,  an  admixture  of  metals  may 
give  to  the  cryftal  different  colours,  fuch  as 
the  ruby,  the  emerald,  the  topaz,  or  the 
amethyftjf  ancl3  w^en  the  cryftal  ls  perfedly 
pure,  it  conftitutes  the  colourlefs  rock  cryftal. 

Is  not  this  hypothefis  ftrongly  fupported  by 
the  diftipation  of  the  colours  of  the  precious 
Hones  ?  And  is  not  the  reftoration  of  thofe  co¬ 
lours  a  ftriking  proof,  that  this  hypothefis  is 
founded  in  nature  ? 

Three  principles,  at  leaft,  feem  to  enter  into  the 
compofition  of  precious  ftones,  viz.  vitrifiable 
earth,  the  metallic  calces  on  which  their  colours 
depend,  and  the  particular  matter  determining 
the  figure  into  which  they  cryftallize  ;  the  variety 
of  which  might  be  inftanced  by  feveral  examples. 
The  prefence  of  the  principle  juft  mentioned  is 
ftill  further  indicated  by  the  different  degree  of 
hardnefs  obfervable  in  precious  ftones.  The 
rock  cryftal,  although  as  colourlefs  and  tranfpa- 
rent  as  the  pureft  diamond,  is,  neverthelefs,  the 

*  When  cryftals  are  found  irregular  and  not  pure,  the 
vulgar  expreflion  is,  that  they  are  not  ripe;  but  the  truth 
is,  they  never  could  ripen,  though  left  to  the  end  of  time, 
on  account  of  fome  heterogeneous  matters  having  entered 
into  their  compofition. 

f  Bergman  has  ftiewn  that  all  thefe  colours  may  be 
imparted  to  gems  by  iron  only. 


fofteft 


,37 


Dr.  Eqfcn  on  Cryjlallization. 

fbfteft  of  the  whole  clafs  to  which  it  belongs.  * 
Had  thefe  fa<51s  been  fufficiently  attended  to,  the 
component  parts  of  precious  ftones  had  probably- 
been  better  underftood,  and  the  different  figures 
of  thefe  fubftances  might  have  been  Ihewn  to 
have  proceeded  from  one  conftant  and  permanent 
law  of  cryftallization. 

But,  be  this  as  it  may,  the  principles  already 
in  our  poffeflion  are  fufficient  to  fupport  a 
rational  theory,  not  only  of  the  formation  of  pre¬ 
cious  ftones,  but  alfo  of  thofe  fubftances  known 
by  the  name  of  pebbles.  Many  fubftances  which, 
under  proper  circumftances,  Ihoot  into  cryftals 
of  the  moft  regular  form,  concrete  into  diforderly 
mafies,  when  the  procefs  is  carried  on  with  too 
much  precipitation.  Have  we  not  reafon  there¬ 
fore  to  conjecture,  that  pebbles,  agates,  and  even 
common  flint  are  the  produfts  of  fome  fuch  irre¬ 
gular  cryftallization  ?  This  may  be  exemplified 
in  the  pebbles  found  among  the  rocks  of 
Arthur’s  feat  near  Edinburgh,  which  are  a  vitri- 
fiable  matter,  mixed  with  different  heterogeneous 
fubftances,  from  which  a  variety  of  colours  and 
irregular  fhapes  is  produced  -3  and  the  rocks, 

*  The  topaz  feems  to  be  an  exa£l  rock  cryftal  with  a 
yellow  colour,  probably  from  the  calx  of  fome  metal ;  it  is 
a  prifm  of  fix  irregular  fides.  I  have  feen  fome  of  them  of 
3  very  large  fize;  many  are  found  in  the  mountains  of 
Scotland,  and,  fometimes,  at  the  foot  of  mountains,  buried 
jn  the  earth,  having  been  wafhed  down  by  the  rains. 

P  3  where 


3  8  Dr.  Eajon  on  Cryjtallization. 

•where  the  pebbles  are  found,  feem  to  have  de¬ 
rived  their  origin  from  lava  or  volcanic  matter.* 

That  the  effe&s  of  volcanos  are  more  exten- 
five  than  philofophers,  till  of  late,  have  been 
aware  of,  will,  I  am  perfuaded,  be  readily  ac¬ 
knowledged;  and  by  the  help  of  many  obferva- 
tions  lately  made,  we  are  enabled  to  account  for 
various  phenomena,  which  otherwife,  mull  have 
remained  for  ever  unintelligible  to  the  human 
fpecies.  Of  thefe,  however,  we  (hall  only  take 
notice  of  thofe  columnar  pillars  called  Bafaltes, 
or  Giant’s  cauleways.  If  we  carefully  attend  to 
all  the  phenomena,  obfervable  in  thefe  produc¬ 
tions  of  nature,  we  fliall  find  reafon  to  conclude, 
that  they  are  nothing  more  than  ciyftallizations 
of  lava  or  matter,  brought  into  a  ftate  of  fufion 
by  the  heat  of  fubterraneous  fires. 

If  ever  it  could  be  faid,  that  nature  feemed  to 
imitate  art,  it  is  in  the  formation  of  the  Giant’s 
caufeways  in  the  north  of  Ireland,  where  every 
pillar  appears  to  have  been  hewn  by  an  artift,  and 
placed  fo  clofe  to  each  other,  as  fcarce  to  admit 
a  pin  betwixt  them.  Their  general  figures  are 
pentagons,  hexagons  and  heptagons.  Pillars  with 
more  fides  are  to  be  met  with  ;  their  fides,  how¬ 
ever,  are  by  no  means  equal.  Each  pillar,  accord¬ 
ing  to  its  number  of  fides,  muft  be  furrounded 

*  Quere,  what  is  the  reafon  why  flint  is  generally  found 
among  chalk  or  calcareous  earths  ? 


Dr.  Eqfon  on  Cryjlallization.  39 

by  a  like  number  of  pillars,  which  differ  from 
each  other  both  in  fhape  and  in  fize,  as  not  any 
two  of  them  have  been  found  alike  in  every 
refpeCt.  Thefe  pillars  are  moreover  divided  into 
joints,  at  unequal  diftances,  which,  by  the  afiift- 
ance  of  a  crow  of  iron,  may  be  forced  afunderj 
and,  what  is  very  remarkable,  a  pillar,  feparated 
at  thofe  joints,  always  (hews  one  end  convex,  and 
the  other  concave ;  the  convexity  being  fome- 
times  turned  from,  and  fometimes  towards  the 
horizon  •,  but,  in  any  Angle  pillar,  the  direClioc 
is  always  the  fame. 

Have  we  not  every  reafon  to  conclude,  that 
the  ifland  of  Staffa,  and  the  Giant’s  caufeways 
have  been  productions  of  volcanic  matter,  made 
liquid  by  fome  fubterraneous  fire,  and,  as  foon 
as  it  cooled  by  flow  degrees,  cryftallized  into  that 
form  which  they  now  exhibit  ?  Had  the  fepara- 
tion  of  thefe  pillars  been  owing  to  accident,  they 
would  have  appeared  like  cracks  in  the  earth, 
formed  during  a  very  dry  feafon,  without  order, 
beauty  or  regularity  j  whereas  the  reverfe  is  very 
confpicuous. 

By  attending  to  the  fails  and  obfervations 
already  related,  it  will,  I  am  perfuaded,  appear, 
that  the  fetting  of  metals  is,  in  reality,  a  fpecies 
of  cryliallization.  This  idea  is  ftrongly  con,, 
firmed,  by  the  laminated'  texture  which  all  the 
femimetals  difcover,  when  broken  in  any  direc¬ 
tion.  The  needle-like  cryftals,  fp  conspicuous 

E  4  it) 


40 


Dr.  Eajon  on  Cryjlallization, 

in  crude  antimony,  clearly  fhew,  that  this  fub* 
fiance,  during  its  formation,  has  been  a£led  upon 
by  fome  caufe,  either  the  fame,  or  feme  other, 
very  analogous  to  that,  by  which  the  precious 
(tones,  bafaltes,  &c.  are  made  to  cryftallize.  * 
The  fame  thing  is  true  with  refped  to  bifmuth ; 
and  even  pure  fdver,  during  its  paflage  from  a 
fluid  to  a  folid  flate,  difeovers  a  tendency  to  form 
on  its  furface  a  number  of  Arise,  which  no  doubt 
proceed  from  a  difpofition  of  the  metal  to  cryflal- 
lize,  or  arrange  its  particles  in  a  particular  order. 

The  expanflon  of  water,  during  its  freezing, 
is  now  univerfally  allowed  to  be  occafioned  by 
the  cryflallization  of  its  parts.  And,  to  me,  it 
feems  probable,  that  the  expanflon  of  bifmuth 
and  iron,  in  fimilar  circumflances,  proceeds  from 
the  fame  caufe.  -j- 

Lead  ore,  when  tolerably  pure,  is  generally 
found  in  mafles  of  a  cubic  form  ;  though,  fome- 
times,  in  fhape  of  prifms.  Perhaps  this  variety  is 

*  I  obferved  at  Warrington  (where  copper  ore  is  fmelted) 
the  drofs  and  flux  which  fwim  on  the  top  of  the  metal 
ip  the  furnace  in  a  liquid  flate,  are  call  into  moulds  in 
ihape  of  a  double  cube;  thefe  mafles,  when  cold,  very 
much  refemble  Java  or  volcanic  matter,  and,  when  broken, 
evidently  Ihew  a  cryftalline  appearance  in  many  parts, 
efpecially  about  the  corners. 

f  Figures  call  from  melted  iron  are  always  very  /harp, 
becaufe  that  metal  expands  as  it  cools,  by  which  means  the 
whole  dye  or  mould  is  completely  filled. 


owing 


Mr.  Henry  cn  the  Prefervatkn,  &c.  41 

owing  to  the  proportion  of  filver  contained  in 
the  ores. 

Some  writers  affirm,  that  native  gold  has  been 
found  in  a  cryftallized  ftate,  and  the  form  it 
aflumes  is  that  of  a  prifm  of  eight  fides. 

With  thefe  obfervations  I  ffiall  conclude  this 
paper,  which  has  been  extended  to  an  unreafon- 
able  length,  for  which,  I  hope,  the  importance 
of  the  fubjed  will  plead  my  excufe. 


On  the  Preservation  of  Sea  Water  from 
Putrefaction  by  Means  of  Quicklime.  By 
Thomas  Henry,  F.  R.  S.  to  which  is  added ,  an 
Account  of  a  newly  invented  Machine  for  impreg¬ 
nating  Water  or  other  Fluids  with  Fixed 
Air,  &c.  communicated  to  Mr.  Henry  by 
I.  Haygarth,  M.  B.  F.  R.  S.  Read  Novenu 
ber  21,  1781. 

IT  has  been  frequently  repnarked  by  chemical 
and  philofophical  writers,  that  a  new  experi¬ 
ment  is  feldom  made  in  vain.  Though  the  ope¬ 
rator  may  even  fail  of  attaining  the  immediate 
obje.Ct  of  his  purfuit,  he  may  yet,  fortuitoufly, 
acquire  the  knowledge  of  fome  new  fad,  which 
may  be  productive  of  improvemant  and  advan¬ 
tage  to  fcience. 

About 


/ 


42  Mr.  Henry  on  the  Prejervaticn 

About  the  time  I  publifhed  my  method  of  pre- 
ferving  water,  at  fea,  from  putrefaction,  &c.  * 
a  Gentleman,  who  had  obtained  a  quantity  of  lea 
water,  for  the  purpofe  of  bathing  a  child,  com* 
plained  to  me  that  it  foon  became  putrid,  and  re- 
quefted  that  I  would  think  of  fome  expedient  to 
preferve  it. 

The  principal  falts  contained  in  fea  water  are, 
jft.  common  marine  or  culinary  fait,  compounded 
of  foffil  alkali  and  marine  acid  j  adly.  a  fait 
formed  by  the  union  of  the  fame  acid  with  magne- 
fian  earth  and  laftly,  afmall  quantity  of  felenite. 
The  quantity  of  faline  matter  contained  in  a  pint 
of  fea  water,  in  the  Britifh  feas,  is  according  to 
Neuman,  about  one  ounce  in  each  pint,  j-  When 
this  water  is  (lowly  evaporated,  the  common  fait 
firft  cryftallizes,  and  the  marine  magnefian  fait 
js  left  in,  what  is  called,  the  bittern,  from  which, 

*  An  account  of  a  method  of  preferving  water,  at  fea, 
from  putrefaction,  and  of  reltoring  to  the  water  its  original 
purity  and  pleafantnefs,  by  a  cheap  and  eafy  procefs,  &c. 
London,  1781. 

f  In  Sir  Torbern  Bergman’s  analyfis  of  fea  water  taken 
up,  in  the  beginning  of  June  1776,  about  the  latitude  of 
the’  Canaries,  from  the  depth  of  fixty  fathoms,  the  folicj 
contents  of  a  pint  of  the  water  were 

Of  common  fait 
Salited  magnefia 
Pypfum 

Total 


33°t 


5  3  Grs. 


1  or9. 


by 


of  Sea  Water,  fcff.  43 

by  a  fubfequent  procefs,  the  purging  bitter  fait, 
commonly  named  Epfom  fait,  is  obtained.  By 
this  reparation,  the  fea  or  bay  fait  is  rendered 
much  better  adapted  for  the  prefervation  of  ani¬ 
mal  fubftances,  than  the  fait  of  the  rocks  and 
fprings  in  Chelhire  and  Worcefterlhire,  where, 
frorrnvhat  1  apprehend,  to  be  a  miftaken  notion, 
that  this  bittern  does  not  exift  in  the  brine,  tne 
liquor  is  fo  haftily  evaporated,  that  the  cryftals 
of  common  fait  retain  much  of  the  magnefian 
fait  among  them.  For  the  magnefian  fait  is 
highly  feptic,  and  greatly  impairs  the  properties 

of  the  other,  * 

The  two  methods  which  occurred  to  me,  as 
likely  to  anfwer  the  willies  of  my  friend,  were, 
ift.  the  addition  of  quicklime,  and  idly,  that  of 
common  fait.  To  the  trial  of  the  former  I  was 
induced  by  its  known  antifeptic  effeds  on  com¬ 
mon  water ;  and,  it  is  afcertained,  that  a  nnall 
portion  of  common  fait  promotes,  whereas  4 
larger  retards,  putrefaction. 

EXPERIMENT  I. 

To  one  quart  of  fea  water  were  added  two 
fcruples  of  frelh  quicklime  *  to  another,  half  an 

*  At  fome  of  the  works  at  Northwich,  the  evaporation  is 
carried  on,  in  fo  gentle  a  manner,  that  large  cubical  cryftal, 
are  formed  ;  and  the  fait  thus  prepared  is  faid  to  be  equal  in 
Jlrength  to  bay  fait. 


ounce 


44  A/r-  Henry  on  the  Preservation 

ounce  of  common  culinary  fait;  and  a  third  was 
kept  as  a  ftandard,  without  any  addition.  The 
mouths  of  the  bottles  being  loofely  covered  with 
paper,  they  were  expofed  to  the  action  of  the  fun, 
in  fome  of  the  hotted;  weather  of  the  laft  fummer. 

In  about  a  week,  the  ftandard  became  very 
ofrenfive;  and  the  water,  with  the  additional 
quantity  of  fait,  did  not  continue  fweet  many 
hours  longer;  whereas,  that  with  lime,  continued 
many  months,  without  ever  exhibiting  the  lead 
marks  of  putridity. 

ft  feemed  probable,  that  all,  or  fome,  of  three 
changes  had  been  effected  by  this  procefs.  It 
was  fufpefted,  that  quicklime  might  decompofe 
the  marine  fait,  with  alkaline  bafis ;  a  power 
•which  it  has  lately  been  fuppofed  to  poffefs, 
under  certain  circumftances :  or  that  its  antifep- 
tic  powers  might  depend  on  the  formation  of  a 
lime  water  •,  by  either  of  which,  a  material,  and, 
perhaps,  unfavourable,  alteration  might  be  pro¬ 
duced  :  or  laftly,  that  the  precipitation  of  the 
earthv  bafis  of  the  magnefian  fait,  by  the  quick¬ 
lime,  might  contribute  to  the  prefervation  of 
the  fea  water. 

EXPERIMENTS  II.  &  III. 

On  fubmitting  the  water  to  which  the  lime  had 
been  added,  to  the  common  trials  for  dete&ing  a 
difengaged  alkali,  no  figns  of  fuch  a  fait  were 
dilcovered.  And  upon  blowing  into  it  a  long 

continued 


of  Sea  Water,  &c.  4* 

continued  ftream  of  air  from  the  lungs,  no  pre¬ 
cipitation  nor  cloudinefs  enfued,  as  in  the  cafe  of 
lime  water. 

It  remained  to  fee,  whether  the  precipitation  of 
the  magnefian  earth,  from  its  acid,  had  been  ef- 
fe&ed.  Under  fome  circumftances,  it  has  been 
proved,  by  the  very  ingenious-  Dr.  Black,  that 
magnefia  will  precipitate  calcareous  earth  from 
acids.  As,  for  inftance,  if  mild  magnefia  be 
thrown  into  a  folution  of  calcareous  earth,  in 
marine  or  nitrous  acid,  the  calcareous  earth  will 
be  precipitated;  the  fum  of  the  attraflion 
between  this  earth  and  fixed  air,  and  between 
the  magnefia  and  the  acid,  being  greater  than 
thofe  which  fubfifted  between  the  magnefia  and 
the  air,  and  between  the  calcareous  earth  and 
the  acid.  But,  if  cauftic  calcareous  earth  be 
added  to  a  folution  of  magnefia  in  thofe  acids, 
its  affinity  to  the  acid  is,  in  this  ftate,  increafed, 
no  fixed  air  attradls  it,  and  it  precipitates  the 
magnefia. 

EXPERIMENT  IV. 

To  fome  of  the  fea  water,  which  had  been  kept 
as  a  ftandard,  fome  lime  water  was  added,  and  a 
turbidnefs  immediately  took  place,  fucceeded  by 
a  copious  precipitation.  This,  at  firft,  con¬ 
vinced  an  ingenious  Member  of  this  Society, 
Dr.  Eafon,  who  happened  to  be  prefent,  and  my- 
felf,  that  we  had  difcovered  the  manner  in  which 

the 


46  Mr.  Henry  on  the  Prejervation 

the  lime  adted,  and  the  reafon  why  no  lime  water 
was  produced.  But,  on  adding  lime  water  alfo  to 
fome  of  the  fea  water  which  had  been  preferved 
by  the  lime,  a  cloudinefs  and  precipitation 
refembling  the  former  took  place,  and  ftaggered 
us  in  our  theory  j  for  we  imagined,  that  the 
portion  of  quicklime  had  been  fufficient  to  have 
precipitated  the  whole  of  the  magnefia  which  the 
water  might  have  contained,  and  we  now  fuf- 
pedted,  that  the  folution  of  the  lime,  was,  there¬ 
fore,  probably  prevented  by  the  fea  fait. 

Other  avocations  prevented  my  purfuing  the 
inquiry  at  that  time,  but  I  have  fince  relumed 
it,  and  been  able  to  elucidate  the  whole  matter. 

EXPERIMENT  V. 

Into  a  ftrong  folution  of  the  common  Chefhire 
fait,  fome  lime  water  was  poured.  The  mixture 
became  turbid,  and  a  white  earth  was  feparated^ 
which  did  not  fink  to  the  bottom  of  the  glafs,  but 
was  fufpended,  partly,  on  the  furface,  and,  partly, 
in  the  midft  of  the  liquor. 

But  from  whence  did  this  precipitate  proceed  ? 
Was  it  the  lime  thrown  down  by  the  fait ;  or  did 
the  lime  feparate  fomething  from  the  common 
fait? 

EXPERIMENT  VI. 

To  a  portion  of  the  fame  folution,  inftead  of 
lime  water,  fome  drops  of  a  folution  of  fofiil 

alkali 


of  Sea  lVatery  ifc,  47 

alkali  were  added,  and  the  fame  appearances 
occurred. 

EXPERIMENT  VII. 

Each  of  thefe  precipitates  were  rapidly  and 
wholly  diffolved,  the  greateft  part  of  the  water 
being  firft  poured  off,  on  the  addition  of  a  few 
drops  of  dilute  vitriolic  acid.  A  proof  that  the 
precipitated  earth  was  magnefia. 

EXPERIMENT  VIII. 

To  determine  whether  the  addition  of  a  por¬ 
tion  of  bitter  purging  fait,  to  a  folution  of  com¬ 
mon  fair,  would  prevent  the  forming  of  lime 
water,  with  an  equal  quantity  of  lime  to  that 
which  had  preferved  the  fea  water,  I  mixed 
twenty  grains  of  quicklime,  feven  drachms  of 
common  fait,  and  one  drachm  of  bitter  purging 
fait  with  a  pint  of  rain  water  j  but  no  lime  water 
was  produced.  Whereas,  a  lime  water  was 
formed,  by  an  equal  quantity  of  lime  with  a  pint 
of  rain  water,  and  alfo  with  a  folution  of  common 
fait,  from  which  the  earthy  matter  it  contained 
had  been  previoufly  precipitated  by  fofTil  alkali, 
and  the  alkali  neutralifed  by  marine  acid. 

The  next  queftion  that  prefented  itfelf  to  my 
investigation,  w'as,  whether  the  common  Chefhire 
fait  w'as  fo  impregnated  with  magnefian  fait, 
as  to  prevent  the  forming  lime  water,  with  a  like 
quantity  of  lime,  when  ufed  in  the  proportion 
of  an  ounce  of  fait  to  a  pint  of  water. 


E  X  P  E- 


48  Mr.  Henry  on  the  Prefers  at  ion 

EXPERIMENT  IX. 

Thefe  proportions  of  Chefhire  fait,  quicklime, 
and  rain  water,  being  mixed,  and  fuffered  to  ftand 
afufficient  time,  the  filtered  liquor  exhibited  no 
figns  of  being  impregnated  with  unneutralifed 
lime:  but,  on  adding  a  few  drops  of  lixivium 
tartari,  it  inftantly  became  very  turbid,  and  de^ 
pofited  a  fediment,  which,  inftead  of  difappearing 
on  the  addition  of  vitriolic  acid,  formed  a  fele- 
nite  with  it,  and  again  fettled  at  the  bottom  of 
the  glafs. 

EXPERIMENT  X. 

Five  grains  of  quicklime,  being  added  to  the 
mixture  of  the  ninth  experiment,  and  the  liquor, 
after  due  time,  being  filtered,  and  fubje&ed  to 
the  ufual  teft,  exhibited  evident  marks  of  having 
become  a  lime  water. 

I  now  began  to  fufpedt,  that  the  portion  of 
quicklime,  added  to  the  fea  water,  in  the  firft 
experiment,  had  not  been  fufficient  to  precipitate 
the  whole  of  the  magnefia  from  its  acid,  and 
having  fome  of  the  mixture  of  that  experiment 
(till  by  me,  I  again  turned  my  attention  to  it. 

EXPERIMENT  XI. 

The  remaining  part  of  the  fea  water,  to  which 
the  quicklime  had  been  added,  was  about  a  pint 
and  half.  Lime  water,  being  added  to  a  fmall 

part 


cf  Sea  Water ,  &c.  49 

part  of  it,  the  fame  turbid  appearance  took  place 
as  formerly. 


EXPERIMENT  XII. 

On  the  addition  of  another  drachm  of  lime,  the 
water,  when  filtered,  no  longer  became  turbid, 
on  the  mixture  of  lime  water  to  it ;  but  it  did  not 
yet  exhibit  any  figns  of  being  itfelf  a  lime  water. 
But, 

EXPERIMENT  XIII. 

When  I  added  another  drachm  of  lime,  a 
lirne  water  was  formed.  For  the  water  now  be¬ 
came  very  turbid,  on  blowing  air  into  it  from 
the  lungs. 

Thefe  experiments,  therefore,  not  only  prove 
that  fea  water  may  be  preferved  for  the  purpofes 
of  bathing,  by  means  of  quicklime,  without 
forming  a  lime  water,  but  they  point  out  the 
rationale  of  this  phenomenon  ;  and  alfo  inftrudt 
os  what  portion  of  lime  may  be  ufed,  without  a 
lime  water  being  produced. 

It  appears  that  quicklime,  diflblved  in  water, 
precipitates  the  magnefian  earth  from  the  marine 
acid,  with  which  it  is  united  in  the  fea  water, 
and,  uniting  with  that  acid,  is  retained  in  the 
water,  under  the  form  of  a  marine  felenite. 
What  the  water  lofes,  therefore,  of  one  fait,  it 
gains  of  another.  Ac  the  fame  time,  the 
magnefia,  being  precipitated  by  a  caujiic  cal¬ 
careous  earth,  falls  in  a  ftate  fimilar  to  that: 

Vol.  I.  E  to 


£o  Mr.  Henry  on  the  Vrefdrvatlon 

to  which  it  is  reduced  by  calcination,  viz.  void 
of  fixed  air.  In  this  ftate,  I  have  formerly 
proved,  by  a  train  of  experiments,  that  it  is 
ftrongly  antifeptic.  *  Being  infoluble,  the  water 
is  preferved  without  forming  any  combination 
with  it  5  and  the  only  alteration  that  is  made  in 
the  component  parts  of  the  lea  water,  is,  that  the 
earthy  marine  fait  changes  its  bafis  of  magnefia 
for  one  that  is  calcareous. 

We  alfo  fee,  that  there  are  limits  to  the  addition 
of  quicklime,  beyond  which,  we  cannot  proceed, 
without  forming  lime  water.  The  quantity  of 
two  fcruples,  to  a  quart  of  fea  water,  though  not 
fufficient  to  decompofe  the  whole  of  the  magnefian 
fait,  was  yet  adequate  to  the  prefervation  of  the 
water.  One  drachm  more  of  quicklime  feparated 
the  whole  of  the  magnefia,  and,  when  a  further 
addition  was  made,  a  lime  water  was  immediately 
formed,  f 

The  properties  of  common  fait,  as  an  antifeptic, 
are  greatly  weakened  by  the  portion  of  marine 

*  From  thefe  experiments  it  appeared,  that  magnefia 
alba,  while  pofieifed  of  its  fixed  air,  is  highly  feptic  to 
animal  fiefii,  but  antifeptic  to  bile  ;  whereas,  when  cal¬ 
cined,  and  deprived  of  its  fixed  air,  it  is  ftrongly  anti¬ 
feptic  both  to  flefh  and  bile. 

See  Henry’s  Experiments  and  Obfervations, 
p.  58.  &  feq. 

F  Thefe  proportions  may  vary,  according  to  the  ftrength 
of  the  quicklime  employed. 

,  niagnefian 


of  Sea  Water ,  &c.  51 

magnefian  fait,  mixed  with  it.  It  is  probable, 
that  the  marine  felenite  may  be  lefs  feptic,  and 
lefs  foluble  in  water,  fo  as  to  feparate,  during 
the  evaporation  of  the  brine.  If  fo,  the  addition 
of  quicklime  may  be  ufeful,  previous  to  that 
procefs  at  the  fait  works.  But  we  are  fo  little 
acquainted  with  the  properties  of  calcareous  falts, 
that,  at  prefent,  we  cannot  determine  whac 
might  be  the  effeds  of  fuch  a  practice.  I  propofe, 
however,  at  lome  future  opportunity,  to  try, 
whether  the  calcareous  marine  fait  will  thus  fepa¬ 
rate;  and  whether  it  be,  in  itfelf,  feptic,  or 
antifeptic. 


Dr.  Haygarth,  of  Chefter,  who  is  not  more 
diftinguifhed  for  his  extenfive  knowledge,  than 
for  his  friendly  and  benevolent  difpontion,  has 
lately, in  the  moftobliging  manner, communicated 
to  me,  a  description  of  an  apparatus,  which  he 
has  invented  to  mix  air  with  liquids.  The 
Dottor  apprehended,  that  this  method  might 
facilitate  my  defign  of  precipitating  the  lime 
from  water,  to  which  it  might  have  been  added 
on  fhip  board  ;  and,  with  his  ufual  candour,  and 
generofity,  delivered  up  his  invention  to  my 
fervice.  The  plan  is  truly  ingenious,  but  I  fear, 
and  all  my  friends,  whom  I  have  confulted,  agree 
with  me  in  the  apprehenfion,  that  the  machine 
would  be  much  too  complex  to  admit  of  being 

E  2  ufed 


52  Mr.  Henry  on  the  Prejervatkn 

i 

ufed  at  fea.  It  is  capable,  however,  of  being 
applied  to  fo  many  ufeful  purpofes,  that,  I  trull, 
the  Society  will  think  the  communication  of  this 
valuable  improvement  well  worthy  of  their  at¬ 
tention. 

Defcription  of  an  Apparatus  to  mix  Air  with  Liquids. 

In  the  figure,  plate  i.  an  effervefcing  veflel  is 
reprefented  (at  E)  in  which  fixed  air  is  detached 
from  a  mixture  of  calcareous  earth,  and  vitriolic 
acid,  conveyed  through  the  tubes  (T  /)  into  the 
air  veflel  (A).  The  fixed  air,  being  of  greater 
fpecific  gravity,  will  fall  to  the  bottom,  and 
expel  the  common  air  at  the  top  through  the 
orifice  (at  O).  It  may  be  known  when  the  veflel 
is  full  of  fixed  air,  by  fuelling;  or  extinguifhing 
a  candle  at  this  orifice;  or  by  .computing  the 
quantity  of  vitriolic  acid  and  calcareous  earth 
that  will  generate  a  certain  quantity  of  air.  A 
pair  of  common  bellows  (at  B)  with  a  pipe,  a  few 
inches  longer  than  ufual  and  bent,  is  placed  with 
the  vent  fo  as  to  receive  the  air  pipe  (P),  and 
the  bellows  pipe  at  ( b )  is  inferted  into  the  top 
of  the  water  veflel  (W).  The  bellows  being 
worked,  the  fixed  air  riles,  from  the  bottom  of  the 
air  veflel,  through  the  pipe  (P  P)  into  the  vacuum 
within  the  bellows,  and  is  impelled,  with  force, 
through  the  bellows  pipe  ( b )  into  the  body  of 
the  water  veflel,  filled  with  lime  water,  or  any 
other  kind  of  liquid.  The  air,  which  is  noc 
abforbed  by  the  liquid,  rifes  to  the  furface  in 

bubbles 


of  Sea  Water,  tie,  53 

bubbles  occafioning  confiderable  agitation  j  and 
returns  into  the  air  vefTel  through  the  com¬ 
munication  (CC.)  That  portion  of  fixed  air, 
which  is  incapable  of  abforption  by  lime  water, 
&c.  being  fpecifically  lighter  than  the  reft, 
will  efcape  through  the  orifice  (at  O)  as  the  fixed 
air  is  fupplied  by  the  effervescing  mixture,  but 
the  pure  fixed  air,  thus  returned  into  the  air 
veflfel,  is  again  inhaled  by  the  bellows,  and  blown 
into  the  lime  water.  The  air  and  water  veflels, 
in  the  model  I  have  had  made,  are  of  tin,  con¬ 
taining  about  four  gallons  a-piece.  The  orifices 
(at  T,  t ,  B,  b ,)  are  made  air-tight,  with  per¬ 
forated  corks.  The  tubes  (P,  p  and  t )  run 
down  the  fides  of  the  air  veflels.  The  tube  (b ) 
which  is  a  corftinuation  of  the  bellows  pipe,  runs 
down  the  middle  of  the  water  veflel.  This  pipe 
might  be  immerfed  twelve  or  thirteen  inches  into 
the  body  of  the  water,  as  I  have  found,  that  a  pair 
of  common  bellows,  will  force  air  through  water, 
to  this  depth,  with  moderate  exertion. 

In  my  model,  the  bellows,  contrary  to  my 
direction,  are  of  a  large  fize,  and  there  was  diffi¬ 
culty  in  working  them,  as  might  be  expected, 
when  all  the  orifices  are  fhut.  To  obviate  this 
inconvenience,  I  tied  a  bladder,  full  of  fixed  air, 
upon  the  orifice  (at  O)  and  opening  into  the  air, 
veflel.  By  this  device,  the  bellows  work  with 
as  much  eafe  as  in  the  open  air ;  and  the  bladder 
fills  and  empties  exactly  like  the  lungs  in  refpira- 

E  3  ti°n, 


54 


Dr.  Barnes  on  Poetry. 

tion.  The  tube  P,  p  fhould  be  of  the  fame  dia¬ 
meter  as  the  vent  of  the  bellows,  and  the  com¬ 
munication  (CC)  fhould  not  be  of  a  lefs  fize, 
otherwife  the  water  will  rife  into  the  bellows 
when  they  are  worked. 

After  this  defcription,  it  would  be  fuperfluous 
to  explain,  that,  in  this  procefs,  there  would  be 
no  lofs  of  fixed  air  or  of  time  ;  or  to  obferve, 
that  from  the  known  attraction  between  fixed  air 
and  quicklime,  afufficient  quantity  of  lime  water 
might  be  freed  from  lime  in  a  fhort  time,  fo  as  to 
fupply  a  flip’s  company  with  little  trouble  or 
expence. 


On  the  Nature  and  ejfential  Characters  cf  Poetry, 
as  diftinguijhed  from  Prose.  By  Thomas 
Barnes,  D.D.  Read  December  5,  1781. 

TO  fettle  with  precifion  the  limits  which 
divide  poetic  from  profaic  compofition,  may 
perhaps  appear,  at  firft  fight,  to  be  neither  very 
difficult,  nor  very  interefting.  As,  however, 
one  great  objett  of  this  fociety  is,  the  enjoyment 
of  free  and  friendly  converfation  upon  fubjedts 
connected  with  fcience,  it  is  probable,  that 
topics,  which  are  not  in  themfelves  of  the  greatefl: 
importance,  may  fometimes  open  a  wider  field, 
than  others  of  more  intrinfic  excellence.  Where 

much 


Dr.  Barnes  on  Poetry.  55 

much  may  be  faid  in  fupport  of  different  hypo- 
thefes,  we  may  hope  for  that  collifion  of  friendly 
argument,  which  may  ftrike  out  fome  fparks, 
both  of  amufement  and  information.  Thus,  a 
comparatively  trifling  fubjeCt  may  eventually 
contribute  to  the  nobleft  ufes,  to  the  exercife  of 
the  mental  faculties,  and  to  the  diffufion  of  can¬ 
dour,  and  intelligence.  Our  time  will  not  be 
quite  mifpent,  if  we  can  only  glean  from  the 
topic  before  us,  a  Angle  hour’s  agreeable  and 
literary  entertainment. 

tc  Wherein  confifts  the  ejfence  of  poetry,”  is  a 
queftion,  which  it  will  not  be  fo  eafy  to  anfwer, 
as  may  at  firft  be  imagined.  Different  authors 
have  given  very  different  definitions.  Some 
have  denominated  it,  “  The  art  of  exprefling 
our  thoughts  by  fiction.”  Others  have  imagined 
its  effence  to  lie,  in  <c  The  power  of  imitation  - 
and  others  again,  in  “  The  art  of  giving  plea- 
fure.”  But  it  is  evident,  that  fttion,  imitation , 
and  fleajure ,  are  not  the  properties  of  poetry 
alone.  Profaic  compofition  may  contain  the  moft: 
ingenious  fables.  It  may  prefent  the  moft  ftrik- 
ing  refemblances.  It  may  infpire  the  moft  fen- 
Able  delight. 

Poetry  has  been  generally  denominated  an 
art.  Horace,  if  he  himfclf  gave  the  title  to 
hjs  own  celebrated  and  admirable  poem,  has 
characterized  it  under  that  name.  The  tern, 
jtfelf  (rw.;)  would  naturally  lead  to  the  fame 

E  4  idea$ 


S6  Dr.  Barnes  on  Poetry . 

idea;  for  it  feems  to  imply,  that  labour  and  in¬ 
genuity,  the  neceffary  companions  of  art,  muff 
be  employed  in  poetic  compofition.  But  cer¬ 
tainly,  it  has  the  neareft  affinity  to  Jcience  of  any 
other  art ;  for  all  its  excellence  confifts,  in  its 
prefenting  fcience  in  a  peculiar  and  engaging 
drefs.  An  art ,  by  which  fcience  is  affifted,  and 
fentiment  exalted  ;  by  which  the  imagination  is 
elevated,  the  heart  delighted,  and  the  nobleft 
paffions  of  the  human  foul  expreffed,  improved, 
and  heightened,  will  appear  important  enough, 
to  have  its  boundaries  exactly  drawn,  and  the 
limits  afcertained,  which  divide  it  from  its  humble 
neighbour.  Or,  if  this  be  not  poffible,  to  have 
its  general  and  larger  charafteriftics  clearly  repre¬ 
fen  ted. 

What  is  it,  then,  which  conftitutes  the  poetic 
effience,  and  diftinguifhes  it  from  profe  ?  Is  it 
metre? — Or  is  it  fomething  entirely  different; 
fublimity  of  sentiment,  boldnefs  of  figure, 
grandeur  of  description,  or  embellifhment  of 
imagination  ?  Let  us  attend  to  the  arguments, 
which  may  be  offered  on  behalf  of  both  thefe 
hypothefes. 

“  ’The  char aft erifiic  nature  of  -poetry ,  it  may  be 
faid,  confifts  in  elevation  of  thought,  in  ima¬ 
gery,  in  ORNAMENT.” 

“  For,  have  there  not  been  real  poems  formed, 
without  the  (hackle  of  regular  verle  ?  Poems, 
which  none,  but  a  faftidious  critic,  would  fcruple 

a  moment 


Dr.  Barnes  on  Poetry,  57 

ii  moment  to  honour  with  that  name  ?  Is  not 
Telemachus  a  noble  epic  poem  ?  For  who 
would  dare  to  degrade  it  to  a  lower  character  ? 
Who  would  refufe  the  appellation  to,  the  Death  of 
Abel,  which  thole,  who  underlland  the  German 
language,  fpeak  of  with  fo  much  rapture  ?  Or 
to  the  Incas  of  Marmontel,  which  the  French 
celebrate,  with  equal  enthufiafm  of  praife  ! 

**  Does  not  elevation  of  fentiment  of  itfelf 
produce  modulation  of  language  ?  The  foul,  in- 
fpired  with  great  ideas,  naturally  treads  with  a 
lofty  ftep.  There  is  a  dignity  in  all  her  move¬ 
ments.  She  declaims,  with  a  meafured,  folemn, 
majeftic  utterance.  Her  ftile  is  fonorous,  and 
fwelli.ng.  Thefe  attributes  indicate  thefe  con - 
Jlitute  the  poet.  They  give  ftrength  and  feeling 
to  his  compofitions.  Where  thefe  are  found, 
who  would  look  for  any  higher  claims,  before  he 
would  confer  the  palm  of  poetic  honours  ?  Where 
thefe  are  wanting ,  what  other  properties  could 
give,  even  the  lhadow  of  a  title  ?  Who  would 
refufe  the  title  of  bard  to  the  great  Mailer -of 
Hebrew  fong?  For  what  can  be  more  truly  fub- 
lime,  or  poetical,  than  many  of  the  Pfalms  of 
David  ?  And  yet,  after  the  ingenious  labours 
of  the  learned  Dr.  Lowth,  the  metre  or  rhythm 
has  not  been  exadtly  afcertained ;  and  probably 
will  not,  becaufe  it  does  not  exift.  The  har¬ 
mony  of  numbers,  of  which  every  ear  muft  be 
fenfible,  arifes  purely  from  the  native  impulfe  of  a 

foul. 


z Z  Dr.  Barnes  on  Poetry'. 

foul,  infpired  with  fentiments,  which  it  could 
not  poffibly  exprefs  in  any  language,  but  what 
was  fervid  and  poetical. 

“  By  this  theory,  it  may  be  faid,  we  account 
for  the  common  remark,  that  the  original  language 
of  mankind  was  poetical :  becaufe,  in  the  infancy 
of  the  world,  every  thing  would  naturally  excite 
admiration,  and  vehement  paflion.  Their  rude 
and  imperfed  fpeech  would  bear  infcribed  upon  it, 
the  (lamp  of  ftrong  and  animated  feeling.  It 
would  refemble  the  harangues  of  Indian  orators, 
at  this  day,  whofe  fpeeches  are  accompanied  with 
tones  and  geftures,  which  to  a  cultivated 
European,  appear  extravagantly  pompous.  Their 
lives  were  full  of  danger  and  variety.  New 
fcenes  were  continually  opening  upon  them. 
Growing  arts  and  fciences  were  prefenting  new 
objeds  of  curiofity.  Hence,  their  feelings  were 
amazingly  intenfe.  And  hence  their  language  was 
boid,  and  poetically  fublime.  Longinus,  in  the 
fragment  of  a  treatife,  which  is  unhappily  loft, 
has  this  fentiment.  “  Meafure  belongs  properly 
to  poetry,  as  it  perfonates  the  paffions^  and  their 
language  ;  it  ufes  fidion  and  fable,  which  naturally 
produce  numbers  and  harmony.” 

It  may  be  added,  in  fupport  of  this  definition, 
**  That  our  own  inimitable  poet,  than  whom  none 
feems  more  to  have  enjoyed  the  infpiration  of  the 
Mufe,  dcfcribes  the  poet,  as  chiefly  diftinguifhed 
fay  the  fervour  of  Imagination,  He  does  not^ 

indeed,, 


Dr.  Barnes  on  Poetry,  59 

indeed,  aftign  him  the  moll  honourable  company  ; 
but  he  makes  ample  amends,  by  a  defcription  of 
poetic  fancy,  wonderfully  brilliant  and  captiva- 
ting. 

“  The  lunatic,  the  lover,  and  the  poet. 

Are  of  imagination  all  compact. 

One  fees  more  devils  than  vail  hell  can  hold. 

That  is  the  madman  :  the  lover,  all  as  frantic. 

Sees  Helen’s  beauty  on  a  brow  of  Egypt : 

The  poet’s  eye,  in  a  fine  frenzy  rolling. 

Doth  glance  from  heaven  to  earth,  from  earth  to  heaven  j 

And,  as  imagination  bodies  forth 

The  forms  of  things  unknown,  the  poet’s  pen 

Turns  them  to  lhapes,  and  gives  to  airy  nothing 

A  local  habitation  and  a  name.”  Shakespeare. 

Who  can  forbear  applying  to  the  poet,  what  has 
been  fo  juftly  applied  to  the  great  critic ,  lately 
quoted,  . 

“  He  is  himself  the  great  sublime  he  draws!” 

“  Horace,  likewife,  feems  to  rank  himfelf  on 
this  fide  of  the  queftion  in  the  fourth  Satire  of 
his  firft  book,  where  he  endeavours  to  fettle  the 
point  of  Poetic  Chara&er.  He,  firft,  excepts 
himfelf  from  the  number  of  thofe,  to  whom  he 
would  allow  the  name  of  Poet ;  becaufe  compo- 
fitions  like  his  own,  “ Jermoni  propiora ,”  do  not 
give  a  juft  claim  to  the  appellation.  He,  then, 
tjefcribes  the  real  bard  ; 

Ingenium  cui  fit;  cui  mens  divinor,  atque'os 
Magna  sonaturum,  des  nominis  hujus  honorem. 

With 


6o 


Dr.  Barnes  on  Poetry. 

With  refpett  to  himfelf,  and  to  Lucilius,  he  tells 
us,  that  if  you  take  away  the  order  and  the 
meajure ,  their  verfes  would  become  “  fermo 
merus,”  mere  proje .  Not  fo,  if  you  take  irj 
pieces  that  line  of  Ennius, 

“  Poftquam  difcordia  tetra 
Belli  ferratos  poftes,  portafque  refregit.” 

For  then,  he  exclaims, 

“  Invenias  etiam  disjecti  membra  poet.®  !** 

The  true  poetic  efience,  then  confifts  in  eleva¬ 
tion,  imagery,  and  grandeur  ;  to  which  modu~ 
lation  is  no  more  than  an  adjunft ;  neceflary  in¬ 
deed,  becaufe  it,  in  fome  degree,  neceffarily 
accompanies  animated  and  poetic  Jentiment 

To  thefe  arguments,  it  may  be  replied  : 

Cl  That  the  modefty  of  Horace,  in  excepting  him- 
felf  from  the  rank  and  honours  of  poetic  character, 
will  not  be  admitted,  even  with  refpedt  to  thofe 
verfes,  as  to  which  alone ,  he  made  the  exception. 
For,  who  has  not  in  every  age  claffed  the  Epijlles 
and  Satires  of  Horace,  in  the  number  of  poetic 
compofitions ,  though,  as  he  fays,  his  ftile  only 

“  Pede  certo 

Differt  fermoni :  fermo  merus. 

ft  If  we  adhere  rigoroufly  to  this  definition;  {hall 
we  not  exclude  many  candidates,  from  whom 
we  fhould  be  forry  to  pluck  the  well-earned 
wreath  of  poetic  fame  ?  All  verfes,  where  the 
fubjeft  is  low  or  ridiculous,  as  the  Hudieras  of 

PuTLER i 


Dr.  Barnes  on  Poetry.  6l 

Butler.  ;  where  it  is  fimple  and  narrative,  as  the 
Fables  of  Gav  or  even,  where  it  is  plaintive 
and  melancholy ,  as  the  Church  Yard  of  Gray, 
mult  be  banifhed  from  the  region  of  the  Mufe. 
Parnafius  muft  be,  call  cliff,’  without  a  fingle 
vale  in  all  its  circuit.  None  mull  then  be 
deemed  a  poet,  who  cannot  foar  to  its  loftieft 
fummit,  on  Epic,  or  Heroic  wing.  If  we  fhould 
form  an  index  expurgatorius  upon  this  principle, 
what  havock  fhould  we  make  among  the  minor 
poets  ?  How  many  fhould  we  exclude,  whom 
every  lover  of  the  Mufe  ranks,  with  grateful  vene¬ 
ration,  in  the  number  of  her  infpired  votaries  ? 

“Elevation  of  fentiment,  imagery,  and  creative 
fancy,  are  not  to  be  found  in  poetry  alone. 
They  often  belong  as  much  to  the  Orator.  For 
where  will  you  find  nobler  flights  of  imagination, 
loftier  fentiments,  bolder  addrefles  to  the  paffions, 
or  more  animated,  we  might  fay,  modulated 
language,  than  in  the  Orations  of  Cicero  ;  not  to 
mention  thofe  of  our  modern  orators,  whofe  elo¬ 
quence,  however,  we  would  not  fcruple  to  com¬ 
pare  with  that  of  the  mofl  admired  antients  ? 

“If  we  might  argue  from  the  name,  poetry,  we 
fhould  naturally  conclude,  that  the  antients 
themfelves  underftood  by  the  term,  not  thofe 
irregular  modulations,  which  naturally  arofe 
from  the  impulfe  of  ftrong  and  impaffioned  feel¬ 
ings,  from  grandeur  of  fentiment,  from  beauty, 
or  boldnefs  of  imagery  ;  but,  fomething  more 

artificial 


6s 


Dr.  Barnes  on  Poetry. 

artificial  and  elaborate ;  fomething,which  demanded 
more  effort  and  ingenuity  to  form,  than  merely 
arofe  from  the  effufions  of  a  glowing  heart  ? 

<c  Is  not,  then,  the  proper  and  peculiar  charac- 
terifticof  poetry,  that  metre  or  rhythm,  which 
the  ear  fo  eafily  diftinguifhes,  and  with  which  it 
is  fo  unfpeakably  delighted  ?  Is  not  this  th t  great 
diJUnlilion  between  the  modulation  of  poetry  and 
profe  ;  that  the  one,  is  regular ,  determined  by 
certain  laws,  and  returning  upon  the  ear  at  ftated 
periods ;  whilft  the  other,  has  no  ftandard  but  the 
general Jenfe  of  harmony,  and  is  infinitely  irregular 
and  various?  The  imagery  or  fentiment  is  a 
mere  circumjlance,  which  does  not  conjlitute ,  how¬ 
ever  it  may  adorn,  poetic  compofition.  We  can 
fuppofe  nonfenfe  in  profe.  Can  we  not  equally 
fuppofe  nonfenfe  in  poetry  ?  And  yet,  fhall  there 
not  be  an  effential  difference,  between  poetic  and 
profaic  jargon  ?  If  fo,  fomething  elfe,  befides 
the  fentiment  or  fenfe,  is  the  boundary  between 
them.  And  what  is  this,  but  that  metre  or 
melody,  without  which,  the  language  which 
conveys  the  loftieft  fentiments  may  be  indeed 
poetical,  but  can  never  be,  poetry  itself.” 


I  fhall  not  pretend  to  decide,  abfolutely,  upon 
the  ftrength  or  weaknefs  of  the  foregoing  argu¬ 
ments.  I  fhall  be  happy  to  hear  them  fully 

difcuffed 


Dr.  Barnes  on  Poetry.  63 

difcufied  in  the  enfuing  converfation,  from 
which  I  promife  myfclf,  both  inftruftion  and 
entertainment. 

At  prefent,  I  find  rnyfelf  difpofed  to  reft  ift 
fome  fuch  general  conclufion,  as  the  following. 

To  finished  and  perfect  poetry,  or  rather 
to  the  highest  order  of  poetic  compofitions, 
are  neceffary,  elevation  of  fentiment3  fire  of  ima¬ 
gination ,  and  regularity  of  metre.  This  is  the 
Jummit  of  Parnassus.  But,  from  this  fublimeft: 
point,  there  are  gradual  declinations,  till  you 
come  to  the  region  of  profe.  The  lajt  line  of 
feparation  is,  that  of  regular  metre.  And,  in 
common  language,  not  having  fettled  with  pre- 
cifion  the  nature  or  boundaries  of  either,  we 
often  apply  the  poetic  charafter  with  great  lati¬ 
tude,  to  compofitions,  which  have  more  or  lefs 
of  the  preceding  qualities,  but  which  are  formed 
into  uniform  and  regular  verje.  Often,  the  name 
is  given  to  works,  which  have  nothing  to  diftin- 
guifti  them,  but  mere  number.  What  has  net 
this  metrical  modulation,  we  call  poetical ;  and 
what  has  it,'  we  call  profaic ,  folely  upon  account 
of  the  Jentiment.  For  poetry  and  profe,  like  two 
colours,  eafily  diftinguifhable  from  each  other 
in  their  pure,  unmixed  ftate,  melt  into  one  ano¬ 
ther  by  almoft  imperceptible  lhades,  till  the 
diftinftion  is  entirely  loft.  Their  general  cha¬ 
racters  are  widely  different.  Their  approximations 
admit  of  the  neareft  refcmblances. 


With 


64  Dr.  Barnes  on  Poetry. 

With  refpedt  to  mere  number ,  the  difficulty  is 
not  great,  in  the  prefent  cultivated  ftate  of  lan¬ 
guage,  for  any  perfon,  of  a  tolerable  ear,  to  tag 
together  lines,  the  mufic  of  which  fnall  be  flow- 
ing  and  agreeable.  Hence,  the  multitudes  of 
indifferent  poets,  who  abound  amongft  us  !  But  it 
has  been  juftly  obferved,  that  a  ftate  of  cultivated 
fociety  is  not  favourable  to  thofe  bolder  exer¬ 
tions  of  poetic  fancy,  which  elevate,  aftonifh, 
and  delight  the  mind. 

It  has  been  often  faid,  as  we  have  before  re¬ 
marked,  that  the  original  ftile,  both  of  hiftory  and 
converfation,  was  poetical.  The  friends  of  this 
hypothefis  mud  mean  no  more,  than  that,  in 
early  ages,  their  language  was,  in  general,  bold 
and  florid.  And  we  have  already  obferved,  that 
ftrong  conceptions  naturally  clothe  themfelves 
in  figurative,  and  modulated  expreffions.  From 
Jlrong ,  to  regular ,  the  tranfition  is  not  difficult; 
and  the  advantage  would  be  great.  Uniform 
metre  would  give  more  delight  to  the  ear,  by 
rendering  the  mufic  more  perfedt ;  and  it  would 
be  more  eafily  retained  by  the  memory. 

We  may  account  for  the  formation  of  regular 
,uerfe,  on  another  principle.  This  fame  animated 
feeling,  which  prompted  men  to  dance  and  fingy 
would  alfo  prompt  them,  to  exprefs  themfelves 
with  energy  of  tone ,  of  Jlile,  of  Jentiment.  It  would 
lead  them  to  endeavour  to  adapt  their  language 
to  their  /ong.  But,  in  order  to  this-  union,  it 

mull 


1 


Dr.  Barm  on  Poetry.  65 

muft  become  meafured,  and  exad.  Hence,  the 
early  formation  of  verje,  which,  when  once  adopt¬ 
ed,  would,  for  the  reafons  before  mentioned,  be 
immediately  employed,  to  convey  their  laws,  and 
hiftories,  to  future  ages.  It  differed  but  little 
from  the  common  ftile  of  their  orations.  Ac 
lead,  the  difference  was  not  to  be  compared  with 
that,  which  is  found  in  the  more  advanced  pe¬ 
riods  of  fociety,  and  of  language. 

We  have  already  obferved,  that,  in  the  early 
ages  of  mankind,  when  their  lives  were  filled 
with  toils  and  dangers,  and  when  new  and  in- 
terefting  events  were  continually  opening  upon 
them,  their  paffions  would  correfpond  to  their 
fituation,  and  would  be  various,  vehement,  and 
adive.  Civilization  and  fcience  have,  as  it  vvere, 
minced  into  finer  portions,  the  feelings  of  the 
heart.  By  this  means,  we  enjoy  a  far  greater  number 
of  plea.urable  feruations,  and,  upon  the  whole, 

I  doubt  not,  a  much  larger  Jurn  of  happinefs. 
The  life  of  an  Indian  confiffs,  either  of  glare,  or 
of  darknefs.  He  is  either  tranfported  with  paflion, 
or  funk  into  ffupor.  Thefe  larger  maffes  have 
been  broken,  by  the  hand  of  culture,  intofmaller 
pieces,  which  are  in  perpetual  currency,  and 
which  maintain,  among  us,  a  more  equal  and 
conflant  enjoyment. 

But,  from  hence  it  will  follow,  that  the  Jlrong 
poetic  char  after  may  be  expeded  to  decline,  as 
taste  improves.  We  may,  perhaps,  hope  to  excel. 


66 


Dr.  Bnrr.es  on  Poetry. 

in  foftnefs,  delicacy,  and  refinement.  But  thefe 
ar t  feeble  graces.  The  mind  Toon  tires,  with  the 
perpetual  chime  of  fmooth  verification,  and 
with  the  unvaried  flow  of  gentle  and  unimpaf- 
fioned  fentiment.  The  burfts  of  honefl:  nature, 
the  glow  of  animated  feeling,  the  imagery,  the 
enthufiafm — Pheje  are  the  charming  properties, 
which  will  for  ever  exalt  the  poems,  in  which 
they  are  found,  to  the  firft  order  of  poetic  ex¬ 
cellence.  For  thefe,  no  appendages  of  art  can  be 
deemed  an  adequate  compenfation. 

A  writer,  whom  I  cannot  mention  without 
great  refpefl,  notwithfianding  our  difference 
of  opinion  upon  fome  interefting  fubjetts, 
feems  not  to  have  fettled  accurately  his  own 
idea  of  poetic  eflence.  Dr.  Johnfon,  many  of 
whofe  criticifms  upon  the  Englifh  Poets  in¬ 
dicate  the  ftrength  of  judgment,  and  fome,  the 
elegance  of  tafte,  fays,  in  his  life  of  Milton, 
“  Poetry  is  the  art  of  uniting  pleafure  with  truth, 
by  calling  imagination  to  the  aid  of  reafon.”  He 
then  mentions  the  different  fciences,  of  which  the 
Poet  fhould  be  a  mafter;  hiftory,  morality, 
policy,  the  knowledge  of  thepaflions,  phyflology. 
“  To  put  thefe  materials  to  poetical  ufe,  is  re¬ 
quired,  an  imagination  capable  of  painting  nature* 
and  realizing  fiftion.  Nor  can  he  yet  be  a  Poet,  till 
he  has  obtained  the  whole  expanfion  of  his  lan¬ 
guage,  diftinguifhed  all  the  delicacies  of  phrafe, 
and  all  the  colours  of  words,  and  learned  to  adjuft 

all 


Dr.  Barnes  on  Poetry.  67 

all  thefe  different  founds,  to  all  the  variety  of 
metrical  modulation.”  In  thefe  lafb  words, 
metrical  modulation  is  fuppofed  to  be  a  neceffary 
adjunct  to  knowledge,  and  imagination.  In 
another  place,  he  lays,  “  It  is  by  the  mufic  of 
metre,  that  poetry  has  been  difcriminated,  in 
all  languages.”  And  yet  he  had  juft  before  faid, 
“  That,  perhaps,  of  poetry,  as  a  mental  operation, 
metre  ox  mufic  is  no  neceffary  adjunct.”  I  am  unwil¬ 
ling  to  draw  any  other  inference  from  thefe  paf- 
fages,  than  this,  that,  fuch  is  the  difficulty  of 
fettling  with  precifion  the  poetic  effence,  even 
Dr.  Joh  nson  is  inaccurate,  and  inconftftent. 

If,  in  order  to  avoid  this  charge,  it  be  faid, 
that  a  diftindtion  is  made,  between  poetry,  as  a 
menial  operation ,  and  poetry,  as  an  actual  expref- 
fton  of  the  thoughts  in  language ,  then  it  will 
follow,  that  a  perfon  may  be  a  mental  Poet,  with¬ 
out  being  a  pradlical  one  3  becaufe  he  may  pofiefs 
imagination,  feeling,  &c.  without  being  able  to 
exprefs  thefe  mental  operations,  in  a  proper 
manner.  He  may  have  poetical  ideas,  but  not 
poetical  file.  And,  exadlly  in  the  fame  fenle,  a 
man  might  be  an  orator ,  or  a  painter ,  without 
being  able  to  /peak  in  public,  or  to  ufe  the  pencil. 

I  beg  leave  to  finifti  the  fubjedt,  by  a  few 
oblervations  on  modulation  of  language,  which 
have  fuggefted  themfelves,  in  the  courfe  of  the 
foregoing  fpeculations. 

F  2 


Different 


6  3 


Dr.  Barnes  on  Poetry. 

Different  languages  vary,  exceeding  widely, 
in  their  capability  of  modulation  ;  and,  from  this 
caufe,  will  vary  as  much,  in  the  mode  and  cha¬ 
racter  of  their  rhythm ,  or  mufical  compofition. 
Every  good  and  rounded  ftile,  in  profe,  as  well 
as  in  poetry,  has  a  metre,  or  mufic,  which  the  ear, 
when  at  all  refined  by  claffical  tafte,  can  imme¬ 
diately  feel ,  and  enjoy.  There  is,  in  finifhed  com¬ 
pofition  as  much  of  melody  and  fweetnefs,  in 
the  arrangement  of  profaic  fyllables,  as  in  the 
moll  poetical.  The  ear  as  nicely  difcriminates 
the  loft,  the  plaintive,  the  bold,  the  nervous, 
the  elegant,  by  the  flow  of  mufical  expreffion ,  as 
in  the  mod  exact  and  perfeft  poem.  From  this 
circumftance  alone,  we  are  able,  at  once,  to  dif- 
tinguilh  the  ftile  of  Addison,  and  Sherlock, 
of  Tillotson  and  Watts,  and  Young.  We 
diftinguifh  them,  as  eafily,  as  a  connoifleur  in 
mufic,  who  feels ,  at  once,  the  compofitions  of 
Handel,  and  thofe  of  Corellt. 

It  is  probable,  the  ears  of  the  antient  Romans 
and  Grecians  were  more  nicely  tuned,  to  dif- 
ccrn  the  melody  of  arrangement,  and  of  cadence, 
than  ours.  Or,  probably,  we  have  loft  that 
“  tune,”  or  mode  of  pronunciation,  in  which 
their  languages  were  fpoken  •,  for  a  modern  ear 
cannot  feel  that  richnefs  and  harmony  of  numbers, 
which  appears  to  have  been,  to  them,  fo  inex- 
preflibly  delightful.  “  Cicero  tells  us,  that  he 
was  himfelf  a  witnefs  of  its  influence,  as  Carbo 
<  was 


Dr.  Barnes  on  Poetry.  69 

was  once  haranguing  the  people.  When  that 
Orator  pronounced  the  following  fentence;  ‘  Pa- 
tris  di£him  fapiens  temeritas  filii  comprobavit/ 
it  was  aftonifhjng,  fays  he,  to  obferve  the  gene¬ 
ral  applaufe,  which  followed  that  harmonious  clofe. 
And  he  tells  us,  that,  if  the  final  meafure  had 
been  changed,  and  the  words  placed  in  a  different 
order,  their  whole  eflfeft  would  have  been  abfo- 
lutcly  deftroyed.” 

This  muficalntfs,  and  flow  of  numerous  com- 
pofition,  which  charms  the  ear  of  every  judicious 
reader,  is  certainly  felt  moft  ftrongly,  when  it 
is  read  aloud ,  with  tafie  and  expreflion.  But 
when  read  with  the  eye  only ,  without  the  accom¬ 
paniment  of  the  voice,  there  is  a  fainter  ajfociaticn 
of  the  found,  the  fhadowof  themujic ,  as  it  were,  con¬ 
nected  with  the  words 3  fo  that,  we  can  judge  as 
cxadly  of  the  compofition,  as  if  were  audible 
to  the  ear.  This  pow'er,  of  aflociating/crW with 
vfion,  is  formed  gradually  by  habit 3  for  com¬ 
mon  people,  who  are  not  much  accuftomed  to 
books,  hardly  underhand  any  thing  they,  read, 
unlefs  it  be  accompanied  with  the  voice.  And 
fome  Gentlemen  are  faid  to  have  acquired  this 
art  of  mental  combination  fo  perfectly,  as  to 
read,  even  the  notes  of  a  mufical  compofition, 
with  confiderable  pleafure. 

The  difference  of  modulation  in  languages, 
muft  give  a  different  chara&er  and  expreflion 
to  their  poetic  compofitions.  The  Grecian  and 

F  3  Roman 


yo  Dr.  Barnes  tin  Poetry. 

Roman  tongues  were  fo  happily  conftrudted, 
that  their  verfe  eafily  diftinguifhed  itfelf  by  its 
arrangement,  and  therefore  needed  no  fecondary 
or  artificial  aid.  It  lias  been  thought,  that  our 
Englifh  tongue  is  not  equally  happy;  and  that, 
therefore,  rhyme  is,  in  general,  neceftary  to  make 
the  difcrimination  perfedb,  and  to  give  that  chime 
or  muftc  to  the  ear,  which  the  fucceftion  of  long 
and  fhort  fyllables  alone,  could  not  effedb.  The 
fadb  adduced  in  fupport  of  this  obfervaiion  by 
Dr.  Johnfon,  *  is  certainly  true  ;  <c  that  very  few 
poems,  in  blank  verfe,  have  long  maintained 
a  charadber  among  us.  Thomfon,  and  above 
all,  Milton,  are  great  exceptions,  but  their  ftile  is 
fingular.  They  formed  thenrtfelves  upon  no 
model ;  and  are  originals  which  we  may  admire , 
but  ought  not  to  attempt  to  copy” 

This  remark,  though,  perhaps,  in  fome  degree 
juft,  is,  however,  degrading.  And,  if  the  tag 
of  rhyme  be,  in  general,  neceftary  to  our  Englifh 
poetry,  it  will  be  an  additional  argument  in 
favour  of  that  hypothefis,  which  luppofes  metre 
to  be  the  grand  criterion  of  poetic  diction. 

Yet,  methinks,  the  Dodbor  is  too  fevere,  when  he 
fays,  “  The  variety  of  paufes,  fo  much  boafted  of 
by  the  lovers  of  blank  verfe,  changes  the  rneafures 
of  an  Englifh  Poet ,  into  the  periods  of  a  declaimer 
To  me,  there  appears  a  very  eflential  difference, 

*  Life  of  Milton. 

between 


7i 


Dr.  "Barnes  on  Poetry. 

between  the  paufes  of  verfe ,  and  thofe  of  mere 
declamation.  The  poetry  of  Milton  has  been 
celebrated  by  the  belt  judges,  as  inimitably 
beautiful  and  harmonious,  from  the  amazing 
variety,  and  judicious  changes,  of  the  paufe. 
Thefe  are  fo  admirably  difpofed,  that  the 
ear  hardly  ever  tires.  There  is  none  of  that 
perpetual  famenefs,  and  recurrence  of  found, 
which,  in  common  blank  verfe,  is  fo  in- 
fufferably  difgufting.  Surely,  the  verfe  of 
Milton  is  not,  <c  verfe  only  to  the  eye."  I  cannot, 
therefore,  fubfcribe  to  Dr.  Johnfon’s  fentiment, 
“  that  all  the  power  of  Milton’s  poetry  confifts, 
in  the  fublimity  of  his  fentiment,  or  the  peculiar 
(he  elfewhere  calls  it  c  perverfe  and  pedantic’) 
arrangement  of  his  ftile.”  His  fentiments  are, 
indeed,  lofty  and  noble.  But  his  metre  alfo  is 
inexpreffibly  rich,  mellow,  and  harmonious. 
Whichever  hypothefis,  therefore,  we  adopt,  as 
to  the  conftituent  character  of  poetry,  that  of 
Milton  will  have  every praife, — of  sentiment,— 
Of  IMAGERY, — of  MODULATION. 


72 


Dr.  Barnes  on  the  Affinity 


On  the  Affinity  Jubfifting  between  the  Arts,  with 
a  Plan  for  promoting  and  extending  Manufac¬ 
tures,  by  ENCOURAGING  THOSE  ARTS,  On  which 
Manufactures  principally  depend.  By  Thomas 
Barnes,  D.  ID.  Read  January  9,  1782. 


“  Omnes  Artes,  quas  ad  Humanitatem  pertinent,  ha- 
bent  quoddam  commune  vinculum,  et  quad  cognatione 
quadam  inter  fe  continentur. 

Cicero  pro  Archia  Poeta. 


IT  is  a  queftion,  not  only  of  fpeculation,  but 
of  real  importance,  <c  How  far  is  it  defirable, 
that  a  man  of  learning  fhall  devote  himfelf  to 
one  particular  object  ?”  Or,  to  put  it  in  a  dif¬ 
ferent  form,  tc  Will  not  the  interefts  of  science 
be  bell  promoted,  by  a  more  general  and  extended 
application  to  different  ftudies  ?” 

In  the  life  of  Dr.  Isaac  Barrow,  we  are  told, 
that  great  man  “  entered  upon  ftudies  of  dif¬ 
ferent  kinds,  whereby  he  could  not  totally  devote 
himfelf  to  one,  which  would  have  been  more 
for  the  public  benefit,  according  to  his  ov*n 
opinion,  which  was;  that  general  Jcholars  did 
more  pleafe  themjelves ;  but  that  they,  who  pro- 
fecuted  particular  fubje&s,  did  more  pleafe 
others 


Whatever 


73 


Jubftfting  between  the  Arts. 

.  Whatever  truth  there  may  appear  to  be  in  this 
fentiment,  in  Tome  uncommon  inftances,  I  per- 
fuade  myfelf,  it  will  not,  in  general,  accord  with 
experience.  Though  every  man  Ihould  have 
fome  one  oeject  continually  in  view,  to  which 
he  Ihould  refer  all  his  knowledge,  and  by  which 
he  fhould  diredt  all  his  ftudies;  yet,  with  this 
aim,  let  him  rove  abroad,  through  the  various 
walks  of  literature.  He  will,  probably,  meet 
with  many  things,  which  he  will  now  apply, 
with  great  advantage,  to  his  main  fubjedt,  and  by 
which  he  may  illuftrate,  embellifh,  or  extend  it. 
General  Science,  with  this  particular  application, 
colledls  the  fcattered  rays,  refledled  from  a  thou- 
fand  objedls,  into  one  focus,  and  blends  all  the 
variegated  colours  of  the  rainbow,  into  one 
white,  and  luminous  point.  Whatever  praife 
may,  in  particular  cafes,  have  been  given  to  the 
man,  who  has  travelled  only  in  one  path  of  Science, 
his  ideas  mud  necefifarily  be  very  confined,  and 
he  will,  probably,  fall  under  the  charge  of 
pedantry,  and  affedlation.  The  Sciences  are 
fillers,  affeftionate  fillers  !  and,  as  the  Roman 
Orator,  in  our  motto,  has  beautifully  exprefied 
it,  “  Quafi  cognatione  quadam  inter  fe  continen- 
tur.”  To  be  in  the  good  graces  of  any  one  of 
them,  you  mull  pay  fome  refpedtful  attention  to 
the  reft. 

General  knowledge,  like  the  general  motion 
of  the  various  limbs  of  the  body,  gives  an  agility 

and 


74  Dr.  Barnes  on  the  Affinity 

and  vigour  to  every  part  of  the  mental  frame. 
The  continual,  folitary  play  of  one  particular 
limb,  may  give  ftrength  and  dexterity  to  the 
mufcles  connedted  with  that  limb;  but  the  pro¬ 
bable  confequence  will  be,  awkwardnefs  and 
imbecility  in  all  thofe,  which  are  not  brought  into 
action.  The  mere  mathematician,  the  mere 
grammarian,  or  the  mere  any  thing ,  may,  perhaps, 
with  microfcopic  eye,  fee  one  little  object  very 
diftindtly.  But,  if  not  accuftomed  to  look 
around  him  to  a  wider  range  of  vifion,  his  view' 
will  be  narrow,  and,  when  he  turns  from  that 
lucid  point,  he  will  be  enveloped  with  darknefs. 
It  is,  indeed,  impofllble  for  the  man,  whofe 
mind  has  not  been  expanded  by  fome  love  of 
general  knowledge,  to  appreciate  the  feveral 
fciences,  according  to  their  juft  value,  and  to 
affign  to  each  their  proportionable  (hare  of  efteem 
and  confequence.  If  Monfieur  Veftris  com- 
prife  all  human  excellence  in  dancing:  if 
another  man  look  down,  with  fupreme  contempt, 
upon  every  perfon,  who  has  not  plunged  into 
the  depths  of  mathematical,  or  metaphyfical  myf- 
teries,  what  is  the  caufe  ?  Is  it  not,  the  want  of 
fome  acquaintance  with  other  fciences  ?  This 
would  have  enabled  him,  to  range  the  different 
branches  of  knowledge  in  their  proper  order, 
and  to  apportion  to  each,  their  proper  fhare  of 
attention  and  regard. 


But 


JubJiJiing  between  the  Arts.  75 

But  we  may  advance  a  ftep  further.  The 
man  of  one  book,  is  not  likely  to  nnderjland 
that  one  book,  fo  well,  as  the  man  of  more  ex¬ 
tended  ftudy.  There  is  a  general  analogy  and 
affinity,  among  all  the  fcienees.  In  all  thofe 
which  require  cultivated  imagination,  or  im¬ 
proved  tafte,  general  knowledge  is  abfolutely 
neceffary.  To  form  elegance  of  mind,  there 
muft  be,  a  comparifon  of  ideas,  a  combination 
of  images,  an  extenfion  of  foul.  Hence  arife, 
the  fenfeof  fymmetry,  elevation  of  fentiment,  and 
a  capacity  to  relifh  the  beautiful,  and  the  fub- 
lime. 

The  more  abftrufe  fcienees  may  feem  to 
require  lefs,  of  foreign  and  adventitious  aid. 
The  metaphyfician  may,  like  a  mole,  work 
under  ground,  blindfold.  Buried,  ten  thoufand 
fathoms  deep,  beneath  the  furface,  he  may  need 
little  the  taper  of  the  other  fcienees.  And  yet, 
the  fa<5t  has  often  been,  and  experience  confirms 
it,  in  many  inftances,  at  this  day,  that  thofe,  who 
have  excelled  mod,  even  in  the  abftrujer  parts 
of  literature,  have  been  men  of  a  large  acquaint¬ 
ance  with  knowledge.  And,  in  general,  thofe 
who  have  (hone  with  uncommon  fplendor,  in 
fome  one  profefiional,  or  favourite  fcience,  have 
been  diftinguiffied  by  an  attachment  to  know¬ 
ledge,  in  all  its  branches.  Newton  was  not  the 
mere  aftronomer,  or  calculator.  Boyle  was  not, 
merely,  the  natural  philofopher ;  nor  was  Locke, 

the 


7  6  Dr.  Barnes  on  the  Affinity 

the  mere  metaphyfician.  They  had  occafionally 
wandered  into  the  other  walks  of  fcience,  and  had 
brought  from  thence  treafures,  to  enrich  their 
favourite  fbores.  To  thefe,  how  many  names 
might  be  added  ?  Barrow,  Hailer,  Watts — 
and  one,  whofe  name  I  cannot  mention,  without 
ftrong  and  grateful  fenfations— the  late  Dr. 
Aikin,  than  whom  few  have  had  mental  trea¬ 
fures,  more  various,  or  more  valuable  *. 

It  is  in  general  faid,  that  the  knowledge, 
which,  like  the  broad  ftream,  flows  over  a  wider 
furface,  mud  be  proportionably  fhallow  ;  whilft 
that  which  runs  in  the  narrow  channel,  mult  be 
deep.  But  we  are  deceived  by  an  image.  We 
argue  from  a  fancied  refemblance.  The  mind, 
long  poring  upon  one  objeft,  grows  tired,  and 
feeble.  It  is  neceflary,  fometimes,  to  change 
the  object,  in  order  to  re  (tore  its  tone  and  vigour. 
He,  who  can  thus  diverfify  his  purfuits,  keeps 
up  the  fpring  and  energy  of  his  powers,  the 

*  John  Aikin,  D.  D.  was  Tutor  in  Divinity  at  the 
Academy  at  Warrington  for  feveral  years.  Though  not 
known  to  the  world  at  large  as  an  author,  his  modefty 
having  unhappily  prevented  him  from  appearing  in  print, 
he  was  uncommonly  revered  by  all  that  knew  him,  for  the 
wonderful  extent  of  his  knowledge,  for  the  mild  dignity 
of  his  charafter,  and  for  the  various  excellencies  which 
adorned  the  Scholar,  the  Tutor,  and  the  Man.  He  was 
the  hither  of  Mrs.  Barbauld,  and  of  John  Aikin,  M.  D. 
both  of  whom  are  well  known  in  the  Republic  of  Letters. 

t  ardour 


fubftJUng  between  the  Arts  77 

ardour  of  his  Itudies,  the  keennefs  of  his  refearch. 
He  borrows  ideas,  images,  illuftrations,  from 
kindred  fciences.  His  mind  widens  with  in- 
creafing  knowledge.  He  fees  every  fubjeCt,  as 
it  were,  in  a  larger  field  of  vifion.  He  views  it 
round,  in  a  greater  variety  of  afpeCts.  His  foul 
is  expanded,  his  judgment  ftrengthened,  and  all 
his  powers  afiifled,  and  improved. 

But  I  meant,  principally,  to  extend  this  fenti- 
ment  to  the  arts.  Though  they  too  have  a  near 
affinity,  yet  it  is  not  generally  imagined,  that, 
to  excel  in  one  art,  it  is  proper  a  man  fhould 
have  any  knowledge  of  others  ;  efpecially  of  thofe, 
which  appear  more  remote  and  unconnected. 
That  a  poet  fnould  be  a  painter,  or  a  painter  a 
poet,  may  feem  defirable,  from  the  fimilarity  of 
tafte,  of  genius,  and  of  imagination,  necelTary 
to  excellence  in  thele  kindred  arts.  But,  in  the 
lower,  and  mechanic  employments,  how  feldom 
is  it  known,  that  a  man,  verfed  in  one  kind  of 
ingenious  labour,  has  the  mod  diffant  knowledge 
of  others,  even  of  thofe,  which  feem  mod  nearly 
connefted  with  his  own  ?  How  many  watch¬ 
makers  know  very  little  of  clock  making;  though, 
here ,  the  connection  is  as  clofe  as  pofiible  ? 
How  many  machines  are  ufed  at  Birmingham, 
in  the  different  branches  of  manufacture  carried 
on  there,  of  which  a  mechanic  at  Manchefter, 
even  in  the  fame  line ,  is  entirely  ignorant  ?  There 
are,  it  is  probable,  in  every  manufafture,  I  had 
•  almoft 


73  Dr.  Barnes  on'  the  Affinity. 

almoft  Said,  in  every  place,  Tome  peculiar,  and 
local  improvement,  which  has  never  yet  been 
extended,  beyond  the  vicinity,  where  it  was  firft 
invented  ?  Of  late,  indeed,  the  fpirit  of  enter- 
prize  has  gone  forth,  and  the  inventions,  made 
in  one  manufa&ure,  have  been  fometimes  trans¬ 
ferred  to  others.  The  machines  for  Spinning 
cotton,  have  been  applied  to  woollen,  and  with 
great  advantage.  And,  probably,  both  have 
been  under  great  obligations  to  thofe  curious 
machines,  for  twilling  and  manufacturing  fi lk, 
which  have  fo  long  excited  general  curiofity, 
and  admiration. 

So  great  is  the  analogy  between  the  Several  arts, 
that  no  man  knows,  to  what  extent  the  improve¬ 
ment  of  any  Single  art  may  affedl  others,  even 
where  the  relation,  at  firft  fight,  appears  mod 
diftant.  Who  would  have  imagined,  that  the 
difcovery  of  the  properties  of  the  magnetic  needle, 
would  have  had  Such,  amazing,  and  almoft  infinite 
effects  ?  That,  by  this  property  alone,  navigation 
fhould  become  fo  aftonifhingly  extended,  new 
continents  be  discovered,  and  a  new  /era  opened, 
in  the  hiftory  of  the  globe!  I  was,  a  few  days 
ago,  greatly  pleafed  with  tracing  the  progrefs  of 
an  invention,  into  Several  branches  of  art,  with 
which,  at  firft,  it  appeared,  not  to  have  the  nio ft 
remote  affinity.  I  refer  to  the  Cylinder,  covered 
with  wire- cloth,  of  different  finenefs,  originally 
intended  only  for  Sifting  flour,  meal,  and  bran, 

immediately 


fubfejiing  between  the  Arts.  79 

immediately  as  they  come  from  the  mill-ftone. 
For  this  ingenious  invention,  Mr.  Mills  got  a 
patent,  the  term  of  which  is  now,  probably, 
expired  i  for  the  perfon  who  fhewed  it  me, 
informed  me,  that  he  had  himfelf  applied  the 
Cylinder,  with  little  variation,  in  fif t i n g gunpowder, 
Jnuff,  tanners'  bark ,  and  fand.  So  that,  by  this 
fimple,  but  beautiful  difcovery,  the  dealers  in  all 
thofe  various  articles  have  reaped  already  con- 
flderable  advantage:  and  how  far  the  advantage 
may  Jiill  be  extended,  is  as  yet  unknown.  The 
power  of  Steamy  in  producing  effe&s,  to  which 
hardly  any  powers  of  mechanifm  are  equal,  has 
been  long  obferved,  in  the  Fire-Engines ,  in  the 
conftruction  and  application  of  which,  Philofophy 
has  lent  her  aid  to  Art^  and  Science  has  become 
the  tutor,  and  guide  of  Genius.  But  we  have 
not  heard,  till  lately,  that  this  adlive  and  potent 
principle  has  been  applied,  in  any  other  inftances; 
though  there  are  many,  in  which  a  principle  fo 
powerful,  and,  it  is  prefumed,  fo  manageable, 
would  be  of  unfpeakable  advantage.  The  exten- 
fion  of  it  to  machines,  for  J finning  cotton ,  and  for 
grinding  corny  is  now,  I  am  informed,  under  the 
contemplation  of  different  Artifts;  and,  if  cir- 
cumftances  favour  the  execution,  will,  probably, 
be  accompli  (lied.  * 


*  A  machine  for  fpinning  cotton  has  now  been  worked, 
for  fome  time,  upon  this  principle,  at  Manchefter.  And 
the  other,  for  grinding  corn,  is  faid  to  be  in  confiderable 
forwardnefs,  near  Black-fryars  bridge,  London. 


That 


So  Dr.  Barnes  on  the  Affinity 

That  our  manufactures,  at  prefent,  depend 
very  much  upon  our  machines :  that  the  Cot¬ 
ton  Manufacture,  in  particular,  is,  under  Pro¬ 
vidence,  entirely  dependent  upon  them:  and, 
that  their  ntmojl  improvement,  to  the  very  highefl 
point,  to  which  it  is  poflible  for  them  to  arrive, 
is,  in  the  prefent  circumftances  of  trade,  very, 
defirable,  for  the  fake  of  every  intereft,  and  of 
every  order  of  men,  dependent  upon  our  manu¬ 
factures,  I  will  not  here  attempt  to  prove. 
They  are  pofitions,  denied  by  none,  but  the 
loweft  and  weakeft  of  the  vulgar;  where  alone 
l'uch  weaknefs  is  pardonable.  Whatever,  therefore, 
may  tend  to  encourage  and  affift  thofe  arts,  by 
which  mechanifm  may  be  improved,  and  our 
manufactures  extended,  is  a  matter  of  common 
utility  and  importance.  The  Clergyman,  the 
Phvfician,  the  Gentleman,  are,  I  had  almoft 
faid,  equally  interelted  with  the  Tradefman,  and 
the  Merchant. 

To  anfwer,  in  fome  degree,  this  important 
end,  and  to  ferve,  however  feebly,  this  general 
interest,  I  have  imagined  to  myfclf  a  plan, 
which  appeared  to  me,  not  impoflible  to  be 
carried  into  execution,  and  important  enough  to 
be  attempted.  It  may,  poflibly,  appear  to  fome 
Gentlemen,  an  Utopian  lcheme.  Many  objections 
may,  at  firft  fight,  appear  to  rife  againft  it.  But 
I  have  all  the  confidence  of  a  PtojeCtor,  in  laying, 
that  I  firmly  believe,  with  proper  attention,  fuch 

as 


Jubfijling  between  the  Arts  8 1 

as  has  been  paid  to  other  defigns  of  public  utility, 
it  might  be  executed  ;  and,  if  executed,  mufi  be 
of  public  advantage;  an  advantage,  which  no 
man  can  eftimate  at  prefent,  and  the  full  extent 
of  which,  perhaps,  no  man  could  conjecture. 

Before  I  ftate  this  plan,  I  will  beg  leave  to 
make  two  obfervations,  in  addition  to  what  has 
been  already  faid,  on  the  fubjeCt  of  improve¬ 
ments  in  our  manufactures.  And,  fird, 

It  is  now  mere  neceffary  than  ever ,  that  our 
artids  and  workmen,  in  the  different  branches, 
fhall  be  poffeffed  of  fome  degree  of  tajle.  And 
tafte  is  only  to  be  acquired  by  that  general  and 
mifcellaneous  knowledge,  which  it  has  been  the 
objeCt  of  this  paper  to  recommend.  Our  manu¬ 
factures  mud  now  have,  not  merely,  that ftrength 
of  fabric,  and  that  durability  of  texture,  in  which 
once  confided  their  highed  praife.  They  mud 
have  elegance  of  defign,  novelty  of  pattern,  and 
beauty  of  Jinijhing.  To  effeCt  thefe,  all  the  aid 
of  improved  and  refined  art  is  effentiaily  necef¬ 
fary.  The  dull  plodder,  accudomed  to  pace 
round  and  round,  like  a  mill-horfe,  is  not  likely 
to  drike  out  any  thing  new,  and  elegant.  He 
may,  indeed,  adopt  the  improvements  of  others : 
but  his  will  never  be  the  praife,  of  ferving  his 
fellow-creatures,  by  any  inventions ,  of  real  im¬ 
portance,  and  utility. 

I  would  further  obferve,  that,  in  the  prefent 
date  of  the  Arts,  capital  improvements  are  not 
Vol.  I.  G  to 


^  *  B)r •  Baynes  on  the  Affinity 

to  be,  in  general,  expefted  from  thofe,  who 
would,  at  fird  Hght,  appear  mod  likely  to  make 
them  ;  I  mean,  the  workmen  in  different  branches 
of  mechanifin.  Turn  your  eyes  to  any  of  our 
numerous  manufactures.  You  find  every  divifion 
of  mechanical  labour,  executed  by  a  feparate 
fet  of  workmen.  Dr.  Smith,  in  his  Wealth  of 
Nations,  tells  us,  “  that  a  Pin  goes  through 
eighteen  feveral  didinCt  operations,”  each  of 
which,  probably,  in  a  large  concern,  is  per¬ 
formed  by  a  different  operator,  who,  it  may  be 
prefumed,  would  feel  himlelf  very  awkward  and 
unready,  if  obliged  to  change  employment  with 
any  other  of  his  fellow  workmen.  How  many 
hands  concur,  in  the  formation  of  a  Watch,  but 
very  few  of  whom  are  fo  well  acquainted 'with 
the  whole  mechanifm ,  as  to  be  able  to  put  the 
Vfatch  together,  or  to  calculate  the  different 
wheels,  of  which  it  is  compofed. 

I  imagine  it  to  be  owing  to  this  circumdance, 
that  improvements,  upon  a  larger  Jcale ,  fuch  as' 
tne  invention  of  great  and  complicated  machines, 
&c.  have  generally  been  made,  by  perfons,  not, 
originally  educated  to  the  profeffion  of  thofe  arts, 
in  which  they  have  made  fuch  adonifbing  dif- 
coveries.  Whild  the  regular  artids  have  had 
their  attention  fixed  upon  the  little  points,  and 
ramifications  of  art,  in  which  indeed  they  have 
become  adonidiingly  perfect,  the  others,  danding 
more  at  a  didance,  have  had  a  wider  field,  a 

nobler 


Jubfifting  between  the  Arts ,  .  83 

nobler  object  in  their  view,  at  once.  Hence, 
their  minds  have  been  extended  to  a  complex 
whole>  the  fil'd  faint  outline  of  which,  they  have, 
by  flow  degrees  of  patient  labour,  finifhed  into 
form  and  beauty.  Hence,  almod  all  our  late 
machines  have  been  invented,  in  a  part  of  the 
country,  where  the  date  of  the  Arts  is  not  greatly 
improved,  and  where  original  genius  is  not 
minced  down,  to  the  Ihreds  and  atoms  of  a  long- 
edablilhed,  and  widely- extended  manufacture. 

It  is  acknowledged,  that  mere  random  genius 
has  made  adonifhing  difcoveries  ar,d  improve¬ 
ments,  without  any  aid,  but  that  of  native  laga- 
city.  But,  on  the  other  hand,  how  many  minds, 
capable,  with  afiidance  and  encouragement,  of 
producing  the  happied  inventions,  have,  for 
want  of  them,  pined  in  obfcurity,  lod  to  the 
world,  and  incapable  of  any  great  atchievement  ? 
And,  we  may  afk,  what  might  fuch  genius  have 
atchieved,  if  fodered  by  fcience,  by  liberality, 
and  by  honour!*  What  Brindley  executed  by 

*  But  knowledge  to  their  eye,  her  ample  page. 

Rich  with  the  fpoils  of  time,  did  ne’er  unroll; 

Chill  penury  rcprefled  their  noble  rage, 

And  froze  the  genial  current  of  their  foul. 

Full  many  a  gem,  of  pureft  ray  ferene, 

The  dark  unfathomed  caves  of  ocean  bear; 

Full  many  a  flower  is  born  to  blulh,  unfeen. 

And  walle  its  fweetnefs  on  the  defart  air. 

Gray’s  Church  Yard. 

G  2  the 


$4  Dr.  Barnes  on  the  Affinity 

the  mere  dint  of  natural  parts,  is  no  exception 
to  the  rule.  How  much  more  might  even  he 
have  done,  if  aflifted  by  a  more  extenfive  know¬ 
ledge,  and  a  more  liberal  education  !  What, 
if  to  genius  and  application  had  been  added,  a 
larger  field  of  obfervation,  a  more  general  ac¬ 
quaintance  with  the  mechanical  powers,  and 
with  what  thofe  powers  have  already  done,  in 
the  various  branches  of  Manufactures,  and  of 
Arts  !  How  much  further  might  he  have  ad¬ 
vanced  !  That  human  ingenuity  is  not  exhaufi:- 
ed  ;  that  machines  are  not  yet  carried  to  their 
higheft  improvement,  and  that  they  ought  to 
be  encouraged  to  their  very  utmoft  exertions, 
none  here  will  queftion. 

Let  us  now  apply  thefe  obfervations.  I  have 
ventured  to  chalk  out  the  outlines  of  a  plan, 
the  foie  objeCt  and  principle  of  which  is,  the 
improvement  of  our  Manufactures ,  by  the  im¬ 
provement  of  thofe  Arts,  on  which  they  depend. 
Thofe  arts  are,  chemistry  and  mechanism. 
In  an  excellent  paper,  read  to  this  fociety  forme 
time  ago,  it  was  lamented,  ‘f  that  fo  few  of  our 
dyers  are  chemifts,  and  of  our  chemifts  dyers.” 
We  may  add.  How  few  of  our  Mechanics  under- 
ftand  the  principles  of  their  own  arts,  and  the 
difcoveries  made  in  other  collateral  and  kindred 
manufactures  ?  At  this  day,  I  am  informed, 
not  a  fingle  weaver  in  the  Norwich  trade  under- 
ftands  the  ufe  of  a  Fly-Shuttle. 


But 


35 


fubfifiing  between  the  Arts. 

But  to  proceed  to  our  Plan. 

The  firft  objecft  of  this  fcheme  is — To  provide 
a  public:  repository  among  us  for  chemical 
and  mechanic  knowledge. 

“  In  order  to  this,  I  could  vvifh  models  to  be 
procured,  of  all  fuch  machines,  in  the  various 
arts,  as  feem  to  bear  the  moft  diftant  relation 
to  our  own  manufactures.  All  the  proceffes  in 
thofe  of  Silk,  of  Woollen ,  of  Linen ,  and  of 
Cotton,  Ihould  be  here  delineated.  Thefe  would 
make  the  moft  neceffary,  and  important  parts 
of  this  collection.  But  to  thefe  might,  with 
great  advantage,  be  added,  the  aftonilhing 
effects  of  Mechanic  Genius  in  other  branches, 
which  have  not  fo  apparent  an  affinity  with  our 
own. 

“  In  this  repository,  let  there  be,  likewife, 
provided,  an  affortment  of  the  feveral  ingredients 
ufed  in  dying,  printing,  &c.  for  the  purpofe 

of  experiments. 

“  A  superintendant  will  be  neceffary,  to 
arrange,  and  to  apply  this  collection  to  its  proper 
ufe.  He  ffiould  be  a  man,  well  verfed  in  che¬ 
mical,  and  mechanic  knowledge.  And  let  his 
province  be,  at  certain  feafons,  and  under  certain 
regulations,  to  give  lectures,  advice,  and  aj- 
fijlance,  to  thofe  who  wifh  to  obtain  a  better 
knowledge  of  thefe  arts. 

<f  Laftly;  let  the  expence,  neceffary  to  open,  and 
to  fupport  the  fcheme,  be  defrayed  by  a JubJcrip- 

G  3  tion : 


S6 


Dr.  Barnes  on  the  Affinity 

ticn:  and  let  every  fubfcriber  have  the  power  of 
nominating  one,  or  more,  to  receive  the  advantages 
of  this  Inftitution.” 

I  mean  only  to  draw  the  rudeft  outline  of  the 
plan,  and  would  leave  it  to  the  enfuing  con- 
verfation  to  be  filled  up,  with  colouring,  or  fhade. 
By  this  fcheme,  properly  methodized  and  con¬ 
duced,  I  fhould  hope  for  fame  of  the  following 
advantages. 

This  mechanic  SCHOOL  would  properly  finijh 
the  education  of  a  young  Tradefman,  or  Manu¬ 
facturer.  It  would  fucceed,  in  its  natural  order,  to 
the  fchool  for  writing,  and  arithmetic.  It  would 
ferve  as  a  proper  ftep  of  tranfitjon,  from  thence 
to  the  warehouie  j  and,  perhaps,  it  might  become 
a  regular  part  of  a  young  Gentleman’s  preparation 
for  bufinefs.  How  defirable  a  part  it  would 
be,  I  will  not  here  fay.  Other  Gentlemen  prefent 
are  much  better  qualified  to  decide  upon  the  * 
queftion. 

But  the  principal  advantage  I  fhould  propofe 
from  this  lcheme,  is  this.  Here  would  be  a 
kind  of  general  ORACLE,  which  thole  might 
confult,  who  were  engaged  in  mechanical  im¬ 
provements,  and  who  might  here,  at  once,  gain 
that  information,  which  it  might  coft  them 
months  and  years  to  obtain,  by  their  own  un- 
afiified  efforts. 

It  would  be  very  eafy  to  enlarge,  in  theory, 
upon  the  poffible,  and  probable  benefits  of  this 

Inftitution. 


Jubfifting  between  the  Arts.  87 

Inftitution.  But  I  check  myfelf,  hoping  to 
hear,  from  Gentlemen  more  converfant  with 
manufactures,  their  fenfe  of  this,  it  may  be, 
vifionary  fcheme. 

Objections  will,  perhaps,  have  already  arifen, 
which  may  appear  ftrong:  I  hope  not  unanfwer- 
able.  That  of  the  expence ,  1  cannot  allow  to  be  of 
this  number.  Nor  the  difficulty  of  finding  a  pro¬ 
per  perjon,  to  fuperintend  the  Inftitution.  Nor  the 
regulations ,  neceffary  to  its  internal  management 
and  conduCt.  If  no  objections,  ftronger  than 
thele,  be  found  againfl:  it,  I  fhall  not  deem  it 
altogether  Utopian. 

Something  fimilar  to  this  has  been  done,  by 
the  society  of  arts.  But  the  two  plans  are  effen- 
tially  different.  They  give  premiums:  but  they 
have  no  lectures,  or  modes  of  InftruCtion. 
Our  plan  would  be  defirable,  in  every  large 
town ,  and  particularly,  in  the  center  of  every 
imoortant  manufacture. 

L 


Whilft  I  was  engaged  in  thinking  upon  this 
plan,  and,  like  the  Artift,  enamoured  with  its 
imaginary  beauty,  I  met  with  the  following 
paffage  in  Sully’s  Memoirs.  My  feelings,  in 
reading  it,  I  will  not  attempt  to  defcribe. 

He  tells  us,  that,  among  the  great  defigns  of 
Henry  IV.  which  were  prevented  from  being 
carried  into  execution,  by  the  untimely  and 

G  4  tragical 


83  Dr.  Barnes  on  the  Affinity,  &c. 

tragical  death  of  that  Great  Prince,  was  the 
following : 

“  There  was  to  be,  fays  he,  a  cabinet  of 
state,  in  the  Louvre,  deftined  to  receive, 
whatever  could  tend  to  the  knowledge  of  Finance , 
of  Science ,  and  of  Art."  After  enumerating  feveral 
of  thefe,  particularly  relating  to  the  army,  fuch 
as  lifts,  plans,  charts,  See.  &c.  he  adds,  “  I  con¬ 
ceived  a  fcheme,  of  appointing  a  large  room, 
as  a  magazine  of  models ,  of  whatever  is  mod 
curious  in  machinery,  relating  to  war ,  arts , 
trade ,  &c.  and  all  forts  of  exercifes,  noble, 
liberal,  and  mechanical ;  that  all  thofe,  who 
afpired  to  perfection,  might,  without  trouble, 
improve  themfelves  in  this  filent  fchool.  The 
lower  apartments,  were  to  hold  the  heavy  pieces 
of  workmanfhip  and  the  higher,  were  to  con¬ 
tain  the  lighter.  An  exad  inventory  of  both, 
was  to  be  one  of  the  pieces  of  the  great  cabinet.”  * 

What  a  pity  is  it,  that  this  noble  plan  was  not 
carried  into  execution!  It  would  not  have  been  the 
leaft  of  the  embellilhments  of  the  reign  of  Henry. 
It  would  have  done  honour  to  the  Prince,  and  to 
the  age.  f  I  mean  not  to  difparage  the  utility  of 
our  modern  colled  ions,  of  j off  Is,  Jhells,  moffes , 

and  infefts.  They  are  the  works  of  God  ■,  and, 

* 

*  Sully’s  Memoirs,  Vol.  IV. 

f  I  have  been  informed,  that  this  plan  is  fince  carried 
into  execution,  in  the  Palais  Royal. 

therefore. 


Dr.  Aikin  on  preferring  Healthy  &c.  8  9 

therefore,  worthy  of  our  highert  admiration. 
But  I  can  eafily  conceive,  that  a  fcheme  like 
this,  upon  a  fmaller  fcale,  might  poflibly  be 
applied  to  better  ufe,  than  many  of  thofe  collec¬ 
tions  actually  ferve.  In  a  town  like  this,  the 
opulence,  and  even  the  very  exiftence  of  which, 
depends  upon  manufactures,  and  thefe  again 
upon  artsy  machineryy  and  invention,  a  public 
cabinet,  devoted  to  this  purpofe,  would  be 
at'once  of  general  ornament,  and  utility. 


Remarks  on  the  different  Success,  with  refpett  to 
Health,  of  fome  Attempts  to  pafs  the  Winter 
in  high  Northern  Latitudes.  By  John 
Aikin,  M.  D.  Read  January  16,  1782. 

rV  'HOUGH  the  cure  of  difeafes  may,  perhaps, 
•*"  raoft  fafely  be  confined  to  the  members  of 
a  profefiion  devoted  by  education  and  habit  to 
this  foie  objeCt,  yet  prefer  ration  of  health  muff, 

in  fome  meafure,  be  committed  to  the  care  and 
judgment  of  every  individual.  The  difcufiion, 
therefore,  of  any  means  to  obtain  this  end,  di¬ 
verted,  as  it  may  be,  of  technical  language  and 
abftrufe  fpeculation,  cannot  fail  of  being  gene¬ 
rally 


90'  Dr.  Atkin  on  preserving  Health. 

rally  intereftrng.  The  mod  remarkable  and 
ufeful  account  of  fuccefs  in  this  important  point, 
perhaps  any  where  to  be  met  with,  has  been 
afforded  by  that  celebrated  and  much-regretted 
navigator  Captain  Cook ;  an  account  which 
was  juftly  thought  worthy  of  the  moft  honour¬ 
able  approbation  a  Philofophical  Society  could 
bellow.  From  fimilar  fources,  relations  of 
voyages  and  travels  by  plain,  unprejudiced  men, 

1  have  colledled  fome  other  fadts,  probably  at 
prefent  forgotten  or  difregarded,  which  appear 
to  me  capable  of  fuggelling  feveral  firiking  and 
important  obfervations  relative  to  the  prefer- 
vation  of  health  in  particular  circumftances. 
Thefe  with  a  brief  commentary  and  fome  gene¬ 
ral  refledtions,  I  beg  leave  to  fubmit  to  your 
confederation. 

Towards  the  beginning  of  the  lad  century, 
feveral  voyages  of  difcovery  were  made  in  the 
Northern  Seas ;  and  the  Greenland  whale-fifhery 
began  to  be  purfued  with  ardour  by  various 
European  nations.  Thefe  two  circumftances 
have  given  rife  to  various  inftances  of  wintering 
in  the  dreary  and  defolate  lands  of  high  northern 
latitudes;  and  the  furprizing  difference  of  fuc¬ 
cefs  attending  thefe  attempts  muft  ftrike  every 
reader. 

The  firft  remarkable  relation  of  this  kind 
that  i  have  found,  is  that  of  the  wintering  of 
Captain  Mo.ick,  a  Dane,  in  Hudfon’s  Bay, 
*  latitude 


in  high  ddoYtheYYi  Latitudes*  9  ^ 

latitude  63°.  20'.  He  had  been  Tent  on  a  voyage 
of  difeovery  with  two  (hips,  well  provided  with 
neceffaries,  the  crews  of  which  amounted  to 
fixty  four  perfons.  The  fliips  being  locked  up 
in  the  ice,  they  landed,  and  erefted  huts  for 
pafTing  the  winter,  which  they  occupied  in 
September,  1619.  At  the  beginning  of  their 
abode  here,  they  got  abundance  of  wild-fowl, 
and  fome  other  frefti  provifion  ;  but  the  cold 
foon  became  fo  intenfe,  that  nothing  further  was 
to  be  procured  abroad,  and  they  were  obliged 
to  take  to  their  Ihip-ftores.  The  fe verity  of 
the  cold  may  be  conceived,  from  their  feeing 
ice  three  hundred  and  fixty  feet  thick ;  and  from 
their  beer,  wine,  and  brandy  being  all  frozen  to 
the  very  centre.  The  people  foon  began  to  be 
fickly,  and  their  ficknefs  increafcd  with  the  cold. 
Some  were  affe&ed  by  gripes  and  looienefs,  which 
continued  till  they  died.  At  the  approach  of 
fpring,  they  were  all  highly  fcorbutic,  and  their 
mouths  were  fo  extremely  fore,  that  they  were 
unable  to  eat  any  thing  but  bread  foaked  in 
water.  At  laft,  their  bread  was  exhaufted  ;  and 
the  few  furvivors  chiefly  fubfifled  on  a  kind  of 
berry  dug  out  from  beneath  the  fnow.  When 
the  fpring  was  far  advanced,  no  frefli  vegetables 
could  yet  be  found.  In  June,  the  Captain 
crawled  out  of  his  hut,  and  found  the  whole 
company  reduced  to  two  men  befides  himjelf.  Thefe 
melancholy  relifts  fupported  themfelves  in  the 


9  2  Dr.  Atkin  on  prefer ving  Health 

bell  manner  they  were  able,  and  recovered  their 
ftrength  by  feeding  on  a  certain  root  they  dif- 
covered,  and  fome  game  caught  in  hunting.  At 
length  they  embarked  in  the  fmaller  {hip,  and 
after  undergoing  numberlefs  dangers  and  hard- 
fhips,  returned  home  in  fafety. 

In  the  fame  immenfe  bay,  but  as  far  fouth  as 
lat.  52,  Captain  James,  an  Englifhman,  wintered 
with  his  crew.  His  refidence  was  on  an  ifland 
covered  with  wood  ;  but  the  cold  was,  notwith- 
ftanding,  molt  intenfe.  In  the  depth  of  winter 
they  were  able  to  procure  very  little  frelh  provi- 
fion  by  the  chace,  and  all  became  grievoully 
afflifted  with  the  fcurvy,  except  the  Captain, 
Mafter,  and  Surgeon.  Weak  and  fick  as  they 
were,  however,  it  was  necefiary  for  them  to 
labour  hard  out  of  doors  during  the  greateft 
inclemency  of  the  feafon ;  for,  believing  their 
fhip  fo  damaged,  as  to  be  incapable  of  carrying 
them  home,  they  undertook  the  laborious  talk 
of  building  a  pinnace  from  the  timber  growing 
on  the  ifland.  At  the  return  of  fpring,  the 
young  greens  fprouted  up  much  fooner  and 
more  plentifully  here,  than  where  Monck  win¬ 
tered  ;  and  it  became  very  hot  before  they  left 
the  place.  They  loft  only  two  men  out  of  a 
crew  of  twenty-two. 

In  the  year  1633  two  trials  were  made  by  the 
Dutch  of  eftablifning  wintering-places  at  their 
northern  fifheriesi  the  one  at  Spitzbergen,  the 

other 


93 


in  high  Northern  Latitudes. 

other  on  the  coaft  of  Greenland,  in  latitudes 
about  77  or  78.  Seven  failors  were  left  at  each, 
amply  furnifhed  with  every  article  of  clothing, 
provifion,  and  utenfils  thought  necefiary  or  ufe- 
ful  in  fuch  a  fituation.  The  journals  of  both 
companies  are  preferved. 

That  of  the  men  in  Greenland  takes  notice, 
that  on  September  18th  the  allowance  of  brandy 
began  to  be  ferved  out  to  each  perfon.  On 
Ottober  9th  they  began  to  make  a  conftant  fire 
to  fit  by.  About  this  time,  it  is  remarked,  that 
they  experienced  a  confiderable  change  in  their 
bodies,  with  giddinefs  in  their  heads.  They  now 
and  then  killed  a  bear  ;  but  their  common  diet 
was  fait  meat.  In  March  they  were  all  very  ill 
of  the  feurvy;  and  on  April  16th  the  firft  man 
died,  and  all  the  reft  were  entirely  difabied,  but 
one  perfon.  This  poor  wretch  continues  the 
journal  to  the  laft  day  of  April,  when  they  were 
praying  for  a  fpeedy  releafe  from  their  naileries. 
They  were  all  found  dead. 

The  journal  of  thofe  who  were  left  at  Spitz- 
bergen  recites,  that  they  fought  in  vain  for  green 
herbs,  bears  and  foxes,  in  that  defolate  region ; 
and  killed  no  other  game  than  one  fox,  the 
whole  time.  The  feurvy  appeared  among  them 
as  early  as  November  24th  ;  and  the  firft  man 
died  January  14th.  The  journal  ends  February 
26th  i  and  thefe  too  were  all  found  dead. 


Not 


94  -Dr.  Atkin  on  preferring  Health 

Not  many  years  after  thefe  unfortunate  at¬ 
tempts,  an  accident  gave  rife  to  an  experiment, 
the  event  of  which  was  fo  entirely  the  reverfe  of 
thefe,  that  it  merits  very  particular  notice.  On 
the  fame  fide  of  Spitzbergen,  between  lat.  77 
and  78,  a  boat’s  crew,  belonging  to  a  Greenland 
fhip,  confiding  of  eight  Englifhmen,  who  had 
been  fent  adiore  to  kill  deer,  were  left  behind 
in  confequence  of  fome  midakes,  and  reduced 
to  the  deplorable  neceffity  of  wintering  in  that 
dreadful  country,  totally  unprovided  with  every 
neceffary.  From  their  narrative,  drawn  up  in 
thac  dyle  of  artlefs  fimplicity  which  affords  the 
dronged  preemption  of  veracity,  I  fhall  extradt 
the  mod  material  circumdances. 

At  their  wintering  place  was  fortunately  a 
large  fubdantial  wooden  building,  erected  for 
the  ufe  of  the  coopers  belonging  to  the  fifhery. 
Within  this  they  built  a  fmaller  one,  which  they 
made  very  compadt  and  warm.  Here  they  con- 
drudted  four  cabins,  with  comfortable  deer-fkin 
beds  j  and  they  kept  up  a  continual  fire,  which 
never  went  out  for  eight  months.  They  were 
tolerably  fupplied  with  fuel  from  fome  old  calks 
and  boats  which  they  broke  up  for  the  purpofe. 
Thus  provided  with  lodging,  their  principal  care 
was  about  their  fubfidence.  Before  the  cold 
weather  fet  in,  they  killed  a  good  number  of 
deer,  the  greated  part  of  which  they  cut  up, 
roaded,  and  flowed  in  barrels ;  reserving  fome 

raw 


95 


in  high  Northern  Latitudes. 

raw  for  their  Sundays’  dinners.  This,  I  imagine, 
muft  have  been  frozen  ;  as  it  began  to  freeze 
fharply  before  they  were  fettled  in  their  habi¬ 
tation.  This  venilon,  with  a  few  lea-horfes  and 
bears  which  they  killed  from  time  to  time,  con¬ 
flicted  their  whole  winter’s  provifion,  except 
a  very  unfavoury  article  they  were  obliged  to 
make  out  with,  which  was  whale  s  fritters ,  or  the 
feraps  of  fat  after  the  oil  has  been  preffed  out. 
Thefe  too,  having  been  wetted  and  thrown  in 
heaps,  were  mouldy.  Their  ulual  courfe  of  diet, 
then,  for  the  fir  ft  three  months,  was  one  meal 
of  venifon  everyday  in  the  week,  except  Wednef- 
days  and  Fridays,  when  they  kept  faft  on  whale’s 
fritters.  At  the  end  of  this  period,  on  examin* 
ing  their  flock,  they  found  it  would  not  hold 
out  at  this  rate,  and  therefore  for  the  enfuing 
three  months  they  retrenched  their  venifon  meals' 
to  three  days  in  the  week,  and  appeafed  their 
hunger,  as  well  as  they  could,  on  the  other  four 
days,  upon  the  mouldy  fritters.  At  the  approach 
of  fpring  they  had  the  good  fortune  to  kill 
feveral  white  bears,  which  proved  excellent  food; 
and,  together  with  wild  fowl  and  foxes  which 
they  caught,  rendered  it  unneceffary  any  longer 
to  flint  themfelves  to  fo  rigorous  an  allowance; 
fo  that  they  eat  two  or  three  meals  of  frefh  meat 
daily,  and  foon  improved  in  flrength  and  vigour. 
Their  only  drink  during  this  whole  time,  was 
running  water  procured  from  beneath  the  ice 
•  on 


9  6  Dr.  Aikin  on  preferring  Health 

on  the  beach,  till  January;  and  afterwards, 
fnow-water  melted  by  hot  irons.  The  cold  in 
the  midft  of  winter  was  extreme.  It  raifed  blis¬ 
ters  in  the  flelh ;  and  when  they  went  abroad, 
they  became  fore  all  over,  as  if  beaten.  Iron, 
on  being  touched,  ftuck  to  their  fingers,  like 
bird-lime.  The  melancholy  of  their  fituation 
was  aggravated  by  the  abfence  of  the  fun  from 
the  horizon,  from  October  14th,  to  February  3d, 
of  which  period,  twenty  days  were  pafied  in  total 
darknefs,  except  the  light  of  lamps,  which  they 
continued  to  keep  continually  burning.  With 
all  this,  it  does  not  appear  that  any  of  them  were 
affedted  with  the  fcurvy,  or  any  other  diforder; 
and  the  degree  of  weaknefs,  which  feems  im¬ 
plied  by  the  mention  of  their  recovering  ftrength 
in  the  fpring,  may  be  fufficiently  accounted  for, 
merely  from  their  fhort  allowance  of  nutritious 
food.  At  the  return  of  the  fhips  on  May  25th, 
they  all  appear  to  have  been  in  health  ;  and  all 
of  them  returned  in  fafety  to  their  native  country. 

The  laft  relation  I  fhall  adduce,  is  one  of 
late  date,  confiderably  refembling  the  foregoing 
in  feveral  of  its  circumftances,  but  ftill  more 
extraordinary. 

In  the  year  1743,  a  Ruffian  fhip  of  Eaft 
Spitzbergen,  in  lat.  between  77  and  78,  was 
fo  enclofed  with  ice,  that  the  crew,  apprehenfive 
of  being  obliged  to  winter  there,  fent  four  of 
their  men  in  a  boat,  to  feek  for  a  hut,  which 

they 


in  high  Northern  Latitudes <  97 

they  knew  to  have  been  eredled  near  that  coaft. 
The  hut  was  difcovered ;  but  the  men,  on 
returning  to  the  Ihore,  found  all  the  ice  cleared 
away,  and  the  fhip  no  longer  to  be  feen ;  and 
indeed  it  was  never  more  heard  of.  I  pafs  over 
their  firft  tranfports  of  grief  and  defpair,  and 
alfo,  their  many  ingenious  contrivances  to  furnilb 
themfelves  with  the  necefiaries  they  flood  moll 
in  need  of.  Their  diet  and  way  of  life  are  the 
circumftances  peculiarly  connected  with  my 
fubjeft.  After  fitting  up  their  hut  as  comfortably 
as  they  could,  and  laying  in  drift  wood,  collefted 
on  the  fhore,  for  fuel,  they  turned  their  attention 
chiefly  to  the  procuring  of  provifion.  Three 
fpecies  of  animals,  which  they  caught  and  killed 
by  various  devices,  conftituted  their  whole 
variety  of  food.  Thefe  were,  reindeer,  white 
bears,  and  foxes.  The  flefh  they  eat  almoft  raw, 
and  without  fait ;  ufing,  by  way  of  bread  to  it, 
other  flefh,  dried  hard  in  the  fmoke.  Their  drink 
was  running  water  in  the  fummer,  and  melted 
ice  and  fnow  in  the  winter.  Their  prefervatives 
againft  the  fcurvy  were,  fwallowing  raw  frozen 
meat  broken  into  bits,  drinking  the  warm  blood 
of  reindeer  juft  killed,  eating  fcurvy-grafs,  when 
they  could  meet  with  it,  and  ufing  much  exer- 
cife.  By  thefe  means  three  of  them  remained 
entirely  free  from  this  difeafe  during  the  whole 
of  their  abode.  The  fourth  died  of  it,  after 
lingering  on  to  the  fixth  year.  It  is  remarked 
Vol.  I.  H  that 


2>.  Atkin  on  preferring  Health 

that  this  perfon  was  of  an  indolent  difpofition, 
and  could  not  conquer  his  averfion  to  drinking 
the  reindeer’s  blood.  The  three  furvivors,  after 
remaining  fix  years  and  three  months  on  this 
defolate  and  folitary  ifland,  were  happily  refcued 
by  a  fhip  driven  cafually  upon  the  coaft,  and 
returned  home  in  fafety.  They  were  ftrong  and 
healthy  at  their  return,  but  by  habit  had  con¬ 
tracted  an  inability  of  eating  bread,  or  drinking 
fpirituous  liquors. 

To  the  above  relations,  I  fhall  add  the  follow¬ 
ing  fhort  quotations  relative  to  the  fame  fubjedt. 

In  a  note  to  the  account  of  the  four  Ruffians, 
it  is  faid,  “Counfellor  Muller  fays,  the  Ruffians 
about  Archangel  fhould  be  imitated;  fome  of 
whom  every  year  winter  in  Nova  Zembla  without 
ever  contratting  the  fcurvy.  They  follow  the 
example  of  the  Samoides,  by  frequently  drinking 
the  warm  blood  of  reindeer  juft  killed.  The 
hunting  of  thefe  animals  requires  continual 
exercife.  None  ever  keep  their  huts  during  the 
day,  unlefs  tHe  ftormy  weather,  or  too  great 
quantity  of  fnow,  hinders  them  from  taking 
their  ufual  exercife.” 

In  a  manufcript  French  account  of  the  iflands 
lying  between  Kamtfchatka  and  America,  drawn 
up  by  that  eminent  naturalift  and  geographer, 
Mr.  Pallas,  I  find  it  mentioned,  thac  “  the 
Ruffians,  in  their  hunting  voyages  to  thefe  iflands, 
(an  expedition  generally  lading  three  years)  in 

order 


in  high  Northern  Latitudes.  99 

order  to  fave  expence  and  room  in  purchafing 
and  flowing  vegetable  provifion,  compofe  half 
their  crews  of  natives  of  Kamtfchatka,  becaufe 
thefe  people  are  able  to  preferve  themfelves  from 
the  fcurvy  with  animal  food  only ,  by  abftaining 
from  the  vfe  of  fait.” 

Laftly,  in  the  excellent  oration  of  Linnaeus, 
On  the  advantages  of  travelling  in  one  s  own  country , 
printed  in  the  third  volume  of  the  Am*nitates 
Academic*,  it  is  afferted,  “  that  the  Laplanders 
live  without  corn  and  wine,  without  fait  and 
every  kind  of  artificial  liquor,  on  water  and 
fiefh  alone,  and  food  prepared  from  them  j  and 
yet  are  entirely  free  from  the  fcurvy.”  * 

Having  thus  flated  the  fadls  which  have  fallen 
in  my  way  relative  to  this  fubjedt,  I  proceed  to 
a  comparifon  of  their  feveral  circumftances,  and 
fome  remarks  on  the  general  refult. 

The  fcurvy  appears  to  be  the  difeafe  peculiarly 
dreaded  and  fatal  in  all  the  above-related  attempts 
to  winter  in  extremely  cold  climates.  Whether 
the  circum fiance  of  cold  itfelf,  or  the  want  of 
proper  food,  occafioned  by  it,  principally  con¬ 
duces  to  the  generation  of  this  difeafe,  is  a  point 
not  clearly  afcertained.  From  the  preceding 

*  “  In  Lapplandia  obfervabit  homines  abfque  Cerere  & 
Baccho,  abfque  fale  &  potu  omni  artificiali,  aqua  tantum 
&  came,  &  quae  ab  his  praeparantur,  conrentos  vivere. 

“  Quare  Norlandi,  ut  plurimum,  fcorbuto  fint  infedli ;  Sc 
cur  Lappones,  contra,  hujus  morbi  prorfus  expertes?” 

H  i  narrations. 


too 


Hr.  Atkin  on  preferving  Health 

narrations,  however,  no  doubt  can  be  enter¬ 
tained,  that  it  is  poflible  for  perfons  to  keep  free 
from  the  fcurvy,  in  countries  and  feafons  the 
moft  intenfely  cold,  provided  their  diet  and 
manner  of  living  be  properly  adapted  to  fuch 
fituations ;  and  this,  without  the  aid  of  frefh 
vegetables,  or  any  of  thofe  other  prefervatives, 
which  have  of  late  been  propofed  by  ingenious 
writers. 

When  we  compare  the  hiftories  above  recited, 
it  is  impoflible  not  to  be  immediately  druck 
with  thefe  leading  circumdances,  that  thofe  in 
whom  the  fcurvy  raged,  fed  upon  fait  provifions> 
and  drank  fpirituous  liquors  whereas  thofe  who 
cfcaped  it,  fed  upon  frefh  animal  food,  or  at 
lead  preferved  without  fait ,  and  drank  water. 

It  is  well  enough  known  among  fea-faring 
people,  that  frefh  animal  food  is  ferviceable  to 
fcorbutic  perfons  ;  but  whether  the  condant  ufe 
of  it  alone  would  prevent  the  fcurvy,  they  have  no 
means  of  experiencing.  As  little  can  we  learn 
from  their  experience,  whether  any  other  mode 
of  preferving  animal  flefh  than  that  of  faking, 
will  keep  it  in  fuch  a  date  as  to  be  falubrious 
food.  But  the  narrative  of  the  eight  Engiifhmen 
feems  to  determine  both  thefe  important  points  ; 
for  their  provifion  was  all  of  the  animal  kind, 
and  the  greated  part  of  it  was  flefh,  killed  feveral 
months  before,  and  kept  from  decaying,  either 
by  the  coldnefs  of  the  climate  alone,  or  by  the 

cooking 


IOI 


hi  high  Northern  Latitudes . 

cooking  it  had  undergone.  It  is  evident,  too, 
that  the  failors  of  Kamtfchatka,  who  fubfift 
during  fo  long  a  voyage  on  animal  food  unfalted, 
mud  either  preferve  it  by  fmoking,  freezing,  or 
other  fimilar  proceffes,  or  mud  ufe  it  in  a  putrid 
ftate.  To  this  lad,  indeed,  from  the  accounts 
we  have  of  the  ulual  diet  of  thefe  people,  they 
feem  not  at  all  averfe  5  though  we  may  find  it 
difficult  to  conceive,  how  the  body  can  be  kept  in 
health  by  food  abfolutely  putrefied.  The  Lap¬ 
landers,  alfo,  who  fubfid  fo  entirely  on  animal 
food  without  fait,  mud  have  other  methods  of 
preferving  it  for  a  confiderable  time ;  and,  indeed 
it  feems  to  be  the  condant  pradice  in  Ruffia,  and 
other  northern  regions,  for  the  inhabitants  to 
freeze  their  meat  in  order  to  lay  it  up  for  their 
winter’s  dock. 

Thefe  fads  lead  to  the  confideration  of  the 
quedion,  whether  faked  meat  be  prejudicial,  on 
account  of  the  quantity  of  fait  it  contains  j  or, 
merely,  becaufe  the  fait  fails  to  preferve  the 
juices  of  the  fleffi  in  fuch  a  date,  as  to  afford  pro¬ 
per  nutriment  ?  The  latter,  I  believe,  is  the  more 
prevalent  opinion  ;  yet  I  confefs,  I  cannot  but 
think,  that  fea-falt  itielf,  when  taken  in  large 
quantities,  mud  prove  unfriendly  to  the  bc^y, 
I  ne  feptic  quality  of  Jmall  proportions  of  fait 
mixed  with  animal  matters  (and  fmall  proportions 
only  can  be  received  into  the  juices  of  a  living 
pnimal)  has  been  proved  by  the  well-known 

H  ^  experiment^ 


102 


Dr.  Aikin  on  preferving  Health 

experiments  of  Sir  John  Pringle.  But  befides 
this,  it  may  prove  hurtful,  by  the  acrimonious  and 
corroflve  property  with  which  it  may  impregnate 
the  fluids.  It  is  univerfally  allowed,  that  much 
ftlt,  and  faked  meats,  are  very  prejudicial  in  the 
diforders  vulgarly  called  Jcorbutic  amongfl;  us  s 
which,  though  in  manyrefpeds  different  from  the 
genuine  fea-fcurvy,  yet  refemble  this  difeafe  in 
many  leading  fymptoms,  as  laflitude,  livid 
blotches,  fpungygums,  and  difpofltion  to  haemorr¬ 
hage.  And  fome  of  the  fymptoms  of  the  fea- 
fcurvy  feem  to  indicate  a  Jaline,  and  not  a  Amply 
putrid  acrimony  ;  fuch  as  that  of  the  disjoining  of 
bones  formerly  broken,  in  which  cafe,  the  offeous 
matter  of  the  callus  is  probably  rediffolved,  by 
the  faline  principle  contained  in  the  animal  fluids. 
On  the  other  hand,  it  feems  to  be  a  fad,  that 
feveral  of  the  northern  nations,  whofe  diet  is 
extremely  putrid,  (as  before  hinted  with  refped 
to  the  people  of  Kamtfchatka)  are  able  to  preferve 
themfelves  from  the  fcurvy  j  therefore,  putrid 
aliments  alone  will  not  neceffarily  induce  it. 

On  the  whole,  on  an  attentive  confideration  of 
the  fads  which  have  been  recited,  fome  of  which 
are  upon  a  pretty  extenflve  fcale,  I  cannot  but 
adopt  the  opinion,  that  the  uje  of  Jea-Jalt  is  a  very 
■principal  caiife  of  the  fcurvy  ;  and  that  a  total  abJH- 
nence  from  it ,  is  one  of  the  mofl  important  means  for 
preventing  this  difeafe. 


A  conflder- 


in  high  Northern  Latitudes .  103 

A  confiderable  article  of  the  diet  of  the  eight 
Englifhmen,  though  neceffity  alone  could  have 
brought  them  to  ufe  it,  was  probably  of  confider- 
able  fervice  in  preventing  the  diforders  to  which 
their  fituation  rendered  them  liable.  This  was, 
the  whale's  fritters ,  which,  though  deprived  of 
great  part  of  their  oil,  muft  ftill  contain  no 
fmall  fhare  of  it.  All  voyagers  agree,  that  the 
Samoides,  Efquimaux,  Greenlanders,  and  other 
inhabitants  of  the  polar  regions,  make  great  ufe 
of  the  fat  and  oil  of  fifh  and  marine  animals  in 
their  diet,  and  indeed  can  fcarcely  fubfift  without 
them.  In  what  precife  manner  thefe  fubftances 
adt,  is  not,  perhaps,  eafily  explained  ;  but  as  the 
ufe  of  them  would,  doubclefs,  caufe  an  accumula¬ 
tion  of  fimilar  parts  in  the  body,  and  as  we  find 
all  animals  deftined  to  endure  the  fevere  cold  of 
the  ardtic  climates,  are  copioufly  furnifhed  with 
fat,  we  may  conclude,  that  it  pofTefTes  fome 
peculiar  efficacy  in  defending  from  the  impreffions 
of  cold. 

With  refpedt  to  the  warm  reindeer’s  blood,  which 
the  Ruffian  failors  feem  to  have  thought  fo 
falutary,  and  the  ufe  of  which  is  confirmed  in 
one  of  the  quotations  ;  if  it  has  any  particular 
effiedt  in  preventing  the  fcurvy,  beyond  that  of 
the  juices  extradted  from  recent  animal  fieffi  by 
cookery  or  digeftion,  it  muft  probably  refide  in 
fome  unaffimilated  particles,  derived  from  the 
vegetable  food  of  the  animal,  and  ftill  retaining 

H  4.  confiderably 


104  Dr.  dikin  on  preferving  Health 

confiderably  of  a  vegetable  nature.  It  is  well 
known  that  the  chyle  does  not  immediately  lofe 
its  peculiar  properties,  and  mix  undiftinguifliably 
with  the  blood  ;  and  that  the  milk,  chat  fecretion 
the  moft  fpeedily  and  abundantly  feparated  from 
the  blood,  pofifefles  many  properties  in  common 
with  vegetable  fubftances.  As  to  their  other  pre- 
fervative,  the  J wallowing  of  raw  frozen  meat ,  I  am 
at  a  lofs  to  account  for  any  falutary  effetts  it 
may  have,  except  as  an  aliment  rendered  eafy  of 
digeftion,  by  the  power  of  froft  in  making  fub- 
flances  tender. 

To  proceed  to  the  next  important  article,  that 
of  drink.  It  appears,  that  in  all  the  unfuccefsful 
inftances,  vinous  and  fpirituous  liquors  were 
■ufed,  and  probably  in  confiderable  quantities. 
Thus,  in  one  of  the  Dutch  journals,  notice  is 
taken,  that  an  allowance  of  brandy  began  to 
be  ferved  to  each  man  as  foon  as  the  middle  of 
September.  Writers  on  the  fcurvy  feem  almofl: 
unanimoufly  to  confider  a  portion  of  thefe  liquors, 
as  an  ufeful  addition  to  the  diet  of  perfons  expofed 
to  the  caufes  of  this  difcafe  ;  and  due  deference 
ought  certainly  to  be  paid  to  their  knowledge 
and  experience  :  but,  convinced  as  I  am,  that 
art  never  made  fo  fatal  a  prefent  to  mankind 
as  the  invention  of  diddling  fpirituous  liquors, 
and  that  they  are  feldom  or  never  a  necelTary, 
but  almofl:  always  a  pernicious  article  in  the  diet 
qf  men  in  health,  I  cannot  but  look  with  peculiar 

fatisfa&ioi? 


in  high  Northern  Latitudes .  105 

fatisfadtion  on  the  confirmation  this  opinion  re¬ 
ceives  by  the  events  in  thefe  narratives. 

Indeed,  from  reafoning  alone,  we  might 
naturally  be  led  to  the  fame  conclufion.  \ 
great  degree  of  cold  renders  the  fibres  rigid; 
and,  by  repelling  the  blood  and  nervous  principle 
from  the  furface  of  the  body,  increafes  the  vital 
energy  of  the  internal  organs.  Hence,  the  heart 
contradts  more  forcibly,  and  the  domach  has  its 
warmth  and  mufcular  adtion  augmented.  In 
thefe  circumdances,  dimulants  and  adringents 
feem  by  no  means  indicated ;  but  rather  fub- 
ftances  of  an  oppofite  nature.  We  have  acquired, 
by  aflociation,  the  idea  of  oppofing  actual  cold 
by  matters  ■potentially  or  metaphorically  hot;  but 
this  is  in  great  meafure  a  fallacious  notion.  On 
the  contrary,  it  is  found  that  the  effedts  of  exceffive 
heat  are  bed  refilled  by  warm  and  acrid  fubfiances, 
fuch  as  the  fpicy  and  aromatic  vegetables  which 
the  hot  climates  mod  abundantly  produce,  and 
which  are  fo  much  ufed  in  the  diet  of  the  inhabi¬ 
tants.  And  if  it  be  admitted  as  a  general  law  of 
nature,  that  every  country  yields  the  products 
bed  adapted  to  the  health  and  fudenance  of  its 
inhabitants,  we  Ihould  conclude,  that  aromatic 
vegetables,  and  fermented  liquors,  are  peculiarly 
appropriated  to  the  warmer  climates;  while 
bland,  oily  animal  matters  are  rather  defigned 
for  the  ufe  of  the  frigid  regions.  Spirits,  as 
{intifeptics,  may,  indeed,  feem  to  be  indicated, 

where 


jo 6  Dr .  Aikin  on  prefervlng  Health 

where  there  is  a  necefTity  of  living  upon  corrupted 
putrefcent  fieth ;  but  they  cannot  a£t  in  this  way 
without,  at  the  fame  time,  rendering  the  food 
harder  and  more  indigeftible,  and,  confequently, 
leflening  the  quantity  of  nutriment  to  be  derived 
from  it.  The  temporary  glow  and  elevation 
caufed  by  fpirituous  liquors  are,  I  imagine,  very 
fallacious  tokens  of  their  good  effefts  ;  as  they 
are  always  fucceeded  by  a  greater  reverfe,  and 
tend  rather  to  confume  and  exhauft,  than  to 
feed  and  invigorate,  the  genuine  principle  of 
vital  energy.  Another  extremely  pernicious 
effe<5l  of  thefe  liquors,  is,  the  indolence  and 
ftupidity  they  occafion,  rendering  men  inattentive 
to  their  own  prefervation,  and  unwilling  to  ufe 
thofe  exertions,  which  are  fo  peculiarly  necefiary 
in  fituations  like  thofe  defcribed  in  the  foregoing 
narratives.  And  this  leads  me  to  the  confideration 
of  a  third  important  head,  that  of  exercife. 

The  utility  of  regular  and  vigorous  exercife  to 
men  expofed  to  the  caufes  inducing  fcurvy,  is 
abundantly  confirmed  by  experience.  Captain 
Cook  feems  to  attribute  his  remarkable  fuccefs  in 
preferving  the  health  of  his  crew,  more  to  great 
attention  to  this  point  than  to  any  other  circum- 
flance.  This  opinion  is  greatly  corroborated  by 
the  relations  before  us.  Captain  Monck’s  crew, 
wintering  with  their  (hips  in  fafety  before  them, 
and  well  fu  nifhed  with  all  kinds  of  fea  (lores, 
could  have  little  occafion  for  labour.  The  two 

companies 


in  high  Northern  Latitudes ,  1 07 

companies  of  Dutchmen  feem  to  have  done  little 
during  their  melancholy  abode,  but  drink  brandy, 
and  fmoke  tobacco  over  their  fires.  On  the  other 
hand.  Captain  James’s  men  were  very  fufficiently 
employed  in  the  laborious  tafk  of  building  their 
pinnace,  which,  notwithftanding  their  weak  and 
fickly  ftate,  they  had  nearly  completed,  before 
they  found  the  work  unneceflary.  The  three 
Ruffians  on  Eaft  Spitzbergen  who  furvived,  are 
exprefsly  faid,  to  have  ufed  much  exercife  by  way 
of  prefervative  ;  as  alio,  according  to  Counlellor 
Muller,  do  thofe  who  winter  on  Nova  Zembla, 
A  difficulty,  however,  here  occurs ;  which  is,  that 
we  know  it  to  be  the  cuftom  of  the  inhabitants  of 
the  very  northern  regions,  to  fpend  their  long 
winter  night  almoft  entirely  under  ground  j 
feeming,  in  that  refpeft,  to  imitate  the  animals  of 
the  country,  which  lie  torpid  in  their  holes  and 
dens  during  the  winter.  From  the  journal  of  the 
eight  Englifhmen,  too,  I  fnould  judge,  that  they 
were  inattive  during  the  greateft  part  of  the  time 
that  the  fun  was  invifible.  But  it  is  to  be  remarked, 
that  in  thefe  inftances,  what  I  confider  as  the 
moft  powerful  caufe  of  the  fcurvy,  the  ufe  of  falted 
provifions,  did  not  exift  ;  and  therefore  lefs  power¬ 
ful  prefervatives  would  be  necefiary.  Further, 
the  Engliffi  crew  had  a  very  icantv  allowance  of 
provifion  of  any  kind  ;  which  would,  doubtlefs, 
take  off  from  the  neceffity  of  much  exercife. 

1  hus,  the  animals  which  flcep  out  the  winter, 

take 


so3  Dr.  Atkin  on  ■preferving  Health 

take  in  no  nutriment  whatfoever,  and  therefore 
are  not  injured  by  abfolute  reft. 

Exercife  is  probably  ferviceable,  both  by  pro¬ 
moting  the  difcharge  of  effete  and  corrupted 
particles  by  excretion,  and  by  augmenting  the 
animal  heat.  As  far  as  cold  in  itfelf  can  be 
fuppofed  a  caufe  of  difeafe;  its  effedls  will  be 
moft  dire&ly  oppofed,  by  increafing  the  internal 
or  external  heat.  And  this  leads  to  the  confi- 
deration  of  the  further  means  for  guarding 
againft  and  tempering  the  intenfe  feverity  of  the 
wintry  air  in  thefe  climates. 

It  appears  from  the  journals  of  the  unfortunate 
fufferers  in  thefe  attempts,  that  they  endured 
great  miferies  from  the  cold ;  their  fuel  foon 
proving  inefficient  for  their  confumption,  and 
their  daily  increafing  weaknefs  preventing  them 
from  fearching  for  more,  or  keeping  their  fires 
properly  fupplied.  On  the  other  hand,  the 
Englifh  and  Ruffians  had  not  only  made  their 
huts  very  fubftantial,  but  had  fecured  plentiful 
fupplies  of  fuel.  And  the  nations  who  con- 
ftantly  inhabit  the  arftic  regions,  are  reprefented 
as  living  in  an  actually  warm  atmofphere  in  their 
fubterraneous  dwellings,  and  guarded  by  impe¬ 
netrable  coverings  when  they  venture  abroad. 
The  animals,  too,  which  retire  during  the  winter, 
are  always  found  in  clofe  caverns,  or  deep  burrows, 
rolled  up,  and  frequently  heaped  together  in 
numbers,  fo  as  to  preferve  a  confiderable  degree 

of 


in  Ugh  Northern  Latitudes .  iO£ 

of  warmth.  Of  the  feveral  methods  of  procur¬ 
ing  heat,  there  can  be  little  doubt,  that  warm 
clothing,  and  the  mutual  contact  of  animal 
bodies,  mull  be  the  mod  friendly,  as  being  moft 
equable,  and  not  inviting  fuch  an  influx  of  cold 
air,  as  is  caufed  by  the  burning  of  an  artificial 
fire.  And  the  advantage  of  fubterraneous  lodg¬ 
ings  is  proved  by  the  well-known  fatt,  of  the 
unchanging  temperature  of  the  air  at  certain 
depths  beneath  the  furface. 

Thefe  are  the  moft  material  obfervations  that 
have  occurred  to  me,  on  reflecting  upon  the 
remarkable  hiftories  and  fafts  above  related.  I 
would  flatter  myfelf  that  they  might  aftift  in  the 
framing  of  fuch  rules  and  precautions,  as  would 
render  the  fuccefs  of  any  future  attempts  of  the 
like  kind,  lefs  precarious.  I  fhall  be  happy,  if 
they  prove  acceptable  to  the  Society,  to  whom 
I  have  the  honour  of  addrefting  them ;  and  ftill 
more,  if  they  in  any  degree  conduce  to  the  wel¬ 
fare  of  mankind. 


no  M.  de  Polier  bn  the  Pleafures  of  the  Mind 


An  Essay  on  the  Pleasure  which  the  Mtnd 
receives  from  the  Exercife  of  its  Faculties,  and  that 
of  Taste  in  particular.  By  Charles  de 
Polier,  Efq.  Read  February  ij,  1782. 

“  Denique  fit  quodvis  fimplex  dentaxat  et  unum.” 

Ho  a.  de  Art.  Poet. 

HAT  the  exercife  of  the  mind  is  no  lefs 


JL  necefiary  to  the  exiftence  of  man,  than 
that  of  the  body,  appears  incontrovertible.  The 
fenfes  of  the  brute  part  of  the  creation,  are  fo 
much  more  perfect  than  ours,  that  thereby  they 
are  enabled  to  purfue  whatever  is  favourable, 
and  to  avoid  whatever  is  detrimental  to  them. 
In  giving  us  the  powers  of  the  undemanding, 
the  Author  of  the  univerfe  hath  abundantly 
fupplied  that  defed.  By  them,  we  not  only  rife 
fuperior  to  the  beafts  in  every  means  of  provid¬ 
ing  for  our  fupport,  our  defence,  and  our  wel¬ 
fare  ;  but  we  have  improved  upon  nature,  and 
made  the  whole  world  fubfervient  to  our  wants, 
and  to  our  defires.  It  was  not,  however,  the 
intention  of  Providence,  that  thofe  advantages 
Ihould  be  gained  without  any  trouble  on  our  fide. 
The  intelledual  faculties,  for  the  moll  part,  lie 
dormant  in  us;  to  roufe  them,  ftrong  exertions 
ire  necefifaryj  and  men  naturally  fond  of  eafe. 


and 


Ill 


hi  the  Exercife  of  its  Vacuities  '; 

and  prone  to  indolence,  would  forever,  perhaps, 
remain  in  a  date  little  fuperior  to  that  of  the 
brutes,  if  neceffity,  at  firft,  and  pleafure  after¬ 
wards,  did  not  call  forth  thefe  latent  powers. 

Pleafure,  the  parent  of  joys  and  amufements, 
will  be  found  alike  the  parent  of  Sciences,  and 
of  Arts  ;  Nature,  in  her  kindnefs  to  man,  having 
annexed  an  agreeable  and  pleafing  fenfation  to 
whatever  gives  exercife  to  the  mind  without  fatiguing 
it.  To  this,  we  are  indebted  for  the  improve¬ 
ments  made  to  arts,  taught,  at  fir  ft,  by  .neceffity  5 
and  for  the  difcovery  of  many  more,  either  agree¬ 
able  or  ufefuL  Nay,  fuch  is  the  charm  of  that 
exercife,  that  it  has  been  known  fo  to  elevate  the 
foul,  as  to  detach  her,  as  it  were,  from  the 
body;*  and  freeing  her  from  its  fhackles,  fee 

^  e  read  in  Aulus  Gellius ,  that  Socrates,  to  exercife  his 
patience,  as  he  fays,  but  perhaps  to  indulge,  in  all  its 
extent,  the  pleafure  we  are  here  fpeaking  of,  ufed  to  Hand 
for  twenty-four  hours  together,  in  a  Heady  poHure,  unmove¬ 
able,  without  even  fo  much  as  winking  his  eyes,  which  he 
conHantly  kept  fixed  Upon  the  fame  place,  entirely  abforbed 
in  his  own  thoughts,  and  feeming,  as  if  an  adual  feceffion 
had  taken  place  between  his  foul  and  body. 

“  wiH  be  but  doing  Mice  to  Aldus  Gellius,  though  not  a 
very  elegant  writer,  to  fet  down  here  his  own  words. 

“  Stare  folitus  Socrates  dicitur  pertinaci  fiatu,  per  dies 
atque  per  nodes,  a  fummo  lucis  ortu  ad  folem  alterum 
onentem,  inconnivens,  immobilis,  iifdem  in  vefligiis,  et 
ore  atque  oculis  eundem  in  locum  diredis,  cogitabundus, 
tanquam  quodam  feceflu  animi  fa£lo  a  corpore.rt 

Aul.  Cell.  Nod.  Attic.  Lib.  II.  Cap.  r. 

her 


1 1 2  M.  de  Polier  on  the  Pleqfures  of  the  Mind 

her  in  that  (late,  fo  beautifully  deferibed  by 
Akenfide,  when  he  fays,  in  his  Pleafures  of 
Imagination, 

- - **  The  high  born  Joul 

Difdains  to  reft  her  heav’n  afpiring  wing 
Beneath  its  native  quarry.  Tir’d  of  earth 
And  this  diurnal  feene,  fhe  fprings  aloft. 

Through  fields  of  air;  purfues  the  flying  ftorm. 

Rides  on  the  vollied  light’ning  through  the  heav’ns ; 

Or,  yok’d  with  whirlwinds  and  the  northern  blaft. 

Sweeps  the  long  traft  of  day.” 

I  omit  the  reft  of  that  noble  paffage,  too  long  to 
be  here  inferted ;  but  written  with  all  the  enthu- 
fiafrn  of  poetic  genius ,  joined  to  all  the  fweetnefs  and 
harmony  of  numbers. 

Vide  Akenside’s  Pleaf.  of  Imag.  B.  I,  Ver.  183. 

The  hiftory  of  Archimedes ,  the  famous  Sicilian 
Philofopher,  is  well  known.  Neither  the  fenfe 
of  decency  on  one  occafion,  nor  the  fenfe  of 
danger  on  another,  could  divert  his  thoughts 
from  the  objedt  they  had  in  view,  and  from  the 
pleafure  they  afforded  him.  If  the  truth  of  thefe 
furprizing  anecdotes  may  be  doubted,  let  us  at 
lead  acknowledge  the  poffibility  of  them,  from 
what  we  may  obferve  every  day  among  us. 
Would  not  one  imagine,  on  feeing  a  Chefs-player, 
for  inftance,  fo  entirely  wrapt  up  in  himfelf,  as 
to  appear  infenfible  to  every  thing  around  him, 
that  he  is  taken  up  with  the  care  of  his  own 
fortune,  the  prefervation  of  the  date,  or  fome 

fucli 


in  tie  Exercife  of  its  Faculties.  1 1 3 

fuch  great  and  important  fubjeft  ?  And  yet, 
all  this  intenfenefs  of  thought  is  produced  by 
the  pofition  of  a  fmall  piece  of  ivory,  which 
gives  exercife  to  his  mind,  and  procures  him 
that  pleafure  in  which  he  feems  fo  totally  ab- 
forbed.  Other  instances  might  be  adduced. 
The  entertainment  we  receive  from  riddlest 
charades ,  and  fuch  other  Jaix  d'EJprit ,  pro¬ 
ceeds  from  the  fame  fource.  Every  reader,  of 
acute  underftanding  and  refined  tafle,  delights 
to  meet  in  authors  with  fuch  delicate  thoughts,  as 
not  being  immediately  obvious,  are  juft  concealed 
enough  to  give  him  the  pleafure  of  finding  them 
out,  and  as  fuch,  may  be  compared  to  Virgil's 
Galatea , 

“  Et  fugit  ad  Salices,  et  fe  cupit  ante  videri.” 

Vi r.g.  Buc.  Eel.  3. 

There  have  been  fome  men  who  have  thought, 
that  the  exercife  of  the  mind  was  only  agreeable, 
by  anticipating  the  reputation  which  it  might 
give.  But,  however  ftrongly  the  motive  of  fame 
may  operate  on  the  minds  of  fome,  yet  the 
proportion,  when  attempted  to  be  made  general, 
is  confuted  by  daily  experience.  How  often  do 
we  employ  whole  hours  in  reading  and  meditation, 
without  the  lead  view  to  futurity,  and  merely, 
to  gratify  the  prefent 'moment  ?  Does  not  this 
prove,  that,  independent  of  any  other  incentive, 
there  is  a  pleafure  inherent  in  whatever  exerciles 
the  mind  without  fatiguing  it  ? 

VOL.  I.  I 


This 


1 1 4  M.  de  Poller  on  the  Pleafures  of  the  Mind 

This  principle  does  not  hold  good  of  the  mind 
only,  but  is  equally  applicable  to  every  other 
component  part  of  our  being.  There  is  an 
agreeable  fenfation  annexed  to  whatever  exercil'es 
the  organs  of  the  body  without  weakening  them  j 
and  in  the  fentiments  or  emotions  of  the  heart , 
whatever  keeps  clear  of  the  tumult  of  the  pafiions, 
is  attended  with  a  degree  of  pleafure.  Proofs  of 
thefe  pofitions  might  be  brought  innumerable, 
but  would  probably  be  unneceffary.  Mod  of  the 
ancient  philofophers  have  laid  them  down,  as  the 
foundation  of  their  ideas  of  human  perfedtion : 
and  there  are  few  perfons,  I  believe,  of  any 
reflection  and  experience,  who  have  not  felt 
the  truth  of  them  in  themfelves,  or  obferved 
it  in  others.  Jlluftrations  might,  perhaps,  be 
more  agreeable  than  proofs  j  but  in  a  fubjedt 
of  fuch  an  extent,  and  which  embraces  no  lefs 
than  the  whole  circle  of  phyfiology,  ethics,  and 
Belles  Lettres,  it  is  neceffary  to  confine  onefelf, 
and  I  fhall  therefore  do  no  more  at  prefent,  than 
offer  to  the  Society  fome  few  imperfect  remarks, 
on  l'uch  works  of  art,  as  give  exercife  to  the  mind, 
and  come,  chiefly,  under  the  province  of  that 
faculty  of  the  underftanding,  known  by  the 
jiame  of  'Tafle .  This  choice  is  not  altogether 
arbitrary.  Mere  intellectual  pleafures,  however 
agreeable  in  themfelves,  by  overtraining  the 
mind,  become  at  length  painful.  Organic  enjoy* 
ments  lad  onlyas  long  as  we  are  invigour.  But  the 

pleafures 


ii5 


in  the  Exercife  of  its  Faculties. 

pleafures  of  the  eye  and  the  ear,  as  Lord  Kahns 
ingeniously  obferves,  in  his  Elements  of  Critici/m, 
holding  the  middle  way  between  thefe  two,  are 
particulaily  fitted  to  occupy  the  mind  without 
exhauffing  it.  They  relax  it  after  intenle  ftudy, 
and  reftoie  it  to  its  proper  tone,  after  the  fatiety 
and  difguft,  caufed  by  the  mere  pleafures  of  the 
fenfes :  they  tend,  therefore,  mod  effentially 
to  prove  the  principle  I  mean  to  illuftrate. 

We  fhall  find,  accordingly,  that  the  agreeable 
fenfations  we  receive  from  the  produ&ions  of  the 
fine  arts,  are,  in  a  great  meafure,  owing  to  the 
order  and  fymmetry,  which  enable  the  mind 
to  take  in,  without  labour,  ail  the  different 
parts  of  them.  It  is  by  this,  that  rhyme  becomes 
agreeable  in  poetry.  Some  have  contended  in¬ 
deed,  that  this  return  of  the  fame  founds,  invented 
in  the  Gothic  ages,  ought  to  be  clafied  among 
the  Acroftics,  Anagrams,  and  fuch  other  frivo¬ 
lous  productions,  whofe  only  merit  lies  in  their 
difficulty.  They  inftance  the  Greeks  and  the 
Romans,  whofe  poetry,  far  more  harmonious 
than  ours,  charms  the  fenfe,  and  delights  the 
ear,  without  the  help  of  rhyme.  Eut  they  do  not 
feem  to  have  attended  fulficiently  to  the  ufe  of 
poetry,  and  the  nature  of  the  ancient  languages. 
Verfcs  are  made  to  be  fung,  or  to  be  rehearfed. 
From  the  mouth  of  the  aCtor,  the  mufician,  or  the 
reader,  whoever  he  may  be,  they  are  fuppofed 
to  pais  into  the  minds  of  a  whole  people  ;  and 

I  2  their 


1 1 6  M.de  Polier  on  the  Pleajures  of  the  Mind 

their  compofition  is  the  more  perfect,  the  more 
readily  they  prefent  themfelves  to  the  memory. 

The  Greek  and  Latin  tongues,  by  means  of 
their  long  and  fhort  fyllables,  and  the  various 
meafures  into  which  they  may  be  reduced,  form 
a  kind  of  chaunt ,  melody ,  or  noted  air ,  which  the 
memory  can  eafdy  lay  hold  of,  and  therefore, 
the  return  of  the  fame  founds,  becoming  ulelefs, 
would  caufe  nothing  but  a  difagreeable  repetition. 

Our  modern  languages  have  not  the  fame 
advantage,  or  poffefs  it,  at  lead,  in  a  much 
lefs  degree.  The  blank  verfe  of  the  Englifh, 
German,  and  Italian,  except  in  very  few  fhining 
exceptions,  feems  (as  was  quoted  fome  time  ago, 
in  a  very  ingenious  paper  prefented  to  this 
Society)  to  he  verfe  only  to  the  eye ,  or  depends 
at  lead  fo  much  on  the  fkilfulneis  of  the  reader, 
as  not  to  obtain  the  effeft  above-mentioned,  with 
by  far  the  greated  part  of  thofe  who  read  them. 
Poems,  where  it  is  ufed,  are  not  popular:  the 
ideas  they  convey,  the  fentiments  they  mean 
to  inculcate,  however  forcibly  exprefled,  do  not 
eafily  recur  to  the  memory :  and,  I  dare  fay, 
that  for  one  perfon  who  remembers  a  paffage 
from  Milton,  Young,  or  Akenfide,  there  are  twenty 
who  will  quote  fome  from  Pope,  Dry  den,  or 
Prior.  1 

This  controverfy  has  long  been  decided  in 
France ,  where,  notwithdanding  the  drenuous 
efforts  of  one  of  its  greated  poets  (Manfieur  de 

la 


in  the  Exerctfe  of  its  Faculties.  1 17 

la  Motte)  rhvme  has  kept  in  poetry  the  domi¬ 
nion,  which  the  nature  of  the  French  language 
incontedably  gave  it. 

In  England ,  where  a  Shakefpeare  and  a  Milton 
have  written,  the  matter  leems  yet  to  be  Jub 
Judice.  It  would  ill  become  me,  as  a  young 
man,  and  a  foreigner,  to  be  that  judge  ;  but  I 
may  be  indulged  in  fupporting  what  I  have  al- 
ledged  here  in  favour  of  rhyme,  by  the  opinion 
of  the  bed  critic  now  living  in  this  nation.  Dr. 
Jchnfon ;  who,  admiring  the  powers  of  Milton , 
and  the  amazing  dignity  given  to  his  fentiments, 
by  a  verification  which  he  otherwife  rather 
difapproves,  adds,  c<  He  that  thinks  himfelf 
capable  of  adonifhing,  may  write  blank  verfe: 
but  thofe  that  hope  only  to  pleafe,  mud  con- 
defcend  to  rhyme.”* 

Another  general  objection  has  been  brought 
againd  rhyme.  “How  comes  it,  fays  Monfieur 
de  la  Motte,  that  this  monotony,  which  you 
affirm  to  be,  by  its  nature,  fo  agreeable  in 
poetry,  is  almod  condantly  fo  unpleafant  in  a 
fider-art,  in  mufic  ?”  To  this  might  be  anfwered, 
that  the  chief  objedt  of  the  mufician  being  to 
delight  by  the  founds,  he  cannot  fucceed  better, 
than  by  varying  them  judicioufly  :  whereas,  a 
Poet  is  not  fatisfied  with  charming  the  ears 
of  his  audience  j  he  wiflies  to  imprels  on  their 


*  Dr.  Johnfon’s  Life  of  Milton. 

I  3 


memory 


1 1 8  M.  de  V oiler  on  the  Pleafures  of  the  Mind 

memory  a  feries  of  ideas,  of  fentiments,  of 
expreffions ■,  and  there  are  none  of  his  verfes 
which  he  would  not  be  glad  to  engrave,  with 
indelible  characters,  on  the  hearts  of  all  mankind. 
He  avails  himfelf,  therefore,  of  the  rhyme  which 
modern  languages  offer  him,  as  the  moft  favour¬ 
able  help  towards  the  attaining  of  his  purpofe. 

But  to  return  to  our  fubjet,  from  which  I 
mud  beg  pardon  for  having  wandered  lo  far. 
Imitation,  which  is  the  principle  of  all  the  fine 
arts,  is  another  fpecies  of  fymmetry,  whether  it 
aits  by  means  of  colour,  of  founds,  of  geftures, 
or  of  words.  The  objets  it  prefents,  eafily  take 
/A  hold  of  our  imagination,  by  the  comparifon 
we  make  of  them  with  objets  already  known 
to  us. 

Ariflotle  and  his  followers  have  maintained,  that 
the  pleafure  produced  in  the  mind,  by  the  repre- 
fentation  of  any  objet,  was  owing  to  its  acquiring, 
by  that  means,  a  new  degree  of  knowledge.  This 
opinion  feems  wrong,  becaufe  it  allows  no  differ¬ 
ence  between  a  juft,  and  an  unfair  reprefentation  j 
nor  any  gradation  of  pleafure,  from  the  different 
degrees  of  execution.  The  mind  every  way  makes 
a  new  acquifition  of  knowledge,  and  muft,  there¬ 
fore,  receive  agreeable  fenfations  alike,  from  the 
Iliad  of  Homer ,  and  the  Thebaid  of  Statius ;  the 
pitures  of  Raphael ,  and  thofe  of  a  fign-painter  j 
the  mufic  of  Handel,  and  the  uncouth  notes  of  an 
Irifh  piper. 


Other 


in  the'  Exercife  of  its  Faculties.  1 1  g 

Other  philofophers  have  afferted,  that  the 
reprefentation  of  an  objedt  pleafes,  only  by  its 
interefting  the  pafiions.  And  fo  far  it  is  true, 
that  the  foul  cannot  be  moved,  or  ftrongly  affedted, 
without  it.  But  does  not  even  the  lead:  interefting 
objedt  make  a  flight  impreftion  of  pleafure,  at 
leaft  on  the  furface  of  the  foul,  if  it  is  well  repre- 
fented,  and  if  an  exadt  fymmetry  is  to  be  feen 
between  the  picture  and  the  original  ?  Every  body 
muft  have  felt  it  j  and  it  proceeds  from  this  prin¬ 
cipal  law  in  the  nature  of  our  fenfations — that 
any  objedt  becomes  agreeable,  whofe  parts  are 
fo  formed,  and  fo  difpofed,  as  to  prefent  the  mind 
with  an  eafy,  clear,  and  diftindt  idea  of  the 
whole. 

What  is  called  Contraft  in  painting,  poetry,  and 
eloquence,  is  another  fort  of  fymmetry,  which,  by 
bringing  contrary  objedts  near  to  each  other,  fets 
off  the  features  of  the  one,  by  the  comparifon  we 
make  of  them  with  the  features  of  the  other. 
This  relation  has  been  taken  from  nature,  in  whofe 
works  it  feldom  fails  of  having  a  pleafing  effedt. 
It  is  from  it,  that  the  views  in  Switzerland,  and  in 
other  mountainous  countries,  are  fo  particularly 
agreeable.  The  diffimilitude  of  the  objedts,  which 
the  eye  embraces,  renders  them  all  more  ftriking, 
and  helps  the  mind  to  get  a  clearer  idea  cf  the 
whole.  Thus, when  fkilfully  applied  to  the  produc- 
tionsof  art,  contraft  is  generally  attended  with  great 
fuccefs.  We  accordingly  read,  that  the  ancient 

I  4  fculptors. 


120  M.  de  Toiler  on  the  Pleafures  of  the  Mind 

fculptors,  in  order  to  fet  off  the  beauty  of  a  Venus , 
a  Grace ,  or  an  Apollo ,  ufed  to  place  them  in  a  niche 
formed  in  the  ftatue  of  a  Fawn,  or  a  Satyr  -,  and 
Virgil ,  in  order  to  paint  more  ftrongly  the  agita¬ 
tion  of  Dido's  heart,  places  the  fcene  of  her  agonies 
in  the  night,  when  Morpheus  fpread  his  peaceful 
influence  over  all  the  reft  of  mankind. 

There  are,  befides  fymmetry,  certain  relations 
or  proportions,  which  the  mind  eafily  conceives, 
and  which  therefore  become  agreeable.  Thus,  in 
architecture,  for  inflance,  the  height  of  the 
porticos,  in  regular  buildings,  is  double  the 
breadth  :  the  height  of  the  entablature,  is  a  fourth, 
and  that  of  the  pedeftal,  a  third  of  the  height  of 
the  column.  All  eminent  architects,  among  the 
different  proportions  adapted  to  their  defign,  have 
always  made  choice  of  thofe,  which  the  mind  could 
comprehend  without  any  difficulty.  The  fame 
may  be  obferved  in  mufic.  Of  all  concords,  the 
unijon  and  the  odtave  fhould  be  the  mod  agreeable, 
becaufe  they  excite  more  vibrations  in  the  fibres 
of  the  ear :  but  the  pleafure  we  receive  from  this 
enchanting  art,  depends  more  on  the  mind,  than 
on  the  organ  adapted  to  convey  it.  The  fifth  is 
the  moll  agreeable  of  all  concords,  becaufe  it 
prcfents  to  the  mind  a  proportion,  the  finding  out 
of  which,  gives  it  a  degree  of  exercife,  that  caufes 
no  wearinefs,  confequently  no  difguft. 

Some  compofitions  there  are  in  mufic,  which 
pleafe  only  profound  muficians,  and  ftrike,  per¬ 
haps. 


121 


in  the  Exercife  of  its  Faculties . 

haps,  the  reft  of  the  hearers,  as  harfh  and  dif- 
cordant.  May  not  this  be  owing  to  the  very  fine 
tafte  of  the  former,  by  which  they  are  enabled,  in 
the  midft  of  feeming  diflonances,  to  find  out 
relations,  which  do  not  affeCt  ears  lefs  exercifed 
than  theirs  ? 

The  analogy  which  we  find  in  all  the  works  of 
nature,  allows  us  to  conjecture,  that  the  fame  law, 
which  determines  the  agreeablenefs  of  founds, 
has  alfo  an  influence  upon  other  objeCts  of  our 
fenfes.  Some  colours,  for  inftance,  fet  together, 
give  an  agreeable  fenfation  to  the  eye,  and  more 
fo,  than  if  they  appeared  Angle.  The  fame 
principle  may,  perhaps  be  extended  to  fmells, 
and  to  favours,  with  fome  reftriCtions,  however ; 
for,  though  it  may  be  generally  afierted,  that  thofe 
which  are  falubrious  are  agreeable ;  yet  it  muft  be 
owned,  that  their  agreeablenefs  does  not  always 
feem  to  depend  on  their  falubrity. 

But  it  is  not  juft  proportion  and  fymmetrical 
relation  alone,  that  renders  the  works  of  the  fine 
arts  agreeable.  They  are  chiefly  made  fo,  by  one 
principal  objeCt  or  common  end,  to  which  all 
their  different  parts  are  adapted,  and  which  enables 
the  mind  the  more  eafily  to  comprehend,  and  to 
retain  them. 

Wifdom,  in  morality,  has  been  defined — The 
having  one  good  purpofe  in  view,  and  ufing  the 
beft  means  to  attain  that  purpofe.  So  beauty ,  in 
the  imitative  arts,  might  be  faid  to  confift,  in  the 

choice 


122  M.de  Tclier  on  the  Vleafures  of  the  Mind 

choice  of  a  good  objeCl,  and  in  making  every  thing 
tend  to  the  exprefiion  of  it,  as  to  one  common 
end.  Certain  it  is,  that  this  correfpondence  of 
the  parts  with  the  whole,  is  to  be  confidered,  as  , 
the  firft  and  principal  caufe  of  agreeable  fenfations. 

It  is  alone  fufficient  to  give  beauty  to  the  moll 
fimple  objeCts  ;  and,  if  other  embellifhments  are 
wanted,  it  becomes  the  ftandard  of  their  propriety, 
and  the  rule  by  which  we  can  determine,  whether 
they  are  real  beauties,  or  only  (tuning  blemifhes. 
But  to  give  the  mind  an  eafier  and  more  agreeable 
perception  of  the  objeCt,  art  has  (till  gone  farther. 
Among  all  thele  parts  which  are  made  to  refer  to 
one  common  end,  a  principal  one  is  chofen,  to 
which  all  others  are  fubordinate,  and  which 
becomes  like  a  center  of  re-union  for  them. 
Architecture  can  illuftrate  this.  Unacquainted 
with  the  real  beauties  of  their  art,  the  Gothic 
architects  never  failed  to  place,  on  both  Tides  of 
the  body  of  their  buildings,  fuch  enormous  wings, 
or  rather  mafies  of  ftone,  as  almoft  totally  eclipfed 
it,  and  kept  the  fight  divided  and  undetermined. 
Bromante ,  PalladiOy  and  after  them  mod  of  the 
modern  architects,  taught,  perhaps,  by  Vitruvius , 
but  certainly  more  acquainted  than  their  pre- 
deceflfors  with  what  would  (trike  the  eyes  agree¬ 
ably,  have  placed,  in  the  middle  of  their  buildings, 
a  principal  part,  which,  eminent  above  the  reft, 
gives  the  fight  a  fixed  point,  from  which  it  can 

glance 


in  the  Exercife  of  its  Faculties.  1 23 

glance  over  all  the  red,  and  fo  enable  the  mind  to 
get,  at  once,  a  clear  and  didind  idea  of  the  whole. 

All  fculptors,  in  thofe  works,  where  the  eye 
might  he  divided  by  the  number  of  figures,  fuch 
as,  group,  entaglios ,  baffo- relievos,  (hew  great  at¬ 
tention  to  this  rule,  and  always  chufe  a  principal 
objed,  to  fix  the  fight  of  the  beholders.  1  he  three 
Rhodian  artifts,  whofe  joint  work,  according  to 
the  elder  Pliny,*  has  produced  the  famous  group 
of  Laocoon ,  which  now  (lands  in  the  Belvidere  at 
Rome ,  feem  to  have  had  that  principle  flrongly  in 
view,  in  the  difpofition  of  their  figures.  The 
Society,  I  trud,  will  forgive  me,  if,  by  way  of 
illudration,  I  here  join  a  defcription  of  that 
celebrated  monument  of  human  powers,  which 
Michael  Angelo,  himfelf  a  wonder  of  modern  times, 
ufed  to  call,  a  miracle  of  art.  This  defcription  I 
At  all,  for  the  mod  part,  take  from  a  French  book, 
which  deferves  to  be  better  known  in  this  country, 
from  whence  fo  many  annually  go  to  vifit  the 
clafiical  ground  of  Italy,  and  fo  many  in  vain,  from 
the  want  of  proper  guides.  I  mean,  Le  Defcription 
bijlorique  et  critique  de  P Italic,  par  Monf.  V  Abbe 
Richard,  6  vol.  i2mo.  Paris  1769.  In  Englidr, 

*  “  Sicut  in  Laocoonte,  qui  eft  in  Titi  domo,  opus 
omnibus,  et  piflurse  et  ftatuarite  artis,  anteferendum,  ex 
uno  lapide,  cum  et  liberos,  draconum,  mirabiles  nexus, 
de  Confilii  fententia  fecere,  fummi  Artifices,  Agriander , 
Polidorus,  et  Atbenedorus,  Rhodii.” 

Px.iN.  Hift.  Nat.  Lib.  XXXVI.  cap.  5. 

An 


I 


124  M.de  Polier  on  the  Pleafures  of  the  Mind 

An  hiftorical  and  critical  Defcription  of  Italy. 
By  Abbe  Richard.  Six  vols.  i2m0. 

The  group  of  Laocoon  was  found  in  the  Thermes, 
or  Baths  of  Titus,  about  the  year  1506,  under 
the  pontificate  of  Julius  II.  who  immediately 
bought  it  from  the  pofiTeffor  of  the  field,  where 
it  had  been  dug  out.  The  figures  are  higher 
than  nature,  and  of  fo  beautiful  white  marble, 
that  the  fight  of  it  alone  charms  the  eye.  The 
woikmanfliip  is  exquifite,  of  fuch  a  noble  ftyle, 
and  fuch  a  corredlnefs  of  execution,  as  befpeak 
it  a  work  of  the  beft  Grecian  age.  It  is  not  the 
Laocoon  defcribed  by  Virgil ,  as  rending  the  fky 
with  his  (hrieks,  ftruggling  hard  for  his  life, 
and  roaring,  like  a  bull  flying  from  the  altar 
where  he  has  been  wounded. 

<e  Clamores  fimul  horridos  ad  fidera  tollit, 

Quales  mugitus,  fugit  cum  faucius  aras 
Taurus.” 

Virg.  iEneid.  II. 

“  His  roaring  fills  the  flitting  air  around. 

Thus,  when  an  ox  receives  a  glancing  wound. 

He  breaks  his  bands,  the  fatal  altar  flies. 

And,  with  loud  bellowings,  breaks  the  yielding  Ikies.” 

Dr  yden. 

Tt  is  not  that  man,  execrated  by  a  whole  people, 
for  having  difcharged  a  fpear  againft  the  horfe 
con  lee  rated  to  Minerva,  and  whom  the  vengeance 
of  the  Gods  purfues. 


-  -  “  Scelus 


12  5 


in  the  Exercife  of  its  Faculties. 

------  “  Scelus  expendifle  merentem 

Laocoonta  ferunt,  facrum,  qui  cufpide  robur 
Lsferit.” 

Virg.  Ibid. 


_ _ “  The  general  cry 

Proclaims  Laocoon  juftly  doom’d  to  die, 

Whole  hand  the  will  of  Pallas  had  withftood. 

And  dar’d  to  violate  the  facred  wood.” 

Drydek. 


It  is  a  wretched  parent,  who  feels  his  ftrength 
exhaufted,  and  is  ready  to  fink  under  the  accu¬ 
mulated  weight,  of  exquifite  pain,  and  deep  felt 
affli&ion.  His  mouth  half  opened,  and  his  eyes 
lifted  up  to  heaven,  feem  to  call  for  afliftance 
from  the  Gods,  though  defpair  at  the  fame 
inftant  overwhelms  him  at  the  fight  of  his  own 
fate,  and  that  of  his  unfortunate  fons,  half  fmo- 
thered  and  devoured  by  the  monfters,  who  crufh 
them  all  three.  The  exprefiion  of  that  group 
is  admirable:  but  the  fculptors  have  diftin- 
guifhed  a  principal  object  in  it:  for,  although 
the  fons  are  equally  well  executed,  and  the  one 
to  the  left  in  particular  claims  our  fympathy, 
by  the  horrid  ftate  of  pain  in  which  he  is  repre- 
fented,  (one  of  the  ferpents  beginning  to  tear 
open  his  fide)  yet  the  father  attradls  the  chief 
notice.  He  is  that  principal  part  of  the  whole,  to 
which  all  others  are  referred;  and  it  is  by  that 
judicious  fubordination  and  reference,  that  the 
artifts  have  found  means  to  imprels  the  fpe&ator 
with  all  the  fentiments  they  meant  to  convey, 
and  which,  without  labour  to  the  mind,  give  it 

all 


126  M.  de  Polier  on  the  Pleafures  of  the  Mind 

all  the  pleafure  fuch  a  reprefentation  is  able  to 
produce. 

The  pleafure  we  receive  from  a  good  painting, 
is  alfo  chiefly  owing  to  this  fubordination  of 
parts,  and  reference  of  them  to  the  principal 
object.  Painters  call  it  compofition  and  thofe 
mafters  have  obtained  the  firft  rank  among  them, 
who  have  been  moft  attentive  to  it.  It  was 
Raphael's,  and  Ruben  s  forte;  and,  being  the  happy 
relult  of  great  genius,  combined  with  a  well 
cultivated  tafte,  is  always  lure  of  caufing  the 
molt  agreeable  fenfations  to  the  mind,  that  con¬ 
templates  the  effects  of  it. 

In  poetry,  but  particularly  in  epic  and  dra¬ 
matic  performances,  the  obfervation  or  negled 
of  this  rule  becomes,  likewife,  the  teft  of  the 
pleafure  they  afford  to  a  perfon  of  tafte.  The 
different  adors  that  appear  in  the  narration,  or 
on  the  fcene,  mud  all  concur  in  their  different 
ftations  to  fet  off  the  main  object,  and  keep  the 
attention  fixed  upon  it,  or  elfe,  the  mind,  dif- 
traded  with  a  multiplicity  of  objeds,  that  feem 
to  lay  an  equal  claim  to  its  notice,  and  perhaps 
to  its  feelings,  grows  weary,  difgufted,  and  in¬ 
different  to  them  all.  Unity  of  action,  in  paint¬ 
ing  and  in  poetry,  is  another  confequence  of  the 
attention  of  artifts  to  the  principle  L  meant  to 
iiluftrate.  For  nothing  can  be  more  fatisfadory 
to  the  mind,  than  to  take  in,  as  it  were,  with  a 
glance,  a  multitude  of  fads  connected  together, 

bv 


in  the  Exercife  of  its  Faculties.  127 

by  their  mutual  relation  to  Tome  great  and  im¬ 
portant  a&ion.  One  may  introduce,  indeed, 
in  a  poem,  feveral  fables  or  plots,  and  collect  in 
it,  as  it  were  in  a  gallery  of  pictures,  a  feries 
of  portraits.  It  is  what  Ovid,  Statius ,  Ariofto , 
Shakefpeare ,  in  his  hiftorical  plays,  and  feveral 
others,  have  done.  But,  many  centuries  before 
the  oldeft  of  them,  the  great  genius  of  Homer 
had  conceived,  that  it  would  be  prefenting  a 
fpe&acle  far  more  agreeable  to  the  mind,  if  a 
multitude  of  perfons  were  collected  together  in 
the  fame  pidlure,  and  were  made  to  contribute 
to  one  and  the  fame  aftion  ;  and  upon  that  idea 
he  formed  the  plan  of  the  epic  poem. 

Many  years  after  him,  AEJchylus ,  the  firft  who 
gave  fome  order  and  fome  propriety  to  the  drama, 
took  from  the  epic  poem,  the  plan  of  tragedy , 
which  he  made  to  be,  the  reprelentation  of  an 
event  unfolded  in  all  its  circumftances.  That 
great  Poet  likewife  underftood,  that  this  repre- 
fentation  w'ould  far  more  pleafe  the  mind,  if  all 
the  fcenes  of  it  were  connected  by  fome  principal 
action,  which  would  help  the  memory  to  retain 
them  eafily. 

He  carried,  moreover,  this  idea  (till  farther,  and 
to  the  unity  of  ablion,  joined  thofe  of  time  and 
place.  Sophocles  and  Euripedes ,  but  efpecially  the 
former,  followed  him  pretty  ftri&ly,  and  Arijlotle 
drew  his  rules  from  their  pra&ice.  Sw'ayed  by 
the  authority  of  great  names,  and,  perhaps,  led 

away 


128  M.de  Polier  on  the  Pleajures  of  the  Mind 

away  too  far  by  this  principle,  that  there  is  a 
pleafure  inherent  in  whatever  enables  the  mind 
to  get  a  clear  and  diftincl  perception  of  the  object 
prefented  to  it,  the  French  critics  defended,  and 
the  French  dramatic  poets  wrote  after  thefe  rules. 
In  England ,  the  amazing  genius  of  Shakefpeare , 
probably  unacquainted  with  Ariftotle  and  his 
precepts,  having  early,  and  in  general  happily, 
foared  above  all  reftraints,  gave,  perhaps,  a  bias 
to  the  tafte  of  the  nation  ;  or  a  fanftion,  at  lead, 
to  future  dramatic  authors,  for  not  attending 
fcrupuloully  to  the  drift  unities.  Thefe,  how¬ 
ever,  were  alfo  defended  by  the  Englifh  critics, 
and,  in  theory,  admitted  by  the  bed  poets :  but 
the  praftice  did  not  correfpond  ;  and  there  is  not 
at  prefent  a  theatre  in  Europe ,  in  which  thefe  rules 
are  lei's  obferved. 

I  do  not  mean  this,  as  an  abfolute  reproach. 
Convinced,  as  I  am,  that  the  pleafures  of  the  heart 
are  much  fuperior  to  thofe  of  the  mind,  I  think, 
that  rules  invented  to  give  eafe  and  pleafure  to 
the  latter,  may  often  be  facrificed  to  a  multitude 
of  intereding  events  and  fituations,  that  raife 
ftrong  emotions  in  the  former,  and  fir  ike  it 
forcibly.  But  at  the  fame  time,  illufion  being 
the  charm  of  theatrical  reprefentations,  care 
ought  to  be  taken  not  to  deilroy  it,  nor  diminifh 
the  concern  and  fympathy  of  the  fpedlators,  by 
too  great  a  deviation  from  probability.  If,  on 
the  flage,  an  old  man  were  to  play  the  part  of 

a  young 


in  the  Exercife  of  its  Faculties.  129 

a  young  one,  if,  the  feene  being  in  a  palace,  the 
feeneries  were  to  prefent  trees  and  landfcapes 
to  our  view,  if  the  dreffes  did  not  correfpond, 
in  fotne  degree  to  the  dignity  of  the  perfons 
reprefented,  all  thefe  difcordances  would  offend 
us. 

The  fame  is  applicable  to  the  deviation  from 
the  three  unities.  If,  in  a  drama,  the  principal 
adlions  are  multiplied,  if  in  the  fpace  of  a  few 
hours,  many  centuries  are  made  to  elapfe,  if  the 
fpectator  is  tranfported  in  an  inftant,  from  one 
part  of  the  world  to  another,  all  thefe  abfurdities 
become  fo  many  warnings  againft  the  falfity  of 
the  fpectacle ;  and  a  voice  feems  to  iffue  out  of 
them,  which  bids  us,  not  to  give  fincere  tears  to 
feigned  misfortunes. 

Such  are  the  arguments  of  the  critics,  who 
follow  the  rules  of  Arifotle.  Lord  Kaims ,  on  the 
other  fide,  proves,  from  the  different  nature  of 
the  Grecian,  and  the  modern  drama,  that  the 
unities  of  time  and  place  are,  by  no  means,  fo 
neceffary  with  us,  as  they  were  with  the  ancients. 

The  interruption  of  the  reprefentation,  on  our 
theatre,  between  the  different  adts,  gives  the 
mind  a  facility  of  fuppofing  any  length  of  time, 
or  change  of  place  j  and  it  becomes  not  more 
difficult  for  the  fpedtator,  at  the  beginning  of 
an  adt,  to  imagine  a  new  place,  or  a  different 
time,  than  it  was  at  firff,  to  imagine  himfelf  at 
Athens ,  or  in  a  period  of  time  two  thoufand  years 
back. 

Vol.  I.  K  But 


1 30  M.  de  Polier  on  the  Pleafures  of  the  Mind 

But  the  fame  freedom  cannot  be  taken  with 
the  unity  of  adion.  The  pleafure,  which  the 
mind,  as  we  obferved  above,  receives  from  a 
chain  of  fads  conneded  together,  and  tending 
to  one  common  end,  renders  this  unity  effential, 
alike  in  epic  and  dramatic  compofitions.  Every 
thing,  however  beautiful  in  itfelf,  that  breaks 
this  chain,  or  interrupts  this  relation,  looks  like 
an  excrefcence,  and  becomes  unpleafant.  An  epic 
poem,  with  two  principal  adions,  like  a  play, 
with  two  main  plots,  would  foon  confufe  and 
tire  the  reader  and  the  fpedator;  and  fo  far  do 
the  rules  of  Arifiotle  agree  with  nature.  An 
epifode  and  an  under-plot  may  be  allowed  for  the 
lake  of  variety ;  but  they  muft  be  conneded  with 
the  principal  adion,  or  elfe  they  become  great 
blemilhes.  Milton ,  in  this  refped,  as  indeed  in 
many  others,  has  the  advantage  over  Homer  and 
Virgil.  His  epifode,  of  the  battle  of  angels,  and 
the  creation  of  the  world,  is  more  intimately  con¬ 
neded  with  his  fubjed,  than  the  defcription  of 
Achilles'  fhield,  or  even  the  defcent  of  /Eneas  into 
hell.  Far  from  breaking  the  unity  of  adion, 
it  rather  ftrengthens  it,  by  making  us  acquainted 
with  thecaufe  of  what  we  have  read,  and  of  what 
is  to  follow.  It  is,  therefore,  produdive  of  great 
mental  enjoyment,  as  there  is  no  relation  that 
pleafes  the  mind  more,  than  that  of  caufe  and 
effed. 


This 


in  the  Exemfe  of  its  E acuities.  131 

This  great  rule,  of  the  unity  of  a&ion,  is  an 
infuperable  objection  to  tragi-comedy ;  and  in¬ 
attention  to  it  Ihocks  perfons  of  tafte  in  fome  of 
our  beft  plays.  In  the  Provoked  Hujhand,  for 
inftance,  all  the  fcenes  relating  to  the  family  of 
the  JVrongheads ,  however  laughable,  and  charac¬ 
terise  in  themfelves,  are  certainly  to  be  ac¬ 
counted  blemifhes,  becaufe  they  hop  the  tide  of 
fentiment  railed  by  the  interefting  fcenes,  between 
a  fenfible,  loving,  and  juftly  incenfed  hufband, 
and  a  giddy,  extravagant,  though  good-natured 
wife. 

This  diiTertation  on  the  unities,  will  alfo  be 
looked  upon,  I  fear,  as  an  excrefcence  to  this 
paper,  already  too  long;  but  I  indulged  myfelf 
in  it  with  the  thought,  that  it  might,  probably, 
give  room  to  fome  interefting  converfation — the 
avowed  purpofe  of  the  eflays  prefented  to  this 
fociety — and  in  that  light,  I  beg,  and  I  hope  for, 
your  indulgence. 

From  what  has  been  read,  it  will  appear,  that 
regularity  and  contrajl ,  proportion  and  congruity , 
uniformity t  variety ,  and  fimplicity ,  in  the  objects 
prefented  to  the  mind,  give  it  an  exercife,  which 
is  attended  with  neither  trouble  nor  fatigue,  and 
which  is  therefore  agreeable. 

That  thefe  fources  of  pleafure  exift  in  our 
nature,  feems  evident,  from  their  being  uniform 
and  univerfal ;  and  that  they  were  given  11s  for 
wife  and  good  purpofes,  is  what  no  one  can 

K  2  difpute, 


132  M.  de  Pclier  on  the  Pleafures  of  the  Mind 

difpute,  who  confiders,  with  what  care  the  great 
Author  of  our  being  has  provided  us  with  all 
means  of  happinefs.  They  evidently  contribute 
to  it,  by  adding  beauty  to  the  objeds  that 
furround  us,  and  by  procuring  us  enjoyments  far 
fuperior  to  thofe  of  the  fenfes.  In  this  view  only, 
it  would  be  incumbent  upon  us  to  cultivate  the 
natural  relifh  we  have  for  them  :  but  Cicero ,  in  his 
admirable  work  de  Ojjiciis,  fhews  us  a  Hill  nobler 
ufe,  for  which  they  may  have  been  intended. 
After  having  enumerated  the  qualities  which  man 
has  in  common  with  other  animals,  and  fome  of 
the  advantages  that  diftinguifh  him,  he  proceeds 
to  fay, 

- “  Necvero  ilia  parva  vis  Naturae  elf, 

rationifque,  quod  unum  hoc  animal  fentit  quid  fit 
ordo;  quid  fit,  quod  deceat ;  in  fadis  didifque 
qui  modus.  Itaque  eorum  ipforum  quae  afpedu 
fentiuntur,  nullum  aliud  animal,  pulchritudinem, 
venuftatem,  convenientiampartium  fentit.  Quam 
fimilitudinem  Natura,  ratioque  ab  oculis  ad  ani- 
mum  transferee,  multo  etiam  magis  pulchritudi¬ 
nem,  conftantiam,  ordinem  in  confiliis,  fa&ifque 
confervandum  putat:  cavetque,  ne  quid  indecore, 
effasminat  eve,  faciat ;  turn  in  omnibus  et  opinio- 
nibus  et  fadis,  ne  quid  libidinofe  aut  faciat  aut 
cogitet.  Quibus  ex  rebus  conflatur,  et  efficitur, 
id  quod  qua^rimus,  Honefium.” 

Cicer.  de  Officiis.  Lib.  I. 


«  The 


*33 


in  the  Exercife  of  its  Faculties. 

c‘  The  energy  of  nature  and  of  human  reafon 
are  ftrikingly  difplayed  in  this  circumftance,  that 
man  is  the  only  animal  endued  with  the  perception 
of  order,  decency,  and  propriety  in  words  and  in 
actions.  He  alone  difcerns,  in  vifible  objedls, 
beauty,  gracefulnefs,  andfymmetry.  And,  tranf- 
ferring  the  analogy,  from  the  fight  to  the  mind, 
he  becomes  fenfible,  that  fuperior  beauty,  regu¬ 
larity,  and  order,  fhould  diftinguifh  the  intention 
and  behaviour;  and  cautioufly  avoids  whatever  is 
unbecoming  and  unmanly,  and  particularly,  every 
loofe  imagination  and  expreflion.  An  attention 
to  thefe  things  forms  and  conftitutes  that  Honejlum , 
which  is  the  fubjedt  of  our  enquiry.” 

Lord  Kahns,  whom  every  lover  of  genuine 
criticifm  muft  read  with  pleafure,  and  quote  wich 
gratitude,  obferves  alfo,  that,  “  The  reafonings 
employed  in  the  fine  arts,  are  of  the  fame  kind 
with  thofe,  which  regulate  our  conduct.  Mathema¬ 
tical  and  metaphyfical  reafonings  (fays  he)  have 
no  tendency  to  improve  focial  intercourfe,  nor 
are  they  applicable  to  the  common  affairs  of 
life:  but  a  juft  tafte  of  the  fine  arts,  derived 
from  rational  principles,  furnifhes  elegant  fub- 
je£ts  for  converfation,  and  prepares  us  for 
afting  in  the  focial  date,  with  dignity  and 
propriety.”  * 


#  Introdu&ion  to  Elements  of  Criticifm. 

K  3 


Thus 


134  Mr.  Whnyey  on  (Economical  Regift ers . 

Thus  we  find  an  analogy  and  a  connection 
formed,  between  the  pleafures  of  tafte,  and  the 
fenfe  of  morality.  The  fame  principle  of  pro¬ 
priety,  which  leads  us  to  the  difcovery  of  what 
is  beautiful  and  pleafing  to  the  mind,  when 
Applied  to  the  heart,  will  help  us  to  find,  what 
is  virtuous,  what  is  honeft,  and  what  conftitutes 
the  true  pleafure  arifing  from  its  emotions. 
What  I  have  attempted  to  illuftrate,  may  then 
be  carried  farther,  and  we  may  pronounce, 
that,  as  there  is  a  pleafure  inherent  in  whatever 
exercifes  the  mind,  without  fatiguing  it,  fo  there 
is  a  pleafing  fenfation  annexed  to  every  emotion 
of  the  heart,  that  is  not  poifoned  by  fear,  hatred, 
envy,  revenge,  and  fuch  other  irregular  and  dif- 
orderly  pafiions. 


On  (Economical  Registers.  By  J.  Wimpey, 
Read  March  i  j,  1782. 

T  N  a  country  fo  jufily  refpeCtable  as  Great 
il  Britain,  for  its  proficiency  in  the  Arts,  in 
Manufacture,  Trade,  and  Commerce,  and  in  its 
literary  acquifitions  in  every  branch  of  Science, 
it  is  rather  furprizing,  that  there  fhould  be  fo 
entire  adefi:iency  in  (Economical  Hiftory. 


To 


Mr.  IVimpey  on  CEconomkal  Regift ers.  135 

To  the  queftions,  What  may  be  the  amount  of 
the  circulating  cafh  in  the  kingdom  ?  What 
is  the  ftate  of  its  population  ?  Has  it  increafed, 
or  decreafecl,  -within  the  laft  fifty  years  ?  Have 
the  many  and  great  improvements  in  agricul¬ 
ture  rendered  the  prices  of  provifions,  &c.  pro- 
portionably  cheaper  ?  And  what  is  the  increafe 
of  quantity,  on  an  average,  for  half  a  century 
back,  compared  with  preceding  times? — To  thefe 
queftions,  no  fatisfaftory  anfwers  have  been  given. 

Thefe  are  interefting  and  important  enquiries, 
concerning  which,  men  of  the  beft  abilities  have 
employed  their  thoughts  with  very  little  fuccefs, 
as  nothing,  with  any  degree  of  certainty,  can  be 
concluded  from  what  they  have  written  upon 
thofe  fubje&s.  Indeed,  their  opinions  are  fo 
exceedingly  wide  of,  and  repugnant  to,  each 
other,  that  it  clearly  appears  they  have  no  cer¬ 
tain  data  to  calculate  upon.  This  indeed  is  not 
fo  much  a  reflection  on  the  prelent  times,  as  on 
the  paft.  But  it  will  equally  refleCt  on  the  pre- 
fent,  when  they,  like  the  former,  fhall  become 
the  paft,  unlefs  fome  means  are  adopted,  to 
fiirnilh  our  fucceftors  with  thofe  interefting  fafts, 
the  want  of  which  leaves  us  enveloped  in  the 
dark  fhades  of  ignorance. 

Some  years  fince,  I  was  honoured  with  a  letter 
from  Monfieur  Turgot,  then  high  in  rhe  favour 
of  his  royal  mafter,  and  at  the  head  of  one  of 

K  4  the 


136  Mr.  Wimpey  on  (Economical  Regift ers. 

the  firft  departments  in  the  kingdom  of  France. 
He  requefted  I  would  inform  him,  What  might 
be  the  proportion,  which  the  produce  in  grain  of 
the  lands  in  England  of  one  year  bore  to  that  of 
another,  for  a  feries  of  thirty  or  forty  years.  To 
this  I  could  only  anfwer.  That  we  had  no  annual 
regifter,  either  public  or  private,  that  I  knew' 
of,  which  could  anfwer  his  queftion  ;  and  that  the 
only  means  we  had  of  gueffing,  were,  by  the  pro¬ 
portion  which  the  price  of  one  year  bore  to  that 
of  another. 

This  was  not  lefs  aftonifhing  to  him,  than  it 
had  been  to  feveral  other  fagacious  foreigners, 
who  have  fhrewdly  remarked,  “  that,  in  Eng¬ 
land,  fo  keen  are  individuals  in  the  purfuit  of 
their  own  private  emolument,  and  fo  ignorant 
and  remifs  is  its  government,  that  they  have 
frequently  given  a  bounty  of  fifteen  per  cent, 
to  export  their  corn,  when  all  they  had  in  fcock 
was  very  far  fhort  of  being  fufficient  to  lupport 
their  own  people,  till  the  next  harveft.”  In  this 
deplorable  (late  of  oeconomical  and  commercial 
ignorance,  we  continue  dill,  which  I  conceive 
might  be  remedied  with  little  difficulty,  trou¬ 
ble,  or  expence.  But,  for  government  to  give 
a  bounty  for  the  exportation  of  grain,  to  the 
amount  of  from  fifteen  to  thirty  per  cent,  as  it 
hath  fometimes  done,  without  knowing,  either 
the  average  quantity  grown,  or  the  quantity 


Mr.  Wimpey  on  CEconomical  Regiftcrs.  137 

its  people  confume ;  and  confequently,  without 
knowing,  if  the  dock  remaining  on  hand  would 
feed  its  people  till  the  next  crop  be  harvefted; 
and  whether  it  mud  not  of  necefiity  be  forced 
to  purchafe  again  at  double  the  price,  as  it  has 
alfo  fometimes  done,  is  furely  one  of  the  mod 
abfurd  meafures,  that  a  thoughtlefs,  incon federate 
clafs  of  men  ever  adopted.  It  has  been  fre¬ 
quently  obferved,  that  our  legiflators  have 
been  very  fruitful  in  the  invention  of  penal 
Jaws  ;  but  in  the  meafures  of  prevention,  which 
are  infinitely  more  falutary,  they  are  either  very 
inattentive,  or  very  barren. 

The  queftion  of  population,  whether  it  in- 
creafeth,  or  is  upon  the  decline,  is  not  to  be 
afcertained  with  any  tolerable  degree  of  exad> 
nefs,  without  an  adual  enumeration  of  all  the 
people  in  the  ifland.  This  may  be  thought  a 
work  of  too  great  extent  and  trouble,  to  be 
attempted.  So  it  would,  indeed,  if  it  were  to 
be  effeded  by  one,  or  a  few  perfons.  But  how 
very  eafy  would  it  be,  if  performed  by  the  parifh 
officers  ?  They,  by  the  duty  of  their  office,  are 
obliged  to  have  a  complete  lift  of  all  thofe,  who 
are  rated  towards  the  relief  of  the  poors  and 
another  of  all  thofe  who  are  the  objeds  of  fuch 
relief.  A  lift  of  thofe  who  are  not  in  either  of 
thofe  daffies,  would  coft  the  officers  of  any  parifh 
very  little  trouble.  Confequently,  the  number 
in  each  clafs,  and  the  fum  total  of  the  whole, 

might 


138  Mr.  Wimpey  on  (Economical  Regijlers. 

might  be  obtained  with  as  little  trouble,  as  the 
numbers  in  each  clafs,  and  the  fum  total,  could 
be  obtained  by  the  officers  of  any  refpedive 
parifti. 

If  fuch  lifts  were  correctly  taken  every  two, 
three,  four,  or  five  years,  the  ftate  of  increafe, 
or  decreafe,  might  be  precifely  known,  with  little 
or  no  expence  to  any  body.  Of  fuch  lifts,  might 
be  formed  a  kind  of  General  Diredory;  containing 
the  names,  addition,  number,  ages,  and  fex,  of 
all  the  families  in  Great  Britain.  Thus,  in  Man- 
chefter, 

N.  R.  Hatter,  V>  tV  3  males,  4  females, 
that  is,  four  under  twelve,  and  three  above  ;  three 
of  them  males,  four  females.  Let  any  one  carry 
his  ideas  through  the  ftreet  he  lives  in,  or  is 
familiarly  acquainted  with,  and  he  will  fee,  with 
how  much  eale  he  may  acquire  a  knowledge  of 
all  thefe  particulars,  refpeding  every  family  in 
it;  and,  by  a  fimilar  pradice,  on  a  general  plan, 
a  precife  knowledge  may  be  obtained  of  every 
family  in  the  nation. 

Perhaps  it  would  be  too  adventurous,  to  at¬ 
tempt  to  recommend  a  knowledge  thus  acquired 
to  fome  pradical  ufes,  to  which  it  feems  capable 
of  being  applied,  with  a  profped  of  the  moft 
beneficial  effeds. 

A  very  great  part  of  thofe,  who  have  no  other 
means  of  fubfiftence,  but  the  fpoils  and  depra- 
dations  committed  upon  the  public,  are,  in  their 

manner 


Mr.  Wimpey  on  (Economical  Re-gijlers.  135 

manner  of  living,  a  kind  of  citizens  of  the  world, 
without  character,  or  defcription,  fixed  habits 
tion,  refidence  or  connexion,  by  which  they 
may  be  traced  as  to  their  mode  of  fubfiftence. 
And  how  defirable  foever  it  may  be  to  bring 
them  into  bro^d  day  light,  that  every  man  may 
have  his  eye  upon  them,  yet  in  a  country,  where 
the  blefiing  of  liberty  is  delervedly  in  fuch  high 
efteem,  fears  are  awakened,  fufpicions  alarmed, 
jealoufies  excited,  left  any  incroachment  fhould 
be  made  on  the  liberty  of  the  fubjedl,  under  the 
fpecious,  but  deceitful  appearance  of  public 

Were  this  a  proper  place,  I  would  endeavour- 
to  give  the  true  idea  of  genuine  liberty,  in  which 
that  of  the  individual  fhould  perfectly  accord, 
with  the  fafety  and  happinefs  of  the  ftate.  Like 
the  bafe  of  a  pyramid,  it  fhould  be  eredted  on 
a  large  extended  bottom,  its  centre  of  gravity 
coinciding  with  its  centre  of  magnitude,  which 
nothing  could  fhake  or  overturn,  till  its  materials 
fhould  be  crumbled  into  one  common  ruin. 
At  prefent,  I  think  it  feems  to  fland,  like  Fortune 
on  the  fummit  of  a  globe,  whofe  defcent  on  one^ 
fide,  is  into  the  region  of  anarchy  and  licentious 
confufion  •,  on  the  other,  of  tyranny  and  flavery, 
from  both  which  I  hope  we  fliall  ever  efcape. 

I  will  beg  leave,  however,  to  throw  out  a 
few  hints.  They  may  fuggefl  the  means  of- 
preventing  fome,  and  of  detecting  others,  in  the 

purfuit 


140  Mr.  Wimpey  on  (Economical  'Regijlers. 

purfuit  of  pradtices,  which  are  the  bane  of  fociety, 
and  a  difgrace  to  humanity. 

Let  us  fuppofe,  then,  that  complete  lifts  have 
been  taken  of  every  family  in  Great  Britain, 
of  men,  women,  children,  fervants,  and  lodgers. 
That  every  town  and  village  were  obliged  to 
provide  fufficient  number  of  Medals  made  of 
copper,  about  an  inch  and  half  diameter,  with 
the  name  of  the  town,  country,  and  year  infcribed 
round  the  margin  That  every  perfc  above 
twelve  years  of  age,  fhould  be  obliged  v  ?n  they 
went  above  a  certain  number  of  miles  from 
home,  to  wear  it  about  them,  that  they  might 
be  able  to  prove  fatisfadtorily,  who  they  are, 
and  from  whence  they  come.  Acrofs  the  piece, 
Ihould  be  engraved  the  name,  the  profeftion  or 
addrefs,  and  the  age  of  the  perfon,  at  the  date 
of  the  impreftion.  By  this  means,  every  per¬ 
fon  would  have  it  in  his  power  to  confirm  the 
account  he  might  give  of  himfelf,  by  an  in- 
conteftible  voucher;  and  every  fufpicious  per¬ 
fon,  wherever  he  might  happen  to  appear, 
Ihould  be  liable  to  be  taken  before  the  neareft: 
civil  officer,  where  he  fhould  produce  his 
medal,  and  anfwer  all  proper  queftions,  or  be 
liable  to  be  committed  by  any  one  of  his 
Majefty’s  Juftices  of  peace.  The  want  of  a 
medal  fhould  be  deemed  a  fufpicious  circum- 
ftance,  and  the  perfon  fhould  be  retained  in 
fafe  cuftody,  till  he  could  obtain  fufficient  proof 

of 


Mr,  JVhnpey  on  (Economical  Regiflers.  14 1 

of  the  place  of  his  refidence  from  the  parifh 
officers,  or  from  fome  one  of  them. 

If  any  labouring  man,  handicraft-  man,  artificer, 
or  workman  of  any  fort,  (hall  come  as  a  firanger 
into  any  town,  and  afk  employment,  the  perfon 
who  employs  him  ffiall  firfi:  demand  a  fight  of 
his  medal,  take  a  copy  of  its  infcription,  and  by 
the  firfi:  poll  fend  a  letter  of  advice  to  the  officers 
of  the  parifh  he  came  from.  And  in  neglect  or 
contempt  of  fuch  advice,  he  fhall  be  liable  to  a 
penalty  fufficient  to  compel  its  ftridt  obfervance. 

Upon  this  plan,  fhould  any  fervant,  day- 
labourer,  or  workman  of  any  fort,  abfcond 
from  his  place  of  abode  for  any  mifdemea- 
nor,  or  trefpafs  he  had  committed,  he  could 
not  proceed  many  days  unapprehended  ;  for 
no  perfon  fhould  be  fuffered  to  entertain  a 
ftranger  above  one  night,  without  taking  a  copy 
of  his  medal,  and  fending  advice  to  his  parifh. 
A  man  could  not  then  run  away,  defert  his 
family,  and  throw  them  as  a  burden  on  the 
parifh,  becaufe  detection  would  immediately 
purfue  him,  bring  him  back  in  difgrace,  and 
infiift  an  adequace  punifhment  upon  him. 

Were  fuch  a  plan  to  be  prolecuted  with  vigour, 
it  would  be  a  fufficient  bar  to  every  attempt  of. 
thievery  and  roguery,  for  impunity  in  which,  the 
delinquent  ultimately  depended  upon  defertion. 
No  man,  in  his  fenfes,  could  depend  upon  a  means 
for  his  fccurity,  in  which  he  knew  before-hand  it 

would 


142  Mr.  Wimfrey  on  (Economical  Regijlers. 

would  be  impoffible  for  him  to  fucceed.  De- 
fertion  is  the  dernier  refort  of  every  villain. 
When  he  finds  himfelf  fufpe&ed,  he  inftantly 
runs  his  country,  and  endeavours  to  fecrete  him¬ 
felf  at  a  diftance,  in  places  to  which,  as  he 
imagines,  fufpicion  is  lead;  likely  to  purfue  him. 
But  under  this  regulation,  whether  could  he 
fly  ?  Let  it  be  whither  you  pleafe,  if  he  pro¬ 
duces  his  medal,  it  betrays  him  ;  if  he  does  not, 
it  raifes  a  fufpicion  which  juftifies  his  detention, 
till  he  is  fairly  cleared  of  all  fufpicion. 

As  this  plan  would  operate  beneficially,  in  the 
dete&ion  and  prevention  of  villainy,  it  would 
fometimes  prove  no  lefs  ufeful  to  the  honeft,  but 
unfortunate  man.  Innocent  men  have  been 
fometimes  apprehended  for  fpies,  for  highway¬ 
men,  and  other  atrocious  crimes,  from  a  fimi- 
larity  of  circumfiances,  which  it  was  not  in  their 
power  to  avoid.  A  highwayman,  well  mounted 
on  a  grey  horfe,  fome  years  fince,  robbed  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  London.  Soon  after,  a  perfon 
from  a  diftant  county  happened  to  pafs  the  road 
on  a  good  horfe  of  the  fame  colour.  Some  per- 
fons  took  the  alarm,  purfued  him,  and  took 
him  into  cuftody.  As  he  was  innocent,  he  came 
to  no  harm,  but  that  of  being  detained  all  night, 
and  the  trouble  he  was  put  to,  of  proving  he  was 
not  the  man  fufpedted,  which  he  could  do  no 
otherwile,  than  by  proving  who  he  was ;  which, 
in  many  cafes,  where  a  man  is  totally  un¬ 
known, 


Mr.  Wimpey  on  (Economical  Regijlers.  143 

known,  might  be  attended  with  much  trouble 
and  vexation. 

I  by  no  means  offer  this,  as  a  well  digefted  plan 
competent  to  the  accomplilhment  of  the  intended 
purpofe ;  but  as  the  outlines  of  a  lcheme,  which 
I  am  well  convinced,  by  a  perfon  of  abilities, 
might  be  made  perfectly  adequate  to  every  pur¬ 
pofe  propofed. 

I  wdll  beg  leave  to  make  one  obfervation 
more,  before  I  have  done. 

In  a  fertile  country  like  England,  which  grows 
more  corn  than  its  inhabitants  can  confume, 
and,  of  courfe,  renders  it  a  commercial  article* 
it  is  of  great  importance  to  afeertain  the  follow¬ 
ing  fads,  for  the  regulation  of  the  exportation 
of  that  article. 

I.  What  is  the  annual  average  growth  of  corn 
in  England  for  a  feries  of  years  ? 

II.  What  is  the  annual  average  confumptioa 
for  the  fame  time  ? 

Thefe  being  known,  it  would  appear,  what  is 
the  annual  furplus,  and  confequently,  how  much 
might  be  exported  annually,  confiftently  with  the 
fafety  and  well  being  of  the  people.  This  is  a 
queftion  of  the  greateft  importance  to  tills  coun¬ 
try  ;  a  queftion,  the  ignorance  of  which  has  coil 
this  nation  millions,  and  by  which  our  fagaeious 
neighbours,  the  Dutch,  have  profited  millions. 
1  hough  totally  negleded,  I  conceive  it  might 
be  afeertained  with  no  great  difficulty  or 

trouble 


144  Dr.  Barnes  on  the  Pleafure  Jomethnes  felt 

trouble  to  any  body.  But  this  is  a  matter  of  too 
much  confequence  and  extent*  to  be  explained 
in  a  curfosy  paper. 


On  the  Pleasure  which  the  Mind  in  many  Cafes 
receives  fro'tn  contemplating  Scenes  of 
Distress.  By  T.  Barnes,  D.  D.  Read 
dpril  3,  1782. 

Suave  mari  magno,  turbantibus  jequora  vends, 

E  terra  alterius  magnum  fpedtare  periclum. 

Non  quia  vexari  quenquam  eft  jucunda  voluptas;- 
Sed  quibus  ipfe  malis  careas,  quia  cernere  fuave  eft. 

Lucreti  us. 

'T'HE  pleafure  defcribed  by  the  Poet  in  this 
motto,  and  of  which  he  has  mentioned  fo 
linking  and  appofite  an  inftance,  may  perhaps, 
at  firftjfeem  of  fo  fmgular  and  aftonifhing  a  nature, 
that  fome  may  be  difpofed  to  doubt  of  its 
exiftence.  But  that  it  does  exi ft,  in  the  cafe  here 
referred  to,  and  in  many  others,  of  a  fimilar  kind, 
is  an  undoubted  fa<5t :  and  it  may  not  appear  an 
ufelefs,  or  difagreeable  entertainment,  to  trace  its 
fource  in  the  human  bread,  together  with  the 
final  caufe,  for  which  it  was  implanted  there  by 
our  benevolent  Creator. 

“  Shall  I,  it  may  be  faid,  feel  complacency  in 
beholding  a  fcene,  in  which  many  of  my  fellow- 

creatures 


Plate  '2  Vol  I 


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Fig.  5.^ 

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\ 


from  contemplating  Scenes  of  Diflrefs .  145 

creatures  are  agonizing  with  terror,  whilft  I  can 
neither  diminifh  their  danger,  nor,  by  my  fym- 
pathy,  divide  their  anguifh  ?  At  the  fight  of 
another’s  woe,  does  not  my  bofom  naturally 
feel  pain?  Do  I  not  fhare  in  his  fenfations  ? 
And  is  not  this  ftrong  and  exquifite  fenfibility 
intended  by  my  Maker,  to  urge  me  on  to  active, 
and  immediate  afiiftance ?  Thefe  fenfations  are 
indeed  attended  with  a  noble  pleafure,  when  I 
can,  by  friendly  attention,  or  by  benevolent 
communication,  footh  the  forrows  of  the  poor 
mourner,  fnatch  him  from  impending  danger, 
or  fupply  his  preffing  wants.  But,  in  general, 
where  my  fympathy  is  of  no  avail  to  the  wretched 
fufferer,  I  fly  from  the  fpedtacle  of  his  mifery, 
unable,  or  unwilling  to  endure  a  pain,  which  is  not 
allayed  by  the  fweet  fatisfa&ion  of  doing  good.” 

It  will  be  incumbent  on  us,  in  anfwer  to  thefe 
objections,  in  the  firft  place,  to  prove  the  reality 
of  the  feeling,  the  caufe  of  which,  in  the  human 
conftitution,  we  here  attempt  to  explore. 

Mr.  Addifon,  in  his  beautiful  papers  on  the 
Pleafures  of  the  Imagination,*  hasobferved,  “  that 
objects  or  fcenes,  which,  when  real ,  gave  difguft 
or  pa.n,  in  defct iption}  often  become  beautiful  and 
agreeable.  Thus,  even  a  dunghill  may,  by  the 
charms  of  poetic  imagery,  excite  pleafure  and 
entertainment.  Scenes  of  this  nature,  dignified 

*  Spectator,  fixth  volume,  No,  418. 

Vol.  I.  L 


by 


1 4 6  Dr.  Barnes  on  the  Pleafure  fometimes  felt 

by  apt  and  ftriking  defcription,  we  regard  with 
fomething  of  the  fame  feelings,  with  which  we 
look  upon  a  dead  monfter. 


... - ........  Informe  cadaver 

Protrahitur:  nequeunt  expleri  corda  tuendo 
Teriibiles  oculos,  vultum,  villofaque  fetis 
Pedtora  femiferi,  atque  extindtos  faucibus  ignes. 

Virgil. 

<c  This,  he  obferves,  is  more  particularly  the 
cafe,  where  the  defciiption  raifes  a  ferment  in  the 
mind,  and  works  with  violence  upon  the  pafiions. 
One  would  wonder,  adds  he,  how  it  comes  to 
pafs,  that  paHions,  which  are  very  unpleafant  at 
all  other  times,  are  very  agreeable ,  when  excited 
by  proper  defcription  *,  fuch  as  terror,  deje&ion, 
grief,  &c.  This  pleafure  arifes  from  the  reflexion 
we  make  upon  ourfelves,  whilft  reading  it,  that 
we  are  not  in  danger  from  them.  When  we  read 
of  wounds,  death,  &c.  our  pleafure  does  not  rife 
fo  properly,  from  the  griefy  which  tlvefe  melan¬ 
choly  defcriptions  give  us,  as  from  the  fecret 
comparifon  we  make  of  ourfelves,  with  thofe  who 
fuffer.  We  fhould  not  feel  th t  fame  kind  of  pleafure, 
if  we  ablually  Jcnv  a  perfon  lyTg  under  the  tor¬ 
tures,  that  we  meet  with  in  a  defcription.” 

And  yet,  upon  the  principle  aligned  by  this 
amiable  writer,  we  might  feel  the  fame,  or  even 
higher  pleafure,  from  the  aftual  view  of  diftrefs, 

than 


from  contemplating  Scenes  of  Di/lrefs,  147 

than  from  any  defcription  becaufe  the  comparifon 
of  ourfelves  with  the  fufferer  would  be  more 
vivid,  and  confequently,  the  feeling  more  intenfe. 
I  would  only  obferve,  that  the  caufe  which  he 
affigns  for  this  pleafure,  is  the  very  fame  with  that 
afligned  by  Lucretius,  in  our  motto.  Mr.  Addifon 
applies  it  to  the  defcription  \  the  Poet,  to  th eaftual 
contemplation ,  of  affeCting  fcenes.  In  both,  the 
pleafure  is  fuppofed  to  originate  in  felfifhnefse 
But,  wherever  the  focial  paflions  are  deeply  in- 
terefted,  as  they  are  here  fuppofed  to  be,  from  the 
pathetic  defcription ,  or  the  (till  more  pathetic  purvey , 
of  the  fufferings  of  another,  the  fympathetic 
feelings  will,  of  themfelves,  at  once,  and  previous 
to  all  reflection,  become  a  fource  of  agreeable  and 
tender  emotions.  They  will  thus  dignify  and 
enhance  the  fatisfaCtion,  if  any  fuch  be  felt,  arifing 
merely  from  the  confideration  of  our  own  perfonal 
fecurity.  And  the  more  entirely  we  enter  into 
the  fcene,  by  lofing  all  ideas  of  its  being  either 
paft,  or  fabulous,  the  more  perfectly  we  forget 
ourfelves,  and  are  abforbed  in  the  feeling, — the 
more  exquifite  is  the  fenfation. 

But,  as  our  fubfequent  fpeculations  will  chiefly 
turn  upon  the  pleafure  derived  from  real  fcenes  of 
calamity,  and  not  from  thofe  which  are  imaginary , 
it  may  be  expected,  that  we  adduce  inftances,  in 
proof  that  fuch  pleafure  is  felt ,  by  perfons  very 
different  in  their  tafte,  and  mental  cultivation. 

L  2  I  will 


148  Dr.  Barites  on  the  PUajure  foretimes  felt 

I  will  not  mention  the  horrid  joy,  with  which 
the  favage  feafts  his  eye  upon  the  agonies  and 
contortions  of  his  expiring  prifoner — expiring  in 
all  the  pangs  which  artificial  cruelty  can  inflict ! 
Nor  will  I  turn  your  eye  to  the  almoft  equally 
favage  fons  of  antient  Rome,  when  the  majefty 
of  the  Roman  people  could  rufh,  with  eagernefs 
and  tranfport,  to  behold  hundreds  of  Gladiators 
contending  in  fatal  conflict,  and,  probably,  more 
than  half  the  number  extended,  weltering  in 
blood,  and  writhing  in  agony,  upon  the  plain. 
Nor  will  I  mention  the  Spanifh  Bull-Feafts;  nor 
the  fervent  acclamations  of  an  Englifh  Mob 
around  their  fellow-creatures,  when  engaged  in 
furious  battle,  in  which  it  is  poffible,  that  fome 
of  the  combatants  may  receive  a  mortal  blow, 
and  be  hurried,  dreadful  thought !  in  this  awful 
(late,  to  the  bar  of  his  Judge. 

Let  us  furvey  the  multitudes,  which,  in  every 
part  of  the  kingdom,  always  attend  an  execution „ 
It  may  perhaps  be  laid,  that,  in  all  places,  the 
vulgar  have  little  of  the  fenfibility  and  tendernefs 
of  more  pGlifhed  bofoms.  But,  in  the  laft- 
mentioned  inftance,  an  execution,  there  is  no¬ 
exultation  in  the  fufferings  of  the  poor  criminal. 
He  is  regarded  by  every  eye,  with  the  mod 
melting  companion.  The  whole  affcmbly 
fympathizes  with  him,  in  his  unhappy  fituation. 
An  awful  ftillnefs  prevails,  at  the  dreadful 
moment.  Many  are  wrung  with  unutterable 

fenfations  :• 


from  contemplating  Scenes  of  Dlftrefs.  .149 

fenfations :  and  prayer  and  filence  declare,  more 
loudly  than  any  language  could,  the  interefl: 
they  feel  in  his  didrefs.  Should  .a  reprieve 
come  to  refcue  him  from  death,  how  great  is  the 
general  triumph  and  congratulation  !  And,  pro¬ 
bably,  in  this  multitude  you  will  find,  not  the 
mere  vulgar  herd  alone,  but  the  man  of  fuperior 
knowledge,  and  of  more  refined  fenfibility;  who, 
led  by  feme  drong  principle,  which  we  wifh  to 
explain,  feels  a  pleasure  greater  than  all  the  pain, 
great  and  exquifite  as  one  Ihould  imagine  it  to  be, 
from  fuch  a  fpedtacle. 

T.  he  man  who  condemns,  many  of  the  feenes 
we  have  already  mentioned,  as  barbarous  and 
(hocking,  would,  probably,  run  with  the  greateft 
eagernefs  to  fome  high  cliff,  overhanging  the 
ocean,  to  fee  it  lwelled  into  temped,  though 
a  poor  vefiel,  or  even  a  fleet  of  vefiels,  were 
to  appear  as  one  part  of  the  dreadful  feenery, 
now  lifted  to  the  heavens  on  the  foaming  furge, 
now  plunged  deep  into  the  fathomlefs  abyfs, 
and  now  dafhed  upon  the  rocks,  where  they  are, 
in  a  moment,  fhivered  into  fragments,  and,  with 
all  their  mariners,  entombed  in  the  wave.  Or,  to 
vary  the  quefiion  a  little  j  Who  would  not  be 
forward  to  (land  fafe,  on  the  top  of  fome  moun¬ 
tain  or  tower,  adjoining  to  a  field  of  battle,  in 
which  two  armies  meet  in  defperate  conflict, 
though,  probably,  thoufands  may  foon  lie  before 
him  proflrate  on  the  ground,  and  the  whole  field 

L-  3  prefent 


150  Dr.  Barnes  on  the  Vleofures  fometimes  felt 

prefent  the  mod  horrid  fcenes  of  carnage  and 
defolation  ? 

That,  in  all  thefe  cafes,  pleafure  predominates 
in  the  compounded  feeling,  is  plain  from  hence, 
becaufe  you  continue  to  furvey  the  fcene  ;  whereas, 
when  pain  became  the  ftronger  fenfation,  you 
would  certainly  retire.  I  was  lately  in  company 
with  a  Gentleman,  who  defcribed  to  me,  in  very 
glowing  and  pi&urefque  colours,  an  engagement 
between  two  privateers,  of  which  he  had  been 
a  fpedator,  from  one  of  the  cliffs  on  the  eaftern 
coaft  of  England.  Several  lives  were  loft  ;  and 
the  conteft  was  long,  doubtful,  and  fevere. 
Having  this  fubjedt  in  my  thoughts,  I  afked  him, 
whether  he  felt  pleafure  from  the  fpedtacle.  He 
anfwered  with  great  energy,  that  he  would  not 
have  miffed  the  fight  for  a  very  confiderable  fum. 
His  tone,  and  manner  proved,  that  he  fpoke  from 
his  heart. 

Cultivation  may,  indeed,  have  produced  fome 
minuter  differences,  in  the  tafte  and  feelings  of 
different  minds.  Thofe,  whofe  fenfibilites  have 
not  been  refined  by  education  or  fcience,  may 
feel  the  pleafure,  in  a  more  grofs  and  brutal  form. 
But  do  not  the  moft  polifhed  natures  feel  a 
fimilar,  a  kindred  pleafure,  in  the  deep-wrought 
diftreffes  of  the  well-imagined  fcene  ?  Here  the 
endeavour  is,  to  introduce  whatever  is  dreadful 
or  pathetic,  whatever  can  harrow  up  the  feelings, 
or  extort  the  tear.  And  the  deeper,  and  more 

tragical 


from  contemplating  Scenes  of  Diftrefs.  1 5 1 

tragical  the  lcene  becomes,  the  more  it  agitates 
the  feveral  pafTions  of  terror,  grief,  or  pity — 
the  more  intenfely  it  delights,  even  the  moft 
polifhed  minds.  They  feem  to  enjoy  the  various 
and  vivid  emotions  of  contending  pafnons. 
They  love  to  have  the  tear  trembling  in  the  eye, 
and  to  feel  the  whole  foul  rapt  in  thrilling  fenfa- 
tions.  For  that  moment,  they  feem  to  forget 
the  fiftion  ;  and  afterwards  commend  that  exhi¬ 
bition  moft,  in  which  they  moft  entirely  loft 
fight  of  the  author,  and  of  their  own  fituation, 
and  were  alive  to  all  the  unutterable  vibrations 
of  ftrong  or  melting  fenfibility. 

Taking  it,  then,  for  granted,  that  in  the  con¬ 
templation  of  many  feenes  of  diftrefs,  both  imagi¬ 
nary  and  real,  a  gratification  is  felt,  let  us  en¬ 
deavour  to  account  for  it,  by  mentioning  fome 
of  thofe  principles,  woven  into  the  web  of  human 
nature,  by  its  benevolent  Creator,  on  which 
that  gratification  depends. 

Dr.  Akenfide,  with  his  accuflomed  ftrength 
and  brilliancy  of  colouring,  deferibes ,  and  accounts 
for  it,  in  the  following  manner.  I  will  make 
no  apology  for  the  length  of  the  quotation. 

- - - - “  Behold  the  ways 

Of  heaven’s  eternal  deftiny  to  man  ! 

For  even  juft,  benevolent,  and  wife  ! 

That  vi  rtue’s  awful  Heps,  howe’er  purfued 
By  vexing  fortune,  and  intrufive  pain, 

Should  never  be  divided  from  her  chaft, 

Her  fair  attendant,  pleasure.  Need  I  urge 

h  2  Thy 


152  Dr.  Barnes  on  the  Pleafure Jometimes  fell 

Thy  tardy  thought,  through  all  the  various  round 
Of  this  exigence,  that  thy  foftening  foul 
At  length  may  learn,  what  energy  the  hand 
Of  virtue  mingles  in  the  bitter  tide 
Of  passion,  fwelling  with  diftrefs  and  pain, 

-  To  mitigate  the  lharp,  with  gracious  drops 
Of  cordial  pleasure.  Aik  the  faithful  youth. 
Why  the  cold  urn  of  her,  whom  long  he  loved. 

So  often  fills  his  arm?  So  often  draws 
His  lonely  footdeps,  at  the  filent  hour, 

To  pay  the  mournful  tribute  of  his  tears  ? 

O  !  he  will  tell  thee,  that  the  wealth  of  worlds 
Should  ne’er  feduce  his  bofom  to  forego 
That  facred  hour,  when,  Healing  from  the  noife 
Of  care  and  envy,  fit vect  remembrance  fooths. 

With  virtue’s  kinded  looks,  his  aching  bread. 

And  turns  his  tears  to  rapture.  Aik  the  croud. 
Which  flies  impatient  from  the  village-walk 
To  climb  the  neighbouring  cliffs,  when  far  below 
The  cruel  winds  have  hurled  upon  the  coaft 
Some  helplefs  bark:  whilfl  facred  pity  melts 
The  general  eye,  or  Terror’s  icy  hand 
Smites  their  diftorted  limbs,  or  horrent  hair. 
While  every  mother  clofer  to  her  bread 
Catches  her  child  ;  and,  pointing  where  the  waves 
Foam  through  the  ihattered  veflel,  fhrieks  aloud. 
As  one  poor  wretch,  that  fpreads  his  piteous  arms 
For  fuccour,  fwallowed  by  the  roaring  furge. 

As  now  another,  daihed  againfl  the  rock. 

Drops  lifelefs  down.  O  deemed  thou  indeed 
No  KIND  endearment  here,  by  nature  given, 
To  mutual  terror,  and  compafiion’s  tears  P 
No  fweetly  melting  foftnefs,  which  attrads 
O’er  all  that  edge  of  pain,  the  focial  powers, 

To  this  their  proper  adion,  and  their  end  ?” 


from  contemplating  Scenes  of  Diftrefs.  1 53 

The  Poet  purfues  the  fentiment  in  the  fame  ani¬ 
mated  imagery,  defcribing  the  ftrong,  but  plea¬ 
surable  fenfations,  which  the  foul  feels,  in  read¬ 
ing  the  fufferings  of  heroes,  who  nobly  died 
in  the  caufe  of  liberty,  and  their  country  : 

- “  When  the  pious  band 

Of  youths,  who  fought  for  freedom,  and  their  fires. 

Lie  fide  by  fide  in  gore.” 

Or,  in  the  ftrong  movements  of  indignation 
and  revenge  againft  the  tyrant,  who  invades  thac 
liberty,  and  enflaves  that  country. 

- “  When  the  patriot’s  tear 

Starts  from  thine  eye,  and  thy  extended  arm 
In  fancy  hurls  the  thunderbolt  of  Jove, 

To  fire  the  iippious  wreath  on  Philip’s  brow. 

Or  dalh  O&avius  from  his  trophied  car; 

Say — Does  thy  fecret  foul  repine  to  tafte 

The  big  dijlrefs  ?  Or,  would’lt  thou  then  exchange 

Thofe  heart-ennobling  forronvs  for  the  lot 

Of  him,  who  fits  amid  the  gaudy  herd 

Of  mute  barbarians,  bending  to  his  nod, 

And  bears  aloft  his  gold-in  veiled  front. 

And  fays  within  himfelf,”  “  I  am  a  King, 

And  wherefore  Ihould  the  clamorous  voice  of  woe 
Intrude  upon  mine  ear?” 

The  fentiment  of  this  charming  and  moral  poet 
is,  that  fympathetic  feelings  are  virtuous ,  and 
therefore  pleafant.  And  from  the  whole,  he  de¬ 
duces  this  important  conclufion  ;  that  every  vir¬ 
tuous  emotion  mult  be  agreeable,  and  that  this 
is  the  JanSlion^  and  the  reward  of  virtue.  The 

thought 


154  Dr.  Barnes  on  the  Pleafures  fome times  felt 

thought  is  amiable.  The  conclufion  noble.  But 
ftill  the  folution  appears  to  me  to  be  imperfect. 

We  have  already  faid,  that  the  pleafure  arifing 
from  the  contemplation  of  diftrefsful  fcenes  is  a 
compounded  feeling ,  arifing  from  feveral  diftindt 
fources  in  the  human  bread:.  The  kind  and 
degree  of  the  fenfation  mud:  depend  upon  the 
various  blendings  of  the  feveral  ingredients, 
which  enter  into  the  compofition.  The  caufe 
afdgned  by  Mr.  Addifon,  the  fenfe  of  our  own 
fecurity,  may  be  fuppofed  to  have  fome  fliare  in 
the  mafs  of  feelings.  That  of  Dr.  Akenfide  may 
be  allowed  to  have  a  ftill  larger  proportion; — Let 
us  attempt  to  trace  fome  of  the  reft. 

There  are  few  principles  in  human  nature  of 
more  general  and  important  induence,  than 
that  of  sympathy.  A  late  ingenious  writer, 
led  by  the  fadiionable  idea  of  Amplifying  all  the 
fprings  of  human  nature  into  one  fource,  has,  in 
his  beautiful  Theory  of  Moral  Sentiments,  en¬ 
deavoured  to  analyfe  a  very  large  number  of  the 
feelings  of  the  heart  into  fympathetic  vibration. 
Though  it  appears  to  me  mod:  probable,  that  the 
human  mind,  like  the  human  body,  poflefies  va¬ 
rious  and  diJHnft  fprings,  of  adtion  and  of  happi- 
nefs,  yet  he  has  (hewn,  in  an  amazing  diverfity  of 
inftances,  the  operation  and  importance  of  this 
principle  of  human  nature.  Let  us  apply  it  to 
our  prefent  fubjedt. 


We 


from  contemplating  Scenes  of  Dijlrefs.  155 

We  naturally  fympathize  with  the  paffions  of 
others.  But,  if  the  paffions  they  appear  to  feel 
be  not  thofe  of  mere  dijlrefs  alone ;  if,  amidd  fcenes 
of  calamity,  they  difplay  fortitude,  generality, 
and  forgivenefs  5  if,  "rifing  fuperior  to  the 
cloud  of  ills  which  covers  them,”  they  nobly 
ftand  firm,  collected,  and  patient ;  here,  a  dill 
higher  fource  of  pleafure  opens  upon  us,  from 
complacence,  admiration,  and  that  unutterable 
fympathy,  which  the  heart  feels  with  virtuous 
and  heroic  minds.  By  the  operation  of  this 
principle,  we  place  ourfelves  in  their  fituation; 
we  feel,  as  it  were,  fome  (hare  of  that  confcious 
integrity  and  peace,  which  they  mud  enjoy. 
Hence,  as  before  obferved,  the  pleafure  will 
vary,  both  as  to  its  nature ,  and  degree ,  according 
to  the  fcene  and  characters  before  us.  The  fhock 
of  contending  armies  in  the  field, — the  ocean 
wrought  to  temped,  and  covered  with  the  wreck 
of  (battered  veffels, — and  a  worthy  family  filently, 
yet  nobly  bearing  up,  againd  a  multitude  of  fur¬ 
rounding  forrows,  will  excite  very  different  emo¬ 
tions,  becaufe  the  component  parts  of  the  plea- 
furable  fenfation  confid  of  very  different  mate¬ 
rials.  They  all  excite  admiration  ;  but  admi¬ 
ration,  how  diverfified,  both  as  to  its  degree ,  and 
its  caufel  Thefe  feveral  ingredients  may,  doubt- 
lefs,  be  fo  blended  together,  that  the  pleafure 
fhall  make  but  a  very  (mall  part  of  the  mixed 
fenfation.  The  more  agreeable  tints  may  bear 

little 


i  $6  Dr.  Barnes  on  the  P leafur e  Jomethnes  felt 

little  proportion  to  the  terrifying  red,  or  the 
gloomy  black. 

In  many  of  the  indances  which  have  been 
mentioned,  the  pleafure  mull  arife  chiefly,  if  not 
folely,  from  the  circnmjlances ,  or  accompany  merits 
of  the  fcene.  The  fublime  feelings,  excited  by 
the  view  of  an  agitated  ocean,  relieve  and  foften 
thofe  occafioned  by  the  Ihipwreck.  And  the 
awe,  excited  by  the  prefence  of  thoufands  of  men, 
aiding  as  with  one  foul,  and  difplaving  magnani¬ 
mity  and  flrmnefs,  in  the  mod  folemn  trial, 
tempers  thofe  fenfations  of  horror  and  of  pain, 
which  would  arite  from  the  field  of  battle. 

The  gratification  we  are  attempting  to  account 
for,  depends  alfo,  in  a  very  confiderable  degree, 
upon  a  principle  of  human  nature,  implanted  in 
it  for  the  wiled  ends  j  the  exercise  which  it 
gives  to  the  mind,  by  rouflng  it  to  energy,  and 
feeling.  Nothing  is  fo  infupportable,  as  that 
languor  and  ennui,  for  the  full  expreffion  of 
which,  our  language  does  not  afford  a  term, 
How  agreeable  it  is,  to  have  the  foul  called 
forth  to  exertion  and  fenflbility,  let  the  Gameder 
witnefs,  who,  unable  to  endure  the  laflitude  and 
famenefs  of  unanimated  luxury,  runs  with  eager- 
nefs  to  the  place,  where  probably,  await  him 
all  the  irritation  and  agony  of  tumultuous 
paffions. 

Again  ;  It  is  a  law  of  our  nature.  That  oppo - 
fite  paffions,  when  felt  in  Jucceffion ,  and,  above 

all, 


from  contemplating  Scenes  of  Dijlr efs.  157 

all,  when  felt  at  the  fame  moment,  heighten  and 
increafe  each  other.  Eafe  fucceeding  pain,  cer¬ 
tainty  after  fufpenfe,  friendfnip  after  averfion, 
are  unfpeakably  itronger,  than  if  they  had  not 
been  thus  contrafted.  In  this  conflict  of  feelings, 
the  mind  rifes  from  pajjrve  to  aftive  energy.  It 
is  roufed  to  intenfe  lenfation ;  and  it  enjoys 
that  peculiar,  exquifite,  and  complex  feeling,  in 
which,  as  in  many  articles  of  our  table,  the  acid 
and  the  fweet,  the  pleafurable  and  painful  pun¬ 
gencies  are  fo  happily  mixed  together,  as  to 
render  the  united  fenfation  amazingly  more 
ftrong  and  delightful. 

We  have  not  yet  mentioned  the  principle  of 
curiosity,  that  bufy  and  adive  power,  which 
appears  fo  early,  continues  almoft  unimpaired 
fo  long ,  and  to  which,  for  the  wifeft:  ends,  is 
annexed  fo  great  a  fen fe  of  enjoyment.  To  this 
principle,  rather  than  to  a  love  of  cruelty,  would 
I  afcribe  that  pleafure,  which  children  fometimes 
feem  to  feel,  from  torturing  hies,  and  leffer 
animals.  They  have  not  yet  formed  an  idea  of  the 
pain  they  inflid.  It  is,  indeed,  of  unfpeakable 
confequence,  that  this  pradice  be  checked,  as 
foon  and  as  efredually  as  pofiible,  becaule  it 
is  fo  important,  that  they  learn  to  conned  the 
ideas  of  pleafure  and  pain,  with  the  motions 
and  adions  of  the  animal  creation.  And,  to  this 
principle  may  we  alfo  refer,  no  fmall  fhare  of 
that  pleafure  in  the  contemplation  of  diftrefsful 

fcenes, 


!  5  B  Dr.  Barnes  on  the  Vleafure  Jometimes  felt,  & c. 

fcenes,  the  fprings  of  which,  in  the  human  heart, 
we  are  now  endeavouring  to  open. 

To  curiosity,  then — -to  sympathy— to  men¬ 
tal  exertion — to  the  idea  of  our  own  security 
. — and  to  the  strong  feelings  occafioned  by 
viewing  the  attions  and  pafiions  of  mankind  in 
interesting  situations,  do  we  afcribe  that 
gratification,  which  the  mind  feels  from  the 
furvey  of  many  fcenes  of  forrow.  We  have 
called  it  a  pleasure;  but  it  will  approach 
towards,  or  recede  from  pleajure ,  according  to 
the  nature ,  and  proportion  of  the  ingredients,  of 
which  the  fenfation  is  compofed.  In  Jome  cafes, 
pain  will  predominate.  In  others,  there  will 
be  exquifite  enjoyment. 

The  final  caufieol  this  conftitution  of  the  human 
mind  is  probably,  that  by  means  of  this  ftrong 
fenfation,  the  foul  may  be  preferved  in  continual 
and  vigorous  motion — that  its  feelings  may  be 
kept  lively  and  tender — that  it  may  learn,  to 
pradtife  the  virtues  it  admires — and  to  afiift  thofe 
to  whom  its  fympathy  can  reach — and  that  it 
may  thus  be  led,  by  thefe  focial  exercifes  of  the 
heart,  to  foften  with  companion— to  expand  with 
benevolence — and  generoufly  to  aflift  in  every 
cafe,  in  which  afliftance  can  be  given.  An  end 
this  fufficient, 

-  -  - - “  To  affert  eternal  Providence, 

And  juftify  the  ways  of  God  to  man.” 

Observa- 


Mr.  Bew  on  Blindnefs. 


*59 


Observations  on  Blindness,  and  on  the  Employ¬ 
ment  of  the  other  Senfes  to  f apply  the  Loss  of 
Sight.  By  Mr.  Bew.  Read  April  17,  1782. 

_ _ tenebrafque  necefle  ’ft 

Non  radii  folis,  neque  lucida  tela  diei 
Difcutiant -  Lucret. 

MONGST  the  various  accidents  and  cala- 


r\  mities,  to  which  the  human  fpecies  are 
fubje&ed,  there  are  none  that  excite  companion, 
or  call  forth  our  benevolent  aid  more  power¬ 
fully,  than  blindlefs.  The  blind  man,  in 
all  ages  and  countries,  has  ever  been  allowed 
an  indifputable  claim  on  the  good  offices  of 
his  fellow- creatures  his  necefficies  have  gene¬ 
rally  been  fupplied  with  facred  care  j  and  his 
genius,  if  it  approached  to  excellence,  has  been 
refpedted  with  a  degree  of  reverence,  fuperior  to 
what  is  ufually  bellowed,  on  fuch  as  are  pofiefled 
of  the  faculty  of  fight. 

The  faculty  of  fight,  indeed,  is  juftly  conli- 
dered  as  fuperior  to  any  of  the  other  fenfes.  Hear¬ 
ing,  tailing,  and  fmelling,  when  compared  with 
vifion,  appear  very  limited  in  their  powers  and 
determinations  j  and  though  the  fenfe  of  touch 
may  polfefs  the  mod  general,  and  accurate  power 
of  conveying  the  ideas  of  the  various  modifica¬ 


tions 


s6o  Mr.  Bew  on  Blindnefs* 

tions  of  matter  to  the  mind ;  yet  the  compre- 
henfivenefs,  together  with  the  inftantaneous  cele¬ 
rity,  with  which  vifion  difplays  to  us  the  won¬ 
ders  of  Nature,  or  the  varieties  of  Art,  far  tran- 
fcend  any  of  the  perceptions,  that  the  touch,  or 
the  other  fenfes  are  able  to  furnilh  us  with.  It 
is,  perhaps,  on  this  account,  that  we  figuratively 
employ  the  term,  feeing,  in  acknowledging  the 
confcious  evidence  of  reafon  and  truth  ;  and  even 
extend  the  application,  as  the  mod  exprefiive, 
to  one  of  the  diftinguilhing  attributes  of  Al¬ 
mighty  perfection. 

In  no  part  of  the  human  fabric,  or  even 
throughout  the  whole  of  nature,  with  which  we 
are  acquainted,  are  there  more  evident  marks 
of  exquifite  perfection  and  wifdom,  than  in  what 
relates  to  the  fenfe  of  feeing  ■,  whether  we  direct: 
our  attention  to  the  wonderful  regularity,  order, 
minutenefs,  and  velocity  of  the  rays  of  light, 
which  minifter  to  this  fenfe,  or  to  the  ftructure 
and  formation  of  the  little  organ,  in  which  this 
faculty  is  deftined  to  refide.  “With  a  ball  and 
“  locket,  (as  a  learned  and  elegant  Philofopher,* 
“  beautifully  obferves)  of  an  inch  diameter,  we 
“  are  enabled,  in  an  inftant  of  time,  without 
“  changing  our  place,  to  perceive  the  difpofition 
“  of  an  army,  the  figure  of  a  palace,  and  the 
“  variety  of  a  landfcape  j”  and  not  only,  as  he 
farther  remarks,  to  “  find  our  way  through  the 

*  Dr.  Reid,  p.  121. 


“  pathlefs 


i6i 


Mr.  Bezv  on  Blindnejs. 

<f  pathlefs  ocean,  traverfe  the  globe  of  the  earth, 
<f  determine  its  figure  and  dimenfions,  and  deli- 
<c  neate  every  region  of  it But, 

. “  Breaking  hence,  take  our  ardent  flight 

“  Thro’  the  blue  infinite,” 

fifcertain  the  order,  revolutions  and  diftances  of 
the  planetary  orbs,  and  even  form  probable  con¬ 
jectures  on 

- - - ....  “  Every  ftar 

“  Which  the  clear  concave  of  a  winter’s  night 
“  Pours  on  the  eye,  or  aftronomic  tube, 

“  Far  flretchifig,  fnatches  from  the  dark  abyfs.” 

Thomson. 

In  contemplating,  therefore,  the  extenfive  and 
almofi:  unlimited  properties  of  vifion,  we  not 
only  find  our  gratitude  warmed  and  elevated 
to  piety  and  devotion,  but  are,  likewife,  con- 
fcious  of  an  involuntary  impulfe,  that  urges  us 
to  exert  our  endeavours,  towards  the  afiiftance  of 
fuch  as  are  unfortunately  deprived  of  this  noble 
faculty,  whenever  they  are  prefented  to  our 
notice. 

And  here,  again*  we  have  every  motive  to 
infpire  us  with  admiration  of  the  providential 
wifdom  and  benevolence,  difplayed  by  the  divine 
Author  of  our  exiftence.  For,  notwithflanding 
the  great  and  comprehenfive  powers  of  fight, 
there  is  little  of  the  actual  knowledge  acquired 

Vol.  I.  M  bv 


1 62  Mr.  Bew  on  Blindnefs'. 

by  this  faculty,  that  may  not,  by  attentive  and 
patient  perfeverance,  be  communicated  to  the 
man  who  has  been  doomed  to  darknefs  fr-sm  his 
birth.  The  bigot,  or  the  enthufiaft,  who  con¬ 
demns  the  refearches  of  philofophy,  and  errone- 
oufly  pronounces  them  to  be  incompatible  with 
religion;  perceives,  with  aftoni foment,  the  blind 
enabled  to  expatiate  on  light  or  colours ;  on 
reflection,  refraCtion,  and  on  the  various  fub- 
jedts,  from  which  we  might  naturally  fuppofe 
they  would  be  excluded,  by  the  deprivation 
of  fight;  and  fatisfies  hirrrfelf  with  abruptly 
referring  the  whole  to  the  immediate  difpen- 
fation  of  the  Deity.  The  philofopher,  on  the 
other  hand,  though,  with  willing  fubmiflion,  he 
ultimately  attributes  the  effects  to  Omnipotence; 
is,  neverthelefs,  defirous  to  avoid  the  cenfure 
pafied  on  the  fervant,  u  who  hurled  his  talent  in 
a  napkin  •”  and  ventures  to  exert  the  abilities  with 
which  he  may  be  endowed  in  endeavouring  to 
inveftigate  the  means  by  which  the  effects  are 
ordained  'to  be  accomplifoed,  to  the  end,  that 
the  interefts  of  humanity  may  be  ferved  with 
greater  certainty. 

The  powerful  influence  of  exercife  and  habit 
upon  the  intellectual,  as  well  as  upon  the 
corporeal  faculties,  are  too  well  known  and 
acknowledged,  to  require  much  illuftration. 
The  mufcles,  of  any  part  of  the  body,  acquire 
peculiar  vigour  and  fullnefs  by  habitual  exer¬ 
cife  i 


Mr.  Bew  on  Blindnefs .  i6$ 

ciie  j  and  the  fame  is  remarkable,  though  in 
a  Hill  higher  degree,  with  refpedt  to  the  effects 
of  exercife  and  habit,  on  the  faculties  of  the 
mind.  From  this  wife  regulation,  in  the  ceco- 
nomy  of  nature,  refults  a  train  of  refources, 
which  the  blind  are  found  capable  of  deriving, 
from  the  exercife  of  the  other  fenfes  ;  and  which 
may  be  fo  far  perfected,  as  to  compenfate,  in 
a  great  meafure,  for  the  lofs  of  the  darling  fenfe 
of  fight.  The  delicacy  and  precifion,  with  which 
l'ome  eminent  blind  people  have  employed  the 
other  fenfes,  particularly  bearing  and  touch ,  would, 
indeed,  exceed  the  bounds  of  credibility,  were 
we  not  allured  of  the  fads,  as  well  from  a&ual 
experience,  as  from  undoubted  authorities. 

Dr.  Saunderfon  loft  his  fight,  by  the  fmall- 
pox,  fo  early  in  his  infancy,  that  he  did  not 
remember  to  have  ever  feen.  He  had  no  more 
ideas  of  light,  than  if  he  had  been  born  blind. 
Notwithftanding  this  misfortune,  he  acquired 
fuch  profound  and  perfect  knowledge  in  the 
fcience  of  mathematics,  that,  by  the  influence 
of  his  merit  only,  he  was  appointed  to  the 
profeflforlhip  in  the  Univerfity  of  Cambridge. 
The  addrefs  of  this  celebrated  philofopher,  was 
no  ways  inferior  to  the  knowledge  he  polfelfed ; 
a  circumftance,  which  we  do  not  always  meet 
with  in  thofe  who  have  the  full  powers  of 
fight.  His  lectures  on  the  different  branches 
of  mathematics,  natural  philofophy,  aftronomy. 


164  Mr.  Bew  on  BUndnefs. 

and  optics,  were  remarkably  clear  and  intelligible. 
Fully  aware  of  the  difficulties  young  minds  have 
to  contend  with,  from  the  abftrufenefs  in  which 
the  fubjedts  of  natural  philofophy  are  ufually 
involved,  his  endeavours  were  fuccefsfully 
directed  to  obviate  and  remove  thefe  obftructionsj 
and  to  furnifh  a  method,  at  the  fame  time, 
comprehenfive,  natural,  and  eafy  to  be  under- 
ilood. 

Dr.  Saunderfon’s  fenfation  of  touch,  as  is  ufual 
with  blind  people,  was  very  exquifite  ;  and  it 
was  by  means  of  this  lenfe,  that  he  acquired  many 
of  his  principal  ideas.  He  diftinguiflied,  with 
aftonifhing  nicety,  the  peculiar  properties  of 
bodies,  that  depended  on  the  roughnefs  or  fmooth- 
nefs  of  their  furfaces.  A  remarkable  inftance 
is  given  of  his  nice  accuracy  in  this  refpedl. 
A  feries  of  Roman  medals,  fome  of  which  were 
true,  and  others  falfe,  were  prefented  to  his 
touch.  Dr.  Saunderfon,  by  running  his  fingers 
over  them,  was  foon  able  to  dillinguifh  the 
genuine  antiques,  from  thofe  that  were  counter¬ 
feited  ;  though  the  latter  had  been  executed, 
with  fuch  exadlnefs  of  imitation,  as  to  deceive 
a  connoiffeur,  who  only  judged  by  the  eye.  Bur, 
fays  the  profeffor,  {C  I,  who  had  not  that  fenfe 
“  to  trull  to,  could  eafily  feel  a  roughnefs  in  the 
<c  new  call,  fufficient  to  drftinguifh  them  by.” 

The  impreffion  made  by  the  approach  of 
bodies  nearer  to  him,  or  their  being  removed 

farther 


Mr.  Bew  on  Blindnefs.  165 

farther  off ;  and  the  different  Prates  of  the 
atmofphere,  were  diftinguilhable  to  him  by 
the  fame  delicate  fenfe  of  touch  ;  and  his  fenfe 
of  hearing  was  refined  to  a  fimilar  degree  of 
perfe&ion.  He  could  readily  afcertain  the  fifth 
part  of  a  note  of  mufic.  He  not  only  diftin- 
guilhed  and  remembered  the  different  people 
he  Converfed  with,  by  the  peculiar  founds  of 
their  voices,  but,  in  Pome  meafure,  places 
alio.  Judging  by  the  founds  of  the  pavements, 
of  the  courts  and  piazzas,  and  the  refle&ion 
of  thefe  founds  from  the  walls,  he  remembered 
the  different  variations,  fo  as  to  be  able  to 
recolledt  the  places,  pretty  exadly,  when  con¬ 
duced  to  them  afterwards. 

We  might  produce  a  great  variety  of  inftances, 
both  antient  and  modern,  where  blind  perfons 
have  excelled  in  different  departments  of  fciencej 
and  particularly,  in  the  leveral  branches  of 
mathematics.  *  But  the  attachment,  which  thefe 

unfortunate 

*  Diodotus,  the  preceptor  cf  Cicero,  is  reprefented  as 
attaching  himfelf,  with  greater  affiduity  to  the  Science  of 
Mathematics  after  he  became  blind. 

“  Diodotus  Stoicus,  cscus  multos  annos,  noftrae  domi 
?*  vixit :  is  vero,  quod  credibile  vix  effet,  cum  in  Philo- 
fophia  multo  etiam  magis  affiduc  quam  antea  verfaretur 
“  turn  quod  fine  occulis  fieri  poffit.  Geometria:  munus  tueba- 
“  tur,  precipiens  difcentibus,  unde,  quo,  quamque  lineam 
fcriberent.”  Cic.  Tufc.  difp.  L.  V.  39. 

M  3  Dldymua 


1 56  Mr.  Eew  on  Blindnejs. 

unfortunate  people  difplay,  for  the  pleafing  pur¬ 
suits  of  mufic  and  poetry,  is  ftill  more  general. 
The  powerful  influence  of  verbal  expreflion,  when 
communicated  to  the  blind,  in  the  form  of  poetry, 
and  the  congenial  ideas  it  infpires,  are  really  afto- 
nilhing.  Of  this  we  have  a  recent  proof  in  Dr. 
Blacklock  of  Edinburgh.  This  amiable  gentle¬ 
man  was,  I  believe,  either  born  blind,  or  became 
fo  very  foon  after  his  birth  :  yet.,  we  find  no  defeats, 
in  thofe  beautiful  poems  he  has  exhibited  to  the 
world,  that  can  be  attributed  to  his  want  of  fight; 
on  the  contrary,  we  meet  with  deferiptions  of 
vifual  feenes  and  obje&s,  as  beautiful,  exprefiive, 
and  juft,  as  if  he  had  a&ually  been  poflefied  of  the 
faculty  of  feeing ;  and  had  drawn  his  deferiptions, 
from  an  enraptured  furvey  of  the  variegated  prof- 
pefts  of  nature.  Whereas,  we  muft  be  convinced, 
when  we  accurately  confider  the  matter,  that  the 
poetic  enthufiafm,  which  infpired  him,  and  excited 
thefe  imitative  powers,  could  only  be  produced 
by  the  various  combination  of  founds,  which  were 
conveyed,  by  words,  to  his  imagination. 

The  influence  of  mufic  is  ftill  more  generally 
to  be  obferved  than  that  of  poetry.  Mufic,  almoft 

Bidymus  of  Alexandria,  is  celebrated  by  St.  Jerom  and 
the  hiftorian  Cafliodorus,  as  a  prodigy  in  logic  and  mathe¬ 
matics,  though  blind  from  his  infancy.  The  latter  writer, 
likewife  fpeaks  of  one  Eufebius,  an  Afiatic,  who,  though 
blind,  diilinguilhed  himfelf  highly  in  all  kinds  of 
learning. 

without 


Mr.  Bew  on  Blindnefs . 


167 


without  exception,  appears  to  be  the  favourite 
arnufement  of  the  blind.  There  is  no  other  em¬ 
ployment  of  the  mind,  religious  contemplation 
excepted,  that  feems  fo  well  adapted  to  footh 
the  foul,  and  diflipate  the  melancholy  ideas,  which, 
it  may  naturally  be  expedted,  will  l'ometimes 
pervade  the  difpofitions  of  thofe  who  are  utterly 
bereft  of  fight.  This,  together  with  the  beneficial 
influence  that  refults  from  the  practice  of  this 
delightful  art,  by  quickening  and  perfecting  the 
fenfc  of  hearing,  is  a  matter  that  deferves  the  molt 
ferious  attention.  The  celebrated  Profefibr,  juft 
now  mentioned,  excelled  in  performing  on  the 
flute,  in  his  youth  ;  and  the  refinement  of  his 
ear,  has  been  very  juftly  attributed  to  his  early 
attention  to  mufic.  It  is  not,  therefore,  furprizing 
that  fo  many  blind  people  have  diftinguilhed 
themfelves  in  this  fcience.  Stanley  and  Parry 
were  deprived  of  their  fight  in  early  infancy; 
yet  both  thefe  Gentlemen  have  difplayed  extra¬ 
ordinary  proofs  of  their  abilities,  not  only  as 
compofers  and  performers  of  mufic,  but,  like- 
wife,  in  matters  that,  at  a  firft  view,  we  might 
be  apt  to  confider  as  peculiar  to  thofe  who  are 
fully  po  fife  fled  of  the  faculty  of  vifion.  Their 
feparate  reputations,  as  muficians,  are  fufficiently 
known  and  acknowledged.  The  ftile  of  Stanley 
is  truly  his  own  ;  and  his  execution  on  the  organ, 
equal,  if  not  fuperior  to  any  of  his  cotemporary 
mers  on  that  grand  inftrument.  Parry  may 


M  4 


be 


i68  Mr.  Bew  on  Blindnefs. 

be  revered  as  the  Britifh  bard  of  modern  times. 
The  halls  of  the  Cambrian  Chief  refound  with 
the  melodious  vibrations  of  his  harp,  and  he  has 
united  the  refinements  of  tafte  and  elegance  to  the 
rude,  but  exprefiive  modulations  of  antiquity. 

I  pafs  over  a  number  of  inftances,  that  might 
be  offered  to  your  notice,  and  proceed  to  give 
fome  account  of  Dr.  Henry  Moyes,  the  elegant 
reader  on  philofophical  chemiftry ;  whofe  lec¬ 
tures,  the  greateft  part  of  this  fociety  had  the 
fatisfadion  of  attending,  and  whofe  perfonal 
acquaintance  feveral  of  us  have  enjoyed 

This  intelligent  philofopher,  like  the  cele¬ 
brated  profeflor  of  Cambridge  before-mentioned, 
loft  his  fight,  by  the  fmall-pox,  in  his  early  in¬ 
fancy.  He  never  recolleded  to  have  feen  :  “  but 
“  the  firft  traces  of  memory  I  have,”  fays  he,  “  are 
“  in  fome  confufed  ideas  of  the  folar  fyftem.” 
He  had  the  good  fortune  to  be  born  in  a  country 
•where  learning  of  every  kind  is  highly  culti¬ 
vated,  and  to  be  brought  up  in  a  family  devoted 
to  learning. 

Poffefled  of  native  genius,  and  ardent  in  his 
application,  he  made  rapid  advances  in  va¬ 
rious  departments  of  erudition  ;  and  not  only 
acquired  the  fundamental  principles  of  mecha¬ 
nics,  mufic,  and  the  languages;  but,  like- 
wife  entered  deeply  into  the  investigation  of  the 
profounder  fciences ;  and  difplayed  an  acute 

and 


Mr.  Bew  on  Blindnefs .  169 

and  general  knowledge  of  geometry,  optics, 
algebra  ;  of  aftronomy,  chemiftry  j  and,  in  fhort, 
of  moft  of  the  branches  of  the  Newtonian  phi- 
lofophy. 

Mechanical  exercifes  were  the  favourite  em¬ 
ployments  of  his  infant  years.  At  a  very  early 
age,  he  made  himfelf  acquainted  with  the  ufe  of 
edged  tools,  fo  perfectly,  that,  notwithllanding 
his  intire  blindnefs,  he  was  able  to  make  little 
wind-mills ;  and,  he  even  conftrudled  a  loom, 
with  his  own  hands,  which  (till  fhew  the  cica¬ 
trices  of  wounds,  he  received  in  the  execution  of 
thefe  juvenile  exploits. 

By  a  moft  agreeable  intimacy,  and  frequent 
intercourfe,  which  1  enjoyed,  with  this  accom- 
plilhed  blind  Gentleman,  whilft  he  refided  in 
Manchefter  j  I  had  an  opportunity  of  repeatedly 
obferving  the  peculiar  manner,  in  which  he 
arranged  his  ideas,  and  acquired  his  information. 
Whenever  he  was  introduced  into  company,  I 
remarked,  that  he  continued  fome  timefilent.  The 
found  directed  him  to  judge  of  the  dimenfions  of 
the  room,  and  the  different  voices,  of  the  number 
of  perfons  that  were  prefent.  His  diftinction,  in 
thefe  refpe&s,  was  very  accurate  ■,  and  his  memory 
fo  retentive,  that  he  feldom  was  miftaken.  I 
have  known  him  inftantly  recognize  a  perfon, 
on  firft  hearing  him  fpeak,  though  more  than 
two  years  had  elapfed  fince  the  time  of  their  laft 
meeting.  He  determined,  pretty  nearly,  the 

ftature 


ijo  Mr.  Bew  on  Blindnejs . 

ftature  of  thofe  he  was  fpeaking  with,  by  the 
djredtion  of  their  voices ;  and  he  made  tolerable 
.conjectures,  refpecting  their  tempers  and  dif- 
pofitions,  by  the  manner  in  which  they  conducted 
their  converfacion. 

It  muft  be  obferved,  that  this  Gentleman’s 
eyes  were  not  totally  infenfible  to  intenfe  light. 
The  rays  refradted  through  a  prifm,  when  fuffi- 
ciently  vivid,  produced  certain  diftinguifhable 
effedts  on  them.  The  red  gave  him  a  difagreea- 
able  fenfation,  which  he  compared  to  the  touch 
of  a  faw.  As  the  colours  declined  in  violence, 
the  harfhnels  leffened,  until  the  green  afforded 
a  fenfation  that  was  highly  pleafing  to  him  j 
and  which  he  defcribed,  as  conveying  an  idea 
fimilar  to  what  he  felt,  in  running  his  hand  over 
fmooth  polifhed  furfaces.  Polifhed  furfaces, 
meandering  ftreams,  and  gentle  declivities, 
were  the  figures,  by  which  he  expreffed  his  ideas 
of  beauty.  Rugged  rocks,  irregular  points,  and 
boifterous  elements,  furnifhed  him  with  expref- 
fions  for  terror  and  difguft.  He  excelled  in  the 
charms  of  converfation ;  was  happy  in  his 
ailufions  to  vifual  objedls  j  and  difcourfed  on 
the  nature,  compofition,  and  beauty  of  colours, 
with  pertinence  and  precifion. 

Dodlor  Moyes  was  a  ftriking  inflance  of  the 
power,  the  human  foul  pofTeffes,  of  finding  re«» 
fources  of  fatisfadfion,  even  under  the  moil  rigo¬ 
rous  calamities.  Though  involved  “in  ever  during 

darknefs, 


Mr.  Bew  on  Blindnefs •  17 1 

darknefs,”  and  excluded  from  the  charming  views 
of  filent  or  animated  nature ;  though  dependent 
on  an  undertaking  for  the  means  of  his  fub- 
fiftence,  the  fuccefs  of  which  was  very  precarious ; 
in  fhort,  though  deftitute  of  other  fupport  than 
his  genius,  and  under  the  mercenary  protection 
of  a  perfon,  whofe  integrity  he  fufpeCted — (till 
Dr.  Moyes  was  generally  chearful  and  apparently 
happy.  Indeed  it  mult  afford  much  pleafure  to 
the  feeling  heart  to  obferve  this  hilarity  of 
temper  prevail,  almoftuniverfally,  with  the  blind. 
Though  <c  cut  off  from  the  ways  of  men,  and 
the  contemplation  of  the  human  face  divine 
they  have  this  confolation  ;  they  are  exempt 
from  the  difcernment,  and  contagious  influence, 
of  thofe  painful  emotions  of  the  foul,  that  are 
vifible  on  the  countenance,  and  which  hypocrify 
itfelf  can  fcarcely  conceal.  This  difpofition,  like- 
wife,  may  be  confidered,  as  an  internal  evidence 
of  the  native  worth  of  the  human  mind  ;  that  thus 
fupports  its  dignity  and  chearfulnefs  under  one 
of  the  fevereft  misfortunes  that  can  pofTibly 
befall  us.  Nor  is  this  chearful  refignation  pecur 
liar  to  thofe  who  have  been  blind  from  their 
birth;  we  find  it,  alfo,  generally  prevail  with 
fuqh  as  have  loft  their  fight,  even  at  a  more 
advanced  age;  and  who  muft,  undoubtedly,  feel 
the  misfortune  with  the  utmoft  anguifh.  The 
diftreffing  recolleCtion,  which  memory  muft 
prefent,  of  former  enjoyments,  we  find,  however. 


172  Mr.  Bezv  on  Blindnejs. 

foon  fubfides.  Gentler  and  more  pleafing  reflect 
tions  fucceed.  Contemplation  takes  her  refidence 
in  her  proper  province,  the  human  mind  ;  and 
the  blind,  fubmiflively  and  chearfully  relign 
themfelves  to  the  will  of  Heaven,  and  the 
benevolent  protection  of  the  lefs  unfortunate 
of  their  fellow-creatures.  And  hard,  indeed, 
is  the  heart  of  him,  who  will  not  ftretch  out 
his  hand  to  fuccour  the  blind ;  or  who,  by 
injuftice,  illiberally,  or  unkindnefs,  adds  a 
fling  to  the  confcious  dependence,  to  which, 
v/hil ft  they  live,  they  mud  ever  be  fubjedted. 

The  blind  people  I  have  hitherto  feledled  to 
fpeak  of,  it  may  be  remarked,  were  fuch  as  had 
their  native  faculties  excited  and  matured  by 
early  and  attentive  education.  But  we  lhall  find, 
even  where  education  has  been  wanting,  and  the 
blind  left,  in  a  great  meafure,  to  the  fimple  ex¬ 
ertions  of  nature  ;  that  the  natural  faculties  them¬ 
felves  make  furprizing  efforts  towards  fupplying 
the  deficiency  of  fight.  I  (ball  bring  forwards  to 
your  notice  a  perfon,  well  known  in  this  neigh¬ 
bourhood,  of  which  he  is  a  native.  This  is 
one  John  Metcalf,  who,  like  the  Gentlemen 
already  mentioned,  became  blind  at  a  very  early 
age,  fo  as  to  be  intirely  unconfpious  of  light  and 
its  various  effeds.  This  man  pafled  the  younger 
part  of  his  life  as  a  waggoner,  and  occafionally, 
as  a  guide  in  intricate  roads  during  the  night,  or 
y/hen  the  tracks  were  covered  with  fnow.  Strange 

3$ 


Mr.  Be^JJ  on  Blihdnefj.  a  73 

as  this  may  appear  to  thofe  who  can  fee,  the  em¬ 
ployment  he  has  fince  undertaken  is  ft i  1 1  more  ex-* 
traordinary  :  it  is  one  of  the  lad  to  which  we  could 
fuppofe  a  blind  man  would  ever  turn  his  attention. 
His  prefent  occupation  is  that  of  a  projector  and 
furveyor  of  highways  in  difficult  and  mountainous 
parts.  With  the  abidance  only  of  a  long  daff,  I 
have  feveral  times  met  this  man  traverfing  the 
roads,  afcending  precipices,  exploring  valleys,  and 
invedigating  their  feveral  extents,  forms,  and 
fituations,  fat  as  to  anfwer  his  defigns  in  the  bed 
manner.  The  plans  which  he  dedgns,  and  the 
edimates  he  makes,  are  done  in  a  method  peculiar 
to  himfelf;  and  which  he  cannot  well  convey  the 
meaning  of  to  others.  His  abilities,  in  this  refpeft, 
are,  neverthelefs,  fo  great,  that  he  finds  condant 
employment.  Mod  of  the  roads  over  the  Peak 
in  Derbyffiire,  have  been  altered  by  his  direftionsj. 
particularly  thofe  in  the  vicinity  of  Buxton  :  and 
he  is,  at  this  time,  condrufting  a  new  one,  betwixt 
Wilmdovv  and  Congleton,  with  a  view  to  open  a 
communication  to  the  great  London  road,  with¬ 
out  being  obliged  to  pafs  over  the  mountains.* 

Thefe 

*  Since  this  paper  was  written,  and  had  the  honour  of 
being  delivered  to  the  Society,  I  have  met  this  blind  pro- 
jeftor  of  the  roads,  who  was  alone  as  ufual ;  and  amongft 
other  converfation,  I  made  fome  inquiries  refpefting  this 
new  road.  It  was  really  altoniihmg  to  hear  with  what 
accuracy  he  dofcribed  the  courfes,  and  the  nature  of  the 

different 


174  Afr.  Bezv  on  Blindnefs . 

Thefe  inftances  will,  I  am  perfuaded,  be  fuffici- 
ent  to  prove,  how  effe&ually,  by  proper  exercife, 
the  other  fenfes  may  be  refined  and  perfected, 
fo  as,  in  many  refpe&s,  to  fupply  the  lofs  of 
fight.  The  fenfations  of  fmell  and  talte,  indeed, 
are  fo  very  limited,  that  they  do  not  feem 
capable  of  yielding  many  peculiar  advantages  to 
blind  people  :  but  the  perceptions  of  hearing 
and  touch,  as  we  have  feen,  may  be  applied  to 
purpofes  wonderfully  extenfive. 

By  the  nice  diftinftion  of  touch  and  found, 
the  blind  man  not  only  acquires  knowledge 
with  refpeCt  to  perfons  and  fituations  j  is  not 
only  warned  from  danger,  and  excited  to  plea- 
fure  but  by  means  of  thefe  delicate  faculties, 
he  is  enabled  to  conceive  many  of  the  vifual 
qualities  of  bodies,  and  to  diftingui fh  them  with 
certain  precifion.  I  do  not  mean  to  infer,  that 
a  blind  man  annexes  the  fame  ideas  to  vifual 
qualities,  as  are  excited  in  the  minds  of  thofe 
who  are  pofTefled  of  the  perfect  faculty  of  fight. 

I  only  wifh  to  obferve,  that  he  forms  a  general 
conception  of  their  characters,  by  the  analogy 
which  he  finds  they  bear  to  qualities  he  is  ac- 

i 

different  foils,  through  which  it  was  conduced.  Having 
mentioned  to  him  a  boggy  piece  of  ground  it  palled  through, 
he  obferved,  that  “  that  was  the  only  place  he  had  doubts 
“  concerning ;  and  that  he  was  apprehenfive  they  had, 
“  contrary  to  hi*  dire&ions,  been  too  fparing  of  their 
“  materials.” 


quainted 


Mr.  Bew  on  Blindnefs.  175 

quainted  with,  by  means  of  his  other  fenfes. 
Thus,  for  example,  if  we  prefent  a  violet  to  him, 
and  demand  of  him  what  ideas  he  has  of  its 
qualities;  he  will  be  able  to  anfwer  with  great 
preeifion  reflecting  its  fmell,  &c.  which,  as 
well  as  the  name  of  the  violet  are  foft,  fweet, 
and  pleafing.  But,  with  regard  to  the  colour, 
he  will  be  wholly  unable  to  conceive  any  idea 
of  it,  except  what  takes  place  from  very  diftanc 
analogies :  the  plaintive  melody  of  the  flute,  the 
foft  fmoothnefs  of  furfaces,  &c.  In  like  man¬ 
ner,  by  appofite  aflfociations,  he  may  compare 
the  intenfe  colour  of  fcarlet  to  the  glow  of  a  fur¬ 
nace,  the  noife  of  a  trumpet,  or  the  odour  of 
aromatics  ;  becaufe  they  feverally  affed  his  fenfes 
with  intenfe  excitements. 

But  whatever  amazing  information,  the  fenfes 
of  hearing  and  touch,  may  afford  the  blind  ;  thefe 
powers  would,  neverthelefs,  be  tranfient  and 
ineffedual,  were  not  the  impreflions  and  ideas 
they  excite  in  the  mind,  preferved  and  matured 
by  the  afliftance  of  the  memory.  It  is  chiefly 
by  the  afliftance  of  the  memory,  that  the  blind 
acquire  the  exquifite  advantages,  derived  frorri 
the  other  fenfes.  In  this  refped,  providential 
benevolence  feems  to  have  determined  the 
greateft  compenfation,  for  the  fevcre  deprivation 
of  the  fenfe  of  fight.  The  foul  of  the  blind  man, 
tind  iff  faded  by  the  never  ceafing  variety  which 
is  aUvays  prefent  to  the  organs  of  vifion,  when 

awake. 


tyG  Mr.  Bern  on  Blindnefs. 

awake,  purfues  its  internal  perceptions  and  con¬ 
templations  with  unconfounded  ferenity.  The 
blind  unlettered  projedtor  of  roads  could  reply 
to  me,  when  I  exprefied  myfelf  furprized  at  the 
accuracy  of  his  difcriminations,  “  that  there  was 
“  nothing  furprizing  in  the  matter;  You,  Sir,” 
fays  he,  iC  can  have  recourfe  to  your  eye  fight 
**  whenever  you  want  to  fee  or  examine  any 
“  thing ;  whereas,  I  have  only  my  memory  to 
*c  truft  to.  There  is  one  advantage,  how- 
<c  ever,”  he  remarked,  that  he  pofifelfed.  <c  The 
<c  readinefs  with  which  you  view  an  objedt  at 
“  pleafure,  prevents  the  neceffity  of  fixing 
ft  the  ideas  of  it  deeply  in  your  mind,  and  the 
“  impreffions,  in  general,  become  quickly  obli- 
tc  terated.  On  the  contrary,  the  information  I 
tc  pofiefs,  being  acquired  with  greater  difficulty, 
“  is,  on  that  very  account,  fo  firmly  fixed  on  the 
“  memory,  as  to  be  almoft  indelible.”  Such, 
indeed,  is  the  wonderful  influence,  refulting 
from  the  union  of  exercife  and  habit,  on  the 
faculties  of  the  blind,  that  the  permanency  of 
their  knowledge  in  a  great  meafure,  compen- 
fates  for  the  labour  required  in  its  attainment ! 

The  inffantaneous  facility,  with  which,  by  the 
aid  of  fight,  we  are  able  to  afeertain  the  pecu¬ 
liarities  of  any  place  we  furvey,  and  the  eafe 
with  which  we  review  and  recognize  them, 
renders  dependence  on  the  memory,  to  us,  lefs 
neceffary.  For  inflance,  the  dimenfions  of  the 

apartment 


Mr.  Bew  on  Blindnejs.  ^  177 

apartment  I  fit  in ;  the  furniture,  &c.  will, 
by  the  organs  of  vifion,  be  immediately  prefenced 
to  the  mind  of  any  ftranger  who  may  call  on  me, 
fo  that  he  will  be  able,  in  a  moment,  to  recollect 
the  whole  whenever  he  repeats  his  vifit,  to  the  fame 
place.  This  kind  of  information  can  only  be  ac¬ 
quired  by  the  blind  man,  in  confequence  of  the 
mod  patient  attention.  He  is  to  be  led  round 
the  feveral  parts  of  the  room,  his  finger  conduced 
to  the  furfaces  of  the  furniture,  pictures,  &c. 
before  he  can  poftibly  form  any  idea  with  refpeCt 
to  the  place.  But  when,  by  means  of  the  per¬ 
ceptions  of  touch,  and  a  necefifary  degree  of 
information,  he  conceives  a  regular  train  of 
diftinguifliing  ideas,  his  mind  afiociates  them, 
with  fuch  tenacity,  that  he  feldom  has  occafion 
to  repeat  his  inquiries. 

It  is  this  accurate  and  retentive  power  of  the 
memory,  that  enables  the  blind  mathematician 
to  make  exaCt  calculations  and  inferences  ;  to 
work  problems  in  algebra,  and  in  infinite  feries  ; 
to  conceive,  with  precifion,  the  different  effeCts 
that  bodies  muft  produce  to  the  fight,  by  their 
being  nearer  or  farther  off;  by  their  moving 
in  a  ftraight  or  in  an  oblique  line;  and,  that 
direCts  his  inveftigation  with  refpeCt  to  the  prin¬ 
ciples  of  projection,  and  the  various  rules  of 
perfpeCtive. 

It  muft  here  be  remarked,  that  though  the 
blind  man  may  conceive  the  properties  of  figure 
Vol.  I.  N  and 


S  Afr.  Blindrtefs. 

and  extenfion  with  certain  accuracy ;  yet  it  doe£ 
not  follow  that  he  would  be  able  to  diftinguifh 
them,  with  the  fame  certainty,  by  vifion,  provided 
that  faculty  were,  immediately,  beftowed  on  him. 
On  the  contrary,  the  queftion  ftarted  by  Mr. 
Molineux,  *  was  found  to  prove  exactly  as 
that  philofopher  expedled,  in  the  extraordinary 
cafe  of  a  blind  youth,  whom  Mr.  Chefelden  had 
the  good  fortune  to  bring  to  fight,  by  couching, 
at  thirteen  years  of  age.  This  young  man,  at 
his  firft  feeling  the  imprefiions  of  objedts  on  the 
organs  of  vifion,  imagined  every  thing  he  faw 
touched  his  eyes  ;  nor  was  he  able  to  difcriminate 
one  objedt  from  another,  however  different  their 
forms.  When  things  that  were  before  known 
to  him,  by  touching,  were  prefented  to  him* 
he  confidered  them  attentively,  in  order  to 
recognize  them  j  but  on  a  fudden,  he  felt 
himfelf  confuted,  from  the  multitude  of  objedts 
that  crowded  for  admiffion,  and  the  whole  was 
involved  in  obfcurity.  It  appears,  therefore, 
from  the  above  fadt,  as  well  as  from  a  due 
examination  of  the  fubjedt,  that  thofe  who 
make  ufe  of  their  eyes,  for  the  firft  time,  fee 
only  furfaces  and  colours  5  and  have  no  con¬ 
ception  of  the  vifible  effedts  of  light  and  pro- 
jedlion,  until  they  learn  it  from  experience. 
In  fadt,  if  we  carefully  attend  to  the  operas 
tion  of  our  own  minds,  we  fhall  find,  that  the 

*  Lock  cn  the  Underftanding,  vol.  I.  p.  S07. 

vifible 


Mr.  Bew  on  Blindnefs.  179 

vifible  appearances  of  objeds  are  feldom  accu¬ 
rately  attended  to,  unlefs  we  are  employed  in 
delineating  thofe  objects.  The  vifible  appear¬ 
ance  of  things,  is  varied  according  to  the  direc¬ 
tion  of  the  light,  the  pofition,  and  the  diftance, 
with  refped  to  the  beholder  :  yet,  as  we  are  con- 
fcious  from  experience,  of  the  identity,  the  real 
figure  is  conceived  in  its  actual  proportion,  and 
the  vifible,  or  perfpeCtive,  appearance  is  con- 
fidered  only  as  a  fign  or  indication. 

The  accurate  painter  is  well  aware  of  this 
operation  of  the  mind,  and  in  delineating  his 
objeds,  and  relieving  them  with  the  diftribution 
of  light  and  fbade,  ;is  carefully  attentive  to  avoid 
forming conclufions,  before  he  accurately  confiders 
the  premiles.  The  effect  produced  by  a  well 
managed  pidure,  fufficiently  evinces  the  actual 
appearance  of  bodies,  according  to  their  point 
of  view ;  and  the  impreflions  they  muft  make 
on  the  organs  of  fight,  when  employed  previous 
to  the  influence  of  reafon,  and  the  correction  of 
the  judgment.  The  painter,  who  exerts  the 
imitative  powers  of  his  art  to  deceive  the  eye, 
does  not  merely  draw  the  out  line  of  his  figure, 
and  colour  it  with  the  exad  uniform  tinge  it 
naturally  difplays:  he  furveys  it  in  one  certain 
point  of  view,  and  then  proceeds  to  delineate 
and  adapt  his  tints,  as  if  the  figure  were,  in 
reality,  adhering  to  the  canvafs.  It  is  no  won¬ 
der,  therefore,  that  the  young  Gentleman,  juft 

N  2  mentioned. 


i8o  Mr.  Bew  on  Blindttefs. 

mentioned,  was  aftonifhed  to  find,  on  examining* 

J  O 

the  pictures,  prefented  to  him,  with  his  finger, 
that  they  had  not  the  fame  projection,  with 
the  objeCts  they  reprefented.  This,  as  well 
as  the  art  of  diminifhing  a  figure,  and  (till  pre- 
ferving  the  refemblance,  would  evidently  be  as 
much  an  enigma,  to  a  perfon  juft  poffefled  of 
vifion,  as  the  circumftance  of  che  Mirror,  men¬ 
tioned  by  M  Biderot.  * 

It  is  more  than  probable,  therefore,  that  the 
blind  man,  has  no  ideas  of  colour,  except,  as  has 
been  already  remarked,  what  are  derived  from 
a  kind  of  diftant  analogy,  regulated  by  the  afioci- 
ating  powers  of  the  mind,  and  preferved  by  the 
memory  ;  and,  indeed,  moft  of  the  perfons  of  this 
clafs  I  have  converfcd  with,  have  frankly  confeffed 
themfelves  wholly  ignorant  of  its  qualities.  Nor 
is  this  deficiency  in  the  forming  of  ideas  peculiar 
to  the  fenfe  of  fight.  A  deaf  man  would  be  juft 
as  much  embarraflfed,  with  refpeCt  to  the  qualities 
of  found ;  and  the  fame  may  be  obferved  with 
refpeCt  to  the  other  fenfes. 

In  the  courfe  of  my  inquiries,  however,  on 
this  fubjeCt,  it  occurred  to  me,-  that  I  might 
pofii'oly  derive  fome  new  matter  for  obfervation, 
from  the  recollection  of  the  blind  man’s  percep¬ 
tions  whilft  under  the  influence  of  his  dreams. 
In  the  ufual  filent  hours  of  repofe,  when  the 

*  Vid  les  CEuvres  de  M.  Diderot,  tom.  II.  Art-.  Lettres 
fur  les  Aveugles,  See. 

exercife 


Mr.  Bew  on  Blindnefs.  181 

exercife  of  the  memory  is,  in  a  great  meafure, 
fufpended  ;  and  the  unfettered  imagination  dif- 
plays  its  powers,  in  a  very  peculiar  manner}  I 
conceived  it  might  he  pofiible  for  the  blind  to 
experience  fome  tranfient  imprefTions,  relative 
to  vifual  qualities.  It  is  true  Mr.  Lock  gives 
it  as  his  opinion,  “  that  th.e  dreams  of  fleeping 
“  men  are  made  up  of  waking  men’s  ideas  ; 
<c  though,”  he  allows,  “  they,  are,  for  the  moft 
“  part,  oddly  put  together.”  The  impreffions  of 
dreams,  it  muft  be  acknowledged,  are  too  fleet¬ 
ing  to  admit  of  much  inveftigaqon }  and  our 
recollection  of  them  is  liable  to  the  greateft  uncer¬ 
tainty  :  yet,  notwithftanding  the  opinion  of  this 
great  philofopher,  there  are  few,  I  am  perfuaded, 
who  have  not  felt  themfelves  fometimes  affe£ted> 
duiing  their  dreams,  in  a  manner  which  they 
could  by  no  means  account  for,  or  reconcile  with 
any  circumftance  that  had  previoufiy  taken  place 
in  real  life.  And  though  I  have  not  been  able 
to  gratify  my  curiofity  to  its  full  extent,  yet  I 
have  gained  fufficient  information  to  convince 
me,  that  the  blind  feel  impreffions  ip  dreaming, 
in  fome  degree,  fimilar  to  the  vifible  appearances 
of  bodies.  A  blind  Gentleman,  with  whom  I 
have  lately  convcrfed,  clearly  proves  to  me,  that 
he  is  confcious  of  the  figure,  though  he  cannot 
diftinguifh  the  varieties  of  the  human  coun? 
tenance  :  and  from  the  confufed  efforts  he  makes 
fp  explain  himfclf,  it  may  be  perceived,  that  hq 

N  3  feels 


1 82  Mr.  Bew  on  Blindnefs. 

feels  himfelf  alarmed  with  new  fenfations,  that 
bear  a  ftrong  relation  to  our  ideas  of  light  and 
colour;  but  which  he  finds  it  impoffible  to  de- 
feribe,  becaufe  he  cannot  fix  on  any  comparative 
idea  whereby  to  explain  himfelf.  Thefe  dreams, 
my  intelligent  friend  informs  me,  are  always 
painful,  and,  as  may  naturally  be  expe&ed,  the 
impreffions  are  extremely  tranfient  and  unfatif- 
faflory. 

But  it  is  not  the  blind  only,  who  are  unable 
to  trace  the  various  effe&s  produced  by  light  and 
colour.  There  are  perfons,  whofe  organs  of 
vifion  are  fo  imperfedtly  formed,  that  they  can* 
not  diftinguilh  colours,  though  they  fee  the  objects 
-perfeftly.  In  the  Philofophical  Tran  factions 
we  have  an  account  of  a  man  who  knew  no 
difference  of  colour  whatever;  and  there  is  an  in¬ 
genious  perfon,  within  the  circle  of  our  acquaint¬ 
ance,  whofe  knowledge  in  Perfpeftive,  as  well 
as  in  the  other  branches  of  Natural  Philofophy, 
is  unqueftionable ;  yet  who  finds  himfelf  defici¬ 
ent  in  difeerning  the  difference  of  fome  colours, 
which  he  knows  to  exilt,  and  v/hich  are  diftin- 
guilhable  to  perfect  vifion.  In  particular,  I  think 
I  have  heard  him  mention,  that  the  fenfation 
he  felt,  from  the  colours  of  brown  and  green, 
had  no  obvious  difference,  provided  they  were 
diffufed  with  equal  degrees  of  intenfenefs. 

But  thefe  fpeculations,  however  curious  and 
entertaining,  were  not  the  principal  objefls  I 

had 


Mr.  Bew  on  BUndneJs .  1 83 

had  in  view,  when  I  fat  down  to  confider  the 
fubject  of  blindnefs.  It  may  be  remarked,  that 
in  the  fketches,  relative  to  blind  people,  I  have 
offered  to  your  notice,  I  have  purpofely  avoided 
fpeaking  of  fuch,  as  had  ever  poflfefled  the  fa¬ 
culty  of  vifion,  fo  as  to  recoiled!:  it  with  any 
degree  of  accuracy  :  and  I  have  been  the  more 
particular  in  my  account  of  Dr.  Moyes,  and  the 
blind  projector  of  roads,  becaufe  I  had  an  oppor¬ 
tunity  of  availing  myfclf  of  immediate  inform¬ 
ation  from  them,  with  refpedt  to  fuch  pecu¬ 
liarities,  as  it  was  not  in  my  power  to  derive  from 
the  writings  of  the  few  authors,  who  have  treated 
on  this  fubjedh  *  In  tracing  the  progrefs,  and 
marking  the  degrees  of  perfedtion,  to  which  the 
mod  celebrated  blind  people  have  carried  the 
exertions  of  the  other  fenfes,  to  fupply  the  lofs 
of  fight  ;  I  was  perfuaded,  that  farther  obferva- 
tions  and  difcoveries  might  be  made,  which  might 
be  applied  to  advantage  in  the  education  of  blind 
children;  and  alfo  in  rendering  more  perfedt,  the 
different  inventions,  that  have  already  been  de- 
vifed,  in  order  to  facilitate  their  information, 
and  the  means  of  their  improvement :  and  I 

*  Befides  occafional  hints  which  I  have  acquired  from 
converfing  with  various  blind  people,  whofe  names  are  not 
mentioned  ;  I  have  particular  acknowledgments  to  make 
to  Mr.  Cheefe,  the  organift  of  the  collegiate  church  in 
Mancheller,  for  the  fatisfa&ion  he  has  afforded  me  in  many 
of  my  inquiries. 


flattered 


184  JVfr.  Maffey  on  Saltpetre. 

flattered  myfelf,  that  thefe  matters  would  be 
deemed  fufficiently  important,  to  engage  the 
attention  of  the  learned  members  of  this  Society. 
Inftances  too  frequently  occur,  that  mod:  power¬ 
fully  call  for  the  generofity  and  companion  of 
mankind;  and  though  our  abilities  rarely  arrive 
at  the  divine  perfection  of  giving  fight  to  the  blind , 
we  fhall  always  experience  a  confcious  bene¬ 
volent  fatisfadion,  in  miniderins  to  their  know-? 
ledge,  their  convenience  and  happinefs. 


A  TREATISE  ON  SALTPETRE, 
By  James  Massey,  Efq. 


- - - - fx  quid  novifti  redtius  iftis 

Candidus  Imperti,  fi  non  his  utere  mecuai. 


INTRODUCTORY  OBSERVATIONS. 

fT'HE  great  importance  of  Saltpetre,  fince  the 
invention  of  gun-powder,  is  too  well  known 
to  be  here  expatiated  upon,  as  well  as  the  nu¬ 
merous  rewards  that  have  been  offered  to  thofe 
who  fhoulc!  give  us  the  cleared  and  bed  accounts 
of  it ;  a  fure  fign  that,  notwithdanding  it  has 

been 


Mr.  Majfey  on  Saltpetre.  1S5 

been  long  made  in  very  confiderable  quantities 
in  almoft  every  part  of  Europe,  our  knowledge 
cf  this  fait  is  ftill  very  imperfedt. 

This  induced  the  author  of  the  following  pages, 
many  years  ago,  to  turn  his  attention  to  this 
fubjedt,  and  he  flatters  himfelf,  that,  by  long 
obfervation,  and  a  pradlice  which,  though  not 
very  extenfive,  may  have  been  fufficient  for  this 
purpofe,  he  has  made  fuch  difcoveries,  as  may 
render  the  bufinefs  of  faltpetre-making  no  lefs 
eafy  and  familiar  to  his  countrymen,  than  it  has 
long  been  to  our  neighbours  upon  the  continent. 

He  never,  indeed,  could  be  brought  to  believe, 
that  it  was  owing  to  any  defedl  in  our  climate,  or 
to  the  want  of  materials,  that  we  have  io  often 
failed  in  our  attempts  this  way,  but  merely  to  our 
inattention  to  fome  particular  points  in  the  prac¬ 
tical  part,  upon  which  our  fuccefs,  in  a  great 
meafure,  depended.  Thefe,  therefore,  he  has  prin¬ 
cipally  laboured  to  explore,  and  to  let  them  in  fo 
ftrong  a  light,  that  they  can  no  longer  efcape 
our  obfervation. 

It  is  the  cuftom  of  the  faltpetre  makers  abroad, 
to  wait  till  the  earths  they  have  procured,  or  pre¬ 
pared  for  this  purpofe,  are  found  fit  to  anfwer 
their  end  j  a  pradtice,  which  we  have  reafon  to 
think  has  rarely  been  followed  by  our  country¬ 
men,  who,  finding  the  earths  they  have  employed, 
imperfedt  upon  the  firft  trial,  have  feldom  af¬ 
forded  them  a  lVcond,  and  thus  have  rejedled 


I  %eJ 


Mr.  Majfey  on  Saltpetre. 

many  that,  in  a  due  courfe  of  time,  might  have 
anfwered  their  moft  fanguine  expectations. 

d  hey  have,  likewise,  not  duly  attended  to  the 
large  quantities  of  earth,  that  our  neighbours  are 
obliged  to  elixiviate,  in  order  to  obtain  a  final! 
portion  of  faltpetre ;  and  finding  their  portion  but 
trifling  in  the  trials  they  have  made,  have  too 
haftily  concluded  this  bufinefs  to  be  fcarcely  worth 
following  ;  when,  had  they  reflected  upon  the 
great  number  of  faltpetre-makers  in  France  and 
Germany,  they  muft,  certainly,  have  entertained 
a  very  different  opinion. 

But  what  has  chiefly  difeouraged  us,  we  pre¬ 
fume,  may  have  been,  our  ignorance  of  the  true 
grounds  and  principles,  upon  which  the  practice 
of  making  faltpetre  is  founded;  which,  we 
may  obferve,  have  never  been  clearly  laid  open. 
All  that  we  are  told  is,  that  faltpetre  is  extracted 
from  the  rubbifh  of  old  houfes,  the  bottoms  of 
/linking  pits  and  ditches,  and  the  like;  which 
has  induced  many  perfons  to  conclude,  that  this 
fait  is  generated  in  thefe  earths :  whereas,  the 
truth  is,  that  nothing  is  extracted  from  thefe 
earths  but  a  peculiar  acid,  which,  in  con¬ 
junction  with  the  fixt  fait  of  wood-afhes,  and  not 
yvithout,  forms  this  neutral  one  which  cryftallizes 
in  the  ley  when  boiled  down  as  above  mentioned  ; 
which  circumftances  being  omitted,  it  can  be  no 
wonder  that  we  are  led  into  very  great  errors. 

'  '  '  ‘  Of 


Mr.  Maffey  on  Saltpetre.  187 

Of  this  acid,  the  fource  from  which  it  is  de¬ 
rived,  and  the  manner  in  which  thefe  and  other 
earths  become  impregnated  with  it,  we  (hall  en¬ 
deavour  to  give  the  moft  full,  and  fatisfaclory 
account,  as  well  as  of  the  practical  methods  of 
making  faltpetre,  all  which  might  be  comprized  in 
a  page  or  two,  had  we  not  a  variety  of  chimeras 
to  encounter,  and  this  practice  particularly  to 
(explain.  By  thefe  means  we  hope  to  remove 
all  that  myftery  and  obfcurity  in  which  this  fub- 
jedt  has  been  fo  long  involved  ;  and  to  render  the 
practice  of  making  faltpetre  as  eafy  and  familiar 
to  the  Englifh,  as  it  has  long  been  to  the  French 
and  Germans,  fo  much  to  the  advantage  of  thofp 
nations. 


ON  SALTPETRE. 

The  great  life  of  faltpetre  in  the  compo- 
fition  of  gun-powder,  has  long  rendered  it  an 
objefl  of  the  firft  importance  ;  upon  which  ac¬ 
count,  the  learned  have  fpared  no  pains  to 
obtain  the  moft  perfeft  knowledge  of  it;  but 
hitherto,  as  it  l'eems,  without  fuccefs,  as  no  clear 
and  fatisfa&ory  account  has  yet  been  given  of 
it.  And  though  the  methods  of  making  it  in 
Efance,  Germany,  and  many  other  parts  of  the 

world. 


1S8  Mr.  Majfey  on  Saltpetre. 

world,  have  been  minutely  defcribed,  thefe  de- 
fcriptions,  through  Tome  defeCt  or  other,  have 
been  of  little  fervice  to  us,  if  we  may  judge 
from  the  many  fruitlefs  attempts  to  make  this 
fait  in  England. 

The  common  accounts  that  are  given  us  of 
nitre  or  faltpetre,  are,  indeed  fo  very  vague  and 
various,  as  rather  to  confufe  and  perplex,  than 
give  us  any  clear  knowledge  of  it.  Some  will 
have  it  to  be  a  production  of  nature ,  others  en¬ 
tirely  of  art.  Some  tell  us  it  is  drawn  from  the 
air;  others,  that  it  is  extracted  from  vegetables 
and  animals.  We  are  told  too,  that  it  is  found 
upon  the  furface  of  the  earth,  and  upon  old  walls 
in  the  form  of  hoar  froft,  and  that  whole  pro¬ 
vinces  are  fometimes  covered  over  with  it;  all 
which  is  certainly  very  falfe  and  fallacious;  if, 
by  faltpetre,  in  this  place,  is  meant  that  faline 
concrete,  which  is  of  fo  much  ufe  in  the  com- 
pofition  above-mentioned;  which,  though  fome¬ 
times  found  in  the  walks  of  nature,  is  molt 
afturedly,  in  general,  a  production  of  art. 

Saltpetre,  to  give  a  juft  defcription  of  it,  is 
a  neutral  faline  concrete,  evidently  formed  by 
a  combination  of  a  peculiar  acid,  with  a  fixt  ve¬ 
getable  alkaline  fait.  This  acid  is  found  in 
certain  earths,  from  which  it  is  extracted,  by 
elixiviating  them  along  with  wood-afhes,  the  fixt 
fait  of  which,  uniting  with  the  acid,  forms  this 

neutraj 


Mr.  Maffey  on  Saltpetre.  189 

neutral  one,  which  cryftallizes  in  the  ley  when 
boiled  down  to  a  due  confidence. 

From  this  plain  account  of  the  formation  of 
faltpetre,  it  muft  be  obvious,  that  it  can  no  where 
be  found,  without  the  concurrence  of  thefe  two 
principles ;  and,  conlequently,  not  in  the  air,  or 
in  vegetables  or  animals,  becaufe,  though  this 
peculiar  acid  may,  perhaps,  be  found  in  thefe 
fubjeds,  the  fixt  fait  muft  needs  be  wanting. 

That  it  may  be  fometimes  found  in  the  earth, 
we  fhall  not  deny,  owing  to  the  accidental  intro¬ 
duction  of  wood-afhes  to  a  foil  impregnated  with 
this  acid.  And  that  from  hence  it  may  pafs  into 
the  ftems  and  apices  of  fome  plants,  with  the 
moifture  that  enters  their  roots,  is  far  from  be¬ 
ing  improbable.  But  that  whole  provinces  can 
even  be  covered  over  with  it,  or  that  it  can  be 
generated  in  thefe  organized  bodies,  as  Lemeri 
and  fome  others  have  imagined,  muft  exceed 
all  belief. 

The  accounts,  which  travellers  generally  give 
us  of  this  fait,  are,  that  it  is  extracted  from  the 
foil  of  the  countries  they  have  vificed,  by  elixi- 
viating  it  with  water,  and  evaporating  the  fluid  ; 
which  we  believe  may  be  confiftent  with  truth  j 
but  here  it  fhould  not  be  forgotten,  that  a  certain 
portion  of  wood-afhes  is  always  added  to  this 
foil  before  it  is  elixiviated,  a  circumftance  which, 
either  through  ignorance  or  inattention  they  have 
too  often  omitted  to  mention.  We  are  told, 

indeed. 


igo  Mr.  Majfey  on  Saltpetre. 

indeed,  by  Mr.  Bowles,  that  in  Tome  parts  of 
Spain,  they  have  an  earth  that  yields  the  cryf- 
tals  of  this  fait  without  any  afliftance  of  this 
kind  ;  and  this  in  fuch  quantities,  as  might  fupply 
all  Europe  with  this  article.  But  till  this  fa<ft  is 
better  authenticated,  we  have  many  reafons  to 
doubt  the  truth  of  it. 

Be  this  as  it  may,  we  (hall  here  judge  it  of  more 
life,  to  advert  to  thofe  earths,  that  are  well  known, 
with  the  afiiftance  of  wood  afhes,  to  yield  us  the 
cryftals  of  this  fait,  to  point  out  their  peculiar 
quality,  and  the  fource  from  which  it  is  derived  ; 
together  with  the  true  reafon  why  they  are  not 
always  in  a  condition  to  yield  us  thefe  cryftals, 
even  with  the  addition  of  a  fixt  fait ;  a  circum- 
ftance  that  has  much  perplexed  the  molt  expe¬ 
rienced  faltpetre  makers.  After  which,  nothing 
we  truft  will  remain,  but  to  lay  down  the  prac¬ 
tical  methods  of  making  it,  fupported  by  the 
bed  authorities,  as  well  as  our  own  experience. 

Of  thefe  earths,  the  mod  diftinguifhed  are,  the 
rubbifh  of  old  houfes,  the  ruins  of  old  vaults 
and  cellars,  &c.  which  rarely  fail  to  yield  us 
the  cryftals  of  this  fait,  when  elixiviated  with 
wood  afhes.  That  thefe  earths  poffefs  an  acid 
quality,  is  not  to  be  difputedj  feeing,  that 
upon  reducing  them  to  a  coarfe  powder,  and 
percolating  a  fixt  alkaline  folution  through  them, 
this  folution  will  be  neutralized,  and  no  longer 
yield  us  an  alkaline,  but  a  neutral  fait. 


From 


Mr.  MaJJep  on  Saltpetre.  jgi 

From  what  fource  this  acid  is  derived,  is  at 
prefent  unknown.  The  moll:  general  opinion 
is,  that  it  is  drawn  from  the  air 5  but  to  this 
there  are  many  objections.  In  the  fipft  place, 
the  aerial  or  univerfal  acid,  is  generally  allowed 
to  be  not  of  the  nitrous ,  but  vitriolic  kind.  And 
fecondly,  there  are  many  earths  impregnated 
with  this  acid,  which,  in  all  appearance,  have 
had  no  communication  with  the  air,  of  which 
the  foil  at  the  bottoms  of  graves  is  a  flagrant 
inftance. 

From  the  well  known  fa<5t,  that  the  rubbifh 
of  all  fuch  houfes,  as  have  been  occupied  by 
the  filthieft  inhabitants,  and  of  fuch  clay  walls, 
as  have  flood  in  the  neighbourhood  of  dunghills, 
or  wherever  putrid  vapours  more  plentifully 
abound,  is  always  mod  ftrongly  impregnated 
with  this  acid,  it  is  moll:  natural  to  believe, 
that  thefe  vapours  mud  confer  it  upon  them, 
and  consequently,  that  it  mud  have  its  origin 
in  putrid  fubftancesj  but  to  this,  there  are  like- 
wife  many  objections.  In  the  fird  place,  the 
recent  juices  of  vegetables  and  animals,  fame 
few  of  the  former  excepted,  if  we  are  not  mif- 
taken,  contain  no  kind  of  acid  whatever  and 
in  a  putrid  date,  every  body  knows  they  are 
of  a  volatile  alkaline  nature,  which  being  the 
mod  powerful  objection,  we  fhall  here  princi¬ 
pally  endeavour  to  remove  ;  and  upon  the  whole, 
fhall  undertake  to  fhew,  that  there  is  an  original 

acid 


192  Mr.  Majfey  on  Saltpetre. 

acid  in  all  vegetables  and  animals,  which  being 
rendered  volatile  by  putrefa&ion,  afiumes  the 
fpecific  charader  of  the  nitrous.  And  that,  fince 
this  acid  conftantly  arifes  in  vapour  from  putrid 
fubftances,  hence  it  is,  that  the  rubbifh  of  old 
houfes,  and  of  old  clay  walls,  become  impregnated 
with  it,  as  well  as  thofe  earths  that  lie  in  con¬ 
junction  with  them. 

That  the  recent  juices  of  vegetables  and 
animals,  are,  in  general,  perfectly  neutral,  we  fhall 
readily  admit  ;  but  from  hence,  we  think  it  does 
not  follow,  that  they  contain  neither  an  acid  nor 
alkali y  as  is  commonly  concluded ;  on  the  con¬ 
trary,  we  apprehend,  a  more  juft  inference  is, 
that  being  mixty  they  muft  necefiarily  contain 
loth.  It  is  certain,  that  if  we  throw  a  calcareous 
earth,  or  fixt  fait  into  any  of  thefe  juices,  the 
earth  or  fait  will  be  neutralized  by  it;  which 
we  take  to  be  a  proof,  that  it  contains  an  acid, 
which  quits  the  ‘weaker  to  join  with  the  fironger 
alkali,  according  to  the  law  of  affinities. 

And  the  cafe  will  be  the  fame,  if  thefe  juices 
are  putrefied.  If  we  throw  a  fixt  fait  into  any 
putrid  liquor,  it  will  be  neutralized  by  it,  and 
now,  if  we  dip  a  piece  of  foft  paper  into  this  mix¬ 
ture  and  dry  it,  it  will  burn  like  a  match,  in  the 
fame  manner  as  if  dipped  into  a  weak  folu- 
tion  of  faltpetre  ;  which  ffiows,  that  it  not  only 
contains  an  acid,  but  one  of  the  nitrous  fort  ; 
and  provided  this  liquor  were  perfedly  putre¬ 
fied. 


Mr.  Majfey  on  Saltpetre 19-3 

fied,  and  the  marine  fait,  with  which  all  ni¬ 
trous  leys  greatly  abound,  carefully  removed, 
we  cannot  help  thinking  that  upon  being  boiled 
down  to  a  due  confidence  it  would  yield  the 
cryftals  of  faltpetre.  The  author  muft  acknow¬ 
ledge  he  has  boiled  down  many  of  thefe  mix- 
.  tures  without  fuccefs;  but  it  was  at  a  time  when 
he  was  ignorant  of  the  necefiity  of  attending 
to  the  above  circumftances. 

That  all  putrid  fubftances,  and  confequently, 
their  juices,  are  of  a  volatile  alkaline  nature, 
is  not  to  be  denied,  owing  to  an  union  of  their 
acid  and  oily  parts  with  their  earth,  which 
is  equally  fubtilized  by  the  putrid  procefs. 
But  that  the  two  former  are  fafely  feparated  from 
the  latter,  by  adding  a  calcareous  earth  or  fixt 
fait  to  them,  the  meaneft  chemift  can  tell  us, 
the  earthy  or  alkaline  part  flying  off,  and  leaving 
the  acid  and  oily  ones  combined  with  the  earth 
or  fait,  with  which  they  have  a  greater  affinity. 
And  that  thus  calcareous  earths,  by  lying  in 
conjunction  with  putrid  matters,  become  pof- 
felfed  of  a  volatile  acid,  oily  mix/ ,  which  is  Stahl's 
precife  defcription  of  the  nitrous  acid,  muft  be 
clear  to  conviction. 

But  the  ftrongeft  proof  of  the  exiftence  of  an 
acid  in  putrid  juices,  if  the  earths  of  (tables  and 
cow-ftalls  do  not  afford  an  equal  one,  muft 
be  drawn  from  the  foil  at  the  bottoms  of  graves, 
which  can  certainly  derive  its  nitrous  acid  quality 
Vol.  I.  O  from 


*94  it/r.  MaJJey  on  Saltpetre. 

from  nothing,  but  the  corrupt  bodies  with  which 
it  lies  in  contadt;  and  this  may  fatisfy  us,  in 
refpedt  to  the  fource,  from  which  other  ab- 
forbent  earths  may  derive  it. 

Other  earths,  in  common  ufe  among  the  falt- 
petre-makers,  are  thofe  of  (tables  and  cow-dalls, 
that  have  drank  up  much  animal  urine?  the 
bottoms  of  (linking  pits  and  ditches,  and  the 
like.  Thefe  they  take  out,  and  lay  in  heaps, 
till,  by  repeated  trials,  they  find  them  fit  for 
their  purpofe.  It  is  commonly  fuppofed,  that, 
during  this  period,  they  draw  their  nitrous  quality 
from  the  air?  but  for  this,  there  is  certainly  no 
juft  foundation,  feeing  they  are  brought  to  ma¬ 
turity  as  foon,  in  the  clofeft  vault  or  Cellar,  as  in 
the  moft  open  expofure.  The  truth  is,  that  all 
putrid  juices  contain  many  oily  and  mucila¬ 
ginous  parts,  which,  till  they  are  duly  attenu¬ 
ated  by  putrefadtion,  will  not  fuffer  any  cryftals 
to  form  in  the  leys  that  are  drawn  from  thefe 
earths;  and  they  are  laid  in  thefe  heaps,  for 
this  event  to  take  place.  Another  end  is 
anfwered  by  this  manoeuvre.  By  being  thus  laid 
apart,  thefe  earths  are  prevented  from  receiving 
any  fre(h  fupplies  of  unputrid  matter,  which 
might  contaminate  the  juices,  that  were  already 
far  advanced  in  putrefaction. 

The  ingenious  author  of  the  Chemical  Dic¬ 
tionary  has  told  us.  That  the  nitrous  acid  is  no 

where 


Mr.  Mafley  on  Saltpetre.  195 

where  found,  but  in  fuch  earths,  as  are  impreg¬ 
nated  with  the  juices  of  vegetables  and  animals, 
and  where  thefe  juices  have  Juftained  the  whole 
putrefactive  procejs.  But  having  affigned  no  reafon 
for  it,  he  feems  to  have  been  little  regarded. 
The  obfervation  is,  however,  certainly  a  very 
juft  one,  and  had  it  been  duly  attended  to, 
we  imagine,  might  have  prevented  moft  of  thofe 
difappointments,  which  our  countrymen  have 
met  with,  in  their  attempts  to  make  faltpetre; 
as  we  have  reafon  to  think,  they  have  been 
chiefly  owing  to  their  premature  ufe  of  thefe 
earths. 

The  common  foil,  in  fome  parts  of  India,  is 
naturally  nitrous,  owing  plainly  to  the  fifh  and 
flime  that  is  left  upon  it  by  the  inundations  of 
the  river  Ganges,  which  foon  corrupt  in  that  hot 
climate,  and  fill  the  earth  with  putrid  juices ; 
and  here  putrefaction,  being  carried  on  with  the 
created  rapidity,  is,  of  courfe,  foon  completed, 
and  the  natives  are,  in  a  fbort  time,  furnifhed 
with  a  nitrous  earth  perfectly  matured.  But  it 
mull  not  be  forgotten,  that  their  ftrongeft  earths 
are  found  at  the  bottoms  of  their  tanks  or  fhallow 
ponds  of  water,  which,  in  this  country,  are  often 
of  great  extent,  where,  the  water  being  evaporated 
by  the  heat  of  the  fun,  large  quantities  of  fifh 
are  left  to  corrupt,  which  furnifh  a  mud  of  the 
ftrongeft  nitrous  quality. 

O  2 


In 


1 96  Mr.  Mdjfey  on  Saltpetre. 

In  this  manner,  are  nitrous  earths  naturally 
formed  in  thefe  parts  of  the  world,  and  might, 
doubtlefs,  be  formed  in  others,  though  not  per¬ 
haps  fo  expeditioufly,  by  throwing  into  (hallow 
ponds  of  water,  natural  or  artificial,  all  forts  of 
dung  and  carrion,  with  other  putrid  and  putre- 
fiable  matters;  where  the  water,  being  evaporated 
by  the  heat  of  our  fummers,  mud  certainly  leave 
a  mud  of  the  fame  kind  and  quality. 

Putrid  juices  and  putrid  vapours  are  difperfed 
through  the  earth  and  air,  fo  that  there  are  few 
earths,  of  an  abforbent  kind,  that  are  not,  in 
fome  degree,  nitrous.  But  it  is  in  thofe  only 
that  have  been  drenched  in  an  extraordinary 
degree  with  thefe  juices,  or  have  been  long  ex- 
pofed  to  thefe  vapours,  that  this  acid  is  found  of 
any  confiderable  flrength.  And,  even  here,  we  find 
it  but  very  fparingly  difieminated  in  them,  if  we 
may  judge  from  the  large  quantities  of  earth 
that  mud  be  elixiviated,  to  obtain  a  fmall  portion 
of  faltpetre.  Cramer  has  told  us,  that  two  ounces 
of  faltpetre  may  fometimes  be  extrafled  from 
one  pound  of  earth,  which  we  have  reafon  to 
think  is  an  arrant  fable  ;  fince,  in  the  city  of  Paris, 
where,  we  may  prefume,  thofe  earths  are  fele&ed 
with  the  bed  judgment,  we  (hall  find  that  one 
bufhel  of  earth,  with  half  that  quantity  of  wood- 
a(hes,  will  fcarce  produce  one  pound  of  this  fait ; 
and  we  are  informed,  that  it  requires  eight  cart 

loads. 


Mr.  MaJJey  on  Saltpetre.  197 

loads,  which  are  perhaps  fmall  ones,  to  make  one 
hundred  weight.  There  can  be  no  doubt,  that  the 
trifling  value  of  the  materials,  and  the  fmall 
labour  that  is  required,  alone  enable  the  faltpetre 
makers  to  carry  on  this  bufinefs,  and  that,  under 
the  lame  circumftances  it  may  be  carried  on  in 
other  places. 

From  the  nature  and  conftitution  of  thefe 
earths,  it  muft  be  evident,  that  they  may  be 
eafily  formed  by  methods  of  art,  nothing  more 
being  neceffary  than  to  lay  calcareous  earths,  in 
conjunction  with  putrid  matters,  or  to  drench 
them  with  their  juices,  and  to  wait,  till  we  .find 
them  fit  for  our  purpofe.  All  this  is  well  known; 
but  not  fo,  we  apprehend,  the  procefs  by  which 
they  are  brought  to  maturity,  which  is  the  rea- 
ion  that  our  patience  is  often  put  to  too  fevere 
a  trial,  in  waiting  for  this  event.  It  is  a  folly  to 
deny,  that  it  is  yet  afecret,  that  thefe  earths  derive 
their  peculiar  quality  from  the  putrid  matters 
with  which  they  are  connected,  and  that  they 
are  brought  to  maturity,  entirely  by  putrefadion. 

Glauber,  who,  from  the  obfervations  he  had 
made  upon  the  fruits  and  effeds  of  the  bottom* 
of  (linking  ditches,  feems  to  be  the  firft  that 
attempted  to  form  artificial  nitre  beds,  threw 
into  pits,  covered  from  the  rain  and  fun,  but 
cxpofed  as  much  as  poffible  to  the  air,  all  forts 
pf  dung,  with  the  cuttings  of  trees,  refufe  of 

O  j  gardens. 


198  Mr.  Majjey  on  Saltpetre. 

gardens,  and  other  putrid  and  putrefiable  matters, 
to  which  he  added  wood-afhes ;  and  by  this 
means,  in  a  courfe  of  time,  obtained,  not  a  mere 
nitrous ,  but  a  true  Jaltpetre  earth,  that  afforded 
him  the  cryftals  of  this  fait,  upon  fimple  elix- 
iviation  and  evaporation. 

It  does  not  appear,  that  this  celebrated  Chemid 
had  the  lead  idea,  that  thefe  putrid  matters  were 
of  any  other  ufe,  than  to  draw  the  nitre,  as  he 
called  it,  from  the  air,  in  which  the  fixt  fait  of  the 
wood-afhes  might  pofhbly  afTift.  In  this  date 
of  ignorance,  his  followers,  for  the  mod  part, 
feem  dill  to  remain  ;  having  adopted,  as  far  as 
we  know,  no  other  dodtrine ;  and  having  varied 
from  this  pradtice,  only  in  difpofing  thefe  mate¬ 
rials  above  ground,  indead  of  below,  in  order  to 
expofe  them  the  more  to  this  element. 

It  mud  not  be  paffed  over,  that  Glauber  fome- 
times  filled  large  wooden  veffels  with  all  kinds 
of  dung,  and,  when  they  had  completed  their 
putrefadtion,  he  percolated  a  drong  alkaline  fo- 
lution,  through  them,  drawn  from  lime  and 
wood-afhes,  which  afforded  him  a  ley  of  the  fame 
kind  and  quality,  with  that  drawn  from  the  earth 
of  his  other  nitre  beds. 

A  late  writer  has  told  us,  that  there  are  but 
three  ways  of  obtaining  nitrous  earths.  In  walls , 
that  is,  by  raifing  clay  walls,  and  expofing  them 
to  the  air — In  pits  j  by  throwing  all  forts  of 
'  "  putrid 


Mr.  MaJJey  on  Saltpetre .  199 

putrid  and  putrefiable  fubftances  into  them — 
And  in  hovels  ;  by  laying  thefe  materials  in  heaps 
.under  them.  The  firft  he  difapproves,  becaufe, 
as  he  tells  us,  though  thefe  walls  are  generally 
.covered  with  draw,  the  nitre,  or  rather  the  nitrous 
earth  that  is  formed  upon  them,  is  frequently 
wallied  away  by  the  rain.  But  there  is  certainly 
.another  obje&ion,  and  that  is,  the  tedious  time 
which  thefe  walls  muft  commonly  ftand,  except 
they  are  railed  in  the  neighbourhood  of  dunghills, 
before  they  receive  any  considerable  impregna¬ 
tion.  In  Pruffia,  where  we  are  told  thefe  walls 
2re  raifed,  by  order  of  the  king,  throughout  the 
.country,  for  the  ufe  of  the  faltpetre  makers,  we 
are  at  the  fame  time  informed,  they  are  often 
found  but  weakly  impregnated,  at  the  end  of 
twenty  years,  though  dung  or  litter  is  fometimes 
mixt  up  with  the  clay,  of  which  they  are 
compofed. 

He  does  not  approve  of  difpofing  the  mate¬ 
rials  in  pits,  becaufe,  as  he  obferves,  the  air 
cannot  be  conveniently  admitted  to  their  inte¬ 
rior  parts,  )de,  therefore,  gives  the  preference 
to  the  difpcfal  of  them  under  hoyejs,  where,  by 
various  contrivances  that  he  lays  down,  the 
air  may  be  freely  admitted  to  them.  And  here 
we  fhould  certainly  join  him,  could  we  be 
brought  to  believe  tn^t  a  current  of  air,  for 
which  he  contends,  was  any  great  promoter  of 
putrefaftion.  But  we  have  been  told,  and  have 

O  4  good 


cioo  Mr.  Majfey  on  Saltpetre. 

good  caufe  to  believe,  that  a  clofe,  warm,  moift 
•air  is  the  greateft  promoter  of  this  procefs; 
and,  therefore,  muft  have  leave  to  think,  that 
a  vault,  or  a  cellar,  muft  be  the  moft  proper 
repofitory  for  thefe  materials,  where  their  putre¬ 
faction,  being  carried  on  with  the  greateft  vigour, 
muft,  of  courfe,  be  the  fooner  completed. 

Or,  in  defeCt  of  thefe  conveniences,  that  the 
fame  end  might  be  anfwered  by  laying  them, 
about  a  yard  thick,  upon  a  piece  of  ground,  funk 
a  few  inches  below  the  level,  and  bedded  with  clay, 
where,  through  the  rain  that  falls,  in  the  fpace 
of  a  year  or  two,  they  muft  be  completely  putre¬ 
fied  j  particularly,  if  they  were  now  and  then 
turned  over,  and  no  frefh  additions  were  made 
to  thtm  for,  whilft  we  continue  to  heap  frefli 
materials  upon  old  dunghills,  it  is  impoftible 
that  the  whole  mafs  fhould  be  equally  putrefied: 

It  is  obfervable,  that  the  writer  laft  mentioned 
fays  not  a  word  of  the  ufe  of  putrefaction,  nor 
of  the  expediency  of  promoting  this  procefs,  by 
all  the  means  that  lie  in  our  power,  in  order  to 
accelerate  the  maturity  of  thefe  earths;  which  we 
commonly  attribute  to  hi's  ignorance  of  this 
circumftance. 

Nor  does  ‘the  practice  of  the  faltpetre  makers 
indicate  any  fuperior  knowledge.  Many  of  their 
nitre  beds  ate  raifed  ten  or  twelve  feet  high, 
whofe  putrefaClion  muft  advance  very  (lowly, 
through  the  pieflure  of  the  upper  parts  upon  the 
I  X*’  lower t 


201 


Mr.  Maffey  on  Saltpetre . 

lower,  and  the  want  of  moifture,  which  cannot 
eafily  be  introduced  to  fuch  lofty  heaps. 

About  thirty  years  ago,  an  ingenious  Chemift, 
of  our  own  nation,  having  vifited  many  of  the 
oreat  works  abroad,  and  made  the  obfervation, 
that  to  form  a  nitrous  earth,  nothing  more  ap¬ 
peared  to  be  neceffary,  than  to  mix  up  calcareous 
earths  with  any  kind  of  dung,  and  expofe  thefe 
materials  to  the  air,  returned  home,  fully  per- 
fuaded  that  he  was  mafter  of  the  fecret,  and  had 
intereft  enough  to  prevail  upon  many  of  his 
friends  to  join  him,  in  erecting  a  large  faltpetre 
work,  at  Fulham,  near  London.  Here,  many 
hundred  loads  of  lime  were  got  together,  and 
laid  with  ftrata  of  horfe  muck,  in  long  high 
ridges,  the  more  to  be  expofed  to  this  element; 
the  confequence  of  which  was,  that  the  rain  run¬ 
ning  off,  without  penetrating  the  mafs,  no  putre¬ 
faction  enfued,  and  the  lime,  at  the  end  of  four 
or  five  years,  was  found  to  have  received  little  or 
no  impregnation ;  upon  which  the  work  was 
dropped,  with  great  lofs  to  the  Proprietors. 

Two  errors  were  here  committed.  In  the  fir  ft 
place,  the  dung,  which  ought  to  have  been,  at 
lead:,  in  treble  the  proportion  to  the  lime,  made 
but  about  one  fourth  part  of  the  heaps.  And 
fecondly,  they  were  fo  difpofed,  that,  for  'want 
of  moifture,  they  could  never  enter  into  a  putrid 
fiate:  whereas,  had  the  dung  been  in  a  due  pro¬ 
portion,  and  the  whole  been  fp'read  about  a  yard 

thick, 


Z02  Mr.  Majjey  on  Salt  petty* 

thick,  there  can  be  no  difpute,  that,  in  the  fpace 
of  a  year  or  two,  they  had  been  perfectly  putre¬ 
fied,  and  a  nitrous  earth  had  been  formed  that 
might  have  prevented  this  cataftrophe  ;  efpeci- 
ally  if  the  heap  had  been  treated,  as  we  have 
before  hinted. 

When  the  author  faw  thefe  materials,  fomc 
time  after  the  work  was  dropped,  the  dung  ap¬ 
peared  to  have  been  quite  burnt  up  by  the  lime, 
and  to  have  had  no  effedt  upon  it;  but  his  judg¬ 
ment  was  not  then  ripe  enough,  to  point  out  the 
caufe  of  this  difafter. 

This  work,  as  we  have  been  informed,  was 
afterwards  taken  up  by  a  foreigner,  who  formed 
his  nitre  beds  in  a  very  different  manner;  but 
they  were  raifed  fo  high,  and  confequently  fq 
long  in  arriving  at  maturity,  as  quite  tired 
out  the  patience  of  thole  who  were  concerne4 
with  him. 

There  may  have  been  other  reafons  for  laying 
afide  this  work  ;  and  among  the  reft,  its  not 
anfwering  the  expectations  of  the  Proprietors  in 
refpect  to  profit  $  which,  in  new  undertakings, 
are  apt  to  run  pretty  high,  without  confidering, 
that  the  profits  of  every  bufinefs  depend  upoq 
the  {kill  and  knowledge  with  which  it  is  con¬ 
ducted.  We  have  before  remarked,  that  Glauber 
generally  added  wood-afhes  to  the  materials, 
of  which  he  compofed  his  nitre  beds;  by  which 
means,  in  a  cqurfe  of  time,  he  obtained  not  a 

mere 


Mr.  Maffey  on  Saltpetre.  203 

jmere  nitrous ,  but  a  true  faltpetre  earth,  which 
required  nothing  but  eiixiviation  with  water, 
and  a  fubfequent  evaporation,  to  afford  him 
the  cryftals  of  this  fait  ;  which  practice  is  (till 
followed  by  many  of  his  fucceffors  ;  though, 
as  it  feems,  without  any  clear  convi&ion  of 
their  ufe  ;  it  being  a  point  in  difpute,  whether 
they  are  of  any  ufe  or  not. 

The  author  of  the  article  Nitre,  in  the  French 
Encyclopaedia,  boldly  affirms,  that  the  juices  or 
deco&ions  of  all  fuch  plants,  as  yield  much 
fixt  fait  by  incineration,  being  putrefied  and 
clarified  with  lime,  according  to  Mr.  Bolduc’s 
method,  laid  down  in  the  Memoirs  of  the  Academy 
of  Sciences  for  the  year  1 734,  will  yield  us  the  cry¬ 
ftals  of  a  true  faltpetre,  without  the  affiftance  of  any 
fixt  alkaline  fait  whatever;  and  that  at  Montpeli¬ 
er,  and  all  over  Languedoc,  they  make  faltpetre 
without  ufing  the  leaft  particle  of  fuch  fait.  Upon 
which  we  can  only  obferve,  that  if  this  be  a  fadt, 
it  muft  be  very  furprizing,  that  it  is  not  known  in 
Paris,  and  that  the  Gentlemen  of  the  Academy, 
who,  fome  time  ago,  drew  up  and  publifhed 
by  order  of  their  monarch,  an  account  of  the 
feveral  methods  of  making  faltpetre  in  all 
parts  of  the  world,  fo  far  as  they  could  arrive 
at  the  knowledge  of  them,  ffiould  not  take  the 
leaft  notice  of  it ;  though  they  have  thought 
proper  to  record  one  of  a  fimilar  nature,  Mr. 
Brown’s  method  of  making  faltpetre  in  Virginia. 

This 


2C>4  Mr.  MaJTey  on  Saltpetre. 

This  Gentleman  tells  us,  that  if  we  fprinkle 
the  clay  floor  of  a  tobacco  houfe  with  ambeer3 
which  we  take  to  be  a  putrid  infufion  of  tobacco, 
and  cover  it  with  the  rotten  leaves,  in  a  fort¬ 
night’s  time,  upon  removing  the  leaves,  we  fhall 
find  the  floor  covered  with  faltpetre,  in  the  form 
of  hoar  froft,  drawn  from  the  air ,  which  being 
fwept  up,  and  elixiviated  with  warm  water,  will 
afford  us  a  ley,  that,  being  boiled  down  to  the 
confidence  of  cream,  will  (hoot  into  cryftals  of 
this  fait.  Now  we  can  eaflly  believe,  that  thefe 
fweepings,  with  the  afliftance  of  wood-afhes, 
would  afford  us  fuch  a  ley,  but  not  without ;  and' 
'therefore  muft  conclude,  that  there  is  here  fome 
omiffion. 

We  muft  farther  obferve,  that  this  Gentleman 
takes  no  notice  of  any  marine  fait  that  is  formed 
in  this  ley,  which,  being  found  in  all  nitrous 
leys,  muft  render  this  account  very  fufpicious. 
And  what  may  give  us  a  more  unfavourable 
opinion  of  this  method,  is,  that,  flnce  the  author 
obtained  a  reward  of  three  hundred  pounds  from 
the  Britifh  Parliament  for  this  notable  difcovery, 
we  have  heard  no  more  of  it. 

Whilft  the  feveral  parts  or  principles  of  which 
this  faline  concrete  is  compofed  remained  un¬ 
known,  we  might  give  credit  to  a  number  of 
tales  refpetting  its  origin  and  formation  ;  which, 
at  this  time,  without  betraying  the  greateft  weak-? 

nefsa 


Mr.  Mafjey  on  Saitptre,  20$. 

flefs,  we  cannot  give  the  lead  ear  to — of  its  being 
drawn  from  the  air — of  its  being  generated  in 
Vegetables  and  animals — of  its  being  found  upon 
the  furface  of  old  walls — and,  to  conclude  the 
whole,  of  its  being  formed  without  the  adiftance 
of  a  fixt  fait ;  all  which  mud  be  found  equally 
repugnant  to  reafon  and  experience,  which  we 
may  bring  the  ordinary  pra&ice  of  making  falt- 
petre  to  confirm. 

And  here,  we  cannot  help  expreding  our  fur- 
prize,  that  fo  much  time  has  been  fpent  by  many 
ingenious  perfons  in  the  difcovery  of  new  methods 
of  making  faltpetre,  w'hen  it  mud  be  obvious, 
that,  in  cafe  they  fucceeded,  there  is  none 
that  could  be  more  plain,  fimple,  and  lefs  ex- 
penfive,  than  the  old  and  approved  one,  of  which, 
vve  fhall  now  proceed  to  give  a  more  particular 
account. 

•In  large  and  populous  towns,  the  faltpetre 
makers  chiefly  make  ufe  of  the  rubbilh  of  old 
houfes,  the  ruins  of  old  vaults  and  cellars,  &c, 
Thefe  they  collect,  and,  having  reduced  them  to 
a  coarfe  powder,  elixiviate  with  about  one  third 
the  quantity  of  wood-alhes  j  in  which  ley,  when 
boiled  down  to  a  due  confidence,  the  crydals  of 
faltpetre  are  found  to  (hoot.  During  the  boiling, 
large  quantities  of  marine  fait  are  formed  in 
this  lixivium,  which,  crydallizing  whild  the  lit 
quor  is  hot,  are  taken  out  with  perforated  ladles. 

The 


So  6  Mr.  Majfey  on  Saltpetre. 

The  ley  is  then  taken  out,  and  fet  in  a  cool  place 
for  the  faltpetre  to  cryftallize. 

In  defed  of  thefe  earths,  they  colled  thofe  of 
flables  and  cow-flails,  that  have  drank  up  much 
animal  urine,  the  bottoms  of  ftinking  pits  and 
ditches,  efpecially  of  thofe,  that  have  received 
the  contents  of  fiaughter  and  privy  houfes. 
Thefe  they  take  out,  and  lay  in  heaps,  commonly 
mixt  up  with  a  little  lime,  till,  by  repeated  trials, 
they  find  them  fit  for  their  purpofe ;  which  is 
known,  in  fome  meafure,  by  their  having  totally 
loft  their  offenfive  odour,  a  fure  fign  that  their 
putrefadion  is  completed. 

Where  thefe  earths  cannot  be  procured  in 
fufficient  quantities,  they  form,  what  are  called, 
artificial  nitre  beds,  by  laying  all  forts  of  putrid 
and  putrefiable  fubftances  in  conjundion  with 
calcareous  earths,  keeping  them  in  a  moiftftate, 
and  waiting,  as  the  phrafe  is,  till  they  are 
brought  to  maturity.  If  the  wood-afhes  are  not 
added,  when  thefe  materials  are  committed  to 
putrefadion,  they  are  added  when  they  are  elixi- 
viated,  but  never,  that  we  have  heard,  omitted. 

The  common  peafants  in  France  and  Germany, 
who  are  almoft  all  faltpetre  makers,  ferape  toge¬ 
ther  the  muck  and  offals  of  their  farm  yards, 
and,  throwing  them  under  open  fheds,  fuffer  them 
to  lie,  till  they  find  they  will  anfwer  their  end. 
Though  they  know  little  of  the  ufe  of  putre¬ 
fadion,  they  take  care  to  promote  this  procefs, 

by 


Mr.  Maffty  on  Saltpetre.  <ioJf 

by  drenching  them  with  urine  or  muck  water, 
and  frequently  turning  them  over,  by  which 
means,  they  are  brought  to  maturity  much  fooner 
than  the  larger  nitre  beds.  Thefe  materials, 
with  the  wood-allies  that  their  hearths  fuppjy, 
if  not  added  before,  are  thrown  into  a  large  cub, 
and  water  poured  upon  them,  which  runs  out 
through  a  hole,  fluffed  with  ftraw,  at  the  bottom 
of  the  veffel.  Thus  Amply  do  they  procure 
their  leys,  in  the  boiling  of  which,  their  women 
and  children  are  chiefly  employed. 

Where  any  article  of  commerce  is  compofed 
of  materials  of  little  or  no  value,  and  which  re¬ 
quire  fmall  Ikill  or  ingenuity  to  manufacture, 
great  numbers  of  poor  perfons  will  naturally 
take  up  this  employment,  whofe  diftreffes  will 
oblige  them  to  difpofe  of  it,  upon  the  moft 
moderate  terms ;  to  which  they  will  be  farther 
urged  by  the  policy  of  the  government  under 
which  they  live,  which  will  reftrain  them  from 
exporting  it,  till  its  own  wants  is  fupplied.  To 
this  we  may  fairly  attribute  the  fmall  price 
that  faltpetre  bears  in  France  and  Germany.  But 
this  can  be  no  difcouragement  to  the  Englifh, 
among  whom  it  bears  a  much  greater  price,  noc- 
withftanding  the  importations  of  their  India 
Company-,  and  confequently,  muft  afford  the 
makers  a  much  greater  profit,  Ihould  the  govern¬ 
ment  refufe,  by  a  fmall  bounty  of  one  penny 

per 


«o8  Mr.  Majfsy  on  Saltpetre. 

per  pound,  upon  all  the  faltpetre  made  in  Eng¬ 
land,  to  give  them  fuitable  encouragement. 

The  French  are  not  infenfible  of  the  great 
advantages  they  derive,  from  making  their  own 
faltpetre;  and,  therefore,  pay  no  fmall  attention 
to  it. 

The  faltpetre  makers  in  Paris  are  incorporated, 
and  have,  befides,  the  privilege  of  carrying  off 
the  rubbifh  of  all  the  old  houfes  they  fhall  think 
proper,  without  fee  or  reward ;  though  this  in¬ 
deed  is  but  a  poor  compenfation  for  the  extra¬ 
ordinary  expence  they  are  put  to  in  firing,  in  a 
city  where  fuel  is  fo  dear. 

In  the  year  1775,  fome  defeft  being  found  in 
the  faltpetre  brought  to  market,  owing  more, 
perhaps,  to  their  parfimonious  methods  of  making 
it,  than  to  any  thing  elfe,  the  King  of  France 
immediately  ordered  a  committee,  of  the  Gentle¬ 
men  of  the  Academy,  to  draw  up  and  publifh  an 
account  of  the  feveral  methods  of  making  falt¬ 
petre,  in  all  parts  of  the  world,  that  all  his  fub- 
jedts  might  be  made  equally  acquainted  with 
them  ;  and,  at  the  fame  time,  offered  a  confi- 
derable  reward,  to  whoever  Ihould  difcover  the 
fecret  of  nature  in  the  formation  of  this  fait,  that 
they  might  equally  avail  themfelves  of  it. 

It  has  been  fhewn,  that  nitrous  earths  are  not 
uncommon  in  the  walks  of  nature,  and  that,  by 
the  addition  of  wood-allies  to  them,  they  are 
converted  into  true  faltpetre  earths.  Now  it  is 

only, 


Mr.  Majfey  on  Saltpetre.  209 

only  allowing  that  thele  allies  may  fometimes  be 
accidentally  introduced  to  an  earth  of  this  kind, 
to  Ihew  us  how  a  true  faltpetre  earth  may  natu¬ 
rally  be  formed  ;  and  if  the  ftreets  of  the  city  of 
Paris,  or  their  dunghills  upon  which  they  throw 
their  wood-allies,  fometimes  exhibit  a  true  falt¬ 
petre  earth,  it  can  be  no  great  rarity. 

It  can  fcarcely  be  conceived  that  the  Englifh 
have  been  ignorant  of  the  method  of  making 
faltpetre  in  France  and  Germany,  where  this 
bufinefs  has  been  long  carried  on,  in  the  moll 
public  and  open  manner.  But  that  fome  points 
of  no  fmall  importance  may  have  efcaped  their 
obfervation,  may  eafily  be  credited,  from  the  ill  . 
fuccefs  with  which  their  attempts  have  always 
been  attended  ;  and  none  more  likely  than  their 
cuftom  of  waiting  till  the  materials,  they  lay 
together,  for  this  purpofe,  are  found  fit  to  anfwer 
their  end. 

The  author  of  this  ElTay  once  formed  a 
nitre  bed  with  great  care  and  exa&nefs;  and,  at 
the  end  of  a  year,  expeded  to  have  reaped  the 
fruits  of  his  labour;  but  herein  was  totally  difap- 
pointed.  The  leys,  that  he  drew  from  thele  earths, 
afforded  him  no  cryllals  of  this  fait;  upon  which 
they  were  thrown  afide  as  ufelefs ;  till,  a  year  or 
two  after,  he  took  it  into  his  head  to  make  a 
fecond  trial  of  them,  and  now  found  they  an- 
fwered  his  purpofe  extremely  well ;  which  he 
could  only  attribute  to  their  being  more  per- 

Vol,  I.  P  fe&ly 


5io  Mr.  Majfey  on  Saltpetre. 

fedtly  putrefied,  as  they  had  been  fecluded  from 
the  air  the  whole  time.  This  gave  him  the  fird 
idea  of  the  ufe  and  necefTity  of  putrefa&ion, 
which  made  too  drong  an  impreffion  upon  his 
mind  to  be  eafily  erafed. 

With  earths,  thus  duly  matured,  we  can 
fcarcely  fail  of  fucceeding  in  this  bufinefs  as  well 
as  our  neighbours.  Yet  there  may  be  reafons  for 
our  declining  it. 

The  large  quantities  of  earth  that  mud  be 
elixiviated  to  obtain  a  fmall  portion  of  laltpetre, 
it  mud  be  owned,  affords  no  very  tempting  prof- 
pe<d.  And  the  fears  of  not  finding  a  fufficient 
quantity  of  wood-afhes  in  this  country  may  have 
ftill  greater  weight. 

The  labour  of  collefting  thefe  earths,  it  is  cer¬ 
tain,  cannot  be  fmall ;  yet  may  the  value  of  this 
commodity  fully  pay  the  price  of  it,  when  brought 
to  a  good  market,  which  it  is  likely  to  find  in 
England. 

In  refpect  to  wood-afhes,  they  may  reafonably 
be  judged  to  be  lefs  plentiful  in  this  than  in  other 
countries  where  wood  is  the  only  fuel.  But  where 
pot-alh  is  made,  in  confiderable  quantities,  as  in 
many  of  our  counties,  there  certainly  can  be  no 
fcarcity  of  them  ;  and,  if  their  place  may  be  fup- 
plied  by  another  commodity  equally  cheap,  and 
eafily  procured,  we  can  never  find  any  real  want 
of  them.  This  is  foreign  pot-afh,  which  we  find 
recommended  in  a  fmall  work,  not  long  ago 

publidied. 


Mr.  Maffey  on  Saltpetre':  21 1 

publilhed,  by  order  of  the  King  of  France*  by 
fome  of  the  molt  eminent  chemifts,  as  far  pre¬ 
ferable  to  wood-afhes.  Upon  many  accounts 
it  has  been  before  obferved,  that  Glauber,  fome- 
times,  threw  all  forts  of  dung  into  a  large  wooden 
velfel,  and,  when  they  had  completed  their  pu¬ 
trefaction,  percolated  a  fixt  alkaline  folution 
through  them  ;  which  furnifhed  him  with  a  ley 
of  the  fame  kind  and  nature  with  that  drawn 
from  nitrous  earths  and  wood-allies.  This,  we 
may  prefume,  gave  occafion  for  thefe  ingenious 
Gentlemen  to  make  fome  experiments  this  way, 
the  relult  of  which  they  have  given  to  the  pub¬ 
lic.  We  tried  this  method  many  years  ago, 
with  fome  fuccefs ;  but  found  it  depended  upon 
the  maturity  of  the  materials  ;  which,  indeed, 
may  be  collected  from  Glauber.  What  the 
French  writers  have  faid  upon  this  fubjeft,  we 
fhall  give  in  a  poftfcript ;  in  order  to  remove 
every  obje&ion  againft  our  attempting  to  make 
faltpetre  in  England,  upon  account  of  the  fcar- 
city  of  wood  allies. 

This  difficulty  being  got  over,  we  trull  nothing 
will  remain,  but  to  give  fuch  an  account  of  the 
practical  method  of  making  faltpetre  as  may  be 
relied  on,  and  be  fufficiently  explicit,  to  prevent 
our  falling  into  any  errors. 

The  faltpetre  makers  in  Paris  chiefly  make 
ufe  of  the  rubbifh  of  old  houfes,  the  ruins  of  old 
vaults,  and  cellars,  &c.  This  they  reduce  to  a 

P  2  coarfe 


212  Mr.  Majjfey  on  Saltpetre. 

coarfe  powder,  and  having  fcreened  it,  proceed' 
as  follows. 

t  They  provide  a  number  of  finall  open  tubs, 
which  they  prefer  to  large  ones,  upon  account 
of  their  being  more  eafily  moved,  and  emptied 
of  the  materials.  Thefe  they  place  upon  {tillages, 
about  two  feet  high,  and  in  fuch  a  manner  that 
One  veffel  may  receive  the  ley,  that  runs  from 
two  of  them.  In  each  tub,  near  the  bottom,  is 
fixt  a  fpiggot  and  faufet,  and,  to  prevent  the 
wood-afhes  from  choaking  up  the  latter,  a 
parcel  of  the  round  earth  is  thrown  in  firfi, 
and  the  allies  upon  it.  They  then  add  the  re¬ 
mainder  of  the  earth  in  the  proportion  of  two 
bufliels  of  the  latter  to  one  of  the  former.  They 
throw  the  earth  in  lightly,  that  the  water  may 
more  readily  pafs  throught  it,  and  they  hollow 
it  at  the  top,  that  it  may  more  conveniently 
receive  it. 

They  have  different  numbers  of  thefe  tubs, 
but  generally  twenty  four,  which  they  place  in 
three  rows,  eight  in  each ;  and  into  each  tub 
they  throw  three  bufliels  of  wood-afhes,  and 
fix  of  earth.  Ten  demiqueus*  of  water  being 
pafied  through  the  firfi  row  of  eight  tubs,  is 
poured  upon  the  fecond,  and  afterwards  upon 
the  third  ;  and  now  the  firfi  row  of  eight  tubs 
being  emptied  of  the  earth  and  afhes,  is  re- 

*  A  demiqueu,  as  far  as  we  can  learn,  contains  about  ninety 
gallons. 

plenifned 


213 


Mr.  MaJJey  on  Saltpetre. 

plenifhed  with  frefh  materials,  and  the  ley, 
which  has  pafled  through  the  three  rows  of 
eight  tubs,  is  pafled  through  this  likewife. 

Having  thus  palled  through  four  rows  of  eight 
tubs,  and  been  reduced  to  two  demiqueus  by 
the  abforption  of  the  materials,  it  is  carried  to 
the  boiler  under  the  name  of  le  Cuite. 

Such  is  the  procefs  when  a  new  work  is 
erected  j  in  an  old  one,  only  fix  demiqueus  of 
water  are  paffed  through  the  three  rows  of  eight 
tubs,  which  are  filled  with  frefh  materials  every 
day, 

The  lixivium  is  carefully  fcummed,  during 
the  boiling,  and,  when  it  is  fo  far  advanced,  that 
a  peliicle  begins  to  appear  upon  the  furface,  a 
workman  is  conftantly  employed,  withaperforated 
ladle,  to  take  out  the  marine  fait,  which  now 
begins  to  form  and  fall  to  the  bottom  of  the 
boiler.  This  being  thrown  into  a  whifket,  drains 
into  the  boiler  again.  When  the  lixivium  is  fo 
far  evaporated,  that  a  drop  of  it  will  congeal 
upon  a  piece  of  cold  iron,  it  is  taken  out, 
and  thrown  into  a  tub,  fcr  the  remainder  of 
the  marine  fait,  and  other  dregs,  to  fettle ; 
2nd,  after  handing  about  half  an  hour,  it  is 
drawn  off,  whilft  yet  warm,  into  fhallovv  copper 
pans,  and  fet  in  a  cool  place  for  the  faltpetre 
to  cryftallize. 

The  produce  of  this  operation  is  generally 
about  one  hundred  and  thirty  pounds  of  a  brown 

P  3  fort, 


2)4  Mr.  Majfey  on  Saltpetre. 

fort  of  faltpetre,  which  is  fold  to  government  for 
three-pence  halfpenny  per  pound,  and  carried  to 
the  arfenal  to  be  refined. 

The  liquor  remaining  in  the  bafons,  when' the 
faltpetre  is  cryftallized,  is  called  Eau  Mere ,  or 
mother  water,  and  is  poured  upon  the  earths 
in  fmall  quantities,  when  difpofed  in  the  tubs 
for  elixiviation  ;  though  fome  makers  think  it 
beft  to  dilute  it  with  water,  and  percolate  it 
through  a  frefh  bed  of  wood-afhes.  The  earths, 
when  difeharged  from  the  tubs,  are  thrown 
afide  to  dry  under  an  hovel,  and  when  dry, 
are  fpread,  about  a  foot  thick,  to  receive  the 
feummings,  eau  mere ,  putrid  urine,  or  any 
other  putrid  liquor,  they  can  get  to  throw  upon 
them,  and  in  a  few  months,  we  are  told,  are 
fit  for  ufe,  a  fecond  time,  particularly,  if  now 
and  then  turned  over. 

To  improve  the  colour  of  this  faltpetre,  and 
to  cleanfe  it  ftill  more  from  the  marine  fait, 
two  thoufand  weight  is  thrown  into  a  large 
boiler,  with  one  demiqueu  of  water,  in  which 
it  difiolves,  and,  in  the  courfe  of  the  boiling, 
another  demiqueu  is  added  by  pailfuls,  which, 
every  .time  it  is  thrown  in,  raifes  a  thick  feum 
that  is  carefully  removed.  And  now,  the  evapora¬ 
tion  being  pretty  far  advanced,  and  the  marine  fait 
taken  out  as  before,  a  large  pitcher  of  whites  of 
eggs,  or  of  a  folution  of  ifinglafs  or  Englifh  glue, 
is  poured  in,  and  well  ftirred~up  in  it,  which  raifes 

a  thick 


Mr.  MaJJey  on  Saltpetre.  215 

a  thick  black  fcum,  and  is  taken  off  with  it. 
But,  before  the  whites  of  eggs,  &c.  are  thrown 
in,  the  boiling  liquor  is  cooled,  by  adding  a 
pailful  of  cold  water.  The  lixivium  being  thus 
clarified,  is  treated  as  before. 

The  ecu  mere  of  this  operation,  being  boiled 
again,  yields  a  faltpetre  of  the  fame  colour  with 
the  firft  ;  and  fome  faltpetre  goes  through  a  third 
operation  of  the  fame  kind  to  give  it  a  greater 
degree  of  purity. 

The  bafons  in  which  the  ley  is  fet  for  the  falt¬ 
petre  to  cry ftallize,  are  clofely  fitted  with  wooden 
covers,  to  prevent  the  too  free  entrance  of  the 
air,  which,  by  cooling  the  liquor  too  foon,  would 
not  admit  the  cryftals  to  form  of  fo  large  a  fize. 

The  cryftallization  is  generally  completed 
in  two  or  three  days ;  and  about  one  fourth  part 
is  fuppofed  to  be  loft  in  refining. 

Such  is  the  method  of  making  faltpetre  in 
Paris,  as  tranfmitted  to  us  by  thofe  whofe  know¬ 
ledge  and  veracity  cannot  be  called  in  queftion  ; 
in  which  we  can  find  no  myftery  or  difficulty, 
or  any  expence  that  can  reafonably  deter  us 
from  engaging  in  undertakings  of  this  kind. 
The  tnglifn,  will,  in  all  probability,  be  obliged 
to  employ  other  earths  than  the  rubbifh  of  old 
houfes,  which  is  the  cafe  with  all  our  neighbours, 
that  do  not  live  in  large  and  populous  towns  ; 
of  which  earths,  we  flatter  ourfelves,  we  have 
given  a  full  defeription.  And  here  we  cannot  help 

P  4  obferving 


1 16 


Mr.  Majjey  on  Saltpetre . 

obferving  one  encouragement  which  an  adven¬ 
turer  in  this  way  will  always  have,  viz.  that 
whatever  materials  he  may  lay  together,  for  this 
purpofe,  if  they  do  not  anfwer  his  end,  as  a  falt- 
petre  maker,  will  always  find  their  value  with 
the  farmer. 

Wood- allies  are  certainly  an  article  of  great 
importance,  but  (hould  they  ever  be  found 
wanting  their  deficiency  may  be  fupplied,  as  we 
have  hinted  above.  Thofe  who  may  engage 
in  thefe  undertakings,  with  the  lead  rifque  or 
expence,  are  certainly  the  pot-alh  makers  in 
this  kingdom,  who,  being  provided  with  the 
neceflary  utenfils,  can  only  want  a  proper  earth 
to  begin  their  operations,  which,  in  cafe  they 
are  unprovided,  we  have  fiiovvn,  may  be  eafily 
procured  in  the  fpace  of  a  year  or  two,  by  mix¬ 
ing  up  their  dunghills  with  fallen  lime,  and  fuf- 
fering  them  to  lie  till  they  are  perfectly  pu¬ 
trefied. 

The  author,  fome  years  ago,  caufed  a  trench 
to  be  dug  in  an  open  field,  ten  yards  long,  one 
yard  wide,  and  one  foot  deep.  This  he  half  filled 
with  good  muck  from  a  dunghill,  and  covering 
it  up  with  the  foil,  mixt  with  one  third  the 
quantity  of  fallen  lime,  left  it  to  take  its  fate. 
The  weeds  were  plucked  off,  as  they  fprouted  up, 
and  it  was  twice  turned  over  in  the  fpace  of  a  year ; 
at  the  end  of  which,  this  earth,  being  elixivi- 
ated  with  wood- allies,  afforded  him  fair  cryftals 

of 


Mr.  Maffey  on  Saltpetre .  217 

cf  faltpetre.  In  fo  eafy  a  manner  may  a  nitrous 

earth  be  prepared. 

We  fnall  add  no  more  than  that  the  crofter’s 
ley,  after  it  has  performed  its  office  of  carrying 
off  the  foul  oily  parts  of  linen,  or  linen  yarn, 
and  which  is  generally  fuffered  to  run  wafte, 
may  here  be  certainly  ufed  to  good  advantage: 
and  that  we  would  advife  every  one  who  is  in¬ 
clined  to  try  experiments,  in  this  way,  not  to  make 
them  with  lefs  than  one  buffiel  of  earth,  and 
half  this  quantity  of  wood-allies,  from  which  two 
gallons  of  ley  may  be  drawn,  which,  being 
boiled  down  to  about  a  pint,  may  indicate  the 
fuccefs,  if  any  is  to  be  expected. 

JP.  S.  Of  the  life  of  Pot- aflo  in  making  of  Salt-petre, 
tranflated from  the  French. 

Thofe  who  have  attended  to  the  former  part 
of  this  work,  will,  doubtlefs,  be  fenfible  of  the 
ufe  of  wood-affies  in  the  formation  of  faltpetre. 
That  it  is  impoffible  to  make  this  fait  without 
them,  or  fomething  of  a  fimilar  nature.  Remem¬ 
bering  that  faltpetre,  properly  fpeaking,  is  a 
compofition  of  two  fubftances,  united  and  com¬ 
bined  in  the  fame  proportion,  which  are  the 
nitrous  acid,  and  a  fixt  alkali. 

I  hat  the  faltpetre  formed  in  fome  earths,  for 
the  moll  part  contains  only  one  of  thefe  two 
principles  ;  the  nitrous  acid,  which  being  com¬ 
bined  with  a  calcareous  earth,  forms  a  nitre 

with 


21  8 


Mr.  Maffey  on  Saltpetre . 

with  an  earthy  bafis,  from  which  the  earth  mud 
be  precipitated,  and  a  fixt  fait  introduced  in  its 
ftead,  to  convert  it  into  a  true  faltpetre. 

Wood-afhes,  upon  account  of  the  fixt  alkali 
they  contain,  are  very  proper  for  this  purpofe, 
and  the  faltpetre  makers,  by  mixing  thefe  afhes 
with  the  earths  they  elixiviate,  perform  a  com¬ 
plex  operation  in  chemiftry;  they  decompoie 
one  fait,  and  com  pole  another. 

But  as  it  is  the  fixt  alkali,  in  the  wood- afhes, 
that  alone  acts  upon  the  nitre  with  an  earthy 
bafis,  it  follows,  that  if  we  extrad  this  alkali 
from  them,  by  elixiviation  and  evaporation,  it 
will  be  brought  into  a  fmaller  compals,  and  fup- 
ply  the  place  of  a  large  quantity  of  wood-afhes. 

The  fixt  alkali,  or  fait  extraded  from  wood- 
afhes,  is  known,  in  commerce,  by  the  name  of 
Tot-ajh ,  and  is  made  in  large  quantities  in 
Sweden,  Denmark,  and  in  all  the  northern  parts 
of  Germany ;  nor  is  it  hard  to  procure  pot-afh 
of  a  good  quality  in  France,  fo  that  we  have 
always  a  fimple,  ealy,  and  cheap  method  of  fup- 
plying  the  place  of  wood-alhes  in  thofe  pro¬ 
vinces  where  they  are  fcarce  or  dear,  and  the 
bufmefs  of  faltpetre- making  contracted  upon 
this  account. 

And  we  can  affine  the  reader,  that  where 
wood- allies  are  found  in  the  greateft  plenty, 
pot-afh  will  be  found  far  preferable  to  them  for 
the  following  realons. 


In 


Mr.  Majfey  on  Saltpetre 219 

In  the  firft  place,  becaufe  the  wood-afhes  ufed 
by  the  faltpetre  •  makers,  in  large  towns,  are 
generally  the  refufe  of  other  trades,  and  contain 
little  or  no  fixt  alkali.  Thofe  that  are  ufed  by 
the  faltpetre  makers  in  Paris  are  of  this  fort,  and 
often  afford,  upon  elixiviation,  only  a  little 
Glauber’s  fait,  Tartar  of  vitriol,  and  above  all, 
large  quantities  of  marine  fait,  of  which  the  tar¬ 
tar  of  vitriol  alone  contains  any  fixt  vegetable 
alkali,  that  can  furnifh.  the  bafis  of  faltpetre, 
or  be  of  any  ufe  in  decompofing  the  nitre  with 
an  earthy  bafis. 

Secondly,  wood-afhes  taking  up  one  third  of 
the  room  in  the  veffels,  in  which  the  lixivium  is 
made,  there  is,  of  courfe,  lefs  room  for  the  earth, 
and  the  faltpetre  mult  confequently  be  lefs  in 
proportion. 

Thirdly,  wood-afhes,  being  very  porous,  ab- 
forb  a  large  quantity  of  water,  which  they 
obftinately  retain,  and  this  water  holds  a  quan¬ 
tity  of  faltpetre  in  folution,  which  is  a  clear  lofs 
in  proportion  to  the  quantity  of  water  they 
contain. 

Fourthly,  wood-afhes  bear  a  very  confiderable 
price  in  mod  parts  of  France,  and  we  are  certain 
this  price  is  fuperior  to  that  of  pot-afh,  con- 
Hdering  the  portion  of  fixt  alkali  that  they  re- 
fpe&ively  contain. 

Fifthly,  thefe  afhes  are  commonly  impregnated 
with  many  grofs  parts,  and  much  dirt  and  filth, 

that 


iio  Mr.  Maffey  on  Saltpetre. 

that  is  extra&ed  from  them,  which  mud  not  only 
injure  the  faltpetre,  but  obftrud  its  cryftal- 
lization. 

All  thefe  things  being  confidered,  with  the 
pra&ice  of  the  Swedes,  and  the  fuccefs  of  our 
own  experiments,  we  judge  ourfelves  authorized 
to  advife  all  thofe  who  are  employed  in  making 
faltpetre,  to  place  but  a  few  wood-afhes  at  the 
bottom  of  their  tubs,  to  ferve  by  way  of  filter, 
and  to  fupply  their  place  with  pot-afh  in  the 
following  manner. 

When  the  tubs  are  filled  with  earth,  the  quan~ 
tity  of  pot-afh  we  mean  to  employ,  is  to  be  laid 
upon  it,  and  we  are  to  proceed  to  elixiviate  it 
in  the  ufual  way.  The  water  will  immediately 
dificlve  the  pot-afh,  which  filtering  through  the 
earth,  will  decompofe  the  nitre  with  an  earthy 
bafis,  and  convert  it  into  faltpetre,  and,  if  the 
pot-afh  has  been  in  a  juft  proportion,  none  of 
the  former  will  be  left  behind.  It  is  not  necef- 
fary  to  lay  the  pot-afh  upon  the  earth,  in  all  the 
tubs,  but  only  upon  thofe  in  the  firft  row  ;  becaufe 
thefe  earths  being  wafhed  fuccefiively  by  three 
waters,  the  lefs  pot-afh  will  remain  in  them. 

Nothing  can  be  faid,  precifely,  of  the  quantity 
of  pot-afh  to  be  laid  upon  any  given  quantity  of 
earth;  this  depending  upon  the  condition  of 
thefe  earths,  their  richnefs,  and  the  quantity  of 
nitre,  with  an  earthy  bafis  that  they  contain  ;  and, 
jn  fhort,  upon  many  other  circumftances  which  it 


Mr.  Maffey  on  Sahpttrt.  22? 

is  impoffible  to  forefee.  We  can  only,  therefore, 
lay  down  fuch  rules  as  may  enable  the  faltpetre 
maker  to  judge,  what  quantity  of  pot-afh  he  ought 
to  employ,  according  to  the  (late  in  which  he 
finds  thefe  earths. 

For  this  purpofe,  let  him  diffolve  one  part  of 
pot-afh  in  two  parts  of  water,  and  either  filter 
the  liquor,  or  let  it  ftand  till  it  is  clear,  and 
fet  this  folution  afide. 

Let  him  then  elixiviate  fome  very  pure  nitrous 
earth  in  three  or  four  times  its  weight  of  water, 
and  fet  this  lixivium  likewife  afide  ;  and  if,  upon 
dropping  fome  of  the  folution  of  pot  afh  into 
a  glafs  of  his  ley,  he  finds  the  latter  grows 
whitifh  or  muddy,  he  may  be  affured  that  the 
precipitation  of  the  earth  is  not  completed,  and 
confequently,  that  a  fufncient  quantity  of  pot- 
afli  has  not  been  employed.  If,  on  the  other 
hand,  the  ley  remains  untroubled,  let  him  drop 
in  fome  of  the  lixivium  drawn  from  the  nitrous 
earth,  upon  which,  if  the  pot-afh  is  in  too  great 
a  quantity,  it  will  likewife  turn  muddy.  Upon 
the  whole,  if,  in  neither  of  thefe  cafes,  the  liquor 
is  difturbed,  we  may  be  allured  the  pot-afh  has 
been  employed  in  a  juft  proportion. 

In  general  it  is  better  to  ufe  too  little  than  too 
much  pot-afh.  When  too  little  is  employed, 
it  is  true,  part  of  the  nitre,  with  an  earthy  bafis, 
will  not  be  decompofed,  but  it  will  be  found 
in  the  mother- water  after  cryftalllzation  j  and 

when 


222  Mr.  Majfey  on  Saltpetre i 

•when  a  large  quantity  is  collected  it  may  be 
elixiviated  leparately. 

Inftead  of  ufing  pot-afh  in  fubftance,  it  may 
be  dilTolved  in  a  given  quantity  of  water;  for 
inftance,  one  pound  of  pot-afh  in  two  pounds  of 
water,  and  three  pounds  of  this  liquor  ufed  in 
the  room  of  one  pound  of  pot  afh. 

The  French  miniftry  are  fo  defirous  of  bring¬ 
ing  pot-afh  into  ufe,  being  fenfible  of  the  great 
advantages  that  mud  refult  from  it,  that  they 
have  ordered  the  Regiftres  des  poudres ,  to  furnifh 
the  faltpetre  makers,  and  others  who  may  be 
inclined  to  take  up  this  bufinefs  with  this  arti¬ 
cle,  and  to  take  care  that  it  is  of  the  beft  qua¬ 
lity.  Thus  far  the  authors,  who  have  fet  their 
names  to  this  little  piece,  who  are  no  other  than 
Mefirs.  Macquer,  Lavoifier,  D’Arey,  Cadet,  and 
Sage. 

It  is  certain,  that  by  percolating  a  fixt  alkaline 
folution  through  a  nitrous  earth,  duly  matured \ 
the  fame  kind  of  ley  may  be  obtained  with  that 
in  common  ufe  among  the  faltpetre  makers ; 
and  that  a  folution  of  pot-afh,  of  fome  kinds, 
if  not  of  all,  may  anfwer  this  end;  but  we  can¬ 
not  approve  of  ufing  it  in  fubftance,  as  is  here 
recommended.  By  diflblving  it  in  water,  and 
weighing  it,  we  can  know  the  exadt  quantity  of 
fixt  alkali  we  employ,  and  may  with  great  eafe 
increafe  q~  diminifh  it,  as  we  fee  occafion. 


The 


The  Rev.  Mr.  Hall’s  Inquiry  concerning,  &c.  223 

The  value  of  foreign  pot-afh  is  no  where 
better  known  than  in  England,  there  being,  per¬ 
haps,  no  part  of  the  world  in  which  there  is  a 
greater  confumption  of  it,  nor  which  is  fupplied 
with  it  upon  cheaper  terms  ;  which  circumftance 


mult  ftrongly  recommend  its  ufe. 


An  Attempt- to  /hew,  that  a  Taste  for  the  Beauties 
of  Nature  and  the  fine  Arts ,  has  no  Influence 
favour  ah  le  to  Morals.  By  the  Rev.  Samuel 
Hall,  A.  M.  Read  May  15,  1782. 

Nullius  addiftus  jurare  in  verba  ma^iiiri. 


Hor.  Ep.  I.  Lib.  1. 


Scilicet  uni  atquus  virtuti. 


.  Hor.  Sat.  I.  Lib.  I. 


H  E  Society,  which  I  have  now  the  honour 


to  addrefs,  has  lately  been  prefented  with 
feveral  ingenious  papers  on  taste.  It  may, 
therefore,  be  thought  neceflary  to  make  an  apolo¬ 
gy,  for  bringing  forward  a  fubjed,  which  has 
been  already  fo  well  inveftigated. 

Were  I  to  purfue  the  track  of  thofe  who  have 
gone  before,  it  would  be  the  higheft  prefumption 
to  fuppofe,  that  any  obfervations  I  could  make, 
would  be  deferving  attention.  Jt  would  be  to 


offer 


224  Rev.  Mr.  Hall's  Inquiry  concerning 

offer  the  Society  a  few  fcarrty  gleanings,  after 
the  full  harvefl:  had  been  gathered  in.  But  l 
have  no  deffgn  to  invade  the  province  of  ano¬ 
ther.  I  fhall  neither  examine  the  principles, 
on  which  taffe  is  founded  ;  nor  enquire,  whe¬ 
ther  it  is  more  the  child  of  nature,  or  of 
education,  or  the  joint  product  of  both.  I 
fhall  confine  my  remarks  to  the  effects  which 
taste,  however  produced,  may  be  fuppofed 
to  have  on  the  moral  character  ;  and  Ihall 
endeavour  to  (hew,  that  its  influence  on  the 
heart,  is  not  favourable  to  virtue. 

A  diftinguifhed  Member  of  this  Society,  in 
whom  the  Scholar  and  the  Gentleman  are  moft 
happily  united,  has,  in  an  elegant  paper,  *  fup- 
ported  the  reverfe  of  this  propofition ;  which, 
it  muff  be  owned,  is  no  Angular  opinion.  It 
is  maintained  by  very  high  authorities  in  the 
literary  world ;  particularly,  by  Lord  Kaims, 
in  his  Elements  of  Criticifm-a  by  Gerard,  in  his 
EJfay  on  ’Tajle ;  and  indeed,  by  many  others, 
who  have  profefledly  treated  on  this  fubjedt. 
It  may,  perhaps,  be  the  prevailing  and  popular 
opinion  of  the  prefent  day.  But  are  we  thence 
to  conclude,  that  it  is  founded  in  truth  ?  Doc¬ 
trines  are  fometimes  falhioned  “  to  the  varying 

*  The  Paper  here  alluded  to  has  been  publifhed,  fiuce 
it  was  read  to  the  Society,  in  the  volume  of  Moral  Differ » 
tations,  by  T.  Percival,  M,  D.  &c» 


hour  i” 


the  Influence  of  Tafle  on  Morals.  -  225 

hour  j”  and  many  popular  opinions  are  governed 
by  no  better  motive,  than  fancy  or  caprice. 

To  me,  I  own,  it  does  not  appear  furprifing, 
that  writers  on  tafte  have  generally  been  led 
to  fuppofe,  that  its  influence  muft  be  friendly 
to  virtue.  When  a  fubjeft  has  been  long  con¬ 
templated,  the  mind  becomes,  in  fome  meafure, 
enamoured  of  it,  views  it  with  complacency, 
and,  from  an  over-weening  fondnefs,  bellows 
attributes  and  perfections,  which  are  not 
naturally  its  own.  How  often  has  this  been 
the  cafe,  with  l'ome  new  difcovery  in  philofophy  ! 
Its  ingenious  advocate  is  feldom  willing  to  con¬ 
fine  its  effects,  to  the  rank  it  juftly  holds.  He 
would  have  it  confidered,  not  only  as  a  law  of 
nature,  operating  in  its  proper  fphere ;  but 
as  a  great  and  univerfal  caufe,  to  which  all 
other  caufes  muft  be  fubordinate  •,  and  will 
even  attempt  to  folve  all  the  phenomena  .of 
nature  by  its  means  Thus,  electricity  was 
lately  a  favourite  theory,  which,  for  a  while, 
feemed  to  bid  fair  for  univerfal  empire  in  the 
philofophical  world.  And  thus,  fome  ufeful  dif- 
coveries  in  medicine  have  been  rafhly  exalted  into 
panaceas,  or  univerfal  remedies.  The  fame 
fpecics  of  enthufiafm  has ,  indeed ,  at  different 
periods,  prevailed  in  every  fcience.  Hence,  the 
vaft  variety  of  new  theories,  and  fyftems,  which 
have  fprung  up ;  and  for  awhile  amufed  the 
world,  and  which  have,  at  length,  yielded  their 
Vol.  I.  ufurpation 


226  Rev.  Mr.  Hall's  Inquiry  concert  ling 

ufurpation  to  feme  new  conqueror,  which  will 
probably  be  equally  flnort-lived. 

But  to  return  from  this  digreflion.  The  ad¬ 
vocates  for  the  influence  of  Tafte  on  the  Moral 
Character,  have  generally  confounded  that  fa¬ 
culty  with  the  moral  sense.  They  feem  to  be 
perfuaded,  that  the  fame  power,  which  difeovers, 
and  reliflies  the  beauties  of  nature  and  of  art, 
mull  equally  difeover,  and  relifh  the  beauty,  the 
order,  the  harmony  of  virtue.  Lord  Shaftes- 
eury  *  has  fully  adopted  this  notion.  His  difei- 
ciple  Hutcheson,  f  with  fome  trifling  diftinc- 
tions,  has  embraced  the  fame  opinion.  The 
very  ingenious  author  of  the  Elements  of  Crilicifm 
tells  us,  that  there  is  a  ftrong  and  dole  affinity 
between  tafte,  and  the  moral  fenfe.  “  Tafte, 
fays  he,  in  the  fine  arts,  goes  hand  in  hand 
with  the  moral  fenle,  to  which  indeed  it  is  nearly 
allied.”  X 

This  natural  connexion,  and  clofe  alliance, 
of  tafte  with  the  moral  fenfe,  may,  perhaps,  be 
very  juftly  difputed  i  as  tafte,  I  apprehend,  muft 
be  the  joint  refult  of  delicate,  corporeal,  and 
intellectual  powers ;  whilft  what  is  ufually  un- 
derftood  by  a  moral  fenfe,  muft  be  of  a  nature 
altogether  intellectual. 


*  Lord  Shaftelbury’s  Charadteriftics  paffim: 
f  Hatchefon’s  Inquiry  into  the  Orig.  of  our  Ideas  of 
Beauty,  &c. 

f  Elem.  Crit.  Introduc.  p.  7. 

But 


the  Influence  of  'Tafte  on  Morals.  ~  227 

But  let  us,  for  a  moment,  fuppofe  that  fuch 
an  union  is  really  eftablifhedj  and  that  tafte  can 
take  cognizance  of  the  merit  or  demerit  of 
actions,  with  the  fame  eafe  and  precifton,  that 
it  pronounces  on  the  abilities  of  the  ftatuary,  or 
of  the  painter.  Will  it  neceffarily  follow,  that 
fuch  a  tafte  muft  always  be  productive  of  a  vir¬ 
tuous  conduCt  ?  It  will  not  be  difputed,*  that 
tafte  generally  operates  in  fome  favourite  direc¬ 
tion.  It  does  not  embrace  all  the  beauties  of 
nature,  or  of  art,  with  equal  relHh  ;  nor  explore 
every  fcience,  even  of  thofe  efteemed  elegant  and 
refined,  with  the  fame  keennefs  of  difcernment. 
The  painter  is  not  always  poflefied  of  an  ear 
finely  tuned  to  mufic;  nor  the  mufician  always 
delighted  with  the  elegance  and  vigour  of 
poetical  compofition.  Nature  feldom  produces 
an  accomplifhed  mafter,  unlefs  her  efforts  have 
been  directed  to  one  particular  objeft.  And  in 
vain  would  be  the  attempt  to  rife  to  excellence, 
in  any  art  or  fcience,  fave  that,  which  is  con¬ 
genial  to  the  tafte.  Some  men,  indeed,  feem  to 
be  poffelfed  of,  what  may  be  termed,  a  general 
tafte  j  and  are  capable  of,  at  leaft,  moderate 
attainments  in  every  branch.  But  tafte,  like 
every  other  energy,  perhaps  is  weaker,  in  pro¬ 
portion  as  it  is  diffufed. 

Brown’?  E flays  on  the  Charaderiftics,  Sed.  II.  8. 

0^2  Upon 


4 


228  Rev.  Mr.  Hall's  Inquiry  concerning 

Upon  this  fuppofition,  it  is  evident*  a  man 
may  have  an  exquifite  cade  for  fome  particular 
art  or  fcience,  and  yet,  no  tafte  for  virtue.  To 
this  fpecies  of  beauty  the  faculty  may  be  fo  little 
fenfible,  as  to  produce  no  effe&s.  In  fuch  a 
cafe,  virtue  only  fhares  the  fate  of  many  other 
things,  which  are  confeffedly  objefts  of  tafte, 
and  which  are  rejected,  becaufe  the  capacity 
adapted  to  them  is  fo  weak,  that  it  may  be  faid 
to  be  wanting. 

But  let  us  fuppofe,  that  tafte  really  exercifes 
fome  of  the  privileges  and  powers  of  the  moral 
fenfe.  The  advocates  for  its  practical  influence 
would  not  gain  much,  by  this  very  ample  concef- 
fion.  The  mere  fenfe  of  the  beauty  of  virtue 
(and  it  is  not  pretended,  that  any  thing  further 
can  be  the  object  of  tafte)  abftrafted  from 
every  other  confideration,  will  icarcely  be  thought 
fufficient  to  fupport  her  caufe.  The  theory  ap¬ 
pears  more  fpecious,  than  folid  j  more  pleafing, 
than  efficacious.  When  dreffed  with  the  art,  the 
ingenuity,  and  the  eloquence  of  a  Shaftefbury,  it 
may  entertain  and  amufe,  the  heart  being  fup- 
pofed  in  a  ftate  of  eafe,  calm  and  indifferent. 
But  its  effe&s  will  not  be  fufficiently  ftrong  with 
the  generality  of  mankind,  to  fpur  them  on  to 
attion.  We  furvey  the  lovely  pi&ure,  are  con¬ 
vinced  that  it  is  a  fine  one,  yet  turn  afide  to 
fome  other  object,  that  agitates  our  hopes  and 
fears 


The 


the  Influence  of  ¥ afle  on  Morals .  229 

The  doftrine  may,  probably,  fuit  the  retired 
temper  of  the  philofopher,  or  the  apathy  of  the 
floic  :  but  is  ill  calculated  for  “the  bufy  haunts 
of  men,”  and  the  tumults  of  focial  life.  The 
man  of  tade  admires  the  beauty  and  exprefiion 
exhibited  in  the  works  of  a  Raphael,  or  a  Michael 
Angelo,  without  feeling  the  flighted  wilh  to  be¬ 
come  an  artid,  and  to  rival  thefe  great  mailers. 
May  he  not,  in  like  manner,  view  the  charms 
of  virtue,  and  of  a  moral  conduct,  without  mak¬ 
ing  one  Angle  effort  to  become  a  moralid,  or  a 
virtuous  man  ? 

I  Ihould  imagine  it  impoflible  for  any  perfon, 
poffeffed  of  the  lead  fenfibility,  to  read  the  cha*- 
racter  of  Sir  C.  Grandifon,  drawn  with  fo  much 
delicacy  by  Richardfon,  and  not  admire  and 
approve,  the  elegance  of  manners  and  purity 
of  morals,  with  which  he  has  adorned  his  hero. 
But  is  it  certain,  that  he  will  beflow  more  than 
his  approbation  ?  Will  he  entertain  a  fingl? 
thought,  of  copying  the  amiable  portrait?  To 
admire  and  reverence  virtue,  is  a  tribute  extorted 
even  from  vice.  The  mod  profligate,  and  wicked 
characters  experience  a  fecret  confcioufnefs,  that 
every  preference  is  due  to  virtue  j  and  are  not 
infenfible  to  her  fuperior  lovelinefs.  But  does 
this  fenfe  operate  on  the  mind,  with  fufficient 
force,  to  influence,  or  to  reclaim  ?  Video  me- 
liora  proboque  deteriora  fequor ,  mud  be  the 
language  of  every  finner,  whofe  faculties  are 
not  utterly  depraved. 


0.3 


“  It 


2jo  Rev.  Air.  Hall's  Inquiry  concerning 

“  It  is  a  remarkable  circumftance,  fays  Brown 
in  his  EJfay  on  the  Char  aft  erics ,*  that,  in  the 
decline  of  both  the  Greek  and  Roman  ftates, 
when  religion  had  loft  its  credit  and  efficacy,  this 
very  tafte,  this  ipecies  of  philofophy,  ufurped  its 
place,  and  became  the  common  ftudy  and  amufe- 
ment  both  of  the  vile  and  vulgar.”  Quintilian, 
no  doubt,  had  a  view  to  this,  in  the  following 
paffiage.  Nunc  autem ,  qua  vel  ut  propria philofophia 
afferuntur,  pajjim  traftamus  omnes.  Shiis  enim  modo 
de  jufto,  aequo,  ac  bono,  non  et  virpeffimus  loquitur  ? 

The  truth  feems  to  be,  that  a  mere  fenfe  of 
the  beauty  of  virtue  cannot  operate,  as  a  coercive 
power  ;t  and,  however  the  theory  may  pleafe 
the  reafoner  in  the  fhade,  when  the  paffions 
ftagnate  without  impulfe,  and  the  appetites  are 
fecluded  from  their  objeCts,  it  will  be  of  little 
force,  againft  the  ardor  of  defire,  or  the  vehe¬ 
mence  of  rage;  amidft  the  pleafures,  or  conflicts 
of  the  world.  To  counteract  the  power  of 
temptations,  hope  muft  be  excited  by  the  prof- 
peCt  of  rewards,  and  fear,  by  the  expectation  of 
punifhment.  In  a  word,  virtue  may  owe  her 
panegyric  to  a  Plato,  or  a  Shaftefbury,  but  muft 
derive  her  efficacy  and  authority,  from  religion. 

From  what  has  been  advanced,  it  appears  to 
me  extremely  evident,  that,  fuppofing  tafte  were 

*  Efiay  II.  Se£l.  10. 

j-  See 'the  Preface  to  the  Preceptor,  by  Dr.  Johnfon. 

con  fide  red. 


231 


_  the  Influence  of  T ifte  on  Morals. 

confidered,  not  only  as  connected  with,  but  even 
advanced  to  the  rank  of,  the  moral  fenfe,  its 
influence  on  the  heart  would  be  too  faint  and 
languid,  to  produce  any  moral  effects.  The 
charms  of  virtue*  may  be  feen  with  the  eye  of 
fpeculation,  without  exciting  in  us  a  defire  of 
becoming  virtuous;  juft  as  an  excellent  picture, 
or  fine  prol'pect,  may  afford  us  very  confiderable 
pleafure,  and  yet  produce  not  a  Angle  v/ifh  to 
difpoffefs  the  owners,  and  to  make  them  ours. 
And  though  it  may  be  fuppofed,  that  a  fenfe  of 
the  charms  of  virtue  muft  naturally  give  us  a 
prejudice  in  her  favour;  yet,  Will  this  prejudice 
be  fufficient  to  keep  us  fteady  to  her  interefts, 
when  Vice  fteps  forth,  attired  with  every  feduc- 
tive  ornament  of  tafte,  that  can  win  the  affec¬ 
tions  ;  and  engages  the  ftrongeft  pafiions  of  the 
heart,  as  advocates  in  her  favour  ? 

But  we  are  told,  that  “  tafte  naturally 
fweetens  and  harmonizes  the  temper,  and  re- 
ftrains  the  turbulence  of  paftion,  and  violence 
of  purfuit.”f  On  this  fuppofition,  the  beauty 
of  virtue  may  have  confiderable  effects  017 

*  “  Oar  fenfe  of  beauty  from  objefts  by  which  they  2re 
conftituted  good  to  us,  is  very  diftinft  from  the  defire  of 
them,  when  they  are  thus  conftituted.” 

Hutcheson’s  Inquiry,  &c. 

Elements  of  Criticifm.  Introduft.  page  11. 

Percival  on  a  Talle  for  the  Beauties  of  Nature. 


3  mind. 


2j2  Rev.  Mr.  Hall's  Inquiry  concerning 

a  mind,  already  difpofed,  by  calmnefs  and  com- 
pofure,  to  yield  to  the  gentlefl  influence. 

This  reafoning  will  not  eafily  be  fupported 
by  experience,  and  matter  of  faX.  The  con¬ 
nexion  between  genius  and  tafte  is  fo  common, 
that  they  may  almoft  be  confidered,  as  infepara- 
ble  companions.  Genius  without  tafte,  would 
be  no  better  than  frenzy  :  and  tafte,  without 
genius,  would  be  diftinguifhed  for  nothing,  but 
a  lifelefs  accuracy.  But  genius,  it  is  generally 
agreed,  is  united  to  a  warm  and  inflammable 
conftitution.  “  If,”  fays  an  eminent  critic,  “  the 
imagination  be  lively,  the  paffions  will  be  ftrong; 
true  genius  feldom  refides  in  a  cold  and  phlegma¬ 
tic  conftitution.  The  fame  temperament,  and  the 
fame  fenfibility,  that  makes  a  poet  or  a  painter, 
will  be  apt  to  make  a  man  a  lover,  and  a 
debauchee.”*  Thefe  propenfities  of  nature  may 
be  reftrained  by  the  diXates  of  real'on,  and 
efpecially,  by  the  awful  fanXions  of  religion  ; 
and  thus,  genius  and  virtue  may  unite,  and  adorn 
the  fame  perfon.  But  in  vain  fhall  we  look  for 
thefe  important  effeXs,  from  the  influence  of 
tafte.  In  vain  (hall  we  expeX  to  find,  that  men 
of  genius  and  of  tafte  will  be  always  diftin¬ 
guifhed,  for  the  fweetnefs  of  their  tempers,  and 
the  purity  of  their  morals.  The  irritability  of 

*  Wartou’s  Eflay  on  the  Writings  and  Genius  of  Pope. 

Vol.  I.  p.  105. 
a  Pope 


the  Influence  of  fafle  on  Morals.  233 

a  Pope,  and  a  Gray  ;  and  the  voluptuoufnefs  of 
a  Montague,  and  a  Chesterfield,  may  be  ad¬ 
duced  as  inftances,  amongft  numberlefs  others, 
of  the  truth  of  what  has  been  advanced. 

But  we  are  further  told,  “  that  a  tade  for  the 
beautiful  fcenes  of  nature,  not  only  compofes  and, 
harmonizes  the  temper,  but  difpofes  the  mind 
to  adds  of  piety  and  devotion,  by  raifing  our 
ideas  from  Nature,  to  Nature’s  God.”*  The 
thought  is  pleafing,  and  ingenious ;  but  mud 
not  be  admitted,  without  many  exceptions.  The 
impreffions  made  by  the  beauties  of  nature,  will 
greatly  depend  on  the  paffions,  the  habits, 
and  the  purfuits  of  the  beholder.  Let  the 
mufician  take  the  (C  wildly  devious  walk,”  his 
notice  will  probably  be  attrafted  by  the  melody 
of  the  grove,  as  mod  nearly  related  to  his 
favourite  art.  The  eye  of  the  Painter  will  be 
engaged,  by  the  rich  landfcape  that  lies  before 
him  ;  and  his  thoughts  will  be  naturally  turned  to 
the  effedt  which  might  be  produced,  by  a  lively 
tranfcript  on  canvas,  of  fo  pifturefque  a  fcene. 
While  the  Poet,  however  ftruck  by  the  grandeur 
or  elegance  of  furrounding  objects,  will,  only 
meditate,  how  they  would  “live  in  defcription, 
and  look  green  in  fong.”  It  is  the  calm  con¬ 
templative  mind  alone,  influenced  by  religious 
impreffions,  that  furveys  this  fair  heritage,  with 

>  Percival  on  a  Tafte  for  the  Beauties  of  Nature. 

pious 


%  34  Rev.  Mr.  Hall's  Inquiry  concerning 

pious  and  grateful  jentiments  towards  the  a!P 
mighty  Creator.  A  mind  thus  happily  dif- 
pofed,  in  the  animated  language  of  Shakefpeare. 

“  Finds  tongues  in  trees,  books  in  the  running  brooks. 

Sermons  in  ftones,  and  good  in  every  thing.” 

I  fhall  now  mention  a  few  inftances,  where 
tafte  feems  to  be  productive  of  misfortune,  and 
immorality.  We  frequently  fee  a  man  of  real 
and  acknowledge  tafte,  run  into  all  the  folly, 
and  extravagance  of  virtue  Jt  is  not  fufficient 
for  hiiTi,  that  he  may  be  regaled  with  the  pro¬ 
ductions  of  art  and  genius,  in  the  pofllrflion  of 
another.  A  man  of  this  unhappy  uirn,  feels  4 
reftlefs  defirp  to  call  them  his  own.  He  is 
perpetually  in  queft  of  fome  new  objeCt  •,  but 
his  unfortunate  paftion  grows  more  violent  by 
indulgence ;  and,  however  a  new  acquifition 
may  gratify  for  the  moment  ;  yet,  in  the  end, 
it  becomes  the  fource  of  frefh  difquiet.  Thus^ 
like  Pope’s  Curio,  who? 

........  “  Reftlefs  by  his  fair  one’s  fide. 

Sighs  for  an  Qtho,  and  negle&s  his  bride 

He  is  perpetually  haunted  by  the  demon  of 
tafte;  his  mind  becomes  fretful,  peevtfh,  and 
diftatisfied ;  equally  incapable  of  giving,  or 
receiving  fatisfaCtion.  But,  fhould  his  circum¬ 
stances  be  contracted,  the  confequences  are 
dreadful  indeed  !  He  involves  his  deareft  con¬ 
nections  in  all  the  miferies  of  poverty. 


“  The 


the  Influence  of  Tafle  on  Morals.  235 

«*  The  bailiffs  come,  rude  men,  profanely  bold, 

And  bid  him  turn  his  Venus  into  gold. 

No  Sirs  1”  he  cries,  “  I’ll  fooner  rot  in  jail  ! 

Shall  Grecian  arts  be  truck’d  for  Englilh  bail  ? 

Such  heads  might  make  their  very  buftos  laugh: 

His  daughter  ftarves :  but  Cleopatra’s  fafe.”  * 

Another  is  betrayed  into  a  condud  equally 
ridiculous  and  fatal,  by  a  take  for  the  elegances 
of  life,  and  domeftic  refinements.  Fancy  is 
ever  ready  to  fugged  fome  new  plan  to  be 
executed,  or  improvement  to  be  made.  The 
houfe  is  capable  of  dill  higher  embellifhments ; 
and  the  garden  may  be  laid  out,  in  a  manner 
more  beautiful.  He  complies  with  the  fuggedions 
of  his  refined  tade — involves  himfelf  in  diffi¬ 
culties — and  is  at  length  ruined. 

The  malady  of  a  third  is,  an  exceffive  and  fickly 
kind  of  delicacy.  His  feelings  are  fo  nice,  and 
his  ideas  fo  refined,  that  he  is  irritated  and  vexed 
with  every  trifle.  lie  is  not  only  affeded 

-  - - - - -  -  -  -  “  with  quick  difguft. 

From  things  deform’d,  or  (Jffarranged,  or  grofs 

In  fpecies.”  j- 

Even  thofe  objeds,  which  to  others  afford  very 
confiderable  pleafure,  are  feen  by  him,  with  a 
joylefs  indifference.  But,  indeed,  almod  every 
avenue  to  enjoyment  is  ffrnt  up,  by  this  unhappy 

*  Young’s  Satires. 

f  Akenfide’s  Pleafures  of  Imagination. 


difeafe. 


Rev.  Air.  Hall's  Inquiry  concerning 

difeafe.  Yet  he  nurfes  it  with  the  greateft 
afliduity  j  fancies  himfelf  formed  of  nature’s 
finefl  clay ;  and  looks  with  contempt,  on  the 
coarfe  delights  of  his  fellow-creatures.  By  de¬ 
grees,  he  becomes  unfit  for  the  common  duties 
of  life,  and  is  cut  off  from  the  bleffings,  and 
advantages  of  focial  intercourfe. 

But  we  need  not  appeal  to  a  few  inftances  of 
individuals.  The  prevailing  manners  of  whole 
nations  may  be  brought  in  proof,  that  tafte  has 
no  influence  favourable  to  virtue.  It  is  fcarcely 
neceffary  to  remark,  that  Athens  was  once  the 
feat  of  learning,  tafte,  and  refinement.  The 
liberal  arts  were  cultivated  with  the  greateft  care 
and  attention,  and  rofe  to  a  pitch  of  perfection, 
which  has  been  generally  imitated,  but  never 
excelled.  A  tafte  for  elegance  was  fo  univerfally 
diffufed  among  all  ranks  of  people,  that  even 
a  herb-woman,  we  are  told,  could  deteCt  a  very 
fmall  deviation  from  propriety  of  lpeech.*  Tafte 
could  not  pofiibly  have  a  fairer,  field,  wherein  to 
difplay  its  natural  effeCts.  But  the  hiftory  f 
of  thofe  times,  and  the  moral  leCtures  of  Socrates, 
fufficiently  evince,  that  the  Athenians  were  a 
people,  addicted  to  every  kind  of  fenfual  plea- 
fure :  at  once,  refined  and  voluptuous,  licen¬ 
tious  and  effeminate. 


*  Xenoph.  Memorab.  paffim. 
f  Rollin’s  Antient  Hiftory,  vol.  IV. 


When 


the  Influence  of  Tafle  on  Morals l  £37 

When  a  tafte  for  the  liberal  arts  was  introduced 
among  the  Romans,  with  the  rich  fpoils  of 
Grecian  elegance  and  ingenuity,  can  we  difcover 
in  the  hiftory  of  that  wonderful  people,  a  con- 
fequent  improvement  in  the  habits  of  virtue? 
You  will  fay,  perhaps,  their  rugged  tempers 
were  foftened,  and  their  auftere  manners  refined. 
But  refinement  is  often  remote  from  virtue  ;  and 
external  graces  unconnedted  with  internal  beau¬ 
ties.  It  is  true,  they  improved  in  all  the  ele¬ 
gances  of  life;  but  it  is  equally  true,  that  their 
native  vigour  degenerated,  into  unmanly  floth ; 
and  the  Amor  P atria ,  which  had  carried  the 
Roman  name  fo  high,  was  fucceeded  by  a  mean 
and  abjedl  felfiftmefs*.  Cato  feems  to  have  been 
well  aware,  that  a  tafte  for  the  enervating  arts  of 
Greece,  would  be  productive  of  thefe  mifchiev- 
ous  effedls-f  ;  and  endeavoured  by  every  means  in 
his  power,  to  ward  off  the  threatened  evil.  But 
in  vain  was  every  remonftrance.  A  rage  for  the 
beautiful  produdtions  of  genius  univerfally  pre¬ 
vailed,  and  bore  down  all  oppofition.  And  we 
find  the  latter  Cato,  in  one  of  his  fpeeches  re¬ 
corded  by  Salloft,  reproaching  his  countrymen, 
in  the  following  warm  expreffions :  Per  Deos 
immortelles ,  vos  ego  appsllo :  qui  Jenifer  Domos, 

*  Gxaecia  capta  ferum  vi£lorem  cepit. 

Hoft.  Epif.  Lib.  II. 
f  Liv.  Lib.  34.  C.  4. 

Villas , 


Rev.  Mr.  Hall's  Inquiry  concerning 

Villas ,  Signay  labulas  vejlras ,  ^>/«m  quam  rm- 
fublicam  fccijlis  *. 

Let  me  now  call  your  attention  to  a  much 
later  period  of  hiftory,  when  talle  revived,  in  the 
fifteenth  century,  after  a  long  and  gloomy  night 
of  Gothic  ignorance  and  barbarity.  Foftered 
by  the  favour  and  liberality  of  the  princes  of  the 
Medici  family,  literature  and  the  arts  made  & 
rapid  progrefs.  But  it  does  not  appear,  that 
moral  duties  made  equal  advances,  or  were  more 
generally  cultivated.  Obfcrve,  in  what  unfavour¬ 
able  colours,'  the  characters  of  thefe  Medici,  the 
great  patrons  of  genius  and  learning,  are  drawn 
by  Lord  Orrery,  in  his  Letters  from  Italy , 
tc  Iff  fays  he,  “  you  take  a  view  of  the  princes 
of  the  Medici,  in  a  group,  you  will  feel  reve¬ 
rence  and  refpeCt,  at  one  part  of  the  picture, 
and  be  ftruck  with  horror  and  amazement,  at 
the  remainder.  To  revere  and  honour  them, 
you  mull  confider  their  generofity,  their  bene¬ 
factions  to  men  of  learning,  their  policy,  and 
fcientific  initiations.  To  view  them  with 
horror  and  amazement,  you  need  only  liften 
to  the  undoubted  outrages  of  their  private 
lives  j  by  which  you  will  be  convinced,  that 
few  or  none  of  the  whole  race  were  endued 
with  the  fofter  paffions  of  the  human  foul. 
I  wifh,  that  in  many  of  their  group,  their  love 

*  Salluft.  Bell.  Catilinar, 

was 


the  Influence  of  tafle  on  Morals.  239 

was  not  luft ;  their  good  nature,  oftentation  ;  their 
dignity,  pride;  and  their  fenfe,  cunning.” 

From  thefe,  and  numberlefs  inftances  of  refined 
depravity,  which  modern  times  will  furniffi,  one 
might  almoft  be  tempted  to  conclude,  that  the 
effeCts  of  tafte  are  fo  far  from  being  favourable 
to  virtue,  that  they  have  rather  a  pernicious  ten¬ 
dency.  But  I  mean  not  to  bring  fuch  a  heavy 
charge  againft  a  faculty,  which,  connected  with 
reafon  and  religion,  will,  doubtlefs,  enlarge  the 
fphere  of  our  innocent  enjoyments.  I  wifh  only 
to  difprove  the  affirmative  of  the  propofition, 
and  fhew,  that  tafte  cannot  reafonably  be  con- 
fidered  as  a  moral  principle  of  action  :  that,  un- 
affifted  by  reafon  and  good  fenfe,  it  becomes  fub- 
fervient  to  the  purpofes  of  folly  and  extravagance; 
and  that,  connected  with  a  bafe  and  fenfual  heart, 
it  unhappily  ferves  to  embellifh  guilt,  and  glofs 
over  the  deformity  of  vice. 

Let  tafte,  however,  be  cultivated,  as  thefource 
of  many  elegant  pleafures :  but  let  it  ever  be 
cultivated,  in  fubordination  to  found  morality. 
Tafte  can  ill  fupply  the  want  of  moral  difeipline. 
Where  there  is  no  fuperior  principle,  to  check, 
the  aflaults  of  an  alluring  temptation,  the  heart 
muft  fall  an  eafy  prey.  A  truly  virtuous  cha¬ 
racter,  fet  off  by  a  juft  tafte,  is  not  only  engag¬ 
ing,  but  even  beneficial  to  mankind  :  while,  on 
the  contrary,  a  vicious  character,  however  dif- 
tinguilhed  for  tafte  and  elegance,  becomes  only, 

the 


240  Dr.  Eafon  on  the  XJJe  of  Acids . 

the  more  finifhed  hypocrite,  or  the  more  exqui- 
fite  voluptuary.  In  a  word,  let  virtue  form  the 
bafe  and  the  fhaft  of  the  column  ;  and  I  have 
not  the  leaft  obje&ion,  that  tafte  fhould  furniih 
the  foliage,  and  ornament  the  capital. 


Observations  on  the  Use  of  Acids  in  bleach¬ 
ing  of  Linen.  By  Dr.  Eason.  Read  Auguft  7, 
1782. 

THE  ufe  of  acids,  in  bleaching  of  linen,  has 
been  long  known.  Formerly  milk  was 
chiefly  employed  ;  but  it  had  feveral  incon¬ 
veniences.  The  quantity  requifite  could  fcarcely 
be  obtained ;  its  effect  was  flow;  and,  contain¬ 
ing  animal  matter,  it  was  apt  to  rot  and  fpoil  the 
cloth. 

About  thirty  years  ago,  it  was  difcovered,  that 
the  folfil  acids,  when  properly  diluted  with  water, 
anfwered  much  better,  and  would  do  more  in 
a  few  hours,  than  animal  acids  could  do  in  a 
week,  in  facilitating  the  whitening  of  cloth. 

At  firft,  it  was  imagined,  that  the  mineral 
acids  would  be  apt  to  burn,  or  corrode  linen  fub- 
ftances,  when  immerfed  in  them.  But  experi¬ 
ence  foon  difpelled  fuch  fears,  and  convinced 

bleachers. 


in  bleaching  Linen .  241 

bleachers,  that,  by  proper  management,  the  dan¬ 
ger  was  next  to  none. 

According  to  the  ftrength  of  the  acids  they 
muft  be  mixed  with  water,  fometimes,  to  feven 
hundred  times  their  bulk. 

The  nitrous  acid,  being  the  moft  corrofive,. 
and  moft  expenfive,  has  not  been  ufed. 

The  vitriolic  acid  is  that  which  has  univer- 
fally  been  employed :  not  becaufe  it  is  prefer¬ 
able  to  the  muriatic  acid,  but  becaufe  it  was  to 
be  bought  in  large  quantities,  and  at  a  fmall 
expence. 

The  muriatic  acid  being  now  fold  nearly  as 
cheap  as  the  vitriolic,  and  anfwering  in  a  fupe- 
rior  degree,  will,  in  a  fhorc  time,  I. am  convinced, 
be  generally  adopted  by  bleachers. 

As  1  muft  confefs  my  ignorance  in  the  art  of 
bleaching,  it  may  feem  prefumptuous  in  me  to 
hazard  a  conje&ure  concerning  the  manner  in 
which  acids  a£t  in  whitening  cloth  j  but  it  feems 
probable,  that  alkaline  falts,  which  are  ufed  in 
walking  out  the  oil  and  glutinous  parts  of  flax, 
on  which  the  green  colour  depends,  depofite  an 
earth,  in  the  pores  of  the  cloth.  As  it  is  known 
that  acids  will  alfo  diflfolve  the  earthy  parts  of  ve¬ 
getables,  that  acid  Ihould  be  preferred,  which  will 
keep  earthy  particles  fufpended  in  water.  The 
vitriolic,  therefore,  is  not  fo  proper  j  becaufe,  with 
earthy  fubftances,  it  forms  immediately  a  felenite; 

Vol.  I.  R  a  fub- 


242  Dr.  Eajon  on  the  Ufe  of  Acids ,  ifc. 

a  fubftance  only  foluble,  in  a  very  large  quan¬ 
tity  of  water  This  felenitic  matter,  adhering 
to  the  threads  of  the  cloth,  will  injure  it,  and 
make  it  feel  hard  to  the  touch,  and  probably 
is  the  reafon,  why  fome  linens  wear  fo  badly. 

When  the  muriatic  acid  is  ufed,  no  felenite  is 
formed.  Whatever  quantity  of  -earthy  matter  is 
difiolved  by  it,  is  eafily  wafhed  out  by  pure  foft 
water,  and  the  cloth  having  a  foft  filky  feel 
feems  to  ftrengthen  this  conjefture. 

As  the  muriatic  acid  is  now  fold  at  three-pence 
per  pound,  and  the  common  vitriolic  acid  at 
four-pence  halfpenny,  and  as  the  muriatic  acid 
will,  in  proportion,  acidulate  a  larger  quantity 
of  water  than  the  vitriolic,  befides  the  great 
probability  of  its  anfwering  better  in  whitening 
of  cloth,  the  bleachers  in  this  part  of  the  world 
would  do  well  to  give  it  a  fair  trial. 


Conjectural 


Dr,  Wall  on  the  UJe  of  Symbols. 


243 


Conjectural  Remarks  on  the  Symbols  or  Charac¬ 
ters,  employed  by  Astronomers*  to  reprefent 
the  fever al  Planets,  and  by  the  Chemists,  to 
exprefs  the  feveral  Metals,  in  a  Letter  to 
Thomas  Percival,  M.  D.  F.  R.  S.  &c.  By 
Martin  Wall,  M.  D.  Pra.leClor  of  Chemiftry 
in  the  JJniverfity  of  Oxford.  Read  October  9,  1782. 


S  I  R, 

I  AM  extremely  apprehenfive,  left  the  following 
obfervations,  as  relating  to  a  fiibjeCt  more 
fpeculative  than  ufeful,  may  be  thought  unwor¬ 
thy  of  the  attention  of  your  very  refpeCtable 
Society ;  yet,  defirous  to  ftiew  my  juft  fenfe  of 
the  compliment,  which  you  have  paid  me,  by 
propofing  me  as  an  honorary  member,  I  advance 
them  with  great  deference,  hoping  you  will  fup- 
prefs  them  entirely,  if  they  fhould  not  meet  the 
approbation  of  your  correCt  judgment. 

Whoever  engages  in  the  ftudy  of  Chemiftry, 
cannot  but  remark,  with  fome  degree  of  curiofity, 
how  extenfively  the  ufe  of  fymbols  or  characters 
has  prevailed  in  this  fcience;  and  is  naturally 
led  to  enquire,  from  whence  this  practice  origi¬ 
nated,  and  whether  the  characters  ufcd  arc 
merely  arbitrary,  or  have  any  relation,  real  or 

R  2  imaginary, 


244  &r‘  Watt  on  the  Ufe  of  Symbols . 

imaginary,  to  the  fubftances  which  they  are 
employed  to  reprefent-  That  many  of  them  are 
entirely  arbitrary,  is  commonly  fuppofed  by 
thofe,  whofe  knowledge  of  chemical  authors  is 
only  flight  and  fuperficialj  but  the  enthufiafm 
of  a  few,  whofe  reading  has  been  more  extenfive, 
fuggefts  a  different  idea-  Every  character  is,  by 
thefe,  conceived  to  convey  an  accurate  defcription 
of  the  qualities  of  the  fubffance,  which  it  repre- 
fents.  It  is  hardly  neceffary  to  obferve,  that 
this  opinion  is  not  indireftly  fupported  by 
Boerhaave ,  and  his  commentator  Shaw* :  and  Dr. 
Price  f  in  his  account  of  his  extraordinary  expe¬ 
riments  on  mercury,  filver  and  gold,  afferts,  that 
the  ancient  chemifts  either  knew  or  believed,  that 
the  imperfect  metals  had  a  faline  principle,  which 
they  denoted  by  a  crofs  attached  to  their  cha¬ 
racters.  It  is  impoffible,  perhaps,  to  advance 
very  far  in  our  enquiries  into  this  fubjeft  ;  yet 
fome  little  light  may  be  thrown  upon  it,  by  a 
due  attention  to  thofe  characters,  which  are  above 
alluded  to,  thofe  by  which  the  metals  are  re- 
prefented.  And  firft,  it  cannot  but  appear  very 
ftriking,  that  the  fymbols  employed  to  reprefent 
the  feven  metals,  which  alone  were  known  in 
the  earlier  ages,  are  the  fame,  as  thofe  which 
were  applied  by  the  firft  aftronomers,  to  denote 
the  feven  planets.  The  chemifts  have,  in  gene- 

*  Shaves  Boerhaave,  vol.  I,  p.  68. 

■J-  Price's  "Experiments  on  Mercury,  Sec.  Preface,  p.  ir. 

ral. 


Dr.  JVall  on  the  Ufe  of  Symbols.  245 

ral,  arrogated  to  themfelves  the  prior  right  to 
thefe  chara&ers,  upon  the  pretence,  that  they 
point  out  mod  accurately  the  various  qualities  of 
the  metals  ■,  whereas,  to  the  planets  they  have  no 
kind  of  relation.  Yet,  notwithftanding  the  plau- 
Ability  of  their  arguments,  I  am  inclined  to 
entertain  a  contrary  opinion,  and  to  believe  that 
the  pretenfions  of  the  Aftronomers  have  a  better 
foundation. 

Aftronomy  was  cultivated  in  all  the  oriental 
nations,  particularly  in  iEgypt,  Phoenicia  and 
Chaldea,  in  the  very  earlieft  ages,  of  which  we 
have  any  record.  Not  only  the  uniform  appear¬ 
ances  of  the  fixed  ftars,  but  even  the  more 
irregular  movements  and  revolutions  of  the 
planets,  and  the  peculiar  circumftances  of  colour 
and  fplendour,  by  which  they  are  diftinguifhed 
from  each  other,  were  accurately  marked  and 
obferved. 

In  the  fame  period  of  time,  the  opinion  of 
polytheifm  had  been  gradually  difleminated  : 
and  it  was  extremely  natural,  that  thofe  fplendid 
bodies  rolling  apparently  above  the  earth,  in  the 
immenfity  of  fpace,  by  fuch  determined  laws, 
Ihould  be  confidered  as  the  habitations  of  the 
immortal  beings,  by  whofe  immediate  influence 
and  fuperintendence  the  affairs  of  the  world  were 
conduced. 

Having  premifed  this,  let  us  now,  for  the  far¬ 
ther  inveftigation  of  this  fubjedV,  pay  a  particular 

R  3  attention 


246  Dr.  Wall  on  the  UJe  of  Symbols. 

attention  to  the  Mythology  of  iEgypt,  which 
opens  an  important  fund  of  information,  with 
refpeCt  to  the  hiftory  of  religion  and  fcience,  in 
thofe  early  periods :  but  we  mud  not  expe<51  to 
find  the  path  free  from  obfcurity  and  difficulty. 

In  that  country,  the  hieroglyphic  mode  of  wri¬ 
ting  was  ufed  in  the  greateft  extent,  and  was  con¬ 
nected  not  only  with  the  fciences,  but  even  with 
religion.  By  this  learned  people  a  circle  was 
employed  to  denote  perfection,  and  particularly 
the  infinite  perfection  of  the  Supreme  Being, 
their  Ofiris ,  whofe  refidence  they  conceived  to 
be  in  the  great  luminary  of  the  day,  from  whence 
he  diflributed  the  bleffings  of  light  and  heat, 
to  animate  the  univerfe.  Hence,  by  a  very  eafy 
and  obvious  application,  a  circle  came  alfo  to  be 
employed,  as  the  hieroglyphic  of  the  fun. 

The  form  of  the  crefcent  moon  naturally 
pointed  out  the  fymbol,  by  which  ffie  has  always 
been  reprefented  :  nor  was  this  planet  deftitute 
of  a  divine  inhabitant ;  but  was  fuppofed  to  be 
the  palace  of  the  Queen  of  Heaven,  the  wife  of 
Ofiris,  the  common  mother  of  mankind.  * 

* - - - Imitataque  Lunajn 

Cornua  fulferunt  - - - 

Says  Ovid  of  the  ./Egyptian  Iiis.  Met.  Lib.  IX.  782. 

That,  the  idea  of  the  wife  of  the  Supreme  Being  prefiding 
over  the  moon,  was  afterward  introduced  into  Greece, 
appears  from  a  beautiful  Medallion  of  the  Samian  Juno  in 
Mr.  Bryant,  vol.  II.  PI.  12. 

To 

\  I 


Dr.  Wall  on  the  Ufe  of  Symbols.  2  47 

To  explain  the  remainder  of  the  adronomical 
fymbols,  upon  the  fame  principle,  it  is  neceffary 
previoufly  to  remark,  that  polytheifm  in  its  pu- 
red  form,  is  nothing  more  than  the  deification  of 
particular  attributes  of  the  Supreme  Eeing,  ari- 
fing  from  the  infirmity  of  human  nature,  unequal 
to  the  comprehenfion  of  one  all  perfedt  Being. 
Hence  we  are  not  furprized  to  find,  that  the  two 
planets  didinguifbed  by  a  fplendor,  next  to  that 
of  the  fun  and  moon,  were  alfo  fuppofed  to  be 
inhabited  bv,  or  at  lead  confecrated  to  the  fer- 
vice  of  the  two  chief  Deities,  under  a  different 
form  and  name. 

One  of  thefe  planets  is  known  by  the  title  of 
Jupiter,  and  probably  derived  both  its  appel¬ 
lation  and  its  fymbol,  from  that  part  of  the 
./Egyptian  mythology,  which  afferted,  that  when 
the  gods,  in  the  war  with  the  giants,  fled  from 
the  wrath  of  Typhor  into  /Egypt,  they  concealed 
themlelves  in  the  fhapes  of  various  beads,  under 
which  they  were  afterwards  worfhipped,  and 
particularly  Jupiter  under  that  of  a  ram,  at  the 
celebrated  Libyan  Temole  of  Jupiter  Hammon. 
To  this  circumdance  Lucan  alludes,  in  his  def- 
fcription  fif  the  march  of  Cato  through  the  wilds 
of  Africa  ;*  and  Ovid,  more  didin&ly,  in  his  ac- 

•  Ventum  erat  ad  Templum,  Libycis  quod  Gentibus  unura 
Jnculti  Garamantes  habent :  ftat  certior  illic 
Jupiter,  ut  niemoraru,  led  non  aut  Fulmina  vibrans, 

Aut  fimilis  noftro,  fed  tortis  Cornibus,  Hammon. 

Lue.  Pharf.  L.  IX.  511. 

R  count 


248  Dr.  Wall  on  the  UJe  of  Symbols . 

count  of  the  wars  of  the  Gods.*  This  image  of 
Jupiter  was  not  confined  folely  to  the  Libyan 
temple,  as  we  find  from  lome  paflages  in  Hero¬ 
dotus,!  and  many  remains  of  ^Egyptian  fuper- 
perftition  which  are  (fill  preferved.!  As  Jupiter, 
therefore,  was  fo  frequently  worfhipped  under 
the  form  of  a  ram,  or  a  figure  with  a  ram’s  head, 
or  at  lead  wearing  the  horns  of  a  ram,  it  is  not 
improbable,  that  the  fymbol  of  this  planet  was 
taken  from  thefe  images.  It  might  originally 
be  the  perfedl  head  of  a  ram,  or  only  one  horn. 
The  crofs  annexed  to  it  (fee  fig.  1.  in  the  ■plate) 
may  be  an  imperfedt  remainder  of  the  outline  of 
the  head  of  the  ram,  or  with  more  probability 
we  may  imagine,  that  it  was  originally  annexe4 

*  Bella  canit  fuperum  :  falfoque  in  Honore  Gigantas 
Ponit,  et  extenuat  magnorum  Fa£ta  Deoruxn, 
EmifTumque  ima  de  fede  Typhoea  terrse 
Caelitibus  feciffe  metum,  cundtofq  dediffe 
Terga  fugae :  donee  feffos  Aigyptia  tellus 
Ceperit,  &  feptem  diferetus  in  Oftia  Nilus. 

Hue  quoque  terrigenam  venifle  Typhoea  narrat, 

Et  fe  mentitis  fuperos  celafie  figuris : 

Duxque gregis,  dixit,  fit  Jupiter;  unde  recurvis 
Nunc  quoque  formatus  Libys  eft  cum  Cornibus  Hammon. 

Ovid.  Met.  V.  319. 

f  Herod.  Euterp.  42. 

t  See  a  beautiful  engraving  from  a  Medallian,  repre- 
fenting  Helius  Serepis  in  Mr.  Bryant’s  Mythology,  vol.  II. 
PI.  1 2.  and  fix  prefentations  of  Jupiter  Hammon  in  Mont- 
fauccn’s  Antiquities,  PI.  14.  Tom.  I. 


to 


Dr.  Wall  on  the  Ufe  of  Symbols .  249 

to  convey  fome  particular  information,  and  was 
afterwards  retained  in  the  figure,  though  the 
intention  of  its  firfb  application  was  forgotten. 

The  ^Egyptians,  we  are  told,*  expreffed  the 
different  ftages  of  the  inundation  of  the  Nile, 
by  expofing  columns  or  poles,  with  one  or  more 
croffes  upon  them  :  and  this  crofs  was  fometimes 
connected  with  other  fymbols,  to  denote  fome 
other,  circumftance,  either  of  the  feafon  or  fitu- 
ation  of  the  planets,  which  concurred  with  the 
inundation.  Hence,  we  fee  it  annexed,  not  only 
to  this  fymbol  of  Jupiter,  but  alfo  to  that  of 
Venus,  Saturn,  and  Mercury. 

As  Jupiter  was  reprefented  under  this  form, 
it  became  common  in  after-times  for  great 
princes,  who  wifhed  to  be  confidered  as  his  de¬ 
fendants,  or  whofe  ambition  led  them  to  afpire 
to  deification,  to  affume  the  fame  mark  of  dif- 
tin&ion  in  their  medals  and  ftatues,  as  we  fee 
frequently  in  thofe  of  Alexander  the  Great,  and 
his  fuccefibrs,  particularly  the  Seleucids  and 
the  Ptolemies.  Hence  to  it  was  adopted  by 
Marc  Anthony,  when  his  extravagant  attachment 
to  the  ^Egyptian  Queen  prevailed  upon  him,  to 
relinquifh  the  Roman  drefs  and  manners,  and 
to  affume  the  habits  and  infignia  of  honour,  ufed 
by  the  eaflern  nations,  f  As  this  pra&ice  pre- 

*  L’Hiftoire  du  Ciel  par  V Abbe  Pluche,  Ch.  I.  §.  8. 

t  Cpokt r’s  Medallic  Hiltory  of  Imperial  Rome,  vol.  I. 
ri-  7*  F'g-  I  h  lz>  16. 


vailed 


2  jo  Dr.  Wall  on  the  VJe  of  Symbols. 

vailed  very  extenfively  in  the  eaff,  may  not  thofe 
metaphorical  expreffions,  relative  to  temporal 
greatnefs  and  dignity,  fo  frequently  occurring 
in  the  oriental  languages,  and  in  the  Sacred 
Scriptures,  have  been  derived  from  thence,  viz. 
‘thou  hajl  lifted  up  my  horn ;  my  horn  fhall  be  exalted 
&c.  &c.  &c.  &c  ? 

That  brilliant  planet,  which  we  call  Venusy  was 
alfo  confidered  by  the  .ZEgptians,  as  facred  to  the 
Queen  of  Heaven,  who,  by  them,  was  known  by 
the  name  of  Ifis,  and  in  different  countries  by  al- 
moft  innumerable  different  appellations.  It  would 
lead  me  very  far  into  the  depths  of  mythology,  to 
prove  that  the  Goddefs,  intended  by  all  thefe  ap¬ 
pellations,  was  the  fime,  and  that  the  lfis  of  the 
/Egyptians  was  the  Venus  of  the  Greeks  and  Ro¬ 
mans.  *  To  thofe  who  are  converfant  with  ftudies 
of  this  nature,  hardly  any  proof  is  neceffary. 
Accordingly,  it  may  be  fuppofed,  that  the  aftro- 
nomers  affumed,  as  the  Tymb'd  of  this  planet,  the 
Sijlrum  of  Ifis,  which  we  are  told  by  antiquarians,  f 
was  a  fmall  oblong  circle  of  metal,  croffed  by 
iron  rods,  with  a  handle  (as  in  fig.  2.  of  the  plate) 
by  which  it  might  be  held  j  and  that  it  was  ule4 

*  See  tylovlfauectfs  Anfiq.  Part  If.  B.  II.  Ch.  2.  and 
L' Abbe  Pluche  Hill,  des  Ciels.  Ch.  II.  §.  3,  11,  12,  13, 

14,  15. 

■)•  See  Mcntfauccn  s  Ant.  Tom.  II.  p.  287.  &  Abbe 
Fluehe  Hill,  des  Ciels,  &c.  Ch.  II.  §;  3.  PI.  17. 


at 


Dr.  Wall  on  the  XJJe  of  Symbols.  25 1 

at  feafts,  to  point  out,  by  exaft  cadences,  the 
movements  of  the  fongs  and  dances.  There 
might  be,  therefore,  a  peculiar  propriety  in  af- 
fuming  this  inftrument,  as  the  fymbol  of  that 
planet,  which  was  fuppofed  to  be  peculiarly  fa¬ 
voured  by  the  relidence  of  the  Goddefs  of  mirth 
and  love;  and  fo  often  appears  in  its  greateft 
fplendour  and  beauty,  in  thofe  evening  hours, 
when  the  heat,  the  hurry  and  labours  of  the  day, 
give  place  to  coolnefs,  tranquillity  and  peace,  or 
to  mirth  and  joy,  the  fongand  the  dance*. 

The 

*  The  Roman  Poets  have  many  beautiful  allufions  to  the 
pleafures  which  attend  the  rifing  of  the  evening  Jiar. 

- -  - - Cum  frigidus  aera  Vefper 

Temperat,  &  Saltus  reficit  jam  rofcida  Luna, 

Littoraque  ;  halcyonem  refonant,  &  acanthida  dumb 

Virg.  G.  III.  336. 

Venerif<iu,e  falubre  Sidus.  Lucan  Pharf  Lib.  I.  66 1. 

Vefper  adeft,  Juvenes,  confurgite  ;  Vefper  Olympo 

Expe&ata  diu  vix  tandem  Lumina  tollit ; 

Surgere  jam  tempus.  Catulli  Caren  Nupt.  I. 

Hefpere,  qui  Cado  lucet  jucundior  Ignis? 

Qui  defponfa  tuafirmes  connubia  flamma 

Qus  pepigere  Viri,  pepigerunt  ante  Parentes, 

Nec  junxere  prius,  quam  fe  tuus  extulit  ardor. 

Quid  datur  a  Divis  felici  optatius  Hora.  Id.  V.  24. 

It  is  well  known  that  this  planet  is  often  a  morning  liar, 
yirgil  has  given  a  charming  defcription  of  her  rifing  in  this 
ftation,  and  has  taken  particular  pains  to  point  her  out,  as 
the  favourite  of  the  goddefs  Venus. 


Qualis 


252  Dr.  Wall  on  the  life  of  Symbols. 

The  flow  movement  of  that  planet,  which  is 
called  Saturn>  would  naturally  fugged,  that  he 
was  under  the  patronage  of  fome  Deity,  didin- 
guilhed  by  fuperior  gravity  and  wifdom  •,  and 
thence  it  was  fuppofed  to  be  the  rendence  of 
the  mod  ancient  of  the  Gods,  or  time  itfelf. 
Hence,  as  its  fymbol,  they  afiumed  the  fey  the, 
or  the  fickle,  the  particular  attribute  of  that 
Deity.  (See  fig.  3.  in  the  drawing).  He  is  ex- 
prefsly  called  by  Ovid,  Falcifer  Dens,  (Fador,  lib, 
I.  233.)  and  Juvenal  fays  that  he  afiumed  the 
fickle,  when  he  was  deprived  of  the  imperial 
crown,  by  his  fon  Jupiter* 


.... - -  - - -  -  -  -  prinfquam 

Sumferit  agreftem,  pofito  Diademate,  falcem 
Saturnus  fugiens.  Ju-v.  Sat.  XIII.  38. 

Hence  he  is  commonly  reprefented  in  medals 
and  datues,  holding  an  indrument  of  this  kind 
in  his  hand  *. 

c 

The  red  fiery  appearance  of  the  planet  Mars> 
particularly,  when  he  is  in  his  mod  perfect 


Quails  ubi  Oceani  perfufus  Lucifer  unda, 

Quem  Venus  ante  alios  aftrorum  diligit  ignes, 

Extulitos  facrum  Cado,  tenebrafque  refolvit. 

Virg.  JEn.  VIII.  589. 


*  See  Montfaucon,  Tom.  I.  PI.  5.  Fig.  1.  and  Bryant's 
Mythology,  vol.  II.  p.  259, 


oppofition 


Dr.  Wall  on  the  Vfeof  Symbols  253 

oppofition  to  the  fun,  and  at  the  fame  time  in 
his  perigeon,*  might  lead  the  early  afironomers 
to  confider  that  planet  as  the  refidence  of  the 
God  of  war.  Hence  we  need  not  be  folicitouy 
to  feek  for  authorities,  from  ancient  hiftory  or 
poetry,  to  explain  the  fymbol  of  this  planet, 
which  is  obvioufly  borrowed  from  two  of  the 
chief  inftruments  of  war,  the  fpear  and  the 
fhield,  (fee  fig.  4.  in  the  plate.)  It  is  worthy 
of  remark,  that  we  are  told  by  Varro ,  that  the 
Romans  worfhipped  Mars  under  the  fimple  re¬ 
presentation  of  a  fpear,  before  they  had  any 
ftatuesor  images  of  their  Gods-f*. 

The  rapid  revolution  and  movements  of  the 
planet  known  by  the  name  of  Mercury ,  J  more 
particularly  as  he  never  moves,  but  a  fmall 

*  It  is  not  impoflible  that  Lucan ,  in  the  following  paflage, 
alluded  to  this  fplendid  appearance  of  Mars,  when  thefe 
circumftances  occur  in  its  revolution,  where  he  defcribes  it 
as  reigning  alone  in  the  Heavens,  giving  dreadful  omens 
of  the  calamities  impending  over  the  Roman  ftate. 

- - -Tu,  qui  flagrante  minacem 

Scorpion  incendis  cauda,  chelafque  peruris. 

Quid  tantum,  Gradive,  paras?  nam  mitis  in  alto 
Jupiter  occafu  premitur,  Venerifque  falubre 
Sidus  hebet,  motuque  celer  Cyllenius  haeret, 

Et  Caelum  Mars  folus  habet  --------- 

Imminet  armorum  rabies,  ferrique  poteftas 
Confundet  jas  omne.  Luc.  Pharf.  Lib.  I.  658. 

f  See  Montfaucon ,  Tom.  I.  B.  III.  p.  125. 

;  Cyllenius  celer.  Lucan  utfupra. 


difiance 


2  $ 4  /Tir//  on  the  Ufe  of  Symbols. 

difirance  from  the  fun,  and  returns  quickly, 
if  engaged  in  the  immediate  execution  of  his 
commands,  might  lead  the  firft  aftronomers  to 
fuppofe,  that  this  planet  was  facred  to  the  Deity, 
whom  their  mythology  had  made  the  fervant, 
officer  or  meffenger  of  the  Gods;  and,  therefore, 
as  its  fymbol,  they  chofe  the  Caduceus  the  ftaff  of 
office,  which  that  Deity  was  fuppofed  to  bear, 
(fee  fig.  5.  in  the  plate.) 

If  this  attempt,  to  explain  the  origin  of  thefe 
fymbols,  be  admitted  as  plaufible,  the  credit 
of  their  invention,  and  their  firft  application 
mult  be  afcribed  to  aftronomy.  But  a  greater 
difficulty  now  arifes,  to  point  out,  by  what 
principles  the  chemifts  were  led  to  appropriate 
them  to  their  art  ;  an  undertaking  much  more 
perplexed,  and,  which  my  attempts  to  ill uftrate, 
will  require  all  the  indulgence  and  favour  of 
this  learned  Society.  I  give  up  entirely  their 
pretenfions  to  the  invention  of  thefe  characters, 
and,  therefore,  ffiall  not  pay  any  attention  here 
to  the  attempts,  which  Boerhaave  and  others  have 
made  to  explain  them ;  but  ffiall  proceed  upon 
a  quite  different  plan. 

The  peculiar  fplendour  of  the  fun  and  moon 
had  without  doubt  been  long  noticed ;  and  long 
before  the  introduction  of  chemical  fcience,  the 
language  of  poetry  (and  in  the  earlieft  ages  al- 
moft  all  language  was  poetical,  that  is,  figurative) 
had  difcriminated  that  of  the  former  by  epithets, 

borrowed 


Dr.  Wall  on  the  Ufe  of  Symbols:  25  £ 

borrowed  from  the  analogous  fplendour  and  co¬ 
lour  of  gold  ;  and  that  of  the  latter,  by  thofe 
borrowed,  from  the  purer  white  luftre  of  the  moon. 
A  few  inftances,  out  of  many,  of  their  metaphori¬ 
cal  mode  of  expreffion,  are  inferted  in  the  margin*. 
The  frequent  ufe  of  thefe  epithets  might  eafily 
lead  an  enthufiaftic  mind  to  conceive,  that  a  real 
analogy  and  correfpondence  fubfilled,  between 
thefe  planets  and  the  metals.  This  opinion  to  a 
ftrong  and  fertile  imagination  (improved  too  by 
the  aftrological  notions,  which  might  at  the  fame 
time  prevail,  concerning  the  real  or  virtual  emana¬ 
tions  of  the  planets)  might  feem  to  receive  con¬ 
firmation,  from  innumerable  circumftances,  and 
ultimately  fuggeft  the  employment  of  the  fame 
fymbolical  characters  for  the  metals,  which  had 
before  been  appropriated  to  the  planets.  Hence 

*  Aurati  Solis  radii.  Virg.  jEn.  XII.  164. 

Solis  aurata  corona.  Statii  Thab.  III.  414. 

Sol  auricomus.  Val  Flace  IV.  95. 

Aureus  axis  erat,  temo  aureus,  aurea  fummae 

Curvatura  rotae,  fays  Ovid  in  his  defcription  of  the 
chariot  of  the  fun.  Metam.  Lib.  II.  107. 

Clara  mi  cante  auro — of  the  palace  of  the  fun.  Id.  line  2. 

Sol  aureus.  Virg.  G.  I.  232 — G.  IV.  50. 

Niveos  Luna  levarit  equos.  Ov.  Fall.  IV.  374. 

Nec  Candida  curfum  Luna  negat.  Virg.  JEn.  VII.  8. 

Faveas;  Dea  Candida,  dixi. 

Ovid  Epill.  Leander  Heroni  LXI# 

Fulges  radiis  argentea  puris.  Id.  LXXI. 

gold 


2'6  Dr.  Wall  on  the  Ufe  of  Symhots. 

gold  came  to  be  typified,  by  the  circle  of  the  fun, 
and  filver  by  the  crefcent  of  the  moon.  The 
number  of  the  metals,  at  that  time  known,  agree¬ 
ing  exaCtly  with  the  number  of  planets,  would 
lead  to  an  extenfion  of  this  analogy  to  the  whole* 
and  every  metal  would  eafily  be  found,  or  fuppofed 
to  have  a  relation  to  one  or  other  of  the  feven 
planets,  and  receive  as  its  mark  the  aftronomical 
character  of  that  planet.  Some  circumftances, 
which  might  give  a  foundation  for  thefe  fuppofi- 
tions,  fhall  now  be  enumerated.  Copper  was  found, 
principally,  or  in  the  mod  confiderable  quantities, 
in  the  ifland  of  Cyprus,  and  the  manufacture  of 
brafs  was  not  only  invented  there,  but  carried  to  a 
degree  of  perfection  unknown  in  other  countries* 
infomuch  that  we  are  informed  by  Pliny,*  that 
either  the  metal  derived  its  name  from  the  ifland, 
or  the  ifland  from  the  metal.  As  this  ifland 
was  fuppofed  to  be  under  the  immediate  domi¬ 
nion  of  Venus, f  an  obvious  connection  was  dif« 

*  Nat.  Hilt.  Lib.  XXXIV.  2. 

■}•  K-wpos  PiK?  uvyoti;  IvJoflt  xoAwk 

K*v£T,  E7r»!ga1o»  c&fv  A 'AQpohrn ?. 

Cyprus  autem  ortum  verfus  Pamphylium  intra  finum 
Albuitur,  amabilis  Urbs  Dioneas  Veneris. 

Well's  Dionjfius,  1 24O. 
Ipfa  Paphum  fublimis  abit,  fedefque  revifit 
Lastafuas:  ubi  Templum  illi,  centumque  fabso 
Thurecalent  arse,  fertifque  recentibus  halant. 

Virg.  ^En.  I.  419. 

covered 


Dr.  Wall  on  the  Ufe  of  Symbols',  237 

covered,  which  juftified  the  application  of  the 
fytnbol  of  the  planet  to  the  metal. 

The  Ufe  of  Iron3  in  framing  the  inftruments  of 
war,  prefents  fo  ftriking  a  relation,  between  this 
metal  and  the  God  Mars,  that  we  need  not  won¬ 
der,  that  the  fymbol  of  that  planet  was  applied 
to  difbinguifh  iron. 

The  mobility  and  unfixable  nature  of  the  me¬ 
tallic  fluid  ghiickfilver ,  was  naturally,  by  minds 
thus  difpofed  to  form  analogies,  compared  with 
the  rapid  movements  of  the  planet  Mercury,  and 
accordingly,  the  fymbol  of  the  planet  was  appro¬ 
priated  to  the  metal. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  flow  motion  of  Saturn, 
the  coldnefs  of  his  fituation,  fo  far  removed  from 
the  Sun,  *  and  his  dull  afpedl,  which  obtained 
him  the  epithets  of  frigida ,  gelida ,  rigens  f 
prefented  a  fufikient  refemblance  to  the  obvious, 
as  well  as  the  medicinal  qualities  of  Lead ,  to 
countenance  the  fuppofition  of  a  relation  be¬ 
tween  the  metal  and  the  planet,  and  to  autho¬ 
rize  the  application  of  the  fymbol  of  Saturn  to 
lead. 


*  Hence  Lucan , 

- .  Summo  fi  frigida  Cxlo 

Stella  nocens  nigros  Saturni  accenderit  Ignes. 

Pharfal.  B.  I.  651. 

f  Plinii  Nat.  Hill.  L.  II.  C.  6, 

s 


VOL.  I 


The 


<l$%  Dr.  Wall  on  the  VJe  of  Symbols  * 

The  analogy  being  extended  thus  far,  without 
any  great  violence,  the  remaining  fymbol  of 
Jupiter  was  applied  to  Tin ,  for  which,  the  bright 
i'plendour  of  the  planet  and  of  the  metal,  might 
feem  to  give  a  plaufible  reafon.  * 

This  metal  was  not  found  in  any  of  the  coun- 
tries  of  the  ancient  world,  which  were  com¬ 
monly  known,  and  eafy  of  accefs.  It  was  im¬ 
ported  by  the  Phoenicians  from  fome  of  thofe 
regions,  with  which  they  traded  in  their  voyages 
beyond  the  Pillars  of  Plercules  ;  particularly,  it 
was  faid  to  be  brought  from  fome  iflands,  which 
were  called  Caffiterides .  Whether  the  metal  re¬ 
ceived  the  appellation  of  Cajfileron ,  (or  CaJfiterost 
as  Homer  calls  it)  from  thefe  iflands,  or  they 
were  fo  called  from  the  metal,  is  uncertain  j  nor 
is  it  lefs  uncertain,  what  thefe  iflands  were,  and 
where  they  were  fituated.  Some  place  them  on 
the  weftern  coafts  of  Spain,  Portugal,  or  Africa  : 
others  fuppofe  them  to  have  been,  the  Scilly 
iflands  near  the  Land’s  end,  in  Cornwall.t  It  is 

not, 

*  It  may  be  remarked,  that  Homer  gives  to  Tin  the  fame 
epithet  (pxtiy 05,  which  he  frequently  ufes,  to  exprefs  the 
bright  fplendour  of  the  moon,  and  planets.  Iliad  4/361. 

f  In  Wells's  edition  of  Dionyjius ’  Geography,  it  is  pofi- 
tively  alferted,  that  the  Caffiterides  were  fituated  near  the 
Land’s  end  in  Cornwall,  and  that  they  had  their  name 
from  the  Greek  word  Kxcrmlsfoy,  tin,  which  they  pro¬ 
duced  in  great  plenty.  (Dionyf.i  Geograph,  par  Wells.) 

Borlafe 


Dr.  Wall  on  the  Ufe  of  Symbols.  259 

not,  therefore,  impofiible,  that  the  Phoenician 
Navigators,  who  were  always  remarkably  fecret 
concerning  the  country  from  whence  they  ob~ 
tained  their  tin,  *  might  infinuate,  that  this 
metal  was  difcovered  to  them  by  the  Deity, 
who  prefided  over  the  fea,  (not  the  Neptune  of 
the  Greeks  and  Romans,  but  the  more  ancient 
Oceanus,  who  was,  in  Egypt,  Phoenicia,  and 
even  Greece,  in  its  earlieft  periods,  confounded 
with  the  Supreme  Being.)f 

May  I  therefore  be  allowed  to  conjecture,  that 
there  was  a  prevailing  tradition,  that  Tin  was 
difcovered  to  the  Phoenicians  by  Jupiter  himfelf  ? 

Bcrlafe  admits  the  truth  of  this  pofition  in  general, 
but  infinuates,  that,  probably,  the  name  was  derived  from 
a  Phoenician  word  of  fimilar  found  and  import. 

Borla/e,  Antiquities  of  Cornwall,  Ch.  VII. 

*  See  fome  remarkable  inftances  of  this  difpofition  in 
Bcrlafe' s  Antiquities,  Ch.  VII.' 

f  Some  of  the  ancient  Greek  writers  exprefsly  call 
Oceanus  by  the  titles  of  the  Supreme  Being.  We  have 
in  Homer  the  following  expreffions : 

'Slx.ta.vis,  cPTrcp  ytvtan;  ir&thirct  reruxlat 

Oceani,  qui  quidem  Parens  omnibus  eft. 

Horn.  Iliad.  XIV.  246. 

Slxeatovrt  Qusv  ytttrtt.  Id.  V.  200. 

Oceanumque  Deorum  Parentem. 

And  Plutarch,  in  his  Ifis  and  Ofiris,  fays  direftly 
"  'Slxtavov  OcrtptS'z,  that  Ofiris  and  Oceanus  were  the  fame.’* 
See  further  in  Bryant’s  Account  of  Noah.  V.  II.  269. 

S  2 


If 


a6o  Dr.  Watt  on  the  Ufe  of  Symbols. 

If  it  were  poftible  to  prove,  that  any  traces  of 
fuch  an  opinion  as  this  fubfifted  at  the  time 
when  the  Alchemical  doftrines  began  to  be  pre¬ 
valent,  we  fhould  not  be  at  a  lofs  to  determine, 
whyTin  was  honoured  with  the  fymbol  of  Jupiter. 
But  on  this  point,  I  have  no  other  fupport  than 
mere  conjefture,  which  I  fubmit,  with  the  reft  of 
the  Differtation,  to  the  candour  of  the  Society, 
hoping  they  will  not  mark  with  the  feverity  of 
critical  accuracy  or  cenfure,  my  endeavours  to 
deferve  the  honour  of  becoming  one  of  their 
members.  Before  I  conclude,  allow  me  to 
mention,  that  in  the  above  differtation,  though 
I  might  frequently  have  drawn  my  llluftrations 
from° the  Greek  authors,  I  have  principally  con¬ 
fined  myfelf  to  the  Roman,  and  thofe  the  moft 
common  and  familiar,  as  fuppofing  thefe  were 
moft  likely  to  be  known,  if  any  were  known, 
to  the  Alchemical  authors,  who  firft  transferred 
to  the  metals  the  ancient  aftronomical  charafters 
of  the  planets. 

I  am,  dear  Sir, 

« With  great  Refpeft, 

Your  fincere  Friend 

and  obedient  Servant, 

M.  WALL. 


Remarks 


Dr.  Falconer's  Remarks  on  the ,  &c.  26 1 


Remarks  on  the  Knowledge  of  the  Ancients, 
By  William  Falconer,  M.  D.  F.  R.  S. 
Communicated  by  Dr.  Percival.  Read  October  16, 
1782. 

r  B  ■  H  E  fuperiority  of  the  Moderns  over  the 
Ancients,  in  mod  branches  of  Natural 
Philofophy,  is  generally  received  as  an  acknow¬ 
ledged  truth,  and  is,  probably,  well  founded, 
Neverthelefs,  I  am  inclined  to  think,  that  the 
ignorance  of  the  ancients  has  been  over-rated, 
and,  that  feveral  things  were  known  to  them, 
ac  lead  as  fadls,  and  matters  of  obfervation, 
which  are  not  apprehended  to  be  fo,  by  the 
generality  of  people.  Much  learning  and  induf- 
try  has  been  bellowed  on  this  fubjedt,  by  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Dutens,  in  his  very  ingenious  Inquiry 
into  the  Origin  of  the  Difcoveries  attributed 
to  the  Moderns,  to  which  I  beg  leave  to  add 
a  few  remarks,  that  have  occurred  to  me  in  the 
courfe  of  reading.  And 

I.  I  believe  it  is  efteemed  to  be  an  origi¬ 
nal  difeovery  of  Dr.  Black,  That  water  which 
had  been  boiled  was  more  eafily  frozen,  than 
water  that  had  not  undergone  that  operation. 

S  3  But, 


*6 2  Dr.  Falconers  Remarks  on  the 

But,  That  water  which  had  been  heated,  was 
by  that  means  rendered  eafier  to  be  cooled,  was 
well  known  to  the  ancients. 

Ariftotle  obferves.  That  water  freezes  the 
fooner  for  having  been  before  heated ;  and,  that 
this  fad  was  even  known  to  fome  barbarous 
people  upon  the  Euxine  Sea,  who  made  ufe  of 
Ice  as  a  kind  of  cement  for  their  huts;  and  that  the 
water  frozen  for  this  purpofe,  was  firft  heated,  in 
order*  that  it  might  concrete  the  fooner.”  Pliny  f 
alfo  mentions  it  as  a  difcovery  of  Nero,  to  boil 
the  water  that  was  intended  to  be  frozen',  as  that 
haftened  its  concretion. 

Athenaeus  J  alfo  remarks,  fC  that  in  the  Ifle  Ce- 
molus  they  placed  water  in  their  Refrigeratories 
which  had  been  heated  by  the  rays  of  the  fun,  and, 
that  they  reproved  their  fervants,  if  the  water 
they  provided  for  freezing  was  not  previoufly 
heated.” 

There  is  to  this  purpofe,  a  curious  paffage 
in  Hippocrates,  in  the  fixth  book  and  fourth  fec- 
tion  of  the  Epidemics  ;  which,  though  I  am 
unable  to  clear  up,  I  think  has  fome  reference 
to  this  fubjed.  The  words  are  as  follows. 

to  //.ev  a;  top  asp  a,  to  »i  /*>?  ta7r?.iosi 

tititi,  xa*  ewsSnopa 

•  Ariftot.  Meteorol.  L.  I.  Cap.  12.  w 

+  Plinii  Hilt.  Nat.  L.  XXXI.  Cap.  3. 

J  Athens;!.  Lib.  III.  p.  123.  124.  Edit.  Cafaubon. 

This 


Knowledge  of  the  Ancients,  263 

This  direction  is  relative  to  the  preparation 
of  the  water,  to  be  drank  by  the  patient,  which 
is  ordered  to  be,  fuch  as  has  been  boiled  ;  and 
part  of  the  preparation  was  performed,  with  the 
water  expofed  to  the  air,  and  part,  with  the  veflel 
clofed  up.  * 

The  fir  ft,  referred  to  the  boiling  or  heating 
the  water,  and  the  latter,  to  the  cooling  of  it; 
as  I  fuppole,  it  was  boiled,  to  throw  out  or  expel 
the  air,  and  then  doled  up,  that  it  might  not 
recover  it  again  when  cooling,  which  would 
have  retarded  its  refrigeration,  according  to  the 
modern  theory.  Galen,  though  he  does  not 
explain  the  meaning  quite  in  the  f  fame  manner 
as  I  have  done,  imagines,  that  Hippocrates  al¬ 
ludes  to  the  boiling  of  water,  that  was  afterwards 
to  be  drank  cold,  as,  in  the  fentencejuft  preceding 
the  former,  cold  things  had  been  recommended. 
Galen  accounts  for  the  obfeurity  of  this  paflage, 
by  informing  us,  that  thefe  works  of  Hippocrates 
were  not  written  for  publication,  but  as  private 
notes  to  aftift  the  memory, 

*  When  water  is  boiled,  car#  fhould  be  taken  that  air 
fhould  be  allowed  ad  million  to  the  veffel,  that  the  veffel  be 
not  quite  full,  and  that  it  have  a  cover,  Farr’s  Tranfl. 

f  Galen,  however,  feems  to  think,  that  the  water  was 
to  be  boiled  in  an  open  velTel,  and,  when  let  down  into 
{he  Refrigeratory,  to  be  clofed  up,  fo  as  to  exclude  all  air. 

yialen  Comm,  in  Lib.  VI.  §.  4.  Epidetn.  Hippocr. 

S  4  Qaleq 


264  Dr.  Falconer's  Remarks  on  the 

Galen  himfelf  was  perfonally  well  acquainted 
with  this  effedt  of  boiling,  in  difpofing  water  to 
cool  more  rapidly,  and  to  a  greater  degree. 
tc  When,”  fays  he,  “we  wifh  to  render  water  as 
cool  as  poffible,  we  firft  heat  it,  then  furround  with 
fnow  the  veffel  containing  it,  or,  if  fnow  be  wan¬ 
ting,  we  place  it  in  the  well  or  dream  of  a  fpring, 
and  thus  its  temperature  is  more  eafily  changed.” 

This  he  afcribes  to  the  rarefaction  the  water 
had  before  undergone,  which  is  evidently  not 
the  true  caufe,  as,  upon  cooling,  it  would  be  as 
much  condenfed  as  before.  Perhaps,  the  true 
caufe  may  be,  what  is  generally  afligned,  the  dif- 
charge  of  the  air.  But  how  does  this  operate 
in  promoting  the  refrigeration  ?  Is  it,  that  after 
the  water  has  been  freed  of  its  air,  any  part 
of  its  latent  heat  has  flown  off  with  it,  and  thus 
rendered  it  more  eafily  acceflible  to  cold  ?  Or, 
is  the  refrigeration  more  eafy,  on  account  of  the 
difcharge  of  air  j  as  the  air,  being  united  with 
the  water,  and  requiring  to  be  difengaged  in 
freezing,  might,  by  its  attradlion  to  the  water, 
require  more  cold  to  difengage  it,  than  would 
have  frozen  the  water,  had  it  not  had  that  at- 
tradtion  to  overcome  ? 

It  muff,  however,  be  remarked,  that  Galen  not 
only  fpeaks  of  water  that  has  been  previoufly 
heated,  being  more  eafy  to  be  frozen ,  but  alfo 
fays,  fuch  water  is  more  eafily  cooled,  even  to 

any 


Knowledge  of  the  Ancientsr  265 

any  inferior  degree:  a  fact  worthy  to  be  afcer- 
tained  by  experiment. 

II.  I  believe  the  faft,  Of  the  produftion  of  cold 
by  the  evaporation  of  fluids,  is  efteemed  a  modern 
difeovery,  as  it  juftly  may  be:  but  it  (till  ap¬ 
pears  (though  the  modern  difeoverers  were  not 
acquainted  with  it)  that  it  was  familiarly  known 
to  the  ancients,  and  not  only  to  the  Greeks  and 
Romans,  but  the  Egyptians  alfo. 

Athenasus  mentions,  “  that  Protagorides,  in 
deferibing  the  navigation  of  Antiochus  upon 
the  Nile,  or  Euphrates,  relates  the  method  ufed 
in  that  country,  of  cooling  liquor,  which  was,  by 
firft  heating  it  by  expofure  to  the  fun,  and  then 
draining  it,  and  fetting  it  in  earthen  jars  in  the 
higheft,  and  mofl:  open  and  expofed  part  of  the 
building,  whilft  two  boys  were  employed  all  the 
night,  in  keeping  the  outfides  of  the  jars  moift. 
After  this,  they  preferved  the  coolnefs  of  its 
temperature,  by  covering  the  jars  with  draw. 
This,  fays  he,  cooled  the  water  to  fo  great 
a  degree,  that  they  felt  no  want  of  ice.”  * 

Galen  fays,  the  method  of  cooling  water,  ufed  at 
Alexandria,  was  as  follows  :  “  About  fun-fet,  they 
poured  water  which  had  been  firfl:  heated,  into  jars, 
which  theyhungupinthe  higheftpartsof thebuild- 
ings,  with  the  windows  open,  oppofite  to  that  point 
from  whence  the  wind  blew.  Before  fun  rife,  they 


*  Athen.  p.  124. 


placed 


2 66  Dr.  Falconer's  Remarks  on  the 

placed  the  jars  upon  the  ground,  and  moiftened 
the  outfide,  and  covered  them  with  cool  and 
fucculent  leaves,  as  of  lettuce,  &c.  in  order  that 
the  water  might  retain  the  cool  temperature  it 
had  thus  acquired.”  * 

The  modern  method  of  making  ice  in  the 
pad  Indies,  refembles  the  above  in  many  refpe&s. 
Pits  are  dug  in  large  open  plains,  places  mod 
ejcpofed  to  circulation  of  air,  4nd  of  confequence, 
to  evaporation :  thefe  are  ftrewed  with  reeds,  in 
order  to  admit  the  circulation  of  air  on  all  Tides, 
and  on  thefe  are  placed  (hallow  pans  of  earth 
filled  with  water,  and  the  texture  of  thefe  pans  is 
fo  porous,  as  to  admit  the  water  to  percolate 
through  them,  in  fuch  a  manner,  as  to  keep  the 
outfide  always  moiflr,  and  of  confequence,  pro¬ 
ducing  cold  by  evaporation.  The  water  ufeci 
for  this  purpofe  has  alfo  been  previoufly  boiled. 
It  is  needlcfs  to  remark,  how  much  this  procefs 
refembles  thofe  before  quoted,  and  how  probable 
it  is,  from  the  immutability  of  ancient  manners, 
that  it  was  a  cuftom  delved  frorp  very  remote 
antiquity. 

HI.  Some  other  difcoveries,  fuch  as, cc  The  folu- 
tion  of  water  in  air,  and  that  this  folution  is  afiifted 
by  heat  and  agitation,”  appear  not  to  have  been 
unknown  to  the  ancients,  though  their  notion? 
hereupon  were  far  from  clear. 

*  Galen  Comm,  in  Lib.  VI.  Epidem.  Hippoc.  Comm.  IV. 

Thq 


Knowledge  of  the  Ancients.  267 

“  The  moifture,  fays  Ariftotle,  that  is  about  the 
earth,  being  converted  into  vapours  by  the  rays 
of  the  fun,  afcends.  When  it  has  arifen,  the  heat, 
by  whofe  afliftance  it  had  afcended,  leaves  the 
vapour  (or,  as  Dr.  Black  would  fay,  becomes 
fenfible)  and  then,  the  vapour  again  affumes  a 
confidence,  and,  from  being  in  the  form  of  air, 
becomes  water.  Meteorol.  L.  I.  C.  9. 

<c  The  reafon,  fays  Ariftotle,  why  dew  and  hoar 
froft  do  not  concrete  in  elevated  fituations,  is, 
that  in  them  the  air  is  much  agitated,  which 
diftblves*  the  confidence  of  the  water.  Ibidem. 
Cap.  10. 

Dr.  Black’s  dofrrine  of  Latent  Heat,  feems  not 
to  have  been  altogether  unknown  to  the  ancients. 

“  Snow,  fays  Ariftotle,  cannot  be  formed,  with¬ 
out  the  cold  prevails,  much  heat  dill  remaining 
in  it.  For  in  a  cloud,  or  vapour,  there  is  much 
heat  which  remains  of  that  fire,  that  has  abforbed 
the  moifture  from  the  earth.”  Ariftotle  here 
mentions,  that  heat  or  fire  was  dill  contained  in 
the  cloud  or  vapour,  and  fo  far  is  agreeable  to 
Dr.  Black’s  fyftem  ;  but  the  latter  difeovered,  that 
when  the  condenfation  took  place,  the  heat,  before 
latent,  then  became  fenfible. 


*  O;  JiaXfji  rriii  Toia.vTr,v  GVtrxaiy. 

hL  B.  Evrac-t;  means  the  confidence,  or  folid  form  of 
any  thing,  in  its  primary  fignification,  and  i§  often  applied 
Jo  water.  Vide  fiex.  Budiei.  Vox  Svfec- 1? 


IV.  The 


a63  Dr.  Falconer's  Remarks  on  the 

IV.  The  ancients  perfe&ly  knew  the  reafon, 
why  the  air  near  the  earth  was  more  heated,  than 
in  higher  fituations.  Ariftotle  explains  this,  from 
the  refle&ion  of  the  folar  *  rays  from  the  furface 
of  the  ground  which  caufe  is  alfo  aligned  by 
Seneca,  j*  This  is,  I  believe,  generally  underftood 
to  be  a  difcovery  of  Sir  Ifaac  Newton. 

V.  Ariftotle  J  afllgns  a  caufe  for  the  fudden 
concretion  of  Hail  Stones,  to  which  he  very  pro¬ 
perly  attributes  their  largenefs  of  fize,  which  I 
have  never  before  met  with,  and  yet  is,  perhaps, 
the  true  one.  He  obferves,  “  that  hail  generally 
falls  moft  plentifully  in  hot  weather  and  it  is 
to  this  previous  heat,  which  muft  have  afFefled 
the  vapour,  and  the  water  contained  in  it,  that  he 
afcribes  the  fudden  congelation  of  the  hail,  in 
the  fame  manner,  as  water,  previoufly  heated,  is 
found  to  freeze  more  eafily  and  fuddenly. 

VI.  The  fact  ||  likewife,  of  the  reparation  of  air 

from 

-  — —  si?  roy  clvu  to  Troy  ptstAAoy  ovrx  4/fp^po  v  Six  to  Pojyi  tv 
raj  onto  t»j;  y>);  tvv  XKriyuv  ctva,xha.£u<;. 

Meteor,  Lib.  I.  C.  12. 

-j-  - quod  radii  Solis  a  terra  refiliunt  et  in  fe  recurrunt, 

Horum  duplicatio  proxima  quaque  a  terris  calefacit.  Qua 
ideo  plus  habent  teporis,  quia  folem  bis  fentiunt. 

Seneca  Nat.  Quail.  L.  IV.  Sett.  S» 

J  Meteorolog.  De  Grandine. 

||  to  fxtv  tzvrys  'Kxft.'S^ov  xoa  xo vtpov  xxi  y\vxv  exx^yerai  xxi  a<Pxv 
imereti,  To  (lo^uhxTXTov  xxi  oTa§y.u<ticjTaTw  Xeittetosi. 

Hipp,  de  Aere  Aquis  et  locis.  §.  XX. 


Knowledge  of  the  Ancients.  269 

from  water,  by  freezing  the  latter,  appears  to 
have  been  not  unknown  to  the  ancients.  Pro¬ 
bably,  this  is  what  was  meant  by  Hippocrates, 
when  he  fays,  tf  that  the  clear,  light,  and  fweet 
parts  of  the  water,  are  difiipated  by  freezing;** 
an  opinion  which  Ariftotle  feems  to  have  adopted, 
probably  from  this  fource. 

Aulus  Gellius*  explains  this  paffage  of  Ari¬ 
ftotle,  as  if  the  air  was  prefied,  as  it  were,  from 
water,  by  its  concretion  ;  and  Macrobius  f  ex- 
prefies  the  fame,  in  terms  more  plain  and  dif- 
tinfir,  and  feems  to  fay,  that  it  was  necefiary  for 
water  to  part  with  its  air,  in  order  to  its  con¬ 
gelation. 

VII.  It  is  often  imagined,  that  the  fa£V,  Of  water 
rifing  to  its  level  in  pipes,  was  a  modern  dif- 

Aat  ts  airt  zasi  y.^varciWa v  v^ara.  tya.v'hx  tcrriv  ;  oti  wa/roj 

Vitccroc  'rcvfpvy.trt  ro  he7r%Ta,T0v  xai  xutyototTov 

Arift,  Meteor. 

*  Quoniam  cum  aqua  frigore  aeris  duratur,  et  coif, 
necefle  eft  fieri  evaporationem,  et  quandam  quafi  auram 
tenuillimam  exprimi  ex  ea  et  emanare  :  id  autem,  inquit, 
in  ealeviftimum  eft  quod  evaporatur. 

Aul.  Gell.  No£t.  Attic.  IX.  5. 

f  Omnis  aqua,  inquit,  habet  in  fe  Aeris  tenuiflimi  por- 
tionem,  qua  falutaris  eft  :  habetque  terream  faecem,  qua  eft 
corpulenta  poll  terram.  Cum  ergo  Aeris  frigore  et  gclu 
coadta  calefcit,  necefle  eft  per  evaporationem  velut  ex¬ 
primi  ex  ilia  Auram  tenuiflimam,  qua  difcedente  conveniat 
in  coagulum. 

Macrob.  Saturn.  L.  VII.  C.  12. 

covery ; 


» 

2jo  Dr*  Falconer's  Remarks ,  &c. 

covery }  but  it  appears  to  be  by  no  means  fb: 
and  that  the  Aquaeduds  built  at  fuch  vaft  expence 
for  the  conveyance  of  water,  were  not  con- 
ftruded  for  want  of  knowing,  that  pipes  would 
anfwer  a  fimilar  purpofe,  but  from  the  perfua- 
fion,  that  the  water3  in  pipes  of  lead  efpecially, 
was  lefs  wholefome,  than  water  conveyed  in  an 
open  channel.  This  appears  very  clear,  from 
the  following  pafifage  in  Palladius.  *  “  Si  quis 

mons  interjedus  occurrerit,  aut  per  latera  ejus 
aquam  ducemus  obliquam,  aut  ad  aquse  caput 
fpeluncas  librabimus,  per  quarum  ftruduram 
perveniat.  Sed  fi  fe  vallis  interferat,  eredas 
pilas,  vel  arcus  ufque  ad  aquae  jufta  veftigia  con- 
ftruemus,  aut  plumbeis  fiftulis  claufam  dejici 
patiemur,  et  explicata  valle  confurgere.  Ulti¬ 
ma  ratio  eft,  plumbeis  fiftulis  ducere,  quae  aquas 
noxias  reddunt.”  Vitrivius  f  exprefles  the  fame, 
though  in  terms  rather  more  obfcure  ;  and  Pliny| 
gives  particular  directions  on  the  fubjed, 

*  Pallad.  Menf.  Auguft. 

+  Vitruv.  L.  VIII.  C.  7. 

t  L.  XXXI.  C.  6. 


Dr.  Falconer  on  the  Influence ,  &c. 


27  i 


jQn  Enquiry  concerning  the  Influence  of  the 
Scenery  of  a  Country  on  the  Manners  of 
its  Inhabitants.  By  William  Falconer, 
M.  D.  F.  R.  S.  Read  October  23,  1782. 

IT  is  an  ancient  maxirfi  in  Philofophy,  aftri* 
buted  to  Ariftotle,  and  generally  acquiesced 
in,  That  all  mental  ideas  were  primarily  fug- 
gefted,  by  fenfible  objedts*  through  the  medium 
of  the  fenfes.  Whether  this  opinion  be  univer- 
fally  true,  is  not  here  meant  to  be  difcuffed 
but,  that  external  objedts  influence  our  actions 
and  condudt,  and  even  diredt  our  fpeculative 
fentiments,  is  too  evident  to  bear  difpute. 

Animated  beings,  and,  far  above  the  reft,  the 
human  fpecies,  are  the  moft  powerful  in  pro¬ 
ducing  thefe  effedts.  We  are  naturally  led  to 
adopt  the  pafilons,  and,  to  a  certain  degree,  to 
imitate  the  charadter  of  thofe,  to  whofc  com¬ 
pany  and  converfation  we  are  daily  habituated ; 
and  this  difpofition  is  fo  potent,  that  even  error 
and  prejudice  are  often  introduced,  and  almoft 
voluntarily  entertained,  by  thofe,  whofe  charadler 
and  underftanding,  in  other  inftances,  fhould 
feem  to  afford  the  mod  complete  fee u pity  againft 
fuch  examples  of  human  frailty. 


'  A  lefs 


27 1  Dr.  Falconer  on  the  Influence  of  the  Scenery 

A  lefs  potent,  but  a  fomewhat  fimilar  influence* 
is  exerted  by  inanimate  objeds.  Scenes  of  hor¬ 
ror,  even  though  compofed  of  lifelefs  materials, 
impart  gloomy  and  terrible  ideas  to  the  mind  ; 
and  thofe  of  pleafure  tend,  on  the  contrary,  to 
exhilarate  and  refrefli  it.  Hence  we  may  infer, 
that  the  afped  or  face  of  a  country  might  con¬ 
tribute,  in  fome  meafure,  towards  the  formation 
of  the  manners,  and  character  of  the  people. 

The  immediate  and  dired  effed  of  the  fight 
of  objeds,  of  either  of  the  kinds  above-men¬ 
tioned,  would  be,  I  apprehend,  but  weak ;  but 
we  fhould  confider,  that  they  mull,  from  their 
nature,  be  almoft  conftantly  operating ;  and  by 
their  repeated  adion  may  make  amends  for  the 
fiightnefs  of  the  imprefiions,  diftindly  confidered* 
As  it  is  the  natural  property  of  beautiful  ob¬ 
jeds  to  communicate  pleafurable  ideas  to  the 
mind,  and  to  elevate  the  fpirits,  we  may  from 
thence  infer,  that  the  view  of  a  fertile,  pleafant, 
and  cultivated  country,  would  infpire  fentiments 
of  delight  and  fatisfadion  into  thofe  accuftomed 
to  furvey  it.  A  cultivated  garden  was  the  fcene 
of  delight,  feleded  by  that  celebrated  patron  of 
fenfual  pleafure  Epicurus ;  and  the  exhilarating 
effeds  produced  upon  the  mind  by  the  *  furvey 

of 

•  .  -  -  - - -  - - and  now  is  come 

Into  the  blifsful  field,  thro’  groves  of  Myrrh, 

And  flowering  odours,  Caflia,  Nard,  and  Balm, 

A  wildernefs  of  fvveets,  for  Nature  here 


Wanton5 


of  a  Country  on  its  Inhabitants .  273 

of  a  beautiful  fcenery  of  country,  are  noticed 
by  feveral  of  the  poets,  and  particularly  by 
Milton. 

Is  it  not  hence  probable,  that  fuch  a  view 
would  tend  to  infpire  permanent  chearfulnefs  of 
temper,  into  thofe  daily  accuftomed  to  behold 
it,  both,  as  it  prefents  great  variety  of  fubjefts  of 
attention  and  admiration,  and  as  it  fills  the  mind 
with  reprefentations  of  pleafing  obje&s  ? 

Wantons  as  in  her  prime,  and  plays  at  will 
Her  virgin  fancies,  pouring  forth  more  fweet. 

Wild  above  rule,  or  art,  enormous  blifs, 

Paradife  Loft,  Book  V. 

- .........  about  me  round  I  faw. 

Hill,  dale,  and  fliady  woods,  and  funny  plains. 

And  liquid  lapfe  of  murmuring  ftreams:  by  thefe. 
Creatures  that  liv’d,  and  mov’d,  and  walk’d,  and  flew  : 
Birds  on  the  branches  warbling  :  all  things  fmil’d 
With  fragrance,  and  with  joy  my  heart  o’erflow’d. 

Paradife  Loft,  Book  VIIL 
Straight  mine  eye  hath  caught  new  pleafures. 

While  the  landfcape  round  it  meafures, 

Ruflet  lawns,  and  fallows  gray, 

Where  the  nibbling  flocks  do  ftray  : 

Mountains,  on  whofe  barren  breaft 
The  labouring  clouds  do  often  reft  : 

Meadows,  trim  with  dailies  pied  : 

Shallow  brooks,  and  rivers  wide  : 

Towers,  and  battlements  it  fees, 

Bofom’d  h.gh  in  tufted  trees. 

Milton' %  Allegro. 

Why  fit  we  fad,  when  Phofphor  ftiines  fo  clear, 
Andlavilh  nature  paints  the  purple  year  ? 

Pope's  Firft  Paftoral. 

Vql.  I.  '  T  Cicero 


-274  Dr.  Falconer  on  the  Influence  of  the  Scenery 

Cicero,  in  his  Letters  to  Atticus,*  fpeaks  of 
the  pleafures  of  a  garden,  as  the  belt  remedy  for 
grief  and  concern  of  mind  •,  and  in  one  of  his 
philofophical  dialogues,  f  he  recommends  atten¬ 
tion  to  the  natural  beauties  of  a  fine  and  culti¬ 
vated  country,  as  the  proper  ftudy  of  the  calm 
and  ferene  period  of  old  age. 


*  Deinde  etiam  ad  x* rufiios-iv  msftitiamque  medendam 
nihil  mihi  reperiri  poteft  aerius. 

Cic.  Epift.  ad  Attic.  L.  XIII. 

f  Quid  de  pratorum  viriditate,  aut  arborum  ordinibus, 
aut  vinearum  olivetorumque  fpecie,  dicam  ?  Brevi  pre- 
cidam.  Agro  bene  culto  nil  poteft  efle,  nec  ufu  uberius, 
nec  fpecie  ornatius,  ad  quem  fruendum  non  modo  non 
retardat,  verum  etiam  invitat  atque  alledlat  Senettus. 

Cicero,  de  Seneift.  §.  LIII. 

Vobis  mehercule  Martis  viris  cavenda  et  fugienda  im¬ 
primis  amoenitas  eft  Afiae,  tantum  hae  peregrins  voluptates 
ad  extinguendum  vigorem  animorum  poflunt. 

Livii,  L.  XXVII; 

Loca  amoena  voluptaria  facile  in  otio  feroces  militum 
animos  molliverant. 

Sallujl.  Bell.  Catilin. 

Itaque  ut  frugum  femina  mutato  foie  degenerant,  lie  ilia 
genuina  feritas  eorum  Afiatica  amoenitate  mollita  eft. 

Flor.  L.  II.  C.  i  x. 

Effeminat  animos  amsnitas  nimia,  nec  dubie  aliquid  ad 
corrumpendum  vigorem  poteft  regio.  Fortior  miles  ex  con- 
fragofo  venit. 

Seneca.  Epift.  L.  I.  Ep.  51. 

N.  B.  The  word  amoenus  is  applicable  to  what  is  pleafant 
or  agreeable  to  the  eye,  in  place  or  fituation,  and,  of  courfe, 
fefers  to  the  feenery  or  face  of  the  country. 


It 


of  a  Country  on  its  Inhabitants.  1"]  5 

!c  is,  however,  probable,  that  the  pleafures  in- 
fpired  by  fuch  a  fcenery  as  is  above  alluded  to, 
which  is  rather  of  a  luxurious  tendency,  may 
coincide  with  the  effects  of  the  climate,  in  which 
fuch  profpeds  are  moftly  produced,  in  contribu¬ 
ting  to  weaken  and  effeminate  the  mind  and  dif- 
pofition.  However  whimfical  this  notion  may 
appear,  it  has  been  adopted  by  writers,  in  the 
higheft  efteem  for  underftanding  and  difcernment. 
Perhaps,  for  the  fame  reafon,  a  beautiful  and  or¬ 
namented  country  has  been  thought  to  be  favour¬ 
able  to  the  fofter  pafiions.  “  Love,”  fays  Agatho 
in  the  banquet  of  Plato,  “  refldes  not  in  a  body 
or  foul,  or  any  other  place,  where  flowers  never 
fpring;  or,  if  they  do  fpring,  where  they  are 
fallen,  and  the  fpot  quite  deflowered.  But, 
wherever  a  fpot  is  to  be  found  fiowry  and  fra¬ 
grant,  he  there  feats  himfelf,  and  fettles  his 
abode.”  The  beauty  of  the  country,  muft,  no 
doubt,  contribute  to  the  improvement  of  the 
tafte  of  the  inhabitants,  both  in  arts  and  fcience. 

Tafte,  which  is  in  other  words,  the  faculty  of 
difcerning  and  relifhing  beauty,  is  acquired  by 
the  comparifon  of  beautiful  objects  with  one  ano¬ 
ther,  and,  upon  that  account,  is  likely  to  be 
found  in  greater  perfection,  where  thofe  objects 
abound  the  molt,  and  where,  of  courfe,  fuch  com- 
parifons  would  be  the  molt  obvious  and  eafy. 
Hence  fprings,  in  a  good  meafure,  I  apprehend, 
the  elegant  and  varied  fancy  of  the  eaftern  peo-*- 

T  2  pie, 


vj6  Dr.  Falconer  on  the  Influence  of  the  Scenery 

pie,  exemplified  in  fome  of  their  works  of  art, 
particularly  the  patterns  of  their  manufactures. 
The  diverfified  beauty  of  the  vegetables,  that 
cover  the  ground  in  thofe  countries,  could 
fdarcely  fail  to  fuggeft  ideas,  far  fuperior  to 
what  could  be  imagined  by  thofe,  who  never  had 
any  opportunity  of  feeing  fuch  delicate  produc¬ 
tions. 

The  mod  admired  paffages  in  the  eaftern  wri¬ 
tings,  efpecially  the  poetical,  owe  much  of  their 
power  and  effedt,  to  the  painting  of  the  natural 
beauties  of  the  country  and  climate.  A  late 
writer,*  of  no  inconfiderable  tafte,  as  well  as  talent 
for  obfervation,  has  remarked  of  the  Spaniards, 
that  the  fimilies  ufed  by  them,  are  univerfally 
taken  from  the  beautiful  objedts  of  nature  con¬ 
tinually  before  their  eyes.  “  The  fragrance  of 
the  rofe,  the  odour  of  the  orange,  the  perfume 
of  the  myrtle,  the  murmuring  of  the  cave  in¬ 
viting  to  fiumber,  the  height  of  the  mountains, 
the  fteepnefs  of  the  rocks,  the  fplendour  of  the 
rifing  fun,  the  coolnefs  of  the  evening  breeze, 
and  the  brilliancy  of  the  ftars  by  night,  afford 
them  endlefs  allegories.”  Even  Homer  himfelf, 
that  great  mafter  of  our  paffions,  is  not  a  little 
indebted  to  his  familiar  acquaintance  with  the 
fcenery  of  a  beautiful  country,  for  the  ravilhing 


*  Carter’s  Travels  from  Gibraltar  to  Malaga. 


effedts 


of  a  Country  on  its  Inhabitants.  277 

effe&'s  of  many  of  his  defcriptions  and  compa- 
rifons.* 

Milton  appears  to  have  been  fo  fenfible  of  this 
effect  of  Homer’s  pi&urefque  reprefentations, 
that  he  has  ventured,  perhaps  improperly,  to 


*  Glad  earth  perceives,  and  from  her  bofom  pours 
Unbidden  herbs,  and  voluntary  flowers  : 

Thick  new-born  violets  a  foft  carpet  fpread. 

And  cluftring  lotos  fwell’d  the  riling  bed  ; 

And  fudden  hyacinths  the  turf  bellrow. 

And  flamy  crocus  made  the  mountain  glow  : 

Celeftial  dews  defcending  o’er  the  ground, 

Perfume  the  mount,  and  breathe  ambrofia  round. 

Pope's  Homer  Iliad.  B.  XIV.  L.  395. 

Next  this,  the  eye  the  art  of  Vulcan  leads 
Deep  thro’  fair  forefls  and  a  length  of  meads. 

And  flails,  and  folds,  and  fcatter’d  cots  between. 

And  fleecy  flocks,  that  whiten  all  the  feene. 

Homer's  Iliad.  Defer,  of  Achilles’s  Shield. 

Elyflum  lhall  be  thine,  the  blifsful  plains 
Of  utmoft  earth,  where  Radamanthus  reigns  : 

Joys  ever  young  unmix’d,  with  pain  or  fear. 

Fill  the  wide  circle  of  the  eternal  year : 

Stern  winter  fmiles  on  that  aufpicious  clime  j 
The  fields  are  florid  with  unfading  prime; 

From  the  bleak  pole  no  winds  inclement  blow* 

Mould  round  the  hail,  or  lhake  the  fleecy  fnow  ; 

But  from  the  breezy  deep,  the  bleft  inhale 
The  fragrant  murmurs  of  the  weftern  gale, 

Homer's  Odyff.  B.  IV. 

T  3  adorn 


Dr.  Falconer  on  the  Influence  of  the  Scenery 

adorn  a  fcene  laid  in  Britain,  with  productions 
peculiar  to  Afiatic  climes.* 

A  beautiful  fcenery  of  a  country  contributes, 
I  apprehend,  to  influence  the  fentiments  of  the 
people  in  fome  points  refpefting  Religion.  Thus, 
it  is  more  than  probable,  that  many  of  the  ideas 
in  the  Roman  and  Greek  mythologies,  concern¬ 
ing  a  future  ftate  of  happinefs,  were  derived 
from  this  fource.  Homer’s  defcription  of  the 
Elyfian  fields,  f  and  of  the  dwelling  of  the 
Gods,  J  is  evidently  borrowed  from  what  he 

•  May  thy  lofty  head  be  crown’d 

With  many  a  tower  and  terras  round. 

And  here  and  there  thy  banks  upon 
With  groves  of  myrrh  and  cinnamon. 

Milton's  Com  us, 

f  See  lad  page,  Note* 

J  Without  the  grot,  a  various  fylvan  fcene 
Appear’d  around,  and  groves  of  living  green, 

Poplars  and  alders  ever  quivering  play’d, 

And  nodding  cyprefs  form’d  a  fragant  fhade, 

On  whofe  high  branches  waving  with  the  ftorm. 

The  birds  of  broadeft  wing  their  manfion  form ; 

The  chough,  the  fea-mew,  the  loquacious  crow. 

And  fcream  aloft,  and  fkim  the  deeps  below  : 
Depending  vines  the  Ihelving  cavern  fcreen, 

With  purple  clutters  blufhing  thro’  the  green  j 
Four  limpid  fountains  from  the  clefts  diftil, 

And  every  fountain  pours  a  different  rill. 

In  mazy  windings  wandering  down  the  hill. 

Where  blooming  meads  with  vivid  greens  were  crown’d. 
And  glowing  violets  threw  odours  round  ; 

A  fcene,  where,  if  a  God  fhou’d  cad  his  fight, 

A  God  might  gaze  and  wander  with  delight. 


had 


of  a  Country  on  its  Inhabitants.  27  9 

had  feen  in  a  fine  country :  and  Virgil,*  and 
Tibullus,  t  Teem  to  have  taken  their  defcriprions 
of  the  fituation  of  the  happy  in  a  future  life, 
from  thofe  natural  beauties,  with  which  they  were 
familiar. 

The  fame  circumftances  appear  to  have  in¬ 
fluenced  the  general  opinions,  concerning  a  place 
of  future  punifhment.  As  the  refidence  of  the 
blell  was  fuppofed  to  be  in  a  country  exquifitely 
adorned  with  natural  beauties,  fo  that  of  the 

*  Devenere  locos  Iretos,  et  amoena  vireta, 

Fortunatorum  nemorum,  fedefque  beatas : 

Largior  hie  campos  .Asther,  et  lumine  reftit 
Purpureo,  Solemque  fuum  fua  fidera  norunt. 

Virg  Asneid.  Lib.  VI. 

f  Sed  me,  quod  facilis  tenero  fum  Temper  amori, 

Jpfa  Venus  campos  ducet  in  Elyfios. 

Hie  chers  cantufque  vigenr,  paflimque  vagantes 
Duke  fonant  tenui  guttirre  carmen  aves. 

Fert  cafiam  non  culta  leges,  totofque  per  agros 
Floret  odoratis  terra  benigna  rods. 

Tibull.  Eleg.  Lib.  I.  El.  4. 

Propertius  fpeaks  of  Elyfian  rofes, 

Mulcet  ubi  Elyfias  aura  beata  rofas. 

Prop.  Lib.  IV.  EL  7.  L.  60. 

;  Milton  ufes  nearly  the  fameexpreffion  ; 

On  a  bed 

Of  heapt  Elyfian  flowers. 

Milton  Allegro.  L.  146,  147. 

Jlolls  o’er  Elyfian  flowers  her  amber  ftream. 

Par.  Loft.  III.  359. 

T  4  referable 


2 So  Dr.  Falconer  on  the  Influence  of  the  Scenery 

miferable  was  placed  in  a  region,*  dark  and 
uncultivated,  foul  and  horrible,  in  which  cir- 
cumftances,  the  mifery  of  thofe  condemned  to 
inhabit  it  was  thought,  in  a  good  meafure,  to 
confift.  Such  are  the  effects  we  fuppofe  pro¬ 
ducible  by  the  beautiful  face  of  a  country. 

Let  us  now  fee  what  would  be  the  effe&s  of 
one  of  a  different  appearance. 

Hippocrates  obferves,  t  that  the  inhabitants 
of  rough,  mountainous,  and  uncultivated  coun- 


*  Low  in  the  dark  Tartarean  gulf  fhall  groan. 

Iliad.  VIII.  L.  1 6- 

No  fun  e’er  gilds  the  gloomy  horrors  there, 

No  chearful  gales  refrelh  the  lazy  air. 

Iliad.  VIII.  601  et. 

At  fcelerata  fedes  jacet  in  no&e  profunda 
Abdita,  quam  circum  flumina  nigra  fonant. 

Tibull.  I.  El.  4. 

- - - turn  Tartarus  ipfe 

Bis  patetin  prasceps  tantum,  tenditque  fub  umbras, 
Quantus  ad  x there um  cosli  fufpe&us  Olympum. 

Virg.  j®n.  Lib.  VI. 
-  -  -  -  diverfo  itinere  malos  a  bonis  loca  tetra,  inculta, 
feda  atque  formidolofa  habere. 

Salluji.  Bell.  Catilinar, 
Efie  inferos  Stoicus  Zenon  docuit  et  fedes  prorfum  ab 
impiis  elfe  diferetas  et  illos  quidem  quietas  et  deleftabiles 
incolere  regiones,  hos  vero  luere  paenas  in  tenebrofis  locis, 
atque  in  caeni  voraginibus  horrendis. 

Laftantii.  Lib.  VIII.  C.  7. 

■J-  De  Aerib.  aquis  et  locis.  Cap.  LV. 

tries. 


of  a  Country  on  its  Inhabitant s  281 

tries,  are  rude  and  ferocious  in  their  difpofitiort 
and  manners.  The  people  of  Cynetha  in, 
Arcadia,  who  lived  in  a  fituation  particularly* 
gloomy  and  difagreeable,  were  fo  remarkable 
for  their  unfociable  qualities,  that  they  were 
expelled  from  the  Grecian  cities.  The  Cim¬ 
merians,  who  inhabited  a  country  dark  and 
melancholy,  fubfifted  upon  robbery  and  plunder: 
and  the  country  of  the  Cyclops,  according  to 
Homer’s  defcription,  was  fomewhat  of  a  fimilar 
appearance.  The  fame  difpofition,  of  the  peo¬ 
ple  inhabiting  the  fame  region,  is  mentioned 
by  Fazellus,  a  writer  concerning  Sicily,  about 
two  hundred  years  ago,  and  confirmed,  by  the 
later  teflimony  of  Mr.  Brydone.  The  Indians 
alfo,  dilcovered  a  few  years  fince  by  Mr.  Byron, 
in  the  Southern  Hemifphere,  were  brutal  and 
favage  to  an  enormous  excefs. 

May  we  not  here  fuppofe,  with  an  elegant 
writer,  that  a  ftormy  fea,  together  with  a  frozen, 
barren  and  inhofpitable  fhore,  might  work  upon 
the  imagination  of  thefe  Indians,  fo  as,  by  banifk- 
ing  all  pleafing  and  benign  ideas,  to  fill  them 
with  habitual  gloom,  and  with  a  propenfityf 
to  cruelty  P  And  might  not  the  tremendous 
fcenes  of  Etna  have  had  a  like  effeft  upon  the 

*  Athensi.  Lib.  XIV.  Polybii.  Lib.  IV.  C.  3. 

+  Harris’s  Philolog.  Enquiries,  p.  518. 


Cyclops, 


282  Dr.  Falconer  on  the  Influence  of  the  Scenery 

Cyclops,  who  lived  among  fmoke,  thunderings, 
eruptions  of  fire,  and  earthquakes  ?  * 

If  then,  thefe  limited  regions  fo  influenced 
their  natives,  may  not  a  fimilar  effedt  be  pre¬ 
fumed  from  the  vaft  regions  of  the  north ;  may 
not  its  cold,  barren,  and  uncomfortable  climate, 
have  made  its  numerous  tribes  equally  rude  and 
favage  ?  Ovid,  the  Roman  poet,  who,  unfortu¬ 
nately  for  himfelf,  had  but  too  many  opportu¬ 
nities  for  obfervations  of  this  kind,  feems  to 
have  been  of  this  opinion,  from  his  fo  frequently 
connedting  his  account  of  the  country  with  the 
manners  of  the  inhabitants.  Is  it  not  probable, 
that  the  dreary  afpedt  of  the  country,  might  be 
one  caufe  of  the  devaluations  committed  by 
thefe  people,  in  their  invafions  of  the  Roman 


*  Frigida  me  cohibent  Euxini  littora  Ponti  : 

Diftus  ab  antiquis  Axenus  i lie  fuit. 

Nam  neque  jattantur  moderatis  aequora  ventis, 

Nec  placidos  portus  holpita  navis  adit. 

Sunt  circa  gentes,  quae  praedam  languine  quaerant, 

Nec  minus  infida  terra  timetur  aqua. 

Illi,  quos  audis,  hominum  gaudere  cruore, 

Paene  fub  ejufdem  lideris  axe  jacent 

Ovid.  Trill.  L.  IV.  El.  4. 

Sive  locum  fpe&o,  locus  eft  inamabilis,  et  qua 
Efle  nihil  toto  triftius  orbe  poteft. 

Sive  homines ;  vix  funt  homines,  hoc  nomine  digni  : 
Quamque  lupi  fsvas  plus  feritatis  habent. 

Ovid.  Trill.  E-  V.  Ekg.  7. 


empire? 


cfa  Country  on  its  Inhabitants  283 

empire?*  A  defolate  and  uncultivated  fcene, 
which  probably  originally  infpired  the  ferocious 
difpofition  of  thefe  people,  was  more  congenial 
to  their  ideas  and  inclinations,  than  elegant 
buildings,  and  cultivated  grounds,  which,  whilft 
they  betrayed  the  unwarlike  fpiric  of  their  pof- 
feflbrs,  evidenced  their  fuperiority  in  underftand- 
ing  and  induftry. 

Miners,  for  the  fame  reafons,  are  generally 
obferved  to  be  a  hardy,  ferocious,  and  cruel  fee 
of  men.  The  feenes  of  horror,  mifery,  and 
gloom,  with  which  they  are  converfant,  oblite¬ 
rate  the  finer  fenfations,  and  fteel  the  heart  againfl: 
the  fentiments  of  tendernefs  and  compaffion.  The 

*  Ovid  mentions  in  his  time,  that  the  Gets  deftroyed  all 
the  buildings,  and  laid  the  country  wafte,  wherever  they 
went. 

Hoftis  equo  pollens,  longeque  volante  fagitta. 

Vicinam  late  depopulatur  humum. 

Qux  nequeunt  fecum  ferre  aut  abducere,  perdunt, 

Et  cremat  infontes  hoftica  flamma  cafas. 

Ovid  Trift.  L.  III.  Eleg.  10. 

Quicquid  invenire  poterat  momento  temporis  parvi,  vaf- 
tabant,  (Saraceni)  milvorum  rapacium  fimiles. 

Amm  Marcell.  L.  XIX.  C.  4. 

The  Franks  deftroyed  forty  cities  upon  the  Rhine. 

Zofim  L.  III.  C.  1. 

Alaric  deflroyed  all  the  cities  in  Macedonia,  1  hrace  and 
Greece,  except  Athens,  and  Thebes.  Attila  preferred 
his  houfe  of  wood  on  the  Tibifcus,  to  all  the  lplendid 
palaces  he  might  have  enjoyed.  Zofim.  L.  V.  C.  5. 

emotions 


£$4  Dr.  Falconer  on  the  Influence  of  the  Scenery 

emotions  of  the  mind,  in  thefe  inftances,  cor- 
refpond  with  the  wikinefs  and  ferocity  of  the 
furrounding  chaos  of  objeCts,  and  require  in 
order  to  humanize  them,  a  certain  degree  of  ad- 
juftment,  and  even  embellifhment,  of  external 
appearances.  We  might  reafonably  conclude 
from  hence,  that  a  people  fofituated,  would  have 
their  intellectual  faculties  confiderably  contract¬ 
ed,  or  depreffed.  The  paucity  of  objeCts,  and 
thofe  of  a  difgufting,  or  terrible  nature,  would 
afford  few  motives  for  inquiry,  and,  of  courfe, 
a  narrow  field  for  mental  exertion. 

The  ancient  Germans,*  to  whom  letters  were 
unknown,  and  who  feem  to  have  pofTefled  very 
little  third  after  knowledge,  dwelt  in  a  region, 
dark  with  forefts,  and  foul  with  marfhes ;  and 
the  defolate  and  uncultivated  face  of  the  country 
contributes,  I  doubt  not,  to  encourage  the  igno¬ 
rance  of  the  American  Indians.  We  might, 
with  dill  greater  probability  imagine,  that  fuch 
a  people  would  be  particularly  defective  in  all 
matters  that  regard  tafte  and  fentiment.  This, 
however,  is  not  altogether  the  cafe*  Their  ideas 
are  indeed  melancholy,  and  their  views  of  nature 
dark  and  gloomy ;  but,  neverthelefs,  often  par- 

*  Terra  etfi  aliquanto  fpecie  differt,  eft  in  univerfum, 
aut  fylvis  horrida  aut  paludibus  fa;da. 

Taciti  Germania. 

Multis  montibus  afpera,  et  mana  ex  parte  ftlvis  ct 
paludibus  invia.  Pompon.  Mela. 

take 


of  a  Country  on  its  Inhabitants.  2  S  5  ' 

'take  of  a  dreary  magnificence,  and  fullen  gran¬ 
deur,  that  produce  a  deep  and  Jailing  imprefilon 
upon  the  mind.  Thefe  fentiments  are  congenial 
with  the  appearance  of  the  country  The  du- 
pendous  fcenery  of  rocks,  clouds,  precipices, 
torrents,  and  deferts,  continually  exhibited  to 
their  fenfes,  cannot  fail  to  fugged  a  train  of 
thoughts  and  expredions  correfponding  there¬ 
with  ;  and  the  accidents,  to  which  a  life  of  hunt¬ 
ing,  in  a  country  that  gives  occafions  to  fo  many 
dangers,  is  expofed,  contribute  dill  farther  to 
increafe  the  gloom,  and  throw  a  darker  ihade 
upon  the  imagination.  Hence,  borrow  and  terror 
are  the  pafiions  they  are  mod  naturally  led  to  ex¬ 
cite.  Their  mufic,  as  well  as  their  poetry,  is 
plaintive,  and,  I  believe,  modly  applied  to  the 
recital  of  melancholy  tales,  or  unfortunate  events. 
Even  their  fuperditions  are  of  a  melancholy  cad. 

The  noted  faculty  of  prying  into  futurity,  by 
means  of  a  previous  fight  of  events  that  were 
to  take  place,  fo  noted  in  tire  Alpine  fcenes, 
both  of  Scotland  and  Swiderland,  is  held  to 
be  of  a  fad  and  uncomfortable  nature,  unlike  the 
Seers  of  old, -who  were  thought  to  be  particularly- 
favoured  by  fuch  communications.  This  faculty 
has  been  regarded  by  thofe,  who  believed  they 
podeflcd  it,  as  a  misfortune,  on  account  of  the 
many  dreadful  images  it  obtruded  upon  the 
fancy.  This  kind  of  prefcience  feems  to  have 
been  principally,  though  not  altogether,  con¬ 
cerned 


286  Dr.  Falconer  on  the  Influence , 

cerned  in  fcenes  of  horror.  Deaths,  (hipwrecks, 
ftorms,  and  famine,  were  much  more  frequently 
predicted,  than  the  chearful  and  exhilerating 
circumftances  of  life ;  which  forms  no  incon- 
fiderable  prefumption,  that  the  ideas  that  oc¬ 
cupied  their  minds,  were  principally  of  a  gloomy 
and  melancholy  afpect. 

The  notions  of  people,  concerning  a  future 
ftate,  appear  to  be  much  influenced  by  the 
fcenery  of  fuch  a  country.  Some  nations  have 
been  fo  fenflble  of  the  difadvantages  and  incon- 
veniencies  attending  it,  that  they  have  formed 
their  fyftem  of  future  happinefs,  apart  from  any 
connection  with  the  appearance  of  the  country. 
Thus  the  Scythians,  and  the  northern  nations 
of  Europe,  held  their  Ely  Hum  to  confift,  in  the 
joys  of  wine,  and  of  company  collected  in  a  fpa- 
cious  building.  The  American  Indians,  for 
fimilar  reafons,  have  feleCted  fuch  circumftances 
only,  as  ferved  moft  to  temper  the  gloomy  and 
fevere  appearance  of  nature.  Thus,  they  expect  to 
be  tranflated  to  a  country,  where  the  Iky  is  always 
clear  and  unclouded,  and  a  perpetual  fpring 
prevails.  On  the  contrary,  when  they  mean  to 
deferibe  a  place  of  future  torment,  they  figure  it 
as  po  fie  fling  all  the  dreary  appendages  belonging 
to  their  own  country,  but  in  a  greater  degree. 
Thus  the  Ifurin ,  or  hell  of  the  northern  nations, 
was  fuppofed  to  be  a  place  dark,  gloomy,  cold, 
and  deftitute  of  every  convenience  of  life  ;  the 

former 


Dr.  PercivaVs  Tribute  to  the ,  &c.  287 

former  of  which  circumftances,  as  well  as  the 
latter,  were  imagined  to  conftitute  the  mifery 
inflided  by  it. 


A  Tribute  to  the  Memory  of  Charles  de 
Polier,  EJq.  By  Thomas  Percival,  M.  D, 
Read  November  13,  1782** 

THE  contemplation  of  moral  and  intelledual 
excellence  affords  the  mod  pleafing  and 
inftrudive  exercife,  to  a  well  conftituted  mind. 
By  exalting  our  ideas  of  the  human  charader, 

October  30th,  1782. 
*  At  a  meeting  of  the  Literary  and  Pbilofopbical  Society  of 
Manchefer,  the  following  refolution  pafied  unanimoufly. 

“  The  Members  of  the  Literary  and  Pbilofophical  Society 
lamenting,  with  heartfelt  concern,  the  death  of  their  late 
much  honoured  brother,  Charles  de  Polier,  Efq ;  unani- 
moufly  refolve,  that  Dr.  Percival  be  requeued  to  draw 
up  a  grateful  and  refpe&ful  Tribute  to  his  Memory;  to 
be  inferted  in  the  journals  of  the  Society,  with  a  view 
to  record  his  dillinguilhed  merit,  and  to  prolong  the  in¬ 
fluence  of  his  bright  example.’' 

November  13th,  1782. 
At  a  meeting  of  the  Literary  and  Pbilofopbical  Society  it 
was  refolved  unanimoufly,  That  the  Thanks  of  the 
Society  be  returned  to  Dr  Percival,  for  his  Tribute  to 
the  Memory  of  Charles  de  Polier ,  Efq  j  and  that  he  be 
defired  to  print  the  fame.” 

,  it 


288  Dr.  Per  rival's  Tribute  to  the  Memory 

it  expands  and  heightens  the  principle  of  bene- 
'volence ;  and  at  the  fame  time  is  favourable  to 
piety,  by  raifing  our  views  to.  the  fupreme 
Author  of  all  that  is  fair  and  good  in  man. 
The  wife  and  the  virtuous  have  ever  dwelt, 
with  delight,  on  the  meritorious  talents  and 
difpofitions  of  their  fellow-creatures  :  And  an 
amiable  philofopher  drew,  from  this  fource,  fuch 
fweet  confolations,  under  the  toils  and  diftreffes 
of  life,  that  he  warmly  recommends  the  pra&ice 
to  our  imitation,  <c  When  you  would  recreate  your- 
“Jelf”  fays  M.  Antoninus,  “  refietl  on  the  lauda - 
“  ble  qualities  of  your  acquaintance  :  On  the  magna- 
<c  nimity  of  one,  the  modejly  of  another,  or  the  libera - 
“  lity  of  a  third."*  Generous  meditation!  which 
everyone,  prefent,  may  indulge;  and,  by  indulg¬ 
ing,  afiimilate,  to  his  own  nature,  the  various 
perfedlions  of  others  ;  transfufing,  as  it  were,  into 
his  bread,  the  virtues  which  he  contemplates. 

But  can  we  engage  ourfelves  in  fuch  an  e-xer- 
cife,  without  the  mod  lively  recolle&ion  of  our 
late  honoured  and  beloved  colleague  ?  His 
image  prefents  itfelf  before  us ;  and  we  indantly 
recognifc,  the  agreeablenefs  of  his  form,  the 
animation  of  his  countenance,  the  vigour  of  his 
■underftanding,  and  the  goodnefs  of  his  heart. 
How  graceful  was  his  addrefs  *,  how  fprightly, 
entertaining,  and  intelligent  his  converfation !  • 


*  M.  Antonin.  Lib.  VI. 


What 


cf  Charles  de  Toller .  9 

What  rich  (lores  of  knowledge  did  he  difplay  ; 
what  facility  in  the  ufe,  what  judgment  in  the 
application  of  them  !  Few  have  been  the  fubje&s 
of  difcuffion  in  this  Society,  which  his  obferva- 
tions  have  not  enlightened :  and  what  he  could 
not  himfelf  elucidate,  he  has  enabled  others  to 
do,  by  t-he  pertinency  of  his  queries,  and  the 
fagacity  of  his  conjectures.  So  quick  was  his 
penetration ;  fo  enlarged  his  comprehenfion  ;  fo 
exact  the  arrangement  of  his  intellectual  trea- 
fures  !  Learning,  with  fome,  is  the  parent  of 
mental  obfcurity  ;  and  the  multiplicity  of  ideas, 
which  have  been  acquired  by  fevere  ftudy,  ferves 
only  to  produce  perplexity  and  confufion.  But 
Mr.  de  Polier’s  thoughts  were  always  ready  at 
command.  And  he  engaged  with  perfpicuity, 
on  every  topic  of  difcourfe ;  becaufe  he  faw,  atj 
one  view,  all  its  relations  and  analogies  to 
thofe  branches  of  knowledge,  with  which  he 
was  already  acquainted.  With  fuch  felicity  of 
genius,  he  was  continually  making  large  ac- 
cefTions  to  his  (lock  of  feience,  without  laborious 
refearches,  or  feclufion  from  the  focial  enjoy* 
ments  of  life. 

Of  his  abilities  as  a  writer,  he  furnifhed  us 
with  a  ftriking  proof,  in  the  DifTertation  he 
delivered,  laft  winter  ;  which  is  equally  diff in— 
guifhed  by  the  juftnefs  of  its  fentiments,  and  the 
purity  of  ifs  diCtion  ;  and  fully  clifplavs  his  per- 
Vol.  I.  U 


2  go  Dr.  VercivaVs  ’Tribute  to  the  Memory 

fed  attainment,  both  of  the  idiom  and  embellifti- 
ments  of  the  Englifh  language. 

But  Mr-  de  Polier  had  merits,  more  eftimable 
than  thofe,  which  he  derived  from  the  vivacity 
of  his  fancy,  the  elegance  of  his  tafte,  or  the 
powers  of  his  underftanding.  And  his  friends 
will  cordially  unite  with  me  in  teftifying,  that, 
if  honoured  for  his  intellectual,  he  was  beloved 
for  his  moral  endowments.  His  heart  was  open 
to  every  generous  fympathy ;  and  the  fenfibility 
of  his  nature  fo  enlivened  all  his  perceptions, 
that  the  ordinary  duties  of  focial  intercourfe 
were  performed,  by  him,  with  a  warmth,  almoft 
equal  to  that  of  friendihip.  Nor  was  this  the 
artificial  deportment  of  unmeaning  courtefy  i 
but  the  generous  effufion  of  a  heart,  which  felt 
for  all  mankind.  In  fuch  philanthropy ,  polite- 
nefs  has  its  true  foundation  :  and  of  this  joint 
grace  of  nature  and  education,  fC  which  aids 
and  ftrengthens  Virtue,  where  it  meets  her,  and 
imitates  her  a&ions,  where  fhe  is  not,”  our  la¬ 
mented  brother  was  a  bright  example.  So 
engaging  were  his  manners,  and  at  the  fame 
time  fo  fincere  his  difpofition,  that  we  may 
apply  to  him,  with  honour ,  what  Cicero  meant 
as  a  reproach ;  that  he  was  qualified,  cum  triftibus 
fever e,  cum  remijfis  jucunde,  cum  Jenibus  graviter ,  cum 
juventute  comiter  vivere.  Thefe  powers  of  plea- 
ling  flowed  from  no  fetvile  compliances,  nor 

ever 


of  Charles  de  Polier.  £91 

ever  led  him  into  criminal  indulgences.  As  a 
companion,  he  was  convivial  without  intempe¬ 
rance,  and  gay  without  levity  or  licentioufnefs. 
His  converfation  was  fprightly  and  unreferved  j 
but,  in  the  mod  unguarded  hours  of  mirth, 
exempt  from  all  indecency  and  profanenefs. 
And  the  fallies  of  his  wit  and  pleafantry  were  fo 
feafoned  with  good  humour,  that  they  gave  de¬ 
light,  unmixed  with  pain,  even  to  thofe  who 
were  the  obje&s  of  them.  If  the  coarfer  plea- 
fures  of  the  bottle  be  banifhed  from  our  tables ; 
or  if  rational  converfation,  and  delicacy  of 
behaviour,  with  the  fweet  fociety  of  the  fofter 
fex,  be  now  fubftituted  in  their  room,  this  happy 
revolution  has  been  rendered  more  complete  by 
the  influence  of  Mr.  de  Polier. 

But  though  urbanity,  according  to  the  mod 
liberal  interpretation  of  that  term,  was  the 
charatterijlic  of  our  excellent  colleague,  he  pof- 
fefied  other  endowments,  of  more  intrinfic  value. 
And  I  could  enlarge,  with  pleafure,  on  his  nice 
fenfe  of  re&itude,  his  inviolable  integrity,  and 
facred  regard  to  truth.  Thefe  moral  virtues 
were,  in  him,  founded  on  no  fi&itious  principle 
of  honour ,  but  refulted  from  the  conftitution  of 
his  mind;  and  were  ftrengthened  by  habit,  regu¬ 
lated  by  reafon,  and  fandlioned  by  religion* 
For,  notwithftanding  the  veil  which  he  chofe 
to  cad  over  his  piety,  it  was  manifeft  to  his  inti¬ 
mate  friends ;  and  may  be  recolledted  by  others, 

U  2  who 


2  ^  2  Dr.  Fey cival's  Tribute  to  the  Memory 

who  have  marked  the  ferioufnefs,  with  which 
he  difcourfed,  on  every  fubjedt  relative  to  the 
being  and  attributes  of  God.  Defe&ive  indeed 
mu  ft  be  the  character  of  that  man,  who  can 
dilcern  and  acknowledge,  without  venerating, 
the  divine  perfedtions ;  and  partake  of  the 
bounties  of  nature,  yet  feel  no  emotions  of 
gratitude  towards  its  benevolent  Author.  “  A 
“  Uttle philojophy ,”  fays  lord  Yerularn,  (C  may  incline 
((  the  mind  to  atheijm  ;  but  depth  in  philojophy  will 
<c  bring  it  about  again  to  religion."* 

I  have  thus  attempted  to  draw  a  rude  fketch 
of  the  features,  of  our  late  honoured  friend.  A 
fuller  delineation  might  furnifh  a  more  pleafing 
pidture  to  ftrangers ;  bur,  to  the  Members  of 
this  Societv,  a  few  outlines  will  fuffice  to  revive 
the  image  of  the  beloved  original.  This  image, 
I  truft,  will  be  long  and  forcibly  impreffed  on 
our  minds;  and  that  every  one,  now  prefent, 
may  adopt  the  language  of  Tacitus,  on  a  fimilar 
occafion,  “  Quicquid  ex  Agricola  amavimus,  quic- 
«  quid  mirati Jumus ,  manet}  manfurumque  eft  in  animis 

*  The  noble  author  fubjoins  a  juft  reafon,  for  this  ob- 
fervation.  “  For  while  the  mind  of  man,”  fays  he, 
“  looketh  upon  fecond  caufes  fcattered,  it  may  fometimes 
“  reft  in  them,  and  go  no  farther:  but  when  it  beholdeth 
“  the  chain  of  them  linked  together,  it  muft  needs  fly  to 
“  Providence  and  Deity.” 

Bacon’s  Eflay  on  Atheifm. 

“  hominum 


of  Charles  de  Pclier.  293 

Si  hominum .”  “  Whatever  in  Agricola  was  the 

t{  objedt  of  our  love  and  of  our  admiration, 
fc  remains,  and  will  remain,  in  the  hearts  of 
sc  all  who  knew  him.” 

Having  taken  a  fhort  view  of  the  character 
of  Mr.  de  Polier,  curiofity  and  attachment  con¬ 
cur  in  prompting  us,  to  extend  the  retrofpeX ; 
and  we  become  folicitous  to  know  fomething  of 
his  connexions  and  education;  and  to  trace  the 
leading  events  of  a  life,  in  the  conclufion  of 
which  we  have  been  fo  deeply  interefted.  But 
our  friend  was  no  egotift;  and  the  zeal  with 
which  he  entered  into  the  concerns  of  others, 
precluded  the  detail  of  his  own.  I  muff  con¬ 
tent,  myfelr,  therefore,  with  prefenting  to  the 
Society,  the  following  brief  memoirs. 

Charles  de  Polier  Bottens  was  the  fon  of  the 

Reverend - de  Polier '  Bottens,  Dean  of  the 

Cathedral  Church  of  Laufanne,  Prefident  of  the 
Synod  of  the  Pais  de  Vaud,  Member  of  the 
Society  of  Arts  and  Sciences  at  Manheim,  and 
Citizen  ol  Geneva.  He  was  born  at  Laufanne, 
in  the  year  1753  ;  and  received  the  fir  ft  part  of 
his  education,  in  the  public  fchools  of  that 
city.  As  foon  as  he  had  acquired  a  fufficient 
knowledge  of  the  daffies,  he  was  Pent  to  an 
academy  near  Caffel,  in  Germany  ;  from  whence 
after  a  refidence  of  two  years,  he  was  removed 
to  the  univerfiry  of  Gottingen.  In  this  cele¬ 
brated  Icac  of  learning,  he  puffed  three  years  *, 

l f  3  and 


294  Dr.  Tercival's  'Tribute  to  the  Memory 

and  being  then  inclined  to  a  military  life,  he 
obtained  a  lieutenant’s  commiflion  in  the  Swifs 
regiment  of  D’Erlafr,  in  the  French  fervice. 
But  he  foon  refigned  his  commiffion,  and  re¬ 
turned  to  Laufanne ;  where  he  had  a  command 
given  him,  in  one  of  the  Provincial  regiments 
of  dragoons.  In  this  fituation,  his  connexion 
commenced  with  the  Earl  of  Tyrone ;  who 
offered  him  the  tuition  of  his  eldeft  fon,  Lord 
le  Poer,  on  terms  equally  honourable  and  ad¬ 
vantageous.  But  before  the  engagement  was 
completed,  propofals  were  made  to  him  by  the 
duke  of  Saxe  Gotha,  to  become  governor  to  the 
hereditary  prince,  with  an  annuity,  for  life,  of 
twelve  hundred,  rixdollars ;  an  apartment  at 
court;  and  the  pofl  of  chamberlain,  or  rank  of 
colonel.  Thefe  propofals,  however,  he  declined 
in  favour  of  lord  Tyrone.  And  he  executed 
the  important  trull,  affigned  to  him,  with  fuch 
judgment,  tendernefs,  and  fidelity,  as  induced 
that  refpe&able  nobleman  to  commit  three  of  his 
children  to  his  foie  direction.  Thefe  amiable 
youths  he  brought  to  England,  in  the  fummer 
of  1779  >  ar>d  fettled  them  at  the  fchool  of  a 
clergyman  in  Manchefler,  who  is  eminently  dif_ 
tinguifhed  by  his  virtues  as  a  man,  and  abilities 
as  a  teacher. 

At  this  period,  our  firffc  acquaintance  with  Mr. 
de  Polier  was  formed.  By  the  laws  of  hofpita- 
lity,  he  was  entitled  to  our  attention,  as  a 

ftranser : 


of  Charles  de  Poller.  295 

Granger  :  but  his  perfonal  accompli  foments, 
and  the  charms  of  his  converfation,  foon  fuper- 
feded  the  ordinary  claims  of  cuftom,  and  con¬ 
verted  formal  civility  into  efleem  and  friendfoip. 
He  became  our  companion  in  pleafure  j  our 
affiftant  in  ftudy ;  our  counfellor  in  difficulty  ;  and 
our  folace  in  diftrefs.  Amufement  acquired  a 
dignity  and  zefo,  by  his  participation  ;  and  he 
foftened  the'  aufterity  of  philofophy,  whenever 
hejoined  in  the  purfuit.  The  inftitution,  which 
now  celebrates  his  memory,  owes  to  him  much 
of  its  popularity  and  fuccefs  j  and,  fo  long  as  it 
fubfifts,  his  name  will  be  revered,  as  one  of  its 
founders,  and  mod  foining  ornaments. 

About  the  middle  of  laft  winter  he  was 
attacked  by  a  complaint,  which  at  firft  gave  no 
difturbance  to  the  vital  functions.  But  being 
aggravated  by  the  fatigues  of  a  long  journey  to 
Holyhead,  and  of  a  voyage  from  thence  to 
Dublin,  at  a  time  when  he  laboured  under  the 
Influenza ,  his  malady  rapidly  increafed  after  his 
arrival  in  Ireland  ;  and  put  a  final  period  to  his 
valuable  life  on  the  1 8 th  of  Odober  1782.*  The 
vigour  of  his  faculties,  and  the  warmth  of  his 
affections,  continued  even  to  the  hour  of  his 
diffolution.  And  the  amiablenefs  of  his  beha¬ 
viour,  in  the  clofing  fcene  of  trial  and  differing 


•  At  Curraghmore,  near  Waterford,  the  feat  of 
the  Earl  of  Tyrone. 

U  4  through. 


296  Dr.  Per  rival's  Tribute  to  the  Memory,  &c. 


through  which  he  pafied,  gave  fuch  completion 
to  his  chara&er,  that  we  may  apply  to  him,  what 
the  Poet  has  Paid  of  Mr.  Addifon  ; 

-  -  -  -  He  taught  us  how  to  live  ;  and,  oh  !  too  high 
The  price  of  knowledge,  taught  us  how  to  die,  * 


On  this  affecting  event,  I  cannot  exprefs  your 
feelings  and  my  own,  in  terms  fo  forcible  as  thofe 
of  the  animated  hiftorian,  whom  l  have  before 
quoted.  Si  quis  piorum  manibus  locus  ;  fti,  ut  ftapien- 
tibus  placet ,  non  cum  corpore  exjlinguuntur  magna 
anim<e  •,  placide  quiejeas ,  nofque  ab  injirmo  dcftderioy 
ad  contemplationem  vt  tutum  tuarum  voces ,  quas 
neque  lugeri ,  neque  plangi  fas  eft  !  Aamiratione  te 
potius  temporalibus  laudibus ,  et  ft  natura  ftuppeditet, 
militum  decoramus !  f  “  If  there  be  any  habita- 
<c  tion  for  the  lhades  of  the  virtuous;  if,  as 
philofophers  fuppofe,  exalted  fouls  do  not 
peri fh  with  the  body;  may  you  repofe  in  peaie, 
and  recall  us  from  vain  regret,  to  the  contem¬ 
plation  of  your  virtues,  which  allow  no  place 
V  for  mourning  or  complaint!  Let  us  adorn 
your  memory,  rather,  by  a  fixed  admiration, 
and,  if  our  natures  will  permit,  by  an  imitation 
of  your  excellent  qualities,  than  by  temporary 


€C 


a 


cc 


(( 


(( 


a 


eulogies  !”  J 


*  Tickell’s  Poem  on  the  Death  of  Addifon. 
f  Tacit.  Vit.  Agricolae. 

$  See  Dr.  Aikin’s  Tranllation  of  the  Life  of  Agricola. 

Thoughts 


Dr.  Falconer  on  the  Style  and  Fajle,  &c.  £97 


Thoughts  on  the  Style  and  Taste  of  Garden¬ 
ing  among  the  Ancients.  by  W1Lliam 
Falconer,  M.  D.  F.  R  S,  &c.  Communicated 
by  Dr.  Percival .  Read  December  11,  17*52. 

H  E  mod  early  account  we  have  of  a  Gar- 
den,  is  contained  in  the  Sacred  Writings, 
in  the  defcription  of  the  habitation  of  our  firfb 
parents-  The  form,  difpolition,  and  arrange¬ 
ment  are  not  particularly  defcribed.  It  is  only 
faid,  to  have  contained  every  tree,  “  that  is 
pleafant  to  the  eye,  and  good  for  food  j”  *  and 
that  it  was  watered  by  a  river,  which,  no  doubt, 
added  to  the  beauty  of  the  profpeCt,  (which,  in 
the  exprefTion  before  cited,  leems  to  have  been 
particularly  confulced,)  as  well  as  to  the  fertility 
of  the  foil-  Wood  and  water,  therefore,  both 
for  {hade  f  and  ornament,  the  principal  points 
aimed  at  in  modern  gardens,  may  be  prefumed 
to  have  been  here  in  the  higheft  perfection. 
Farther  than  this,  we  are  not  informed. 

The  next  hints  concerning  Gardens,  that  I  can 

*  Genells,  Chap.  ii.  ver.  9. 

•  f  And  Adam  and  his  wife  hid  themfelves  from  the  prc- 
fence  of  the  Lord,  among  the  trees  of  the  Garden. 

Genelis,  Chap.  iii.  ver.  8. 

difeover 


298  Dr  Falconer  on  the  Style  and  Fajle 

difcover  in  the  Sacred  Writings,  are  to  be  found  in 
the  Song  of  Solomon,  part  of  the  fcene  of  which 
is,  undoubtedly,  laid  in  a  garden-  *  Flowers 
and  fruits  are  particularly  fpoken  of,  as  the 
ornaments,  and  the  produce  of  it  ;  and  befides 
thefe,  aromatic  vegetables  +  formed  a  confider- 
able  part  of  the  gratifications  it  afforded. 
Fountains,  and  ftreams  of  water  appear,  alfo,  to 
have  had  a  fhare  in  the  compofition,  and,  pro¬ 
bably,  for  ornament,  as  well  as  ufe.  Statues, 
or  paintings  are  not  mentioned  in  thefe  defcrip- 


*  I  am  the  rofe  of  Sharon,  and  the  lily  of  the  vallies. 

Chap.  ii.  ver.  1, 

A  garden  inclofed,  is  my  filler,  my  fpoufe ;  a  fpring 
{hut  up,  a  fountain  fealed.  Thy  plants  are  an  orchard  of 
pomegranates,  with  pleafant  fruits,  camphire,  with  fpike- 
nard,  fpikenard  and  faftrcn,  calamus  and  cinnamon, 
with  all  trees  of  frankincenfe,  myrrh,  and  aloes,  with  all 
the  chief  fpices.  A  fountain  of  gardens,  a  well  of  living 
waters,  and  ftreams  from  Lebanon.  Awake,  O  north  wind, 
and  retire  thou  fouth,  blow  upon  my  garden,  that  the 
fpices  thereof  may  flow  out.  Let  my  beloved  come  into 
Jiis  garden,  and  eat  his  pleafant  fruits. 

Chap.  iv.  ver.  1 2.  et. 

f  Aromatic  plants  are  very  often  mentioned  as  a  high 
gratification,  and  perfumes,  to  this  day,  are  much  admired 
in  the  eaft.  “  His  cheeks,  are  a  bed  of  fpice  ,  with  fweet 
flowers,  his  lips  like  lilies,  dropping  fweet  fmelling 
myrrh.”  Ch.  v  ver.  13.  “I  will  get  me  to  the  mountain 
pf  myrrh,  and  to  the  hill  of  frankincenfe.” 

Ch.  iv.  ver.  6. 

tions, 


of  gardening  among  the  Ancients.  299 

tions,  and,  probably,  had  no  place  among  their 
embellifliments. 

It  is  proper  to  remark,  that  all  the  beauties  of 
thefe  gardens  were  confined  within  themfelves. 
No  beauty  of  profpeft,  or  variety  of  ground  is 
mentioned,  and  for  obvious  reafons.  The  pri¬ 
vacy  of  a  place,  deftined,  in  a  great  meafure, 
for  the  confinement  of  women,  prevented  the 
former,  and  the  limited  bounds  of  the  extent  of 
the  garden,  would  not  admit  of  the  latter. 

It  appears  probable,  that,  at  that  time,  they 
were  ufed  to  have  houfes  in  their  gardens, 
wherein,  particularly  in  hot  weather,  they  were 
accuftomed  to  fleep  at  nights,  which  probably, 
was  a  great  part  of  the  gratification  refulting 
from  them.  A  dwelling  is  mentioned  in  the 
Song  of  Solomon,  that  feems  to  have  flood  in 
the  garden,  and  was  probably  of  this  kind  ;*  and 
it  is  likely,  that  “  the  pleafant  houfes,”  men¬ 
tioned  by  Ezekiel,  f  were  of  a  fimilar  nature. 

I  am  inclined  to  think,  that  fome  ever-green 
trees,  particularly  fome  of  the  terebinthinate 


*  Chap.  v.  ver.  1,  &c. 
f  Chap.  xxvi.  ver.  12. 

Dr.  Rufiel  fays,  that  it  is  cuftomary  for  the  principal 
perfons  at  Aleppo  to  live  at  their  gardens  during  the  month 
of  April,  and  part  of  May.  They  live  under  tents,  and 
perhaps  tents  might  be  ufed  in  the  inftance  cited. 

Ruflel’s  Aleppo,  p.  135. 

kind. 


joo  Dr.  Falconer  on  the  Style  and  T ajle 

kind,  were  favourite  ornaments  of  the  Jewifh 
gardens. 

The  cedar  is  often  mentioned,  as  a  tree  highly 
ornamental  •,  and  both  that  and  the  fir  are  fpo- 
ken  of  in  the  book  of  the  prophet  Ezekiel,  *  as 
being  frequent  in  magnificent  gardens.  Dr. 
RuiTel  f  likewife  mentions,  that,  at  prelent,  at 
Aleppo  a  cyprefs  tree  is  generally  planted  in 
the  little  gardens,  in  the  inner  courts  of  the 
houfes,  as  well  as  in  their  more  extenfive  ones. 

The  next  defcription  of  a  garden,  in  order  of 
time,  appears  to  be  that  of  Alcinous  by  Homer, 
This  has  been,  generally,  efteemed  to  be  a  fruit 
garden  for  ule  merely,  without  any  view  to  orna¬ 
ment.  But,  I  do  not  take  this  to  be  altogether 
its  charadter,  though  it  feems  to  be  fo  in  a  good 
meafure.  Something  of  parterre,  J  planted  with 

flowers, 

*  The  cedars  in  the  garden  of  God  could  not  hide  him, 
the  fir  trees  were  not  like  his  boughs.  Ezekiel,  xxxi. 
f  RuiTel’s  Aleppo,  p.  5. 

X  E  os  noa’/u.YiTca  •srfaciat  1 rcigx  maTov  opp^ov 
ITavroi ct  Tnlpvac rm  emirutov  ya.muaa.\. 

Homeri  Iliad.  L.  VII. 

Athenasus,  and  the  Scholiaft  on  Homer,  underftand  pot 
herbs  only  to  be  meant  in  this  place  ;  but  the  words  xoa^nr cu 
and  yaroacrxi  fee  ms  too  ornament.il  to  be  fo  underftood, 
and  to  be  rather  applicable  to  flowers.  At  any  rate,  they 
were  planned  in  parterre-like  divifion,  as  the  word  Trpas-io.; 
fignifies. 


of  gardening  among  the  Ancients.  jot 

flowers,  appears  to  have  compofed  a  part  of  it  ; 
and,  probably,  Homer  would  not  have  bellowed 
fo  particular,  and  laboured  a  defcription  upon 
the  trees,  if  they  had  not  contributed  to  the 
beauty  of  its  appearance,  as  well  as  to  the  fur- 
nifhing  of  the  table  with  fruits. 

The  hanging  gardens  of  Babylon  come  next, 
I  believe,  in  order  of  time.  Thefe  feem,  in 
many  refpeflsj  to  have  been  laid  out  with  good 
tafte.  Their  elevation,  not  only  produced  a 
variety  and  extent  of  view,  but  was,  alfo,  ufeful 
in  moderating  the  heat,  which,  I  fuppofe,  might 
be  the  principal  reafon,  why  fuch  a  conftruction 
was  fixed  upon;  though,  another  is  affigned, 
referring  only  to  the  fimilarity  of  appearance. 
Such  a  fituation  would,  likewife,  fuit  a  greater 
variety  of  trees,  and  plants,  than  a  plain  furface, 
and  would  contain  a  larger,  as  well  as  a  more 
diverfified  extent. 

The  fuiting  of  the  fituation,  to  the  nature  of 
the  trees,  feems,  from  the  account  given  by 


“  Ad  olerum  conlitionem  quadrats  difpofitiones  quae 
dicuntur  in  laterculi  formam”  Columella. 

<.'?  Scholiaft,  on  Homer. 

Was  this  divifion  of  the  garden  of  Alcinous,  fimilar  to 
the  garden  of  herbs,  mentioned  in  the  Book  of  Kings,  into 
which  Ahab  wilhed  to  convert  Naboth’s  vineyard? 

Jofephus, 


302  Dr.  Falconer  on  the  Style  and  'Tajlc 

Jofephus,  to  have  been  one  view,*  in  the 
ere&ing  the  building  in  fiich  a  manner.  And 
the  fuccefs  feems  to  have  been  anfwerable,  as  the 
trees  are  faid  to  have  flourifhed  extremely  well,  f 
and  to  have  grown  as  tall  as  in  their  native 
lituations.  On  the  whole  then,  however  dif¬ 
ferent  thefe  may  appear  from  modern  gardens, 
I  mud  confefs,  I  think  they  were  formed  with 
judgment  and  tafte,  and  well  adapted  to  the 
lituation  and  circumftances. 

It  appears,  from  the  nature  of  the  ftru&ure, 
that  the  trees,  here,  fhould  be  planted  regularly, 
in  rows  and  ranks  j  but  this  was  alfo  in  the 
Perfian  tafte.  The  garden  of  the  younger  Cyrus 
at  Sardis,  which  was  all  planted  with  his  own 

*  -  -  -  tv  Je  ton;  (3xm\uou ;  rowroij  xvxXrifx.fx.xtx  XiBivx  vJ/yXot, 
ctvuxoS'op/.rurxi;  kxv  t r\v  o\J/in  awoJoy;  0/x.ovatxtriv  ton;  opta t  xxtx <pti- 
tivxxv;  Ihvfytcri  orxvtoorxS'oi;  eijitpyxo’xto  xxv  xxtxxxivxxx;  tov 
zu?\Ofx.iiiov  y.pipj.X!7jov  trx px'tknxav 

Jofeph.  contra  Apionem,  L.  I.  §  19.  Extr. 


•J*  To  &  eS'xQo;  i^u/x.xXix/x.ivov  TrXr.pa;  riv  vxvtoS'xtuv  <tiv}puv  tav 
$vvxfx.svuv  xxtx  ti  to  ptiyeQoi;  xxi  tr,v  xXXnv  %xpt v  ton;  Sioftivois 

■^v^xytoyriffxi.  Diod.  L.  II, 

Stipites  earum  o£to  cubitorum  fpatium  craflitudine 
sequent:  inquinquaginta  pedum  altitudinem  emineant,  et 
frugiferas  seque  funt,  ac  fi  terra  fua  alerentur. 

Quint.  Curt,  L.  V, 

hands. 


of  gardening  among  the  Ancients.  303 

hands,  was  laid  out  in  straight  lines,*  and,  at 
right  angles,  which  was,  no  doubt,  efteemed 
the  eftablifhed  cuftom,  of  placing  the  trees  in 
gardens. 

It  does  not,  as  far  as  I  can  find,  appear  clearly, 
that  flowers  made  a  part  of  the  ornaments  of 
thefe  gardens ;  but,  we  may  conjedlure,  they 
did,  from  the  odours  mentioned  to  be  exhaled 
from  the  plants  growing  there,  f  which  were 
underftood  to  conftitute  no  fmall  part  of  the 
pleafure  they  afforded. 

It  feems  probable,  from  feveral  circumftances, 
that  the  eaftern  gardens  were  adjoining  to  the 
houfe  or  palace,  to  which  they  belonged.  Thus, 
King  Ahafuerus  goes  immediately,  from  the 
banquet  of  wine,  to  walk  in  the  garden  of  the 
palace.  J  The  garden  of  Cyrus,  at  Sardis, 
mentioned  by  Xenophon,  ||  was  probably  con¬ 
tiguous  to  the  palace,  as  was  that  of  Attalus, 


*  Ettei  oe  eSxvyx^iv  ccvtov  o  Avcrxvfyoc;  a;  y.xhx  p-s*  rx  S'ltfya.  zir,t 
•i’  ccov  (St  rx  7re(pvTiV(A.tva.,  o§8o4  cSe  ot  crh%oi  ruv  ci'ivS'guii,  ivyunx 
ii  iroura.  y.a.'Ku$  eei'.  Xenoph.  CEconom. 

■f  Oayxi  oe  7roAA«i  y.x i  'r,Snxi  C'VVKxf’oy.xo Tony  xvrotf  Trentru- 
rova 4  Ibidem  Xenoph. 

Kxi  rxvrx  ytr*  •nnaruv  oa-y.uv  y.xt  Qixy.xrut  ctceoe^ee.  Ibidem 
Xenoph. 

X  Efther,  Chap.  vii.  ver.  7.  ||  CEconom. 

mentioned 


304  Fr.  Falconer  on  the  Style  and  Fajle 

mentioned  by  Judin.*  The  hanging  gardens 
of  Semiramis,  at  Babylon,  were  not  fo  much 
adjacent  to  the  palace,  as  a  part  of  the  palace 
itfelf,  as  feveral  of  the  royal  apartments  were 
beneath  them,  f 

Parks,  alfo,  which  may  be  looked  upon,  fome- 
what,  in  the  light  of  gardens,  were  common  in 
the  ead.  The  younger  Cyrus,  we  are  told  by 
Xenophon,  J  had  a  park  at  Celasnae  in  Phrygia, 
[locked  with  wild  beads,  for  the  purpofes  of 
hunting.  Plutarch  ||  fpeaks  of  another,  belong¬ 
ing  to  Tifiaphernes ;  and  inclofures  of  a  fimilar 
kind,  are  mentioned  by  other  writers-  § 

*  Juftin,  L.  XXXVI.  C.  4. 

3-  At  5s  tvgiyyti  ret  (purct  Js^ootstai  Tati?  0 1  aA\r>\uv  v-rre^o^xt^ 
sroAAt*?  xai  TTtti’ToJ'atarat;  Ii^ov  5iairot?  j3otj-iAixa?. 

Diodor.  Lib.  U. 

\  Evt avBx  Kv$u  /3a<riA£i«  nv  stiJtt  vrxfxhta-os  y.tyxg  xy^uv 
•7ef.ri(i !?,  ct  exuvo?  airo  I'irnrfJ  o7Tote  yvy.vxaxi  soevro* 

^oyAoire  ts  y.cti  Toy?  iTriroy?.  Anabai.  L.  I. 

||  Vita  A Icibiadis. 

§  Ila^ayiveTai  5e  Jtati  ei?  mpiftotoi,  ov  ftattriAsy?  Sr.pctv  ey.aJovv. 

0E  TV  TU^IOV  yCcJpiOV  Ct-ItU  A'/J^O?  tV^OV  7T0  Ay,  ^U^SCTV  7Tt(plVTtV 

yAvov  wavTo^Woi?.  tv  tovtu  Sr,piw»  -ttxvtoiuv  tvx-jroyJ.uoy.nx  yin j, 
Tgo^»i?  te  ova  rjorogivovro,  5i«  to  y.cu  tuvt-siv  tiruo-xyta^xi,  y.xt 
orxpu^ov  T 03  $tt&0\U  Toy  Sjj^o cvt  551-utat  xv  j3uyA^^)eii9,  (.xjto'jyiV* 

Zozimi.  L.  III.  C.  23. 

Venationes  Regis  efle  in  Babylone,  et  omnis  generis 
iseftias  murorum  ejus  tantum  ambuu  coerceri. 

Sanft.  Hieronym.  in  C.  XIII.  Efaias. 

What 


of  gardening  among  the  Ancients .  305 

What,  the  tafte  for  gardening  was,  among  the 
Greeks,  I  do  not  underftand.  The  Acade- 
mus,  we  know,  was  a  woody  fhady  place  ;* * * §  and 
the  trees  appear  to  have  been  of  the  olive 
fpecies.-j-  It  was  fituated,  beyond  the  limits^  of 
the  walls,  and  adjacent  to  the  tombs  of  the  he¬ 
roes.  I  do  not,  however,  find  any  particular 
account  in  ancient  hiftory,  of  the  manner,  in 
which  this  grove  was  difpofed  or  laid  out.  It 
appears,  however,  to  have  been  an  elegant  orna¬ 
mented  place.  §  At  the  entrance  was  an  altar 
dedicated  to  Love,  which  was  faid  to  be  the  firffc 
eredted  to  that  Deity.  Within  the  Academus, 
were  the  altars  of  Prometheus,  of  the  Mufes,  of 
Mercury,  Minerva,  and  Hercules ;  and,  at  a 
fmall  difiance,  was  the  tomb  of  Plato.  So  that, 
in  all  probability,  it  was  highly  adapted  by  art, 
as  well  as  nature,  to  philofophic  reflection  and 
contemplation. 

We  are  told  by  Plutarch,  that  before  the  time 
of  Cimon,  the  Academus  was  a  rude  and  un- 


*  Atque  inter  Sylvas  Academi  quaerere  verum, 

Horat.  Epift.  L.  II.  1.  46. 

AAA*  i»;  y.a~mv,  wo  rcu(  a7ro8p£f ei?. 

Ariftoph.  NfpeAai.  A6t.  III.  Sc.  3. 

J —  *  y’JjAVCMTtoi  wpoacTSiov  osAcw^Vj. 

Diog.  Laert.  Vit.  Platon. 
Non  longe  a  Muris  Academia  eft.  Paufan.  Attica. 

§  Paufania;  Ibidem. 

Vol.  I.  X 


cultivated 


3<o6  Dr.  Falconer  on  the  Style  and  Fafte 

cultivated  fpot:  but  that  it  was  planted  by 
that  General,  and  had  water  conveyed  to  it;* * * § 
whether  this  water  was  brought  merely  for  ufe 
to  water  the  trees,  or  for  ornament,  does  not 
appear.  It  was  divided  into  gymnafia,  or 
places  of  exercife,  and  philofophic  walks,  {haded 
with  trees.  Thefe  are  faid  to  have  flourifh- 
ed  very  well,  until  deftroyed  by  Sylla,j-  (when 
he  befieged  Athens)  as  well  as  thofe  in  the  Ly- 
ceum.J 

Near  the  Academy,  were  the  gardens  of  the 
philofophers,§  of  Plato, ||  and  of  Epicurus,^ 
which,  however,  were  probably  but  fmall. 

The  feene  of  Plato’s  Dialogue  concerning 
Beauty,  is  elegantly  deferibed,  as  being  on  the 

*  T>)y  Axa-Sr,  jjAciv  uvvfyov  v.uv  avxuygxs  xxrxppvroy 

«c7roht^xi  «X<ro5  vni  cmtov  S'|o/aoij  y.ca  avuy.w, 

■n-s^waTsis.  Plutarch  Vit.  Cimon. 

-{•  rot ;  tspot;  u\u vxt  xv  txtips 

«ivtyoq>ofUT«-Tnv  ovaxv,  xai  ro  Xvxitoy.  Vit.  Syllae. 

J  The  trees  in  the  Lyceum  were  probably  Plane  trees* 
Varro  quotes  Theophrallus,  for  the  relation  of  the  large 
fize  and  extent  of  the  roots  of  one  in  that  place. 

De  re  ruftica.  Cap.  XXXVIf. 

§  O/z.oiw;  St  xu i  r,  ukuS^i/mu  o»  xuttoi  rut  (pCKoaatyuv. 

Strabon.  L.  IX. 

||  ...  -  cujus  (Platonis)  enim  hortuli  propinqui  non 
memoriam  folum  mihi  afferunt,  fed  ipfum  videntur  in  con- 
ipeftu  meo  ponere.  Cicero  de  iinib.  L.  V. 

In  Epicuri  hortis,  quos  modo  prsteribamus.  Ibidem; 

banks 


of  gardening  among  the  Ancients.  307 

banks  of  the  river  Iliflus,  and  under  the  (hade 
of  the  Platane;  but  no  artificial  arrangement  of 
obje&s  is  mentioned,  nor  any  thing  which  will 
lead  us  to  imagine  the  profpedl  to  be  any  other 
than  merely  natural.  The  beauty  of  this  de- 
fcription  was  fo  much  admired,  by  fucceeding 
writers  of  philofophic  dialogues,*  that  it  was 
frequently  imitated,  and,  at  laft,  to  fuch  a  de¬ 
gree,  that  it  appeared  ridiculous  and  difguftful, 
as  we  may  fuppofe  from  the  caution  given  by 
Plutarchf  againft  fuch  attempts,  in  the  proems 
to  difcourfes. 

The  Romans  feem  to  have  early  imbibed  fome- 
what  of  a  tafte  for  gardens. 

Tarquin  the  Proud,  is  faid  to  have  commu¬ 
nicated  his  intentions  to  his  fon,  concerning  his 
conduit  to  the  people  of  Gabii,^  by  (hiking  off 
the  heads  of  the  flowers  in  his  garden, 

*  Cicero  was  a  great  admirer  of  this  paflage  in  Plato; 

Qua:  (Platanus)  videtur  non  tam  ipfa  aquula  quam  Pla- 
tonis  oratione  creviffe.  De  oracore.  Lib.  I.  §  15. 

•f  A^eXe  TS  hoyov  TO  »VV  IfOVOUOV  T £  Y.X\  CXI uq 

V.xi  ay.a  xxi  \ax.xu<v  tf'i xS'fOfx.xi;  kcu  oca.  aWx  Toiovrux  tottu* 
(Trt^afjCfjanji  y7it%ptra.i  rtu  TlAaTviof  Wiccov  >;ai  tov  ayvot 
txutot)  x.Ui  t vj  Yiftuct  -jrfojvaTV)  TToan  Tr.pvxtav  •n’poQv/x.crtfov  >j 

xaMio*  £7rtygx(psc$ai.  Plutarch  Amator.  ad  Initium. 

x  Livii  Lib.  I.  Cap.  54..  Luc.  Flor.  C.  8.  Dionyf.  Itallic. 

It  appears  from  all  thefe  accounts,  that  the  garden  was 
adjacent  or  contiguous  to  the  palace. 

X  2  I  fee 


308  Dr.  Falconer  on  the  Style  and  Tdfte 

I  fee  but  little  mention  made  of  a  garden* 
otherwife  than  as  a  matter  of  utility,  to  produce 
articles  of  food,  for  many  years  after  ;  though  I 
think  it  probable,  they  might  be  as  matters  of 
pleafure  alfo.  The  writers,  however,  on  huf- 
bandry,  Cato,  Varro,  Columella,  and  Palladius, 
make  not  the  lead  mention  of  a  garden,  as  an 
object  of  pleafure,  but  folely,  with  refpect  to  its 
productions  of  herbs  and  fruits ;  and  I  do  not 
imagine  it  was  among  the  earlieft  articles  of 
Roman  luxury.  The  Lucullan  gardens  feem  to 
be  the  firtl  I  can  find  mentioned,  of  remarkable 
magnificence  ;  though,  probably,  from  the  height 
of  extravagance  to  which  thefe  were  arrived, - 
they  were  not  the  firfb.  Plutarch  fpeaks  of  them, 
as  incredibly  expenfive,  and  equal  to  the  mag¬ 
nificence  of  kings.*  They  contained  artificial 
elevations,  of  ground  to  a  furprizing  height,  of 
buildings  projected  into  the  fea,  and  vaft  pieces 
of  water  made  upon  land.  In  fhort,  his  extra¬ 
vagance  and  expence  was  fo  great,  that  he  ac¬ 
quired  from  thence  the  appellation  of,  the  Roman 

Xerxes. 

• 

*  Plutarch.  Life  of  Lucullus. 

Salluftis  thought  to  have  alluded  to  the  Villa  of  Lucullus 
when,  in  deferibing  the  Roman  luxury,  he  fays,  “  Nam 
quid  ea  memorem,  qua;,  nifi  his  qui  videre,  nemini  credi- 
bilia  funt ;  a  privatis  compluribus  fubverfos  montes,  marra 
conftrata  die.”  Bell.  Catilin. 


It 


of  gardening  among  the  Ancients .  309 

It  is  not  improbable,  from  the  above  account, 
and  from  the  consideration  of  Lucullus  having 
l'pent  much  time  in  Afia,  in  a  fituation,  wherein 
he  had  an  opportunity  of  obferving  the  mod 
fplendid  confhudtions  of  this  kind,  that  thefe 
gardens  might  be  laid  out  in  the  Afiatic  ftyle. 

Thevaft  maflfesof  building,  faid  to  have  been 
ereCted,  might  have  borne  fome  relemblance,  in 
the  arrangernent  and  ftyle,  to  the  Babylonian 
gardens;  and  the  epithet  of  the  Roman  Xerxes 
might  be  applicable  to  the  tafte,  as  well  as  the 
ftze  and  expence,  of  his  works. 

The  Tufculan  Villa  of  Cicero,  though  often 
mentioned,  is  not,  as  far  as  I  can  difcover,  any 
where  defcribed  in  his  works,  fo  as  to  give  an 
adequate  idea  of  the  ftyle,  in  which  his  gardens 
or  grounds  were  difpofed. 

There  is  but  little  in  Virgil,  that  I  can  find, 
relative  to  this  fubjeCl.  Pines,*  it  feems  pro¬ 
bable,  were  a  favourite  ornament  in  gardens, 
and  flowers,  y  rofes  efpecially,  were  much  ef~ 

teemed, 

*  Fraxinus  in  fylvis  pulcherrima,  pinus  in  hortis, 

Populus  in  fluviis,  abies  in  montibus  altis  : 

Saepius  at  fi  me,  Lycida  formofe,  revifas, 

Fraxinus  in  fylvis  cedet  tibi,  pinus  inhortis. 

Virgil,  Eclog.  VII.  1,  65.  &c. 

f  Fcrfitan  et,  pingues  hortos  quae  cura  colendi 

Ornaret,  canerem,  biferique  rofaria  Paefti : 

Quoque  modo  potis  gaudcrcnt  intyba  rivis, 

X  3 


Et 


3io  ZV  Falconer  on  the  Style  and  Fajle 

teemed.  Some  ola.nts  a'fo,  of  the  culinary  Kind, 
as  the  endive/  R  parfley,  and  the  cucumber, 
were  fometimes  either  planted  as  ornaments, 
or  elfe  intermixed  with  plants  of  that  kind,  con¬ 
trary  to  modern  practice. 

I  apprehend  that  flowers  and  fhrubs  were  plant¬ 
ed  full  as  much  among  the  Romans,  for  the 
fake  of  their  odour,  as  the  beauty  of  their  ap¬ 
pearance.*  Perfumes  were  always  highly  valued 
in  warm  climates.  Virgil  places  Anchifcs  t  in 
Elyfium,  in  a  grove  of  bays,  and  is  careful  to 
remark,  that  they  were  of  the  fweet  fcented  kin  .% 
The  Pseftan  rofes  were  chiefly  valued  for  then- 
excellent  perfume;  and  the  fame  quality  appears 
to  be  the  caufe,  why  they  were  placed  by  Ti¬ 
bullus  1|  as  ornaments  to  the  Elyfian  fields. 


Etvmdes  apio  ripa:,  tortufque  per  herbam 
Crefceret  in  Ventrem  cucumis;  nec  iera  comantem 
Narciflum,  aut  flexi  tacuiflfem  vimen  acanthi, 
Pallentefque  hederas,  &  amantes  litora  myrtos. 

Georgic,  L.  IV.  L.  1X5. 


*  See  Athenaeus  paflim,  &  Anacreon. 

J aflat  odoratos  Vota  per  Armenios.  Tibulh,  L.  I.  Eieg.  5. 

f  Inter  odoratum  lauri  nemus.  Virg.  iEneid.  VI. 

I  Calthaque  Paeftanas  vincet  odore  rofas. 

Ovid.  Ep.  de  Pont.  L-  II.  El.  4. 


H  Floret  odoratis  terra  benigna  rofis. 

TibulliL.  I.  Eleg.  3. 
Athenaeus  fpeaks  of  the  rofe,  entirely  with  a  view  to  its 
odour.  L.  XV.  P.  681,  682,  edit.  Cafaubon. 

I  mult 


of  gardening  among  the  Ancients ,  j  1 1 

I  muft  not  pafs  over  one  piece  of  Roman 
luxury,  relative  to  gardens,  wh  is  equally  pre¬ 
valent  at  prefent,  viz.  the  endeavour  to  produce 
flowers  at  feafons  of  the  year,  not  fuited  to  their 
time  of  blowing. 

Rofes  were  then  as  at  prefent,  the  principal 
flowers,  upon  which  thefe  experiments  were  tried, 
as  appears  from  Martial  and  others.  * 

The  next  .accounts  of  ancient  gardens  I  can 
meet  with,  are  thofe  of  Pliny,  which,  we  may 
conjecture,  were  not  only  laid  out  according  to 
his  own  tafte,  but  that,  alfo,  of  the  age  in  which 
he  lived. 

*  Ut  nova  dona  tibi,  Csfar,  Nilotica  tellus 
Miferat,  hibernas  ambitiofa  rofas. 

Navita  derifit  Pharios  Memphiticus  hortos, 

Urbis  ut  intravit  limina  prima  tus. 

Tantus  veris  honos,  et  odors  gratia  Flora:, 

Tantaque  Psftani  gloria  ruris  erat. 

Si  quacumque  vagus  greffum  oculofque  ferebat, 

Textilibus  Tertis  omne  rubebatiter. 

At  tu,  Romans  juflus  jam  cedere  brums, 

Mitte  tuas  mefles,  accipe,  Nile,  Rofas. 

Martial.  Epigr.  L.  VI.  Ep.  80. 

Dat  feftinatas  Csfar  tibi  bruma  coronas  : 

Quondam  veris  erant,  nunc  tuafa&a  rofa  eft. 

Epigr.  L.  XIV.  Epig.  127. 

,/Eftivs  nives,  hiberns  rofs.  Lamprid.  Vit.  Elagab. 


3 1 2  Dr.  Falconer  on  the  Style  and  Fajle 

*  • 

His  account  of  his  Laurentine  Villa,*  relates 
but  little  to  the  external  arrangement  of  gardens 
and  ground,  but  is  confined  chiefly  to  the  houfe. 

It  appears,  however,  that  the  Geftatio, d-  or  place 
for  horfe  exercife,  was  bordered  with  box,  and 
where  that  was  defective,  with  rofemary  inter¬ 
twined  with  vines.  It  appears,  alfo,  that  the 
Geftatio  furrounded  the  garden. J  The  Xyftus  jj 
likewife,  or  place  for  foot  exercife,  was  planted 
with  violets,  which  feem  to  have  been  placed 
there,  on  account  of  their  odour.  His  defcrip- 
tion  of  his  Tufcan  Villa**  is  more  particular. 
This  feems  to  have  poflTeflfed  great  natural 
beauties,  to  which  its  pofleflfor  attended  with 
great  judgment.  Its  fituation  appears  to  have 
been  healthy,  and  remarkably  cool  ;  infomuch, 
that  the  olive  and  the  myrtle  would  not 
thrive,  nor  perhaps,  even  grow  there.  This 

*  The  Laurentine  Villa,  we  are  told  by  Pliny  himfelf, 
was  calculated  more  for  ufe  than  ornament.  “  Villa 
ufibus  capax,  non  fumptuofa  tuteia.” 

Plin.  Epift.  L.  II.  Ep.  17. 

-}-  Geftatio  buxo  aut  rore  marino  ube  deficit,  buxus  ambi- 
tur.  Adjacet  geftatione  interiore  circuitu  vinea  tenera  et 
umbrofa.  Ibidem  Plinii* 

J  Hortum  et  geftationem  videt  qua  hortus  includitur. 

Ibidem  Plinii. 

U  Ante  Cryptoporticum  Xyftus  violis  adoratus.  Ibidem. 

**  See  Pliny’s  Letter  to  Apollinaris* 

Lib-  V-  Epiftol.  6. 

circurn- 


of  gardening  among  the  Ancients.  3 1 3 

circumflance,  owing  probably,  to  its  proxi¬ 
mity  to  the  Appennine  mountains,  fitted  it 
for  a  fummer  refidence.  It  was  placed  in  the 
mid  ft  of  a  vaft  natural  amphitheatre,  furrounded 
with  hills  crowned  with  lofty  and  venerable 
woods:  Small  rifing  grounds  of  great  fertility 
here  and  there  occurred,  which  were  planted  on 
their  fides  with  vines,  and  furrounded  with 
fhrubs  and  under-wood.  The  lower  grounds 
were  full  of  flowers  and  plants,  always  green 
and  flourifhing,  and,  probably,  on  account  of 
the  difference  of  temperature  of  the  fituation, 
varying  from  thofe  of  the  furrounding  country. 
What  added  to  the  beauty  of  this  fcene  was, 
that  it  was  plentifully  watered  by  many  rivulets 
from  the  adjacent  hills,  which  the  coolnefs  of 
the  fituation  prevented  being  dried  up  by  the 
fummer  heats.  No  marfby  places  were,  how¬ 
ever,  to  be  found,  but  the  whole  of  the  fuper- 
abundant  moifture  was  carried  off  into  the 
Tyber,  which  ran  through  the  middle  of  the 
profpeft,  and  completed  the  beauty  of  the  fcene, 
noc  only  as  a  piece  of  water,  but  alfo,  as  a  navi¬ 
gable  river.  The  Villa  of  Pliny  was  fituated 
upon  one  of  thofe  rifing  grounds  before  men¬ 
tioned,  and  enjoyed  a  diftant  and  varied  profpecl  j 
though  the  afcent  to  the  place  on  which  it  flood 
was  fo  gradual,  as  fcarcely  to  be  lenfible  to  thofe 
who  went  up  to  it. 


After 


j  14  Dr.  Falconer  on  the  Style  and  T afte 

After  this  account  of  the  natural  beauties  of 
this  elegant  fituation,  which  its  noble  poffeffor 
fecms  to  have  been  thoroughly  fenfible  of,  and 
to  have  entered  into  with  the  higheit  taile  and 
delight,  we  are  furprized  and  forry,  to  fee  the 
artificial  part  of  the  profpedt,  form  fo  difgraceful 
a  contrail.  The  Xyilus,  or  court  before  the 
portico,  for  walking  and  exercife,  was  parted 
into  numerous  divifions  of  diverfe  ihape,  all 
edged 'with  box.  The  Hope  lawn,  or  dcfcent 
from  thence,  was  bordered  on  the  Tides  with 
figures  of  beads,  cut  in  box  trees.  The  interior 
fpace  feems  to  have  been  planted  (probably  here 
and  there  only)  with  acanthus.  Thefe  were 
iurrounded  by  a  walk,  (haded  by  ever-greens, 
ihorn  into  different  ihapes  :  and  the  whole  again 
incircled  by  a  riding  path,  which  was  fecured  on 
the  outfide  by  a  wall,  or  rather  mound  of  earth, 
covered  with  box  trees,  rifing  one  row  abdve 
another,  in  form  of  fteps.  Oppofite  to  the 
middle  of  the  portico,  there  was  a  fmall  court, 
forrounded  by  a  fummer-houfe,  and  ihaded  by 
four  plane  trees,  in  the  midft  of  which,  a 
fountain  arofe  into  a  marble  bafon,  and  running 
over  the  edges,  fprinkled  the  trees  and  the  grafs 
underneath.  In  the  front  of  the  buildings,  lay  a 
plantation  of  trees,  in  form  of  an  Hippodrome, 
open  in  the  middle,  in  order  that  its  whole  extent 
might  be  perceived  at  one  view,  and  incircled 
with  plane  trees,  covered  with  ivy,  in  fuch  a 

manner? 


of  gardening  among  the  Ancients.  3 1 5 

manner,  as  that  they  appeared,  in  their  lower 
parts,  to  be  compofed  of  that  flirub,  while  their 
tops  flourifhed,  in  their  native  verdure  and 
foliage. 

The  ivy,  fpreading  from  one  tree  to  another, 
conne&ed  them  together  into  an  uniform  appear¬ 
ance.  Between  each  of  the  plane  trees,  box 
were  planted,  and  behind  thefe,  bay  trees,  which 
blended  their'  fhade  with  that  of  the  planes. 
This  plantation  formed  a  fireight  boundary  on 
each  fide  of  the  Hippodrome,  and,  at  the  end, 
bent  into  a  femicircular  form,  bordered  with  cy- 
prefs  trees,  which  ferved  to  vary  the  profpedl,  and 
to  call  a  deeper  and  more  gloomy  fhade  whilfl 
the  internal  circular  walks,  feveral  of  which  there 
were,  planted  with  roles,  formed  a  contrail  to  the 
fhade  of  the  others.  Thefe  winding  paths 
terminated  in  a  ftreight  walk,  which  again 
divided  into  feveral  others,  feparated  from  one 
another  by  box  hedges.  In  one  place  there  was 
a  little  meadow ;  in  another,  the  box  was  cut 
into  a  tnoufand  different  forms ;  fometimes,  into 
letters,  expreffing  the  name  of  the  mafter  ;  fome¬ 
times,  that  of  the  artificer  ;  whilfl  here  and  there, 
little  o'oelifks  arofe,  intermixed  alternately  with 
fruit  trees ;  and  in  the  midft  of  this  regularity 
of  arrangement,  fo  fuited  to  the  tafle  of  the 
inhabitants  of  a  great  city,  there  arofe  an  unex- 
pefted  fcene,  refembling  the  natural  beauties  of 

the 


3 1 6  Dr.  Falconer  on  the  Style  and  Fajle 

the  country,  in  the  center  of  which  lay  a  fpot, 
furrounded  with  dwarf  plane  trees. 

Beyond  thefe,  was  placed  a  plantation  of  acan¬ 
thus,  and,  as  you  proceeded,  the  trees  were  cut 
out  into  various  figures  and  fliapes.  At  the  ter¬ 
mination,  was  an  alcove  feat,  of  white  marble, 
fupported  by  four  finall  Caryftian  marble  pillars. 
Underneath  the  feat,  the  water  gullied  out, 
through  feveral  fmall  pipes,  as  if  prefied  out 
by  the  weight  of  thofe  who  repofed  themfelves 
upon  it.  This  water  was  again  collected  into 
a  Hone  cittern  beneath,  and  received,  from  thence, 
into  a  poliflied  marble  bafon,  fo  artfully  con¬ 
trived,  as  to  be  always  full  without  overflowing; 
though  the  means,  by  which  this  was  brought 
about,  were  not  obvious  to  the  view.  We  are 
alfo  told,  that  this  bafon  ferved,  fometimes,  as 
a  table  at  fupper,  the  larger  difhes  being  placed 
on  the  edge,  whilH  the  fmaller  fwam  about, 
in  form  of  little  (hips,  and  wild  fowl.  Corref- 
ponding  to  this  was  a  fountain,  inceflantly  filling 
.and  emptying;  the  water  being  thrown  up  to 
a  great  heighth,  and  falling  back  into  the  bafon, 
from  whence  it  ran  off.  Fronting  the  alcove, 
flood  a  marble  Summer-houfp,  with  folding 
doors,  projecting  and  opening  into  a  green 
inclofure,  fo  that,  from  the  upper  and  lower 
windows  you  might  diftinguifh  a  variety  of 
different  verdures.  Seats  of  marble,  with  foun¬ 
tains  by  their  fides,  were  difperfed  through  the 

gardens  s 


of  gardening  among  the  Ancients.  3 1 7 

gardens;  and  throughout  the  whole  Hippodrome, 
ftreams  of  ivater  were  conveyed  in  pipes,  to  dif¬ 
ferent  fpots,  to  water  and  refrefh  the  trees  and 
verdure. 

It  is  obvious,  that  the  above  defcriptions  bear, 
a  ftriking  refemblance  to  the  tafte  in  gardens 
that  prevailed  in  this  country,  and  indeed 
throughout  Europe,  towards  the  beginning  of  the 
prefent  century.  The  walks  bordered  with  box 
and  rofemary  ;  the  terrace  planted  with  violets, 
at  the  Laurentine  Villa;  and  the  court  divided 
into  parterre  divifions,  edged  with  box ;  the 
figures  of  animals  cut  out  in  box  trees,  placed 
oppofite  each  other,  upon  the  Hope ;  with  the 
furrounding  walk,  inclofed  with  tonfile  ever¬ 
greens  cut  into  fhapes,  point  out  the  fame  re¬ 
femblance,  in  the  gardens  at  the  Tufcan  Villa. 
The  circular  amphitheatre  of  box,  cut  into 
figures,  and  the  walk,  covered  with  graduated 
fhrubs,  are  all  exaclly  in  the  fame  ftyle.  The 
fountains  overflowing;  the  marble  bafons ;  the 
little  jets  d’eau  about  the  feats,  and  under  the 
alcove;  the  fudden  difappearance  of  the  water; 
the  fpouts  in  the  grafs  ;  the  regular  difpofition 
of  the  trees  in  the  Hippodrome,  in  lines  ftraighr, 
and  regularly  curved  ;  together  with  the  arrange¬ 
ment  of  the  different  kinds  behind  each  other, 
make  one  think,  Pliny  was  rather  defcribing  a 
Villa  of  king  William,  or  Louis  XIV.  than  one 

of 


318  T>r.  Falconer  on  the  Style  and  T afte 

of  a  Roman  nobleman,  and  fenator,  feventeen 
hundred  years  ago. 

Some  circumflances,  in  the  above  defcription, 
appear  in  many  refpe&s,  abfurd  and  excep¬ 
tionable.  But  let  us  not  be  too  hafly  in  our 
cenfures :  but  confider,  whether  the  nature  of 
the  climate  and  country  may  not  vindicate 
them,  in  feveral  refpefts,  from  the  imputations 
which  might  have  been  juflly  afcribed  to  them, 
under  different  circumflances.  The  walks,  bor¬ 
dered  with  box,  a  tree  of  clofe  growth,  and 
faid  to  flourifh  extremely  in  that  fituation, 
formed  a  convenient  fhelter  from  the  torrid  rays 
of  an  Italian  fun.  The  fhearing  of  the  trees, 
contributed  alfo  to  thicken  their  fhade,  and  to 
render  them  more  commodious  for  this  purpofe  ; 
though,  I  confefs,  it  was  not  necefifary,  for  this 
end,  that  they  fhould  be  clipped  into  awkward 
imitations  of  animals,  &c.  which,  it  is  furpriziog 
a  man  of  the  tafle  of  Pliny  could  approve.  The 
fence  to  the  garden  was,  in  Pliny’s  Villa,  con¬ 
cealed  by  trees,  an  improvement  on  the  modern 
tafle  referred  to  ;  a  long  range  of  bare  brick 
walling  having  been  often  efleemed  an  object 
of  beauty  or  magnificence. 

Fountains,  likewife,  and  jets  d’eau,  however 
ufelefs,  and  therefore  abfurd  and  unnatural,  in 
Great  Britain  and  Holland,  may  dill  be  iti  per¬ 
fectly  good  tafle  in  Italy.  The  difperfion  of 
moiflure  cools  the  air,  by  the  evaporation  it  pro¬ 
duces  j 


of  gardening  among  the  Ancients.  319 

duces;  and  the  very  murmur  of  the  falling  of 
water,  gives  the  idea  of  coolnefs,  by  afibciation 
of  fenfations.  They  feem  here  to  have  been 
difpofed  with  judgment,  fome  of  them  being 
fituated  near  the  alcove,  and  refting  places,  as 
a  refremment  to  thole  fatigued  with  heat,  and 
exercife  ;  and  others,  difperled  through  the  grais, 
not  to  caufe  a  foolifh  furprife,  and  to  endanger 
the  health  of  thofe  palling  that  way,  by  wetting 
their  cloaths,  but  to  water  the  trees,  cool  the 
ground,  and  refrelh  the  verdure  ;  circumftances 
indifpenfable  to  the  beauty  of  the  feenery  and 
profpeft,  in  a  hot  climate. 

The  fame  apology  may,  I  think,  be  made  for 
the  regularity  of  the  walks,  in  the  Hippodrome, 
and  the  minute  parts  and  divifions,  in  which  it 
was  difpofed. 

It  is  probable,  the  extent  of  ground  itfelf  was 
not  large.  Diftant  walks  would  be  fatiguing  in 
an  Italian  fummer,  and  would  be  too  much 
trouble  and  expence  to  keep  as  clofeiy  fhaded, 
as  would  render  them  fufficiently  agreeable. 
They  were,  therefore,  in  a  manner,  compelled 
to  make  as  much  as  pofiible,  out  of  the  fpace 
of  ground;  which  they  accomplished,  by  dividing 
it  into  as  many  walks  and  paths  as  pofllble. 

The  parterre,  likewife,  parted  into  beds  of 
various  fhapes,  was  neceflary  for  flowers,  which 
were  highly  valued  in  warm  climates  for  their 
perfume,  but  do  not  thrive,  unlefs  kept  diflindt 

and 


3  20  Dr.  Falconer  on  the  Style  and  Fajie 

and  free  from  the  proximity  of  other  trees,  or 
plants. 

It  is  remarkable  here,  that  the  tafte  of  the 
author,  for  the  beauties  of  nature,  breaks  out 
among  his  defcription  of  the  moll  artificial 
ornaments.  Immediately  after  defcribing  the 
fence  of  the  garden,  covered  with  graduated 
box  trees,  he  adds,  that  the  adjoining  meadow, 
was  as  beautiful  by  nature,  as  the  garden  had 
been  rendered  by  art  ■,  and,  in  another  place, 
mentions  the  contrail  of  the  beauties  of  rural 
nature,  with  thofe  of  art,  *  as  one  of  the  chief 
ornaments  of  his  garden.  The  fame  apology 
that  has  been  made  for  the  ftyle,  in  which 
Pliny’s  gardens  were  laid  out,  is  applicable  to 
the  eaftern  gardens  in  general,  and  holds,  (till 
more  ftrongly,  as  the  heat  becomes  more  con- 
ftant  and  intenfe.  We  may  farther  obferve, 
that  this  mode  fuits  the  difpofition  of  the  eaftern 
people,  in  many  other  refpedls.  The  regularity 

*  Juvenal  appears  to  have  poflefied  a  good  tafte  in 
gardening,  and  laying  out  grounds,  from  what  he  fays 
of  the  artificial  grottoes  at  Aricinum,  and  the  attempt 
to  ornament  the  water,  by  fubftituting  marble,  in  place 
of  its  natural  boundary  of  herbage. 

In  Vallem  Egeriaj  defcendimus,  et  fpeluncas 
Diffimiles  veris :  quanto  prteftantius  effet 
Numcn  aqute,  viridi  ft  margine  clauderet  undas 
Herba,  nec  ingenuum  violarent  marmora  tophum  ? 

Juvenal.  Satyr.  III.  L.  17. 

and 


of  gardening  among  the  Ancients.  321 

and  formality  of  their  manner  of  living,  and 
manners,  correfponds  with  their  tafte  for  regular 
figures,  and  uniformity  of  appearance,  in  the 
laying  out  of  ground.  It  may  not,  perhaps, 
be  too  great  a  refinement  to  remark,  that  fuch 
a  tafte  is  conformable  alfo  to  a  defpotic  govern¬ 
ment,  which  is  jealous  of  all  innovations,  and, 
of  courfe,  affords  no  opportunity  for  exertions 
of  genius,  in  any  capacity.  It  is  worthy  of  ob- 
fervation,  that  the  regular  tafte,  above  referred 
to,  prevailed  in  this  country,  at  a  time  when 
our  fyftem  of  manners,  drefs,  and  behaviour 
was  extremely  ceremonious,  formal,  and  re- 
ferved,  and  approaching  to  thofe  of  the  eaftern 
countries.  As  this  ftiffnefs  wore  off,  the  tafte 
of  the  people  improved.  Shakefpeare  was  no 
longer  cenfured  for  inattention  to  dramatic  ftrift- 
nefs;  the  turgid,  but  regular  bombaft  of  Black- 
more,  fell  into  difrepute  and  ridicule,  and  a 
more  eafy  and  natural  ftyle  was  adopted,  both  in 
fentiment  and  writing. 

The  general  method  of  laying  out  grounds, 
in  this  country,  feems  at  prefent  to  be  very 
rational.  Natural  beauties,  or  refemblances 
thereof,  are  chiefly  attempted ;  which  are  the 
more  proper,  as  being  more  conformable  to 
the  climate  and  fituacion  of  the  country,  and 
difpofition  of  the  people,  who  are  beft  pleafed 
with  great  and  fublime  objects,  which  are  to 
be  found  only  in  nature.  The  clofe  walk,  how- 
Vol.  I.  Y  ever 


322  Dr.  Falconer  on  the  Style  and  Tafte 

ever  delightful  in  Italy,  or  Perfia,  is  here 
judicioufly  exchanged  for  the  open  grove,  and 
the  moiflure  of  grafs  for  gravel.  The  tonfure 
of  trees  is  alfo  laid  afide  not  only  as  impairing 
their  beauty,  but  alfo,  as  thickening  their  (hade, 
more  than  would  be  neceffary  or  agreeable, 
where  a  free  intercourfe  of  air  is  fo  requifite, 
to  difpel  damps  and  exhalations.  Fountains, 
on  the  fame  account,  are  laid  afide,  and  we 
are  content  with  the  natural  current  of  dreams, 
which  exhale  lefs  moifture,  [and  produce  lefs 
cold,  than  water  fpouted  into  the  air  by  the 
fantaftic,  but  lefs  beautiful  difbri bution  of  it  by 
a  jet  d’eau;  The  gardens,  or  pleafure  grounds, 
in  our  country,  are  likewife  very  properly  of 
much  larger  extent,  than  thofe  in  hot  climates. 
Pleafure,  in  the  latter,  is  always  combined  with 
fomewhat  of  indolence  and  inaction ;  in  the 
former,  it  is  connected  with  exercife  and  activity. 
A  large  l'cope  of  ground,  therefore,  that  afforded 
opportunity  for  the  latter,  would  be  more  con¬ 
formable  to  the  genius  of  the  people,  as  well 
as  to  the  climate  in  which  the  luxurious  indul¬ 
gence,  fo  delightful  when  the  heat  is  intenfe, 
could  very  feldom  be  fafely  pradlifed.  On  the 
whole,  I  am  inclined  to  believe,  that  notwith- 
ftanding  our  want  of  the  ornaments  proper  for 
hot  climates,  in  our  gardens  and  pleafure 
grounds.  Great  Britain  is  capable  of  afford¬ 
ing  more  real  and  genuine  beauty  in  views  of 

this 


of  gardening  among  the  Ancients.  323 

this  kind,  than  is,  perhaps,  any  where  elfe  to 
be  met  with.  The  fine  and  regular  verdure, 
which  always  clothes  both  the  earth  and  the 
trees  j  the  variety  of  the  herbage,  and  the  fize  to 
which  oaks  and  other  foreft  trees,  congenial 
to  the  country,  will  arrive,  impart  a  beauty 
and  magnificence  to  our  profpeXs,  and  afford 
opportunities  for  the  judicious  interpofition  of 
art,  far  fuperior  to  what  is  to  be  met  with, 
where  thefe  advantages  do  not  occur. 

We  are  ftruck  with  claffic  defcriptions,  and 
affected  by  the  circumftances  which,  by  their  con¬ 
nexion,  they  recall  to  the  memory ;  but  fetting 
thefe  afide,  I  make  no  doubt,  a  grove  of  knglifh 
oaks  would  be  a  more  beautiful,  as  w'ell  as  a 
more  magnificent  objeX,  than  “  the  olive  grove 
of  Academe,”  or  that  of  plane  trees  in  the 
Athenian  L  yceum. 

After  all,  it  is  poffible  to  err  in  too  clofely 
following  Nature,  as  it  is  in  neglecting  her. 
There  are  beauties  of  the  artificial  kind,  as  well 
as  natural,  which  are  proper  to  be  introduced 
into  fcenes  of  this  kind.  Statues,  buildings,  and 
other  ornaments,  in  good  tafte,  and  well  executed, 
may  unite  with  great  propriety  with  natural 
objeXs,  and  heighten  their  effeX.  I  do  not 
fpeak  of  thefe  ornaments,  as  to  any  particular 
beauties  they  may  individually  poffels,  but 
merely  as  coinciding  with  the  general  effeX,  and 
nature  of  the  profpeX.  They  aie,  however,  to 

Y  2  be 


3  24  Dr.  Falconer  on  the  Style  and  Tajle,  &c. 

be  employed  cautioufty,  fince,  if  injudicioufly, 
or  even  too  frequently  introduced,  they  give  an 
air  of  frivoloufnefs  and  affectation  to  the  whole, 
which  renders  it  an  object  of  contempt  and 
ridicule,  rather  than  off  admiration. 

More,  I  think,  might  be  faid  againft  ex¬ 
cluding  parterres  of  flowers,  which  were  fo  con- 
ftant  attendants  upon  the  old  gardens,  and  fo 
rarely  feen  at  prefent.  We  all  know,  that  feve- 
ral  kinds  of  flowers  are  exquifitely  beautiful, 
and  that  their  beauty  and  perfection  depends 
on  certain  circumftances,  relative  to  their  cul¬ 
ture.  Great  care  is  necefiarv,  and  a  feparation 
from  other  plants,  both  of  which  fuggeft  the 
parterre  as  the  moll  proper  and  convenient  way 
of  producing  them.  I  confefs,  parterre  divifions 
poflefs  no  remarkable  beauties  in  themfelves, 
but  I  think,  at  the  fame  time,  that  they  have  no¬ 
thing  fo  fhocking,  to  the  molt  delicate  tafle, 
that  fhould  hinder  their  being  employed,  when 
they  are  the  harbingers  of  fuch  beautiful 
productions  of  nature.  A  fquare,  or  an  oblong 
border,  has  nothing  obvioufly  ablurd  or  difguft- 
ing  in  its  appearance  ;  and  as  to  its  being 
artificial,  it  may  be  faid  in  defence  of  it,  that  it 
is  not  an  imitation  of  any  thing  in  nature,  nor 
meant  to  be  fo,  but  folely  calculated  for  utility, 
as  an  inftrument  neceflary  to  the  production  of 
beauty  ;  and,  confidered  in  this  view,  we  might, 
with  equal  reafon,  object  againft  a  houfe,  as  an 
.  unnatural. 


Mr.  White  on  the  Regeneration  325 

unnatural,  and  therefore,  an  improper  object, 
as  againft  the  divifions  of  a  flower  parterre. 

I  grant,  indeed,  that  they  have  been  whimfi- 
cally,  and  often  abfurdly  arranged,  and  falhioned; 
but  fuch  I  do  not  here  defend.  I  only  maintain 
the  caufe  of  parterres,  on  account  of  the  beau¬ 
ties,  which  they  are  neceflary  to  produce:  not 
of  any  they  themfelves  pofiefs. 


~  ~  ‘  ■  1 1  IH  Mini!  ii  ™  - — 

On  the  Regeneration  of  Animal  Substances. 
By  Charles  White,  Efq.  F.  R.  S.  &V.  Read 
December  18,  1782. 

•  f  •  r  (  •  ,.r  . 

r"jP  H  E  great  Author  of  the  creation  has  en¬ 
dowed  the  animal  world  with  a  wonderful 
power  of  repairing  and  recruiting  its  various 
compound  machines,  and  not  only  filling  up 
and  making  good  loft  fubftances,  but  in  fome 
inftances,  of  even  totally  regenerating  parts  ; 
but  we  muft  not  from  hence  accufe  him  of 
partiality,  in  not  doing  it  in  every  inftance ;  for 
the  further  we  carry  our  refearches  into  the 
fecrets  of  Nature,  the  more  we  (hall  be  convinced 
of  the  great  and  unbounded  wifdom  of  God, 
and  of  the  extraordinary  refources  he  has  placed 
in  her  pofteflion  j 

V  3 


--The 


326  Mr.  White  on  the  Regeneration 

.......  “  The  firft  Almighty  caufe 

Atts  not  by  partial,  but  by  general  laws. 

Pope’s  Eflay  on  Man; 

The  Deity  has  drawn  the  line,  has  fixed  the 
limits,  and  has  faid  to  Nature,  hither  (halt  thou 
go,  and  no  further. 

If  this  order  does  not  appear  to  us  to  be 
uniformly  preferved,  we  muft  not  conclude  that 
it  is  not  really  fo,  but  that  it  is  owing  to  our 
{lender  capacities,  that  we  are  unable  to  trace 
his  hand  through  all  his  ways, 

“  See  and  confefs,  one  comfort  dill  mud  rife, 

“  ’Tis  this,  tho’  man’s  a  fool,  yet  God  is  wife. ” 

Loc.  citat'. 

The  ancients  knew  that  a  frefh  broken  bone 
vvould  unite  by  a  callus,  that  wounds  of  the  flefli 
would  fill  up  by  what  is  called  incarnation,  and 
would  be  healed  over  with  {kin,  by  what  is  called 
cicatrization.  But  all  vain  glorious  boafting 
man  muft  not  from  hence  pretend,  that  he  can 
make  a  Angle  fibre  grow  :  this  is  the  aft  of 
Nature  only-  The  ableft  furgeon  living,  can 
do  no  more  than  afiift  her,  remove  the  prefent 
obftacles,  and  prevent  others  being  thrown  in 
her  way. 

“  Yes  Nature’s  road  mud  ever  be  preferr’d  ; 

“  Reafon  is  here  no  guide,  but  dill  a  guard.” 

Loc.  citat. 

The  moderns  have  carried  this  matter  further. 

I  did  myfelf  the  honour  to  lay  before  the 
Boyal  Society,  a  remarkable  cafe  of  a  broken 
•  '  -  bone, 


of  Animal  Sub/lances* 


32  7 


bone,  which  was  inferted  in  the  Philofophical 
Tranfa&ions,  vol.  LI.  part  the  fecond,  for  the 
year  1760,  in  which  Nature  was  difappointed 
of  her  ufual  method  of  throwing  out  a  callus, 
and  after  more  than  fix  months  had  elapfed, 
without  an  union  j  when  all  obftacles  were  re¬ 
moved,  by  cutting  off  the  ends  of  the  bone,  the 
offeous  matter  fliot  out  as  freely  as  if  it  had 
been  from  a  recent  frafture,  and  the  broken  bone 
was  perfe&ly  united.  Since  the  publication  of 
this  cafe,  a  great  number  of  fimilar  ones  have 
occurred  both  to  myfelf  and  others,  which  incon- 
teftably  prove,  that  though  Nature  is  difappointed 
in  her  work,  even  for  a  long  time  together,  yet, 
when  all  obftruftions  are  removed,  flae  is  ever 
ready  to  exert  herfelf. 

In  the  year  1768,  I  cut  off  the  upper  head  of 
the  os  humeri  of  Edmund  Poilit,  aged  fourteen, 
whofe  cafe  is  related  in  the  LIX.  volume  of  the 
Philofophical  Tranfaftions.  This  was  much 
corroded  with  matter,  part  of  it  confumed,  and 
followed  by  an  exfoliation  of  a  large  piece  of  the 
whole  fubftance  of  the  bone  j  yet  the  head  neck, 
and  part  of  the  body  of  it  were  a&ually  regene¬ 
rated,  and  the  entire  ufe  of  the  joint  preferved. 

Mr.  William  Johnfton,  furgeon  at  Dumfries, 
has  given  11s  a  cafe  in  the  Edinburgh  Medical 
JSflays,  *  where  the  whole  tibia,  the  principal 


•  Vol.  V.  p.  452. 

Y  4 


328  M.  White  on  the  Regeneration 

bone  of  the  leg,  being  caft  off  by  exfoliation, 
was  regenerated,  and  was,  in  a  little  time,  as 
ufeful  as  the  old  one. 

Mr.  Le  Cat  mentions  a  cafe  in  the  Philofo- 
phical  Tranfactions,*  of  a  child  of  three  years  old, 
from  whom  he  extrafled  the  entire  tibia,  exoftofed 
and  carious  in  its  whole  extent,  between  the  two 
articulations}  which  had  remained  found:  this 
great  deficiency  of  bony  fubftance  was  entirely 
fupplied  again  by  nature,  and  the  patient  re¬ 
gained  a  new  tibia,  much  firmer  than  that  which 
he  had  loft. 

In  the  fame  place,  he  relates  the  cafe  of  an 
adult  perfon  where  he  took  out  three  inches  and 
ten  lines  of  the  bone  of  the  upper  arm,  which 
was  followed  by  a  regeneration  of  bony  matter. 
In  this  cafe  the  form  of  the  bone,  as  well  as  its 
natural  length,  was  preferved,  ft 

Both  in  compound  luxations  and  in  caries,;}; 
the  heads  of  the  principal  bones,  and  confider- 
able  portions  of  their  bodies  have  been  fawn 
off,  and  regenerated,  fuch  as  the  tibia,  fibula, 
humerus,  radius,  ulna,  thumb,  and  finger}  the 
bones  were  little  or  no  fhorter,  and  new  joints 
were  formed,  with  fuch  a  degree  of  motion, 
that  the  patients  found  little  or  no  inconve¬ 
nience,  and  were  able  to  follow  their  bufinefs 
as  well  as  ever. 

*  Vol.  LVI.  p.  270. 

+  Gooch’s  Cafes,  vol.  I.  p.  323. 

}  Phil.  Tranf.  vol.  LIX.  p.  39. 

Dr. 


of  Animal  Suhjlances.  329 

Dr.  Hunter,  in  his  reflections  on  cutting  the 
fymphyfis  of  the  pubis,*  fays,  Cf  as  to  any  pro¬ 
perty  which  living  ligaments  poflfefsof  ftretching, 
under  violence,  permitting  diflocations  without 
laceration,  I  have  long  taught,  that  though  a 
very  general  opinion,  it  feems  not  to  have  been 
founded  in  obfervation.  Ligaments  will  not 
allow  of  diflocations  in  dead  bodies  without  la¬ 
ceration  ;  and  elaflicity  to  any  degree  either  in 
ligaments  or  tendons,  would  ill  agree  with  their 
ufe  in  living  bodies,  which  is  to  keep  the  parts 
ftrongly  together;  and  accordingly,  fince  this 
opinion  has  routed  attention  and  examination, 
every  cafe  of  a  recent  diflocation  that  I  have 
known  examined,  has  been  found  complicated 
with  a  laceration  of  the  ligaments.” 

Mr.  John  Hunter,  in  his  Chirurgical  Leflures 
goes  further,  and  lays,  “  that  a  luxated  bone  not 
reduced,  by  prefling  againft  another  bone,  digs  a 
cavity  for  itfelf,  which  gets  cartilaginous  edges 
and  cartilage  on  all  itsfurface;  nay,  a  fynovial 
gland  fecreting  fynovia,  and  a  new  joint  is  fet  up. 
In  the  fraCture  of  a  bone,  though  the  parts  be 
thrown  at  fome  diftance,  a  callus  is  formed, 
which  unites  them.  It  is  agreeable  to  the  fame 
uniformity  of  operation,  that  when  a  bone  is 
broken,  which  v/as  originally  formed  in  a  nidus 
of  cartilage,  the  renovated  bone  alfo  forms  in 
cartilage;  while  a  bone,  originally  formed  in 

*  Letter  to  Dr.  Vaughan,  p.  86. 


membrane, 


330  Mr.  White  on  the  Regeneration 

membrane,  when  it  is  partially  deftroyed,  is  re¬ 
produced  in  membrane.”  All  furgeons  muft  have 
cbferved  this,  that  in  old  diflocations  which  have 
not  been  reduced,  there  is  always  fome  degree 
of  motion  more  or  lefs  in  the  diflocated  joint, 
except  it  has  been  complicated  with  a  fra&ure. 

In  a  converfation  I  lately  had  with  Dr.  Monro, 
he  confirmed  Dr.  Hunter’s  opinion,  with  the 
relation  of  the  two  following  difle&ions.  He 
immerfea  a  dead  child  in  warm  water,  till  it  was 
perfectly  foft  and  flexible;  he  then  diflocated 
the  ftioulder.  Upon  difledling  the  parts,  he 
found  the  capfular  ligament  lacerated. 

A  man  in  Edinburgh  was  killed  by  a  fall  from 
a  horfe,  and  his  fhoulder  was  at  the  fame  time 
diflocated  Upon  difieftion  in  this  cafe  allb,  he 
found  the  capfuiar  ligament  lacerated. 

Dr.  Monro  told  me,  he  did  not  in  the  leaf!;, 
doubt  what  Mr.  John  Hunter  had  advanced  on 
this  fubjedt ;  and  informed  me,  that  he  had  a 
cafe,  laft  winter,  of  a  patient  who  had  an  exfolia¬ 
tion  of  half  the  lower  jaw,  particularly  of  the 
whole  condyle  on  the  left  fide  ;  the  loft  part  was 
regenerated,  he  had  the  entire  ufe  of  the  jaw, 
and  the  joint  was  as  perfect  as  on  the  other  fide, 
except  being  a  little  fuller,  and  attended  with 
a  trifling  degree  of  hardnefs.  I  had  the  fatisfac- 
tion  of  feeing  the  exfoliated  bone  amongft  his 
valuable  collection,  and  found  the  head  of  the 
bone  perfect,  except  a  little  carious  on  one  fide. 


of  Animal  Subflances.  33 1 

In  the  fame  collection  I  faw  an  aftragalus,  (one 
of  the  bones  of  the  foot)  which  had  come  away 
entire,  and  the  patient,  as  Mr-  Fyfe  informed 
me,  had  the  perfeCl  ufe  of  his  foot  and  ancle. 
I  likewife  faw  in  the  fame  place,  a  thigh  bone, 
which  had  been  broken,  the  ends  had  not  co- 
aptated,  but  had  overfhot  each  other  three  inches, 
and  were  perfectly  united-  Cafes  of  this  fort 
I  have  often  feen,  and  have  now  a  thigh  bone 
by  me,  united  in  the  fame  manner ;  but  in 
that  bone  in  the  poffeflion  of  Dr.  Monro,  there 
is  this  circumftance,  which  I  had  never  before 
obferved,  (hat  the  fides  of  the  bone  had  not 
approximated  each  other,  but  in  one  point. 
The  callus  had  fhot  out  in  fuch  a  manner  as  to 
form  cancelli,  and  the  void  fpace  had  all  the 
appearance  of  having  contained  a  medullary  fub- 
ftance.  Dr.  Monro  told  me  he  had  a  whole  chefl: 
of  regenerated  bones  in  his  poffeflion.  He  like¬ 
wife  deferibed  to  me  the  following  experiment, 
he  had  made. 

He  laid  open  the  abdomen  of  a  pig  for  feveral 
inches,  in  fuch  a  manner,  that  the  inteftines 
protruded;  which  convinced  him,  that  all  the 
integuments  were  completely  divided.  He  then 
reduced  the  inteflines,  and  fewed  up  the  wound. 
After  it  was  perfectly  united,  he  killed  the  pig. 
He  then  made  incifions  above  and  below,  and  on 
one  fide  of  the  cicatrix  ;  after  which,  he  injefted 
the  aorta;  and,  though  there  was  not  a  poflibility 


33 2  Mr'  White  on  the  Regeneration 

of  the  inje&ion  entering  but  on  one  fide  of  the 
cicatrix,  yet  the  arteries,  on  both  Tides,  were 
perfectly  injedted,  a  convincing  proof,  that  they 
muft  have  regenerated,  for  it  cannot  be  fup- 
pofed  that  the  mouths  of  fo  many  fmall  veffels 
could  poffibly  have  coaptated,  fo  as  to  have  con¬ 
tinued  the  circulation  through  the  cicatrix. 
I  had  the  fatisfadlion  of  feeing  both  the  pre¬ 
paration  and  an  engraving  from  it,  which,  it 
is  hoped,  the  dodlor  will  favour  the  public  with, 
together  with  the  feveral  other  valuable  experi¬ 
ments.*' 

Teeth  have  regenerated  in  every  period  of 
life.  Mr.  Thornton,  a  very  ingenious  medical 
fludent  at  Edinburgh,  informed  me,  that  he  had 
a  found  tooth  drawn  by  miftake  fome  years  ago, 
which  as  foon  as  he  found  out  he  immediately 
replaced.  It  grew  again,  and  was  as  good  in 
every  refpedl  as  any  other.  But  in  procefs  of 
time,  this  tooth  began  to  decay,  and  give  him 
pain,  which  became  exquifite  whenever  the  tooth 
was  touched,  even  in  the  flightefl  manner.  He 
therefore  had  it  drawn,  and  one  of  the  fangs  was 
found  to  be  carious.  From  this  it  is  very  evi¬ 
dent,  that  nerves  will  grow  again,  after  being 
difunited. 

*  Since  this  paper  was  read  before  the  Society,  Dr.  Monro 
has  publifhed  his  ufeful  and  ingenious  obfervations  on  the 
nervous  fyftem,  with  the  engravings  of  thefe  preparations. 
Vid.  Tab.  XLVI.  and  Tab.  XL VII. 

Mr, 


JP '/ate  HI 


/dr  /nr  .t/rti/.i  fAe  yi/ace  u/drrr  /dr  ,*/}/. 


'-/ try /  //  ts//rr). 


cf  Animal  Subjlances.  33  3 

Mr.  Cruikfhanks,  in  his  Letter  to  Mr.  Clare, 
p.  87,  fays,  “  Not  only  the  brain,  but  the  nerves 
alfo,  appear  to  have  other  properties  than  we  have 
hitherto  apprehended.  Some  years  ago,  I  de- 
monftrated,  by  experiments  on  living  animals, 
that  nerves  divided  unite  again  ;  and  that  when 
portions  had  been  cut  out,  they  were  regene¬ 
rated  :  in  both  inftances  the  animals  perfe&ly 
recovered.  Thefe  experiments  I  hope  foon  to 
be  able  to  lay  before  the  public ;  meantime  I 
am  happy  to  find,  they  have  been  recently  con¬ 
firmed  by  fo  great  authority,  as  the  Abbe  Mon¬ 
tana,  to  whom  I  communicated  my  difcovery, 
and  fhewed  my  preparations  of  united  and  rege¬ 
nerated  nerves.”* 

Mr.  Gooch  has  given  us  a  remarkable  cafe  of 
the  cuticle  and  nails, f  being  frequently  caft  off 
and  regenerated,  particularly  in  the  feet  and 
hands,  fometimes  twice  in  a  year.  Thofe  of  the 
hands  were  caft  off  whole,  anc[  we  are  furnifhed 
with  an  engraving  of  a  pair  of  thefe  cuticular 
gloves. 


*  Dr.  Monro,  in  the  work  before  mentioned,  has  given 
a  plate  (Vid.  Tab.  XIV.)  to  lhew  the  regeneration  of  the 
fciatic  nerves,  which  had  been  divided  in  living  frogs,  and 
dilfecled  twelve  months  after.  The  regenerated  parts  are 
of  a  darker  colour  than  the  original  nerves,  which  proves, 
that  there  was  not  a  mere  coaptation  of  the  divided  ends. 

f  Philofophical  Tranfaftion?,  vol.  LIX.  p.  281. 


There 


334  A//'.  White  on  the  Regeneration 

There  is  another  fimilar  cafe  related  by  Mr. 
Latham,  *  but  with  this  difference,  that  this 
patient  did  not  caft  her  nails. 

By  performing  the  operation  for  the  cure  of 
the  aneurifm,  feveral  inches  of  the  trunks  of  the 
principal  arteries,  both  of  the  arm  and  the  thigh, 
have  been  deftroyed ;  yet  in  a  few  days,  the  cir¬ 
culation  through  the  whole  limb,  has  been  car¬ 
ried  on,  as  perfectly,  as  before  the  operation. 
The  method,  which  nature  has  taken  for  accom- 
plifhing  this  bufinefs,  may  be  feen  by  an  engrav¬ 
ing  f  from  a  preparation  which  I  made,  and 
which  Dr.  Hunter  has  done  me  the  honour  to  give 
a  place  amongft  his  valuable  collection. 

There  is  a  very  extraordinary  hiftory  of  a  glans 
penis  regenerated  after  amputation,  related  by 
Mr.  Jamifon,  furgeon  at  Kello,  and  inferted  in 
the  Edinburgh  Medical  Effays.ff;  The  young 
man  was  married,  in  that  country,  about  two 
years  after  the  cure,  has  had  two  children,  and 
complains  not  of  want  or  defedt  even  in  fenfatioi^. 

Crabs  and  lobfters  caft  their  fiiells,  both  from 
their  bodies,  less,  and  claws,  and  even  caft  their 
ftomachs,  generally  every  year,  which  are  im¬ 
mediately  regenerated.  The  fhell  is  renewed 
by  a  fluid,  which  they  ejedt  •,  and  it  inverts  their 
whole  body,  growing  hard  and  dry,  in  a  fhorr 

*  Philof.  Tranfa&ions  vol.  LX.  p.  451. 

f  See  my  Cafes  in  Surgery,  p.  140. 

J  Vol.  VI.  p.  434. 

time. 


of  Animal  Subftances. 

time,  and  becoming  as  ftrong  a  ftiell,  as  that 
which  they  had  before.  But,  what  is  more  ex¬ 
traordinary,  they  frequently  lofe  a  leg  or  a  claw 
in  their  combats,  which  are  very  frequent  and 
furious  :  the  loft  part  will  be  regenerated  in  about 
three  weeks,  and  be  almoft  of  its  natural  fize. 
Brown,  in  his  hiftory  of  Jamaica,  informs  us, 
that  the  claw  of  the  violet  crab,  in  feizing  its 
food,  catches  fuch  an  hold,  that  the  animal  lofes 
its  limb  foon'er  than  its  grafp  ;  the  claw  conti¬ 
nuing  its  retentive  power  for  above  a  minute, 
whilft  the  crab  is  moving  off. 

In  the  polypus,  not  only  young  ones  will  grow 
out  like  warts  from  different  parts  of  the  body, 
drop  off,  live,  and  grow  ;  but  you  may  cut  them 
into  a  thoufand  pieces,  and  turn  them  infide  out, 
and  they  will  ftill  live,  and  do  well ;  this  is  ac¬ 
counted  for  by  its  whole  body  being  compofed 
of  ftomach  and  parts  of  generation.  The  latter 
not  being  peculiar  organs,  but  merely  particles 
of  the  ftomach,  which  are  its  body,  each  part 
of  which  has  the  power  of  producing  the  like. 
Its  food  is  converted  into  chyle,  in  the  ftomach  ; 
ablorbents  opening  into  the  part,  take  up  the 
chyle,  and  thefe,  at  fome  diftance  from  their 
mouths,  become  arteries. 

If  the  Affinia  JJrtica  Marina ,  Animal  flower ,  or 
Sea  Anemone  be  cut  through  the  middle,  either 
tranfverfely  or  longitudinally,  both  parts  will 
furvive  the  operation.  Nay  further,  if  you  rear 

them 


3 


Mr.  White  on  the  Regeneration 


them  from  the  rock  orfliell,  to  which  they  gene¬ 
rally  adhere,  and  a  fhred  is  left  behind,  it  will 
become  a  frefh  and  perfect  animal. 

The  earth-worm  and  fea-worm  will  live  after 
being  cut  in  two  ;  but,  what  is  mod  furprizing, 
the  fmall  red  headed  earth-worm,  being  cut  in 
two,  both  extremities  furvive  the  operation  ;  the 
head  produces  a  tail,  with  the  anus,  the  intef- 
tines,  the  anular  mufcles,  and  the  prickly  beards : 
the  tail  on  the  other  hand,  is  feen  to  fhoot  forth 
the  noble  organs,  and,  in  lefs  than  three  monthsj 
fends  forth  a  head,  heart,  together  with  all  the 
apparatus  and  indruments  of  generation.  Thefe 
parts,  as  may  be  eafily  fuppofed,  were  produced 
much  flower  than  the  former;  a  new  head  taking 
nearly  three  months  for  its  completion  ;  a  new 
tail  (hooting  forth  in  lefs  than  as  many  weeks. 
The  lizard,  and  alfo  the  viper  cad  their  (kin, 
and  fome  fay  their  tail,  and  even  their  eyes;  and 
the  lea  (lug  is  faid  to  cad  its  head  ;  all  which  are 
regenerated. 

The  buck  cads  its  horns  every  fpring,  which 
are  reproduced  in  a  few  months.  But  if  he  be 
cadrated  when  young,  he  will  have  no  horns  at 
all,  or  fmall  buds  only,  and  thofe  foft  to  the 
touch,  like  velvet,  and  void  of  firmnefs.  Dr. 
Ruffel  informs  us,  that  he  had  two  old  bucks 
cadrated  at  the  end  of  February,  and  their  horns 
dropped  off,  the  twenty-fird  of  March  following  ; 
fo  that  the  fall  of  their  horns  was  anticipated 

five 


'  of  Animal  Sub/lances.  337 

five  weeks  at  leaff.  Thefe  horns  were  renewed, 
next  year,  and  were  longer  than  the  buck’s  of 
the  fame  age;  but  the  palms,  or  collateral 
branches,  were  lefs  and  fhorter,  and  neither  the 
velvet  of  the  horns,  nor  the  horns  themfelves 
were  ever  call  afterwards. 

I  fhall  now  beg  leave  to  lay  before  the  Society, 
two  cafes,  that  have  not  been  publifhed,  in  order 
to  prove  ftill  further  the  dodtrine  I  have  been 
endeavouring  to  eftablifh. 

Roger  Nuttal,  of  Bury,  twenty  years  of  age, 
was  admitted  an  in-patient  of  the  Manchefter 
infirmary  under  my  care,  on  the  23d  of  January, 
1775,  f°r  a  tumor  on  his  back-  Upon  dripping 
off  his  Ihirt,  to  (hew  me  the  tumor,  1  was  (truck 
with  a  very  Angular  appearance  of  a  (tump  of 
the  right  humerus.  1  alk^d  him,  if  he  was  born 
with  it  in  that  form,  or  whether  his  arm  had 
been  taken  off.  He  informed  me,  that  Mr.  Kay 
Allen  had  taken  his  arm  off  clofe  to  the 
fnoulder,  when  he  was  but  four  years  old,  and 
that  the  (lump  was  grown  again  to  that  length, 
which  feemed  to  be  about  eight  inches  longer 
than  he  defcribed  it  to  have  been,  immediately 
afcer  the  amputation.  I  enquired  both  of  his 
mother,  and  Mr.  Allen,  as  to  the  truth  of  his 
relation,  which  they  both  confirmed  ;  and  the 
latter,  with  this  addition,  that  the  arm  was  taken 
off,  as  near  the  Ihoulder,  as  the  application  of 
the  tournequet  would  permit.  The  bone  had 

Yor..  I.  Z  every 


338  M.  White  on  the  Regeneration 

every  degree  of  firmnefs,  and  folidity,  and  the 
ftump  was  warm  to  the  extreme  point,  and  he 
informed  me,  was  perfectly  fenfible  when 
touched.  Along  with  this,  you  will  receive  a 
drawing  of  the  young  man,  and  the  appearance 
which  the  flump  made,  executed  by  your  in¬ 
genious  Secretary  Mr.  Bew,  at  the  time  the 

patient  was  at  the  Infirmary. 

Some  years  ago,  1  delivered  a  lady  of  rank 
of  a  fine  boy,  who  had  two  thumbs  upon  one 
hand,  or  rather,  a  thumb  double  from  the  fir  ft 
joint,  the  outer  one  rather  lefs.than  the  other, 

‘  each  part  having  a  perfect  nail.  When  he  was 
about  three  years  old,  I  was  defired  to  take 
off  the  leffer  one,  which  I  did  ;  but  to  my  great 
aftonifhment  it  grew  again,  and  along  with  it, 
the  nail.  The  family  afterwards  went  to  refide 
in  London,  where  his  father  (hewed  it  to  that 
excellent  operator,  William  Bromfield,  Eiq.  fur- 
aeon  to  the  Queen’s  houfehold,  who  faid,  he 
fuppofed  that  Mr.  White,  being  afraid  of 
damaging  the  joint,  had  not  taken  it  wholly  out, 
but  he  would  diffed  it  out  entirely,  and  then 
it  would  not  return.  He  accordingly  executed 
the  plan,  he  had  defcribed,  with  great  dexterity, 
and  turned  the  ball  fairly  out  of  the  focket; 
notwithftanding  this,  it  grew  again,  a  fiefii  nail 
was  formed,  and  the  thumb  remains  in  this  ftate. 

The  conclufions  I  would  draw  from  thefe 

fads,  are,  that,  in  the  human  fpecies,  not  only 

fiefh. 


339 


of  Animal  Subjlances. 

flefh,  fkin,  and  bones,  may  be  regenerated,  but 
membranes,  ligaments,  cartilages,  glands,  blood 
veflels,  and  even  nerves;  and  this  for  the  wifeft 
purpofes,  that  every  part  may  be  repaired  in  its 
own  kind,  and  in  fome  manner  reftored  by  the 
coagulable  lymph,  which  is  poured  out,  and 
becomes  vafcular,  and  forms  organized  parts. 

By  this  wife  provifion  of  nature,  the  many 
accidents  to  which  we  are  continually  expofed, 
are  often  more  compleatly  repaired,  than  arc 
could  be  able  to  accomplish- 

In  fome  animals,  we  fee  this  regenerating 
and  living  principle,  carried  ftill  to  a  much 
greater  length,  where  not  only  whole  limbs, 
but  even  the  more  noble  organs  are  reproduced. 

The  ftudy  of  nature  is  not  only  engaging  and 
pleafant  to  a  high  degree,  but  it  infpires  us  with 
fuch  a  refpedl  and  admiration  of  the  Almighty 
Being,  that  it  is  impofTible  either  for  a  Naturalift 
or  an  Anatomift  to  be  an  Atheift. 

They  have  conftantly  before  their  eyes  fo 
many  wonderful  living  machines,  differently 
wrought,  yet  fo  compleatly  fafhioned,  and  all 
tending  to  one  great  point,  the  preservation 
of  themfelves  and  their  fpecies  ;  in  which,  there 
are  fo  many  orders  of  veffels,  one  depending 
upon  another,  yet  compfeat  in  themfelves  ; 
capable  of  repairing  injuries  they  may  fuftain, 
and  even  of  reftoring  loft  fubftances  j  that 
men,  who  daily  fee  fuch  obje&s,  muft  be  con- 

Z  2  vinced. 


340  Mr.  White  on  the  Regeneration,  &c. 

vinced,  that  thcfe  admirable  fabrics  cannot  have 
proceeded  from  chance,  but  muft  have  been 
the  work  of  an  Omnipotent  Creator,  who  has 
formed  them  with  the  mod  perfect  wifdom,  and 
attention  to  their  feveral  intereds  and  fituations ; 

“  And  fpite  of  pride,  in  erring  reafon’s  fpite, 

“  One  truth  is  clear.  Whatever  is,  is  right.” 

Pope’s  ElTay  on  Man. 

P.  S.  Mr.  Parke,  of  Liverpool,  in  a  Pamphlet 
he  has  lately  publifhed,  intitled,  “An  account 
of  a  new  Method  of  treating  Difeafes  of  the 
Joints  of  the  Knee  and  Elbow,”  has  given  us 
a  cafe,  which  fell  under  the  care  of  Mr.  Wain- 
man,  of  Skipton  in  Craven  ;  and,  as  it  is  perhaps 
the  fulled:  confirmation,  that  can  pofiibly  happen, 
of  the  regeneration,  of  not  only  the  head  of  a  bone, 
but  of  the  capfular  ligtiment,  and  fynovial  glands, 
and  even  every  appendage  of  a  joint,  it  may,  per¬ 
haps,  be  thought  to  be  a  proper  fupplement  to 
this  paper.  1  fhall  therefore  give  the  cafe  in 
Mr.  Wainman’s  own  words.  He  defcribes  it, 
as  “  a  violent  luxation  of  the  cubitus,  occafioned 
by  a  fall  from  a  horfe  in  full  fpeed,  which  forced 
the  os  humeri,  through  the  common  integuments, 
a  confiderable  length  into  the  ground,  and  the 
bone  was  quite  denudated.”  He  adds,  “There 
was  not  a  pofllbility  of  reducing  it,  and  I 
thought  it  mod  eligible  to  take  off  the  limb, 

which 


On  Hunting ,  Shooting ,  &c,  341 

which  the  family  objected  to.  I  called  in  Dr. 
Taylor,  who  was  of  my  opinion  ;  but  it  would 
not  be  complied  with.  We  then  judged  it  bed 
to  faw  off  the  os  humeri,  which  I  did,  about 
an  inch  above  the  finus  that  receives  the 
olecranon.  I  then  placed  the  arm,  in  fuch  a 
pofition,  as  I  thought  would  be  mod  advanta¬ 
geous,  prognofticating,  that  an  anchylofis  would 
enfue,  in  which  1  was  miftaken  j  the  perfon  is 
now  living,  and  can  perform  all  the  motions  of 
the  joint,  which  is  as  flexible,  as  if  nothing 
had  ever  been  amifs.” 


BP 


An  Essay  on  /^Diversions  ^/Hunting,  Shoot¬ 
ing,  Fishing,  &c.  confidered  as  compatible  with 
Humanity.  Read  January  15,  1783. 


\X7'HILST  the  general  conftitution  of  fociety 
remains,  fuch  as  that  no  man,  however 
obfeure,  can  be  confidered  as  unconnected  with 
the  reft  of  his  fpecies;  whilft,  in  every  fituation, 
our  conduCt  and  fentiments,  in  fome  degree, 
invariably  produce  an  influence  on  thofe  of 
others;  no  inquiry,  which  refpeCts  the  genuine 
piotive  of  fuch  actions,  as  are  frequently  com- 

Z  3  mitted. 


342  On  Hunting ,  Shooting ,  &c. 

mitted,  whether  their  objeCt  be,  the  pleafure  of 
the  individual,  or  the  benefit  of  fociety,  ought 
to  be  regarded  as  unworthy  of  ferious  attention. 

The  prevailing,  though  much  to  be  lamented 
propenfity  of  individuals,  to  juftify  their  own 
failings,  by  the  detection  of  fimilar  weaknefs  in 
fuperior  characters,  renders  fuch  an  inveftigation 
the  more  neceffary  •,  and  if,  in  the  profecution 
thereof,  it  fhould  appear,  that  unworthy  motives 
have  been  erroneoufly  afcribed  to  fome  aCtions, 
which  may  be  traced  to  a  different  fource  ;  or 
that  from  the  peculiar  conftitution  of  human 
nature,  fome  weakneffes  are  infeparable  from 
kindred  excellence;  fuch  difeoveries  would  prove 
ufeful  acquifitions  to  our  fund  of  knowledge  ; 
they  would  tend  to  reCtify  the  miftaken  con¬ 
ceptions  of  the  ignorant,  or  to  improve  the 
diferiminating  faculty  in  t'nofe,  who  are  moft 
eafily  feduced  by  the  influence  of  exam;  le. 

In  reafoning  concerning  a  fpecies  of  animals, 
which  we  fuppofe,  governed  by  a  principle 
fuperior  to  that  of  inftinCt,  it  is  defirable  to 
trace  a  confiftency  between  fentiments  and 
aClions,  as  on  this  alone,  our  claim  to  virtue  and 
to  reafon  feems  founded.  On  a  fuperficial 
furvey,  however,  fuch  a  confiftency  appears 
but  ill  fupported  in  the  conduCt  of  thofe,  who, 
whilft  they  difeharge  all  the  moral  duties,  and 
in  an  efpecial  manner,  praCtife  the  virtues  of 
hofpitality,  humanity,  and  benevolence,  are 

yet 


On  Hunting ,  Shooting ,  &c.  343 

yet  capable  of  difcovering  confiderable  pleafure 
from  thofe  amufements,  the  profeflfed  objed  of 
which  is,  to  deprive  of  life  an  innocent  animal, 
unacquainted  with  thofe  defires  which  fpring 
from  luxury,  and  afking  no  more  of  the  bounties 
of  our  common  Parent,  than  is  neceflfary  to  its 
own  fupport  and  exiftence. 

To  be  prompted  to  fuch  adions,  not  from 
any  neceflity  ro  gratify  the  wants  of  nature,  but 
folely  from  the  defire  of  amufement,  appears, 
at  firft  view,  repugnant  to  every  principle  of 
humanity,  and  feems  more  charaderiftic  of  the 
ferocity  of  a  favage,  than  of  the  clemency  of  a 
civilized  being.  What  then  fhall  we  conclude! 
Are  there  no  charaders  exempt  from  incon- 
fiftency  ?  Or  is  virtue  an  empty  name,  without 
precife  meaning  ?  The  mind  (brinks  with 
averfion  from  either  conclufion.  Let  us  there¬ 
fore  take  a  more  intimate  view  of  the  motives 
to  fuch  adions,  and,  perhaps,  they  may  admit 
a  folution,  Kfs  repugnant  to  our  feelings. 

From  the  attributes  juftly  afcribed  to  the 
benevolent  Author  of  our  exiftence,  we  may 
fafely  conclude,  that  every  propenfity,  with 
which  the  human  mind  is  endowed,  is  not  only 
neceflfary,  but  even  conducive  to  our  happinefs, 
whilft  indulged  in  a  proper  degree.  This  is 
not  more  true,  of  the  mild  and  gentle  difpo- 
fitions,  thofe  which  feern  to  be  houriftied  by  the 
£t  milk  of  human  kindnefs,”  than  of  our  more 

Z  4  adive 


344  Oh  Hunting ,  Shooting ,  &V. 

a&ive  and  lively  propenfities,  thofe  which  excite 
to  the  moft  vigorous  and  toilfome  exertions. 

The  love  of  fame  gives  a  glow,  an  enthufiafm, 
to  the  feelings  of  the  poffeiTor,  when  ci'cum- 
fcribed  within  proper  limits,  which  leads  him 
to  combat  fatigue  and  danger,  to  triumph  over 
toil  and  difficulty,  and  fmile  amidft  the  anguifh 
of  pain  and  death.  Yet  the  fame  paffion,  uncon- 
troled  by  reafon,  hath  prompted  the  mod  abject 
fubmiffion,  the  moft  licentious  excefs;  it  hath 
produced  the  moft  baneful  dilorders  in  fociety, 
and,  inftead  of  deifying  human  nature,  hath 
made  earth  the  abode  of  thofe  fpirits,  which  the 
poets  have  afligned  to  the  confines  of  Tartarus. 

We  may  remark  the  fame,  of  every  other 
difpofition  of  the  human  mind,  in  the  exercife 
of  which,  the  excefs,  or  the  deficiency  alone  is 
injurious;  but  there  is  none,  the  limited  ufe 
■whereof,  doth  not  contribute  to  the  happinefs 
of  the  individual,  and  the  good  of  fociety. 

Not  to  wander,  however,  too  far  from  our 
fubjedt,  let  us,  for  a  moment,  confider  man 
in  a  date  of  nature,  whilft  he  is  yet  unacquainted 
with  the  bleffings  which  fpring  from  civilization, 
or  has  conceived  an  idea  of  pleafure,  fuperior 
to  that  which  arifes  from  the  gratification  of  his 
appetites.  His  own  perlonal  fafety,  with  that 
of  thofe  who  are  dependent  on  his  prote<51ion, 
joined  to  the  daily  cravings  of  nature,  firft  dictate 
the  neceftity  of  waging  war  with  many  of  thofe 

animals* 


On  Hunting,  Shooting,  &c.  345 

animals,  with  whom  he  hath  hitherto  lived  “joint 
tenant  of  the  (hade.” 

Perhaps  thefe  neceftities,  however,  would  not 
always  be  fufficient  to  overcome  that  love  of 
eafe,  whitft  is  fo  natural  to  a  ftate,  wherein  men 
feem  only  a  fmall  degree  elevated  above  the 
rank  of  brutes.  Perhaps,  if  other  inducements 
were  not  fupperadded,  he  would  not  be  ftudious 
to  plan,  bold  to  refolve,  and  adtive  to  engage 
in  thofe  dangers  and  enterprizes,  without  which, 
he  mull  frequently  be  deprived  of  this  fpecies 
of  food,  and  obliged  to  fubftitute  others,  more 
eafily  gained,  but  lefs  adapted  to  the  health  and 
vigour  of  the  animal  ceconomy.  Without  in¬ 
filling  too  much  on  thefe  prefumptive  reafons, 
it  is  certainly  a  kind  provifion  in  the  conftitution 
of  man,  that  thofe  exertions,  which  are  dictated 
by  neceffity,  fhould  alfo  be  infpired  by  inclina¬ 
tion  ;  and  that,  whilft  his  employment  is  made 
fubfervient  to  the  means  of  his  exiltence,  it 
fhould  alfo  become  a  principal  inftrument  of  his 
pleafures. 

Thefe  remarks,  however,  principally  apply  to 
the  rude  and  favage  ftate  of  man,  which,  happily 
for  fociety,  is  now  almoft  unknown.  There  is 
no  longer  a  neceffity  for  an  individual  to  be 
fiimfelf  the  executioner  of  the  animal  deftined 
to  his  fubfiftence ;  yet,  as  hunting,  (hooting, 
angling,  &c.  are  dill  purfued,  with  as  much 
avidity  as  formerly,  it  is  necefiary,  if  we  propofe 

to 


34  6  On  Huntings  Shooting,  &c. 

tojuftify  thefe  diverfions,  to  attempt  it  on  prin¬ 
ciples,  which  apply  to  a  ftate,  wherein  men  are 
humanized,  by  laws  and  government,  and  by 
the  refining  influence  of  arts,  fciences,  and  re¬ 
ligion. 

It  will  be  generally  allowed,  that  the  health 
and  vigour  of  the  intellectual,  as  well  as  of  the 
corporeal  fyftem,  require  frequent  exercife,  and 
that  their  very  exiftence  almofl:  depends  upon  it. 
It  is  alfo  pretty  evident,  that  to  induce  fuch  a 
degree  of  exertion  as  vyill  promote  thefe  ends, 
there  mult  be  fomething  to  ftimulate  and  incite  ; 
the  final  caufe  being  too  remote  an  objeCt. 
Hence,  every  amufement  which  exercifes  the 
powers  and  faculties  of  man,  if  not  improperly 
expenfive,  nor  necefiarily  attended  with  a  negleCt 
of  more  noble  and  important  purfuits,  is,  in 
this  point  of  view,  not  only  not  cenfurable,  but 
meritorious. 

Such,  however,  is  the  conftitution  of  man, 
that  health  alone  will  not  fatisfy  his  afpirations 
after  happinefs  •,  and  it  is  clear,  that  exer¬ 
cife  is  not  more  necefiary  to  the  perfe&ion  of 
his  faculties,  than  to  the  promotion  of  his 
pleafures.  In  the  words  of  an  elegant  writer, 
equally  diftinguifhed  for  depth  of  thought,  and 
benevolence  of  character.*  “  Labour  is  the 
chief  ingredient  of  the  felicity  to  which  man 

*  See  the  Stoic,  Hume’s  Eflays. 

afpires, 


On  Hunting ,  Shooting ,  &c.  347 

afpires,  and  all  his  enjoyments  foon  become  in- 
fipid  and  didafleful,  when  not  acquired  by  fa¬ 
tigue  and  induftry.  See  the  hardy  hunters  rife 
from  their  downy  couches,  fhake  off  the  (lum¬ 
bers  which  dill  weigh  down  their  heavy  eye  lids, 
and  ere  Aurora  has  yet  covered  the  earth  with 
her  flaming  mantle,  haden  to  the  fored.  They 
have  behind,  in  their  own  houfes,  and  in  the 
neighbouring  plains,  animals  of  every  kind, 
whofe  fle(h  furnifhes  the  mod  delicious  fire,  and 
which  offer  themfelves  to  the  fatal  ftroke.  La¬ 
borious  man  difdains  fo  eafy  a  purchafe.  He  feeks 
for  a  prey,  which  hides  itfelf  from  his  fearch,  or 
flies  from  his  purfuit,  or  defends  itfelf  from  his 
violence.  Having  exerted  in  the  chafe,  every 
paflion  of  the  mind,  and  every  member  of  the 
body,  he  then  finds  the  charms  of  repofe,  and 
with  joy  compares  its  pleafures  to  thofe  of  his 
engaging  labours.” 

If  exercife,  then,  be  neceffary  to  the  health  and 
well-being  of  man  3  if  it  be  alfo  neceffary  to 
thofe  pleafures,  for  which  nature  hath  infpired 
him  with  the  third ;  and  if  hunting,  (hooting 
and  fifhing  furnifh  dimulating  motives,  which, 
in  their  abfence,  it  would  not  be  eafy  to  fupply; 
thefe  diverfions  may  be  edeemed  both  innocent 
and  virtuous,  whild  confidered  folely  with  re- 
fpetfl  to  the  agentj  and  it  remains  only  to 
examine,  how  far,  to  the  united  motives  of 
pleafure  and  advantage  to  man,  other  reafons 
.  may 


348  0«  Hunting ,  Shooting ,  &V. 

may  be  added,  in  juftification  of  actions,  which 
refpedt  the  lives  and  happinefs  of  the  brute 
creation. 

Man,  as  lord  of  the  creation,  regards  every 
Other  animal  as  intended  for  his  necefiary  ufe, 
and  fubfervient  to  his  reafonable  purpofes.  This 
prerogative  feems  to  have  been  intended  for  him 
in  the  original  conftitution  of  things  ;  and  it  is 
fully  evident,  that  the  proper  exercife  of  it,  is  not 
more  favourable  to  his  own,  than  to  the  general 
good.  Of  fome  animals  he  prolongs  the  lives, 
and  provides  for  the  fupport,  to  make  them  con¬ 
ducive  to  his  own  convenience.  Others,  doomed 
to  contribute  to  his  fuftenance,  are  cut  off  ere 
they  attain  maturity.*  Even  if  it  were  not 
expedient  to  facrifice  thefe  to  the  indifpenfible 
wants  of  man,  necejfity  would  equally  prompt 
him  to  their  deftrudiion ;  fince,  if  they  were 
left  uninterruptedly  to  provide  for  their  own 
fupport,  and  to  propagate  their  fpecies,  their 
increafe  would  foon  be  incompatible  with 
his  exiftence,  and  probably,  with  that  of  their 
own. 

It  would,  perhaps,  be  too  hafty  an  affertion, 
to  affirm,  that  death  to  brutes  is  no  evil.  We 
are  not  competent  to  determine,  whether  their 
evidence,  like  our  own,  may  not  extend  to  fome 

*  In  the  laft  clafs  may  be  enumerated  moll  of  the  vi&im? 
to  the  diverfions  we  fpeak  of. 

future 

;  \  t  c 


On  Hunting)  Shooting ,  &c.  549 

» 

future  mode  of  being,  or  whether  the  prefent 
limited  fphere  is  all  in  which  they  are  interefted! 
On  fo  fpeculative  a  queftion,  little  could  be 
advanced  with  precifion  ;  nor  is  it  neceffary 
for  the  inveftigation  of  the  fubjeCt  before  us. 
If  we  may  be  allowed  to  reafon  only  from 
what  we  know,  it  may  lafely  be  conjectured, 
that  death  to  brutes  is  no  pofitive  evil ;  we 
have  no  reafon  to  believe,  they  are  indued 
with  the  gift  of  forefight,  and  therefore,  even 
admitting  that  with  them  the  pleafures  of  life 
exceed  its  pains  and  its  cares,  in  terminating 
their  exiftence,  they  only  fuffer  a  privation  of 
pleafure. 

Though  the  tie  of  natural  affeCtion  is,  per¬ 
haps,  not  lefs  ftrong  in  brutes,  than  in  the  human 
fpecies,  yet  it  is  often  necefiarily  diftolved,  and 
of  much  Ihorter  continuance.  It  is  alfo  to 
be  remembered,  that,  on  the  prefent  plan  of  pur- 
fuing  thefe  diverfions,  fuch  a  regard  is  had  to 
the  circumftances  and  fituation  of  animals,  that 
no  helplefs,  feeble  progeny  is  left  to  bewail  the 
lofs  of  an  affeCt  ion  ate  parent ;  or,  from  the  want 
of  its  providence  and  protection,  to  perifh  from 
expofure  to  rapacious  animals,  or  the  more 
cruel  attacks  of  want  and  famine.  The  fate 
of  an  individual  may,  therefore,  be  confidered  as 
unconnected  with  that  of  any  of  its  fpecies;  and 
if  it  be  allowed,  that  an  untimely  period  of  its 
exiftence  is  not  to  it  any  evil,  the  mode  of  its 

fuffering 


350  On  Hunting ,  Shooting ,  &c. 

buffering  death,  will  not  only  be  no  objection  to 
the  diverfions  we  fpeak  of,  but  will  furnifh  rea- 
fons  of  confiderable  weight  in  their  favour. 

The  tie  of  natural  affection,  it  hath  already 
been  obferved,  is  not  weak  among#  brute  ani¬ 
mals;  but  it  may  be  remarked,  that  though  in 
many  cafes  it  is  fo  ftrong  in  parents  towards 
their  progeny,  the  refle&ed  attachment  feems  to 
fubfift,  only  whilfl  the  young  offspring  are  in¬ 
capable  of  providing  for  themfelves.  When 
they  attain  to  maturity,  the  connection  is,  in  mod 
cafes,  diffolved,  and  the  relationfhip  forgotten. 
How  pitiable  then  mull  be  the  fituation  of  that 
animal,  whom  age,  with  its  attendants,  weaknefs 
and  difeafe,  hath  reduced  to  a  feeble  and  lielp- 
lefs  ftate,  incapable  of  providing  for  itfelf  the 
neceffary  fubfiflence,  a  prey  to  continual  appre- 
henfion  from  thofe  animals  whofe  attacks  it  is 
unable  to  fly  from  or  repel  ;  and  at  length  lan- 
guifhing  to  the  period  of  its  exiftence,  confumed 
by  famine  and  wafted  by  difeafe  ?  Compare  with 
the  fate  of  fuch  an  animal,  that  of  the  timid 
hare.  She  meets  the  opening  morn  in  health 
and  vigour,  and  with  playful  frolic  wantons  on 
yon  upland  hill,  enlivened  by  the  beams  of  the 
rifingfun.  No  feeble  pulfe,  or  languid  eye,  in¬ 
dicate  a  dilordered  frame;  no  anticipation  of  her 
approaching  fate  infpires  her  with  apprenenfion. 
All  is  gay  and  lively,  like  the  profpeCl  around 
her.  On  a  iudden,  however,  the  fcene  is  changed, 

the 


On  Hunting ,  Shooting ,  &c.  351 

the  echoing  of  the  horn  refounds  from  the  adja¬ 
cent  valley,  and  the  cry  of  the  deep-mouthed 
hounds  thunders  towards  the  hills.  She  becomes 
motionlefs  with  fear,  when  a  fecond  alarm  roufes 
her  from  her  trance  fhe  flies,  and  with  eager 
fleps  feems  to  outftrip  the  winds.  Men,  horfes, 
and  dogs  inftantly  join  in  the  chace,  and  the 
foreft  echoes  to  the  wild  uproar.  The  hare 
doubles — the  fwiftnefs  of  her  fpeed  abates — fear, 
more  than  fatfgue,  retards  her  flight — fhe  faints 
at  the  noife  of  the  approaching  hounds — re¬ 
doubles  to  elude  their  purfuit — her  feeble  limbs 
are  unable  to  perform  their  office — and  now — • 
breathlefs  and  exhaufted,  fhe  is  overtaken,  and 
torn  in  pieces  by  her  mercilefs  purfuers. 

Such  a  doom  feems  fevere,  and  hard  is  the 
heart  which  doth  not  commiferate  the  fuffierer.  Its 
apparent  feverity  will,  however,  be  much  miti¬ 
gated,  if  we  confider  the  quick  tranfition,  from 
perfedt  health  to  the  expiring  conflidt.  Death, 
brought  on  by  difeafe,  or  the  decay  of  nature, 
would  be  much  more  to  be  dreaded ;  and  com, 
pared  therewith,  the  fate  of  the  partridge  from 
the  gun  of  the  fowler,  or  of  the  trout  by  the  rod 
of  the  angler,  is  mild  and  enviable. 

To  recapitulate  then  what  hath  been  advanced 
on  this  fubjedt — We  have  feen  the  human  mind, 
in  every  age,  endowed  with  a  ftrong,  natural  in¬ 
clination  to  thefe  diverfions.  In  the  favage 
ftate,  we  have  feen,  that  the  fituation  of  man 

renders 


35 ~  On  Hunting ,  Shootings  &c, 

renders  fuch  a  propenfity  abfolutely  necefiary  j 
we  have  feen  it  become,  at  once  conducive  to 
his  convenience,  and  his  pleafures  ;  we  behold 
him  emerge,  from  a  rtate  of  uncivilization,  into 
polifhed  life.  This  propenfity  ftill  accompanies 
him  ;  it  ftimulates  him  to  exercife  the  efficient 
caufe  of  health  j  it  infpires  him  with  a  love  of 
induftry  and  aftivity,  the  certain  fource  of  true 
pleafure ;  he  becomes  habituated  to  fatigue  and 
exertion,  defpifes  danger  and  difficulty,  nor 
dreads  expofure  to  thofe  elements,  from  whofe 
feverity  he  acquires  ftrength  of  body,  with  vigor 
and  firmnefs  of  mind.  We  have  feen,  with  re- 
fpeft  to  brute  animals,  thar,  being  dcftined  for 
the  ufe  of  man,  in  depriving  them  of  exigence, 
he  difturbs  not  the  order  and  intention  of  nature; 
that,  in  facrificing  them  to  his  pleafures,  he  nei¬ 
ther  deftroys  nor  diminifhes  their  portion  of 
enjoyment ;  and  that,  in  exercifing  the  preroga¬ 
tive  with  which  he  is  inverted,  if  he  were  not 
thus  prompted  by  inclination,  he  would  be  com¬ 
pelled  by  neceffity. 

It  may  be  urged,  if  not  as  an  argument  in 
favour  of  thefe  diverfions,  yet  as  a  circumftance 
which  fhould  incline  us  to  caution  in  condemning 
them,  that  they  are  purfued  by  many  indivi¬ 
duals,  who  are  diftinguifbed  for  thofe  virtues 
of  the  heart ;  which  feem  totally  inconfirtent  with 
thoughtlefs  or  with  intentional  cruelty ;  and 

which 


\ 


On  Hunting ,  Shooting ,  &c.  353 

which  are  at  once  the  ornament  and  the  blefftngs 
of  fociety. 

T  he  Patriot,  or  the  Citizen,  who,  anxious  for 
the  good  of  his  country,  and  of  mankind,  bends 
all  his  thoughts  and  all  his  faculties  to  the  pro¬ 
motion  of  the  public  weal ;  who  facrifices  the 
comforts  of  eafe  and  of  repofe,  foregoes  the  fweets 
of  domeftic  blifs,  nor  is  with-held  by  the  charms 
of  focial  conmfe,  when  his  exertions  can  tend 
to  relieve  the  unfortunate  from  the  burden 
of  afflidion,  and  to  enliven  the  face  of  forrow 
with  fmiles  of  joy  ;  will  yet,  when  leifure,  from 
thefe  more  noble  occupations  permits,  join  in 
the  pleafures  of  the  chafe — arreft  the  pheafant 
in  his  aerial  flight — or  enfnare  the  inhabitants 
of  the  dimpled  lake.  And  furely  the  heart, 
that  makes  “  all  human  weal  and  woe  its  own,” 
cannot  rejoice  in  acts  of  inhumanity — Surely 
the  generous  pafllons  of  philanthrophy  and? bene¬ 
volence,  can  never  infpire  or  accompany  a  cruel 
deed ! 

It  would  exceed  the  limits  of  this  Eflay,  to 
take  a  comprehenfive  view  of  the  human  mind, 
which  yet  is  not  unneceffaiy  in  the  inveftigation 
of  this  fubjed.  It  might  then,  perhaps,  appear, 
that  amidft  all  the  variety  and  eccentricity,  which 
the  contemplation  of  a  given  charader  prefents, 
the  primary  difpofltions,  the  original  motives, 
and  fprings  of  adion,  are  extremely  few.  If 

Vol.  I.  A  a  this 


f 


354  On  Hunting ,  Shooting ,  lie. 

this  were  proved,  the  Teeming  inconfiftency 
between  many  of  the  a&ions  of  an  individual 
muff  difappear ;  as  it  would  be  unfair  to  reafon 
from  any  partial  view  of  his  character. 

Perhaps  the  difpofitions,  which  incline  us  to 
thefe  diverfions,  are  the  fame  which,  under 
other  circumftances,  incite  to  the  molt  heroic 
actions.  The  courage  gained  in  the  field,  may 
be  exerted  to  reftrain  the  infolence  or  ambition 
of  a  tyrant ;  expofure  to  fatigue,  and  the 
inclemency  of  feafons,  qualify  us  for  thofe  exer¬ 
tions  which  our  ftations,  as  members  of 
fociety  may  demand ;  and  he  who,  fearlefs  of 
danger,  is  emulous  of  diftinction  in  the  chafe, 
may  equally  pant  for  glory,  when  the  invafion  of 
his  country  prompts  him  to  repel  her  foes. 

We  may  further  obferve,  that  if  Nature, 
with  a  liberal,  but  not  lavifh  hand,  hath  bellowed 
on  all  her  offspring,  thofe  powers  and  propen- 
fities  only,  which  their  own  neceffities,  or  the 
general  order  and  oeconomy  of  the  fyftem 
require,  we  (hall  be  unable  to  difeover  her 
intention  in  the  gifts  of  feent  to  the  hound, 
fwiftnefs  to  the  grey-hound,  and  fagacity  to  the 
pointer ;  thefe  being  amongft  the  number  of 
innate  ir.ftinflive  faculties,  which  can  only  be 
exercifed  in  fome  of  the  diverfions  we  fpeak  of, 
and  for  which  purpofes,  we  may  therefore 
reafonaoly  prefume  they  were  given. 

Upon 


Dr.  Father  gill  on  Longevity.  355 

Upon  the  whole,  may  we  not  then  conclude, 
that  man,  by  co-operating  with  fuch  animals, 
employs  both  his  and  their  faculties  on  the 
purpofes  for  which  they  were  partially  defigned : 
thus  tending  to  complete  the  bounteous  fcheme 
of  Providence;  the  happinefs  and  well-being  of 
all  its  creatures  ? 


Observations  on  Longevity.  By  Anthony 
Fothergill,  M.  D.  F.  R.  S.  Communicated 
in  a  Letter  to  Dr ,  Percival.  Read  January  1 5, 
1783. 

DEAR  SIR, 

1 

I  HAVE  often  thought,  it  would  be  an  ufeful 
undertaking  to  colleft  into  one  point  of  view, 
the  memorable  instances  of  long-lived  perfons, 
whofe  ages  are  recorded  by  monumental  infcrip- 
tions,  biographical  writings,  or  even  by  the 
•  public  prints.  The  only  judicious  attempt  I 
have  yet  feen  of  this  kind,  was  by  the  ingenious 
Mr.  IVhitehurJl ,  a  few  years  ago,  in  his  Inquiry 
into  the  Origin  and  Formation  of  the  Earth. 
To  the  examples  of  longevity  mentioned  by  him, 
as  collected  by  a  perfon  of  veracity  from  the 

A  a  2  above 


556  Dr.  Fothergill  on  Longevity. 

above  fources,  I  have  now  added  fundry  remark¬ 
able  inftanc'es  of  a  fimilar  kind,  as  they  have 
occurred  to  me  in  the  courfe  of  reading;  and 
have  annexed  the  authorities,  (fo  far  as  was 
practicable)  that  you  may  be  enabled  to  judge 
of  the  degree  of  credibility,  that  may  feem  due 
to  the  refpedive  fads,  and  of  the  allowance 
which  it  may  appear  neceffary  to  make,  for  that 
natural  propenfity,  which  mankind  have  ever 
betrayed  for  the  marvellous.  Now,  admitting 
that  many  of  the  ages  may  have  been  fomewhat 
exaggerated,  yet  kill  there  can  be  no  pofiible 
doubt,  that  even  thefe  have  extended  far  beyond 
the  ordinary  period  of  life,  and  may  therefore 
be  entitled  to  a  place  in  the  following  tables, 
which  I  fubmit  to  your  confideration,  as  a  fmall 
fpecimen  of  what  might  be  more  worthy  your 
attention,  if  conduded  hereafter  on  a  larger 
fcale,  and  purfued  with  chronological  accuracy. 


table 


357 


Dr.  Fotbergill  on  Longevity . 

TABLE  I. 

OF  LONGEVITY. 


Names  of  the  Perfons. 

Ages 

Thomas  Parre 

Henry  Jenkins 

169 

Robert  Montgomery 

126 

James  S  nds 

140 

His  Wife 

120 

Countefs  of  Defmond 

^140 

J.  Sagar 

I  12' 

-  -  Laurence 

3  4C 

Simon  Sack 

i4t 

Gel.  Thomas  Window 

r4b 

Francis  Conftft 

15° 

Chrift.  J.  Drakenberg 

146 

M  rgaret  Forfter 

136 

104 

Francis  Bons 

I  2  I 

John  Bronkey 

*34 

James  Bowels 

152 

John  Tice 

125 

John  Mount 

136 

A.  Goldfmith 

3  40 

Mary  Ya  es 

128 

John  Bales 

126I 

William  Ellis 

170 

Louifla  Truxo,  a  Ne- 

grefs  in  S.  Ameiica 

*75 

Marearet  Patten 

13S 

Janet  Taylur 

108, 

Richard  Lloyd 

r33 

Sufannah  Hilliar 

ICO 

James  Htyley 

1 1  2 

Ann  Cockbolt 

105 

William  WJker,  aged 

I  IS, 

Places  of  Abode. 


Yorkfhire 

Diito 

Staffordlhire 

Ditto 

Ireland 

Ditto 

Lancalhire 

Scotland 

Trior.ia 

Ireland 

Yorklhire 

Norway 

Cumberland 

Ditto 

France 

Devonfhire 

Killing  worth 

Worcefterlhire 

Scotland 

Francs 

Shroplbire 

Northampton 

Live  pool 

Tucunnan,  S.  America 

Lockneugh  nearPaifley 
Fintray,  Scotland 
Montgomery 
Piddington,  North- 
amptonlhire 
Middlewirh,  Chefhire 
Stoke-Bruerne,  North- 
amptonlhire 


Living  or  Dead. 


Died  Nov.  16,  1635 
Phil  Tranf  No.  44, 
Died  Dec.  8,  1670 
Phil.  Tranf.  No.  221 
Di  d  in  -  1670. 

"I  Do. Fuller’s  Worthies* 

J  P-47-  . 
Rawleigh’s  Hift.p.  166. 
Died  -  -  1631 

-  -  1668  (b) 
Living  -  -  (CJ 

Died  May  30,  1764 

- Aug.  26,  1766 

-  Jan.  -  176S 

- June  24, 

Both  living  1771 

Died  Feb.  6,  1760 
Living  -  -  I777(VJ 

Died  Aug.  15,  165 (,(/) 

- March  1774^; 

- Feb.  27,  1776^ A ) 

- June  1776  (,) 

-  '  '  177<W 

- -  April  5,  1706  (l) 

- Aug.  16,  1780(0;) 

Living  Oft.  5,  1780  (») 

LynchehGuidetoHealth 
Died  Oa.  10,  1780 
LynchehGuidetoHealth 

Died  Feb.  19,  1781  (0) 

- March  17,  ir8i(/) 

—  April  5,  1775  (f) 


Battle  of  Edge-Hill. 

(t)  Ibidem,  Aug.  22,  1776, 

(/)  See  Infcriprion  in  the  Portico  of  All- 


fa)  Fuller's  Worthies,  p.  140 
(£)  Phil.  Tranf.  abridged  by  Lowthorp, 
vol.  III.  p.  30b. 

tc)  Der ham's  Phy (  c  >  Theology,  p.  177. 

(d)  Annual  Regiher. 

(e)  Daily  Adverlifor,  Nov.  18,  1777. 

(f)  Warwickfhire. 

lg)  Daily  Advertifer,  March  1774. 

(A)  Morning  Poll,  Feb.  29,  1776. 

(')  Daily  Advenifer,  June  24,  J776. ' 


Saints  Church. 

(r»)  London  Even.  Poll,  Aog.  22,  1780. 
(«)  London  Chronicle,  Oa.  5,  1780. 

(0)  North.  Mercury,  Feb.  19,  1781. 

(/>)  Gen.  Even.  Poll,  March  24,  1781. 
(7)  Well  known  to  Perfons  of  Credit  at 
Northampton. 


A  a  3 


If 


35  8  Dr.  F 'other gill  on  Longevity. 

If  we  look  back  to  an  early  period  of  the 
chridian  sera,  we  fliall  find  that  Italy  has  been, 
at  lead  about  that  time  peculiarly  propitious 
to  longevity.  Lord  Bacon  obferves,  that  the 
year  of  our  Lord  76,  in  the  reign  of  Vejpafian , 
was  memorable  ;  for  in  that  year  was  a  taxing, 
which  afforded  the  mod  authentic  method  of 
knowing  the  ages  of  men.  From  it,  there  were 
found  in  that  part  of  Italy >  lying  between  the 
Appenine  mountains,  and  the  river  Po ,  one 
hundred  and  twenty  four  perfons  who  either 
equalled,  or  exceeded  one  hundred  years  of 
age,  namely: 


TABLE  IL 


54 

Perfons 

57 

- 

■» 

2 

- 

- 

4 

- 

- 

4 

- 

- 

3 

- 

- 

In  Parma 

3 

- 

- 

2 

- 

- 

In  Brujfels 

1 

- 

- 

In  Placentia 

1 

- 

- 

In  Faventia 

1 

- 

- 

6 

- 

- 

4 

- 

- 

In  Rimino 

1 

- 

. 

of  100  Years  each. 

of  1 10 

of  125 

of  130 

of  I  36 

of  140 

of  120  Years  each. 

of  130 

of  125 

of  131 

of  132 

of  I  10 

of  1 20 

of  150  Years,  viz.  Marcus 
Aponius. 


Mr. 


Dr.  Fothergill  on  Longevity.  359 


Mr.  Carew,  in  his  furvey  of  Cornwall,  affures 
us,  that  it  is  no  unufual  thing,  with  the  inhabit¬ 
ants  of  that  county,  to  reach  ninety  years  of  age 
and  upwards,  and  even  to  retain  their  ftrength 
of  body,  and  perfect  ufe  of  their  fenfes.  Belides 
Brown ,  the  Cornifh  beggar,  who  lived  to  one 
hundred  and  twenty,  and  one  Polezew  to  one 
hundred  and  thirty  years  of  age,  he  remembered 
the  deceafe  ofifour  perfons  in  his  own  parifh,  the 
fum  of  whofe  years,  taken  colle&ively,  amounted 
to  three  hundred  and  forty.  Now,  although 
longevity  evidently  prevails  more  in  certain 
difirifls  than  in  others,  yet  it  is,  by  no  means, 
confined  to  any  particular  nation  or  climate  -3 
nor  are  there  wanting  infiances  of  it,  in  almoft 
every  quarter  of  the  globe,  as  appears  from  the 
preceding,  as  well  as  the  fubfequent  table. 


A  a  4 


TABLE 


360 


Dr.  Fothergill  on  Longevity 


TABLE  III. 

OF  LONGEVITY. 


Names  of  the  Perfons.  Age. 

Hippocrates,  Phyfician,  104 
Democritus,  Philofopher  109 
Galen,  Phyfician 
Albuna  Marc 

Dumitur  Raduly 
Titus  Fullonius 
Abraham  Paiba 
L.  Tertulla 


140 

150 

140 

150 

142 

*37 


Places  of  Abode. 

lfiand  of  Cos 
Abdera 
Pergamus 
Ethiopia 

Haromfzeck  Tran* 
filvania 
Bononia 

Charles  -  town,  South 
Carolina 
Aiminium 


Lewis  Coronaro 


100 


Venice 


Robert  Blakeney,  Efq. 

Margaret  Scott 

W.  Gulftone 
J.  Bright 
William  Pofttll 
Jane  Reeves 
W.  Paulet,  Marquis  of 
Winchefter 
John  Wilfon 

Patrick  Wian 
M.  Laurence 
Evan  Williams 


114 


Armagh,  Ireland 


125  Dalkeith,  Scotland 


140 

105 

120 

103 


Ireland 

Ludlow 

France 

Efl'ex 


106 


Hampfhire 


116 

”5 

140 

145 


Suffolk 

Lelbury,  Northum¬ 
berland 
Orcades 

Carmarthen  Work 
houfe-,  flill  alive 


Where  recorded. 

Lyncbe  onHealth,Chap.j. 
Bacon’s  Hifiory,  1095. 
VcfT.  Inft.  or  Lib.  3. 
Hakewell’s  ap.  Lib.  1. 
Died  Jan.  18,  17S2.  Gen. 

Gazetteer,  April  18th. 
Fulgofus,  Lib.  8. 

General  Gazetteer. 

Fulgofus,  Lib.  3. 

Bacon’s  Hifl.  of  Life,  &c, 
P-  134- 

General  Gazetteer. 

See  Infcrip.  on  her  Tomb 
in  Dalkeith  Ch.  Yard. 
Fuller’s  Worthies. 

Lynche  on  Health. 
Bacon’s  Hift.  p  134. 

St.  J.Chron.  June  14,1781. 

Baker’s  Chron.  p.  502. 

Gen.  Gaz  Oft.  29,  1782. 
Plempius  Fundammed. 

Seft.  4,  Chap.  8. 
Buchanan’s  Hift.  of  Scot. 
Gen.  Gazetteer,  Oft.  12, 
1782. 


The  Antidiluvians  are  purpofely  omitted,  as 
bearing  too  little  reference  to  the  prefent  race 
of  mortals,  to  afford  any  fatisfadlory  conclufions; 
and  the  improbable  ftories  of  fome  perfons, 
who  have  almoft  rivalled  them  in  modern  times, 
border  too  much  upon  the  marvellous,  to  find 
a  place  in  thefe  tables.  The  prefent  examples 
are  abundantly  fufficient  to  prove,  that  longevity 
dpes  not  depend  fo  much,  as  has  been  fuppofed, 

on 


Dr.  F  other  gill  on  Longevity. 

cn  any  particular  climate,  fituation,  or  occu¬ 
pation  in  life.  For  we  fee,  that  it  often  prevails 
in  places,  where  all  thefe  are  extremely  dif- 
fimilar;  and  it  would,  moreover,  be  very 
difficult,  in  the  hiftories  of  the  feveral  perfons 
above-mentioned,  to  find  any  circumfiance 
common  to  them  all,  except,  perhaps  that 
of  being  born  of  healthy  parents,  and  of  bein^ 
inured  to  -  daily  labour,  temperance,  and 
fimplicity  of  diet.  Among  the  inferior  ranks 
of  mankind,  therefore,  rather  than  arnongd 
the  Tons  of  eafe  and  luxury,  fhall  we  find  die 
molt  numerous  inlfances  of  longevitv  •  even 
frequently,  when  other  external  circumftances 
feem  extremely  unfavourable  :  as  in  the  cafe  of 
the  poor  fexton  at  Peterborough ,  who,  notwith- 
(landing  his  unpromifing  occupation  among  dead 
bodies,  lived  long  enough  to  bury  two  crowned 
heads,  and  to  furvive  two  complete  generations.* 
The  livelihood  of  Henry  Jenkins ,  and  old  Parr,  is 
faid  to  have  confided  chiefly  of  the  coarfeft  fare, 
as  they  depended  on  precarious  alms.  To 
which  may  be  added,  the  remarkable  inftance  of 
/Ignes  Mlhurne ,  who,  after  bringing  forth  a 
numerous  offspring,  and  being  obliged,  through 
extreme  indigence,  to  pafs  the  latter  part  of  her 
life  in  St.  Luke’s  wQrk-houfe,  yet  reached  her 

*  Fuller' %  Worthies,  p.  293,  from  a  Memorial  in  the 
Cathedral  at  Peterborough. 

hundredth 


362  Dr.  Father  gill  oh  Longevity. 

hundredth  and  fixth  year,  in  that  fordid,  unfriendly 
fituation.*  The  plain  diet,  and  invigorating 
employments  of  a  country  life,  are  acknowledged, 
on  all  hands,  to  be  highly  conducive  to  health 
and  longevity,  while  the  luxury  and  refinements 
of  large  cities  are  allowed  to  be  equally  deftruc- 
tive  to  the  human  fpecies  :  and  this  confideration 
alone,  perhaps,  more  than  counterbalances  all 
the  boafted  privileges,  of  fuperior  elegance  and 
civilization,  refulting  from  a  city  life. 

From  country  villages,  and  not  from  crouded 
cities,  have  the  preceding  inftances  of  longevity 
been  chiefly  fupplied.  Accordingly  it  appears, 
from  the  London  bills  of  Mortality,  during  a 
period  of  thirty  years,  viz.  from  the' year  3728 
to  1758,  the  fum  of  the  deaths  amounted  to 
750,322,  and  that,  in  all  this  prodigious 
number,  only  two  hundred  and  forty  two 
perfons  furvived  the  hundredth  year  of  their  age! 
This  overgrown  metropolis  is  computed,  by  my 
learned  friend  Dr.  Price ,  to  contain  a  ninth  part 
of  the  inhabitants  of  England,  and  to  confume 
annually,  feven  thoufand  perfons,  who  remove 
into  it  from  the  country  every  year,  without 
increafing  it.  He  moreover  obferves,  that  the 
number  of  inhabitants,  in  England  and  Wales, 
has  diminiChed  about  one  fourth  part  fince 
fhe  revolution,  and  fo  rapidly  of  late,  that, 

id 


?  Lynche's  Guide  to  Health,  C.  III. 


i 


Dr.  F other  gill  on  Longevity.  363 

in  eleven  years,  near  200,000  of  our  common 
people  have  been  loft!*  If  the  calculation  be 
juft,  however  alarming  it  may  appear  in  a 
national  view,  there  is  this  confolation,  when 
confidered  in  a  philofophical  light,  that  without 
partial  evil,  there  can  be  no  general  good  ;  and 
that,  what  a  nation  lofes  in  the  fcale  of  popu¬ 
lation  at  one  period,  it  gains  at  another;  and 
thus,  probably,  the  average  number  of  inhabit¬ 
ants,  on  the  furface  of  the  globe,  continues,  at  all 
times,  nearly  the  fame.  By  this  medium,  the 
world  is  neither  overftocked  with  inhabitants, 
nor  kept  too  thin,  but  life  and  death  keep  a 
tolerably  equal  pace.  The  inhabitants  of  this 
ifland,  comparatively  fpeaking,  are  but  as  the 
duft  of  the  balance;  yet,  inftead  of  being  di- 
miniftied,  we  are  aftured  by  other  writers,  thar, 
within  thefe  thirty  years,  they  are  great! v  in- 
creafed.  f 

The  defire  of  felf-prefervation,  and  of  pro- 
trading  the  fhort  fpan  of  life,  is  fo  intimately 
interwoven  with  our  conftiturion,  that  it  is 
juftly  efteemed  one  of  the  firft  principles  of 
our  nature,  and,  in  fpite  even  of  pain  and  mifery, 
feldom  quits  us  to  the  laft  moments  of  our 
exiftence.  It  feems,  therefore,  to  be  no  left 
our  duty,  than  our  intereft,  to  examine  minutely 

•  *  Obfervations  on  Population,  &c.  p.  305. 

t  The  Rev,  Mr.  Howlet,  Mr.  Wales,  and  others. 


into 


364 


Dr.  F other  gill  on  Longevity. 


into  the  various  means,  that  have  been  con- 
fidered  as  conducive  to  health  and  long  life ; 
and,  if  poffible,  to  diftinguifh  fuch  circumftances 
as  are  effential  to  that  great  end,  from  thofe 
■which  are  merely  accidental.  But  here,  it  is 
much  to  be  regretted,  that  an  accurate  hiftory 
of  the  lives  of  all  the  remarkable  peifons,  in  the 
above  table,  fo  far  as  relates  to  the  diet,  regimen, 
and  the  ufe  of  the  non-naturals ,  has  not  been 
faithfully  handed  down  to  us  ;  without  which, 
it  is  impofiible  to  draw  the  neceffary  inferences. 
Is  it  not  then  a  matter  of  aftonifhment,  that 
hiftorians  and  philofophers  have  hitherto  paid 
fo  little  attention  to  longevity  ?  If  the  prefent 
imperfect  lift  Ihould  excite  others,  of  more 
leifure  and  better  abilities,  to  undertake  a  full 
inveftigation  of  fo  interefling  a  fubjedt,  the 
enquiry  might  prove  not  only  curious,  but 
highly  ufeful  to  mankind,  in  order  to  furnifh 
materials  for  a  future  hiftory  of  longevity,  the 
bills  of  mortality,  throughout  the  kingdom, 
ought  firfb  to  be  revifed,  and  put  on  a  better  foot¬ 
ing  ;  agreeably  to  the  fcheme  which  you  point¬ 
ed  out  fome  time  ago,  and  of  which  Manchefter 
and  Chefler,  have  already  given  a  fpecimen, 
highly  worthy  of  imitation.  The  plan,  however, 
might  be  further  improved,  with  very  little 
trouble,  by  adding  a  particular  account  of  the 
diet  and  regimen  -of  every  perfon,  who  dies  at 
eighty  years  of  age,  or  upwards  j  and  mention- 


1 


Dr.  Father  gill  on  "Longevity . 


ing,  whether  his  parents  were  healthy,  long-lived 
people,  See.  &c.  An  accurate  regifler,  thus 
eftablifhed  throughout  the  Brttijh  dominions, 
would  be  productive  of  many  important  advan¬ 
tages  to  fociety,  not  only  in  a  medical,  and 
philofophical,  but  alfo  in  a  political  and  moral 
view.  It  is  therefore  to  be  hoped,  that  the 
legiflature  will  not  long  delay  taking  an  object, 
of  fuch  great  utility,  into  their  ferious  con- 
fideration. 

All  the  circumflances,  that  are  molt  efientially 
neceffary  to  life,  may  be  comprized  under  the 
fix  following  heads. 


1.  Air  and  climate. 

2.  Meat  and  drink. 

3.  Motion  and  reft. 


4.  The  fecretions  and  excretions. 

5.  Sleep  and  watching. 

6.  Affedions  of  the  mind. 


Thefe,  though  all  perfectly  natural  to  the 
conftitution,  have  by  writers,  been  ftyled  the 
non-naturals ,  by  a  flrange  perverfion  of  lan¬ 
guage  ;  and  have  been  all  copioufly  handled 
under  that  improper  term.  However,  it  may 
not  be  amifs,  to  offer  a  few  fhort  obfervations 
on  each,  as  they  are  fo  immediately  connected 
with  the  prefen t  fubjeff. 

1.  Air,  Sec.  It  has  long  been  known,  that 
frefb  air  is  more  immediately  neceflary  to  life 
than  food  ;  for  a  man  may  live  two  or  three 
days  without  the  latter,  but  not  many  minutes 
without  the  former.  The  vivifying  principle 

contained 


$66  Dr.  Pother  gill  on  Longevity. 

contained  in  the  atmofphere,  fo  eflfential  to 
the  lupport  of  flame,  as  well  as  animal  life, 
concerning  which,  authors  have  propofed  fo 
many  conjedlures,  appears  now  to  be  nothing 
elfe  but  that  pure  dephlogifticated  fluid  lately 
difeovered  by  that  ingenious  philofopher.  Dr. 
Prieftley.  The  common  atmofphere  may  well 
be  fuppofed  to  be  more  or  lefs  healthy  in  pro¬ 
portion,  as  it  abounds  with  this  animating 
principle.  As  this  exhales,  in  copious  flreams, 
from  the  green  leaves  of  all  kinds  of  vegetables, 
even  from  thole  of  the  mod;  poifonous  kind, 
may  we  not,  in  fome  meafure,  account  why 
inftances  of  longevity  are  fo  much  more  frequent 
in  the  country,  than  in  great  cities  •,  where  the 
air,  inftead  of  partaking  fo  largely  of  this 
falutary  impregnation,  is  daily  contaminated 
with  noxious  animal  effluvia,  and  phlogifton  ? 

With  refpedl  to  climate,  various  oblervations 
confpire  to  prove,  that  thofe  regions,  which 
lie  within  the  temperate  zones,  are  bed  calcu¬ 
lated  to  promote  long  life.  Hence,  perhaps, 
may  be  explained,  why  Italy  has  produced  fo 
many  long  livers,  and  why  Jflands  in  general 
are  more  falutary  than  Continents;  of  which 
Bermudas ,  and  fome  others,  afford  examples. 
And  it  is  a  pleafing  circumft ance,  that  our 
own  Ifland,  appears  from  the  above  table, 
(notwithftanding  the  fudden  viciffltudes  to 
which  it  is  liable,)  to  contain  far  more  inftances 

of 


Dr.  F other  gill  on  Longevity.  ^ 

of  longevity  than  could  well  be  imagined.  The 
ingenious  Mr.  Wbileburft ,  a  (lures  us,  from 
certain  fads,  that  Englifhmen.  are,  in  general, 
longer  lived  than  North  Americans;  and, 
that  a  Britifh  constitution  will  Jaft  lonper, 
even  in  that  climate,  than  a  native  one.*  But 
it  mud:  be  allowed  in  general,  that  the  human 
conftitution  is  adapted  to  the  peculiar  ft  ate 
and  temperature,  of  each  refpedive  climate, 
fo  that  no  part  of  the  habitable  globe  can  be 
pronounced  too  hot,  or  too  cold,  for  its  in¬ 
habitants.  Yet,  in  order  to  promote  a  friendly 
intercourfe  between  the  moft  remote  regions, 
the  Author  of  Nature  has  wifely  enabled  the 
inhabitants  to  endure  great  and  fuprizinc- 
changes  of  temperature  with  impunity.-f- 

2.  Foods  and  drink.  Though  foods  and 
drink,  of  the  moft  fimple  kinds,  are  allowed 
to  be  the  beft  calculated  for  fupportini:r  the 
body  in  health,  yet  it  can  hardly  be  doubted, 
but  variety  may  be  fafely  indulged  occasionally* 
provided  men  would  reftrain  their  appetites 
within  the  bounds  of  temperance.  For  boun¬ 
tiful  nature  cannot  be  fuppofed  to  have  poured^ 
forth  fuch  a  rich  profufion  of  provifions,  merely 

*  Enquiry  into  the  Original  State,  and  Formation  of 
the  Earth. 

t  ^ec  remarkable  inftances  of  this,  in  the  Account  of 
Experiments  in  a  heated  room,  by  Dr.  George Sordyce,  and 
others. 

Phil.  Tranf,  vol.  LXJX. 


to 


g  68  Dr.  Fo  they  gill  on  Longevity. 

to  tantalize  the  human  fpecies,  without  attribut¬ 
ing  to  her  the  part  of  a  cruel  ftep-dame,  inftead 
of  that  of  the  kind  and  indulgent  parent.  Befides, 
we  find,  that  by  the  wonderful  powers  of  the 
digeftive  organs,  a  variety  of  animal  and 
vegetable  fubltances,  of  very  difcordant  prin¬ 
ciples,  are  happily  affimilated  into  one  bland 
homogeneous  chyle ;  therefore,  it  feems  natural 
to  diftru ft  thofe  cynical  writers,  who  would 
rigidly  confine  mankind  to  one  fimple  difh,  and 
their  drink  to  the  mere  water  of  the  brook. 
Nature,  it  is  true,  has  pointed  out  that  mild, 
infipid  fluid,  as  the  univerfal  diluent ;  and,  there¬ 
fore,  moft  admirably  adapted  for  our  daily 
beverage.  But  experience  has  equally  proved, 
that  vinpus,  and  fpiritous  liquors,  on  certain 
occafions,  are  no  lefs  falutary  and  beneficial, 
whether  it  be  to  fupport  firength  againft  fick- 
nefs,  or  bodily  fatigue,  or  to  exhilerate  the  mind 
under  the  preflure  of  heavy  misfortunes.  But 
alas  !  what  Nature  meant  for  innocent  and  ufeful 
cordials,  to  be  ufed  only  occafionally,  and 
according  to  the  direction  of  reafon ;  cudom 
and  caprice,  have,  by  degrees,  rendered  habitual 
to  the  human  frame,  and  liable  to  the  mofl 
enormous  and  deitrudtive  abufes  ?  Hence,  it 
may  be  juftly  doubted,  whether  gluttony  and 
intemperance,  have  not  depopulated  the  world, 
more  than  even  fword,  peftilence,  and  famine. 
True,  therefore,  is  the  old  maxim,  “  Modus 

utendi 


Dr.  F other  gill  on  Longevity.  369 

utendi  ex  veneno  facie  Medicamentum,  ex  Medi- 
camento,  venenum.” 

3.  and  4.  Motion  and  reft,  fleep  and  watching. 
It  is  allowed  on  all  hands,  that  alternate  motion 
and  reft,  and  deep  and  watching,  are  neceftary 
conditions  to  health  and  longevity ;  and  that 
they  ought  to  be  adapted  to  age,  temperament, 
conftitution,  temperature  of  the  climate,  &c. 
but  the  errors  which  mankind  daily  commit, 
in  thefe  refpedts,  become  a  fruitful  fource  of 
difeafes.  While  fome  are  bloated  and  relaxed 
with  eafe  and  indolence,  others  are  emaciated, 
and  become  rigid,  through  hard  labour,  watch¬ 
ing,  and  fatigue. 

5.  Secretions  and  execretions.  Where  the 
animal  functions  are  duly  performed,  the  fecre- 
tions  go  on  regularly  3  and  the  different  evacua¬ 
tions  fo  exa&ly  correfpond  to  the  quantity  of 
aliment  taken  in,  in  a  given  time,  that  the  body 
is  found  to  return  daily  to  nearly  the  fame  weight. 
If  any  particular  evacuation  happen  to  be  pre- 
ternaturally  diminifhed,  fome  other  evacuation  is 
proportionally  augmented,  and  the  equilibrium 
is  commonly  preferved  5  but  continued  irregula¬ 
rities,  in  thefe  important  functions,  cannot  but 
terminate  in  difeafe. 

6.  Affe&ions  of  the  mind.  The  due  regula¬ 
tion  of  the  paftions,  perhaps,  contributes  more 
to  health  and  longevity,  than  that  of  any 

Vol.  I.  B  b  other 


370  Dr.  F  other  gill  on  Longevity. 

other  of  the  non-naturals.  The  animating  paf- 
fions,  fuch  as  joy,  hope,  love,  See.  when  kept 
within  proper  bounds,  gently  excite  the  nervous 
influence,  promote  an  equable  circulation,  and 
are  highly  conducive  to  health  while  the 
deprefling  affedtions,  fuch  as  fear,  grief,  and 
defpair,  produce  the  contrary  effedt,  and  lay  the 
foundation  of  the  molt  formidable  difeafes. 

From  the  light  which  hiftory  affords  us,  as 
well  as  from  fome  inftances  in  the  above  table, 
there  is  great  reafon  to  believe,  that  longevity 
is,  in  a  great  meafure,  hereditary ;  and  that 
healthy,  long-lived  parents  would  commonly 
tranfmit  the  fame  to  their  children,  were  it  not 
for  the  frequent  errors  in  the  non-naturals,  which 
fo  evidently  tend  to  the  abbreviation  of  human 
life. 

Whence  is  it,  but  from  thefe  caufes,  and  the 
unnatural  modes  of  living,  that,  of  all  the  chil¬ 
dren  which  are  born  in  the  capital  cities  of  Europe , 
nearly  one  half  die  in  early  infancy  ?  To 
what  elfe  can  we  attribute  this  extraordinary 
mortality  ?  Such  an  amazing  proportion  of 
premature  deaths  is  a  circumftance  unheard  of, 
among  favage  nations,  or  among  the  young  of 
other  animals!  In  the  earlieft  ages,  we  are 
informed,  that  human  life  was  protradted  to  a 
very  extraordinary  length ;  yet  how  few  perfons, 
in  thefe  later  times,  arrive  at  that  period,  which 

nature 


Dr.  Fothergill  on  Longevity.  37 1 

nature  Teems  to  have  defigned !  Man  is,  by 
nature,  a  field-animal,  and  Teems  deftined  to  rile 
with  the  Tun,  and  to  Tpend  a  large  portion  of 
his  time  in  the  open  air,  to  inure  his  body  to 
robuft  exercffes,  and  the  'inclemency  of  the 
feafons,  and  to  make  a  plain  homely  repaft, 
only  when  hunger  dictates.  But  art  has  ftudi- 
oufly  defeated  the  kind  intentions  of  nature ; 
and  by  enflaving  him  to  all  the  blandifhments 
of  fenfe,  has  left  him,  alas  !  an  eafy  viftim  to 
folly  and  caprice  !  To  enumerate  the  various 
abufes,  which  take  place  from  the  earlieft  in¬ 
fancy,  and  which  are  continued  through  the 
fucceeding  ftages  of  modifh  life,  would  carry 
me  far  beyond  my  prefent  intention.  Suffice  it 
to  obferve,  that  they  prevail  more  particularly 
among  people,  who  are  the  moft  highly  polifhed 
and  refined.  To  compare  their  artificial  mode 
of  life,  with  that  of  nature,  or  even  with  the 
long  livers  in  the  lift,  would,  probably,  afford 
a  very  ftriking  contraft  ;  and,  at  the  fame  time, 
fupply  an  additional  reafon,  why,  in  very  large 
cities,  inftances  of  longevity  are  To  very  rare. 
Of  late  years,  the  increafing  luxury  and  diffipa- 
tion  of  the  age,  no  longer  confined  to  the 
metropolis,  have  Tpread  their  contagion  far 
and  wide  into  the  country,  fo  as  to  afford  the 
fage  divine,  and  Tpeculative  moralift,  a  more 
melancholy  profpetft  of  the  apparent  degeneracy 

B  b  2  of 


372  Dr.  Fothergill  on  Longevity • 

of  the  human  race,  than,  perhaps,  was  ever 
before  exhibited  !* 

That  fo  complicated  a  machine,  as  the  human 
body,  fo  delicate  in  its  texture,  and  fo  exquifitely 
formed  in  all  its  parts,  diould  continue,  for  fo 
many  years  to  perform  its  various  funftions, 
even  under  the  moft  prudent  conduct,  is  not  a 
little  furprifing:  but  that  it  fhould  ever  hold 
out  to  any  advanced  period,  under  all  the  rude 
fhocks  it  fo  often  meets  with  from  riot  and 
intemperance,  which  lay  it  open  to  all  the 
various  “  ills  that  fiefh  is  heir  to,”  is  dill  more 
truly  miraculous !  But  here,  perhaps,  it  may 
be  alledged,  that  it  never  can  be  fuppofed,  all 
the  long  livers  purfued  one  uniform,  regular 
courfe  of  life,  fince  it  is  well  known,  that  fome 
of  the  mod  noted  ones  were  fometimes  guilty 
of  great  deviations  from  drift  temperance  and 
regularity.  Let  not  this,  however,  encourage 
the  giddy  libertines,  of  the  prefent  age,  to  hope 

to  render  their  continued  fcenes  of  intemperance 

* 

*  I  fay  apparently ,  becaufe  mankind,  in  reality,  have 
been  equally  prone  to  vice  and  folly  in  all  ages ;  only  thefe 
have  alfumed  different  appearances,  according  to  the  tafte 
and  manners  of  the  times  :  not  that  the  human  heart  has 
been  fucceflively  growing  more  and  more  depraved,  as  the 
Poet  fatyrically  exclaims, 

iEtas  parentum,  pejor  avis,  tulit 

Nos  nequiores  ;  mox  daturos 

Progeniem  vitiofiorem  !  Hor.  Lib.  III.  Ode  6. 

and 


Dr.  Bother  gill  on  Longevity.  373 

and  debauchery,  compatible  with  health  and 
longevity.  The  duties  and  occupations  of  life, 
will  not,  indeed,  permit  the  generality  of  man¬ 
kind  to  live  by  rule,  and  fubjeCt  themfelves  to 
a  precife  regimen.  Fortunately,  this  is  not 
neceffary:  for,  the  divine  Architect,  has,  with 
infinite  wifdom,  rendered  the  human  frame  fo 
ductile,  as  to  admit  of  a  very  confiderable 
latitude  of  health ;  yet  this  has  its  bounds,  which 
none  can  long  tranfgrefs  with  impunity.  For, 
if  old  Farr ,  notwithftanding  fome  exceffes, 
and  irregularities,  arrived  at  fo  aftonifhing  an 
age,  yet  we  have  reafon  to  fuppofe,  that  thefe 
were  far  from  being  habitual ;  and  may  alfo 
conclude,  that  had  it  not  been  for  thefe  abufes, 
his  life  might  have  been  ftill  confiderably  pro- 
traded. 

On  the  whole,  though  forne  few  exceptions 
may  occur,  to  what  has  been  already  advanced, 
yet,  it  will  be  found,  in  general,  that  all  extremes 
are  unfriendly  to  health  and  longevity.  Excef- 
(ive  heat  enervates  the  body ;  extreme  cold 
renders  it  torpid  :  fioth  and  inactivity  clog 
the  neceffary  movements  of  the  machine;  in- 
ceffant  labour  foon  wears  it  out.  On  the  other 
hand,  a  temperate  climate,  moderate  exercife, 
pure  country  air,  and  find  temperance,  together 
with  a  prudent  regulation  of  the  paffions,  will 
prove  the  molt  efficacious  means  of  protracting 
life  to  its  utmoft  limits.  Now,  if  any  of  thefe 

B  b  3  require 


374  Fr.  Father  gill  on  Longevity. 

require  more  peculiar  attention  than  the  reft, 
it  is,  undoubtedly,  the  laft  :  for  the  focial  paffions, 
like  gentle  gales,  fan  the  brittle  vefifel  calmly 
along  the  ocean  of  life,  while,  on  the  other  hand, 
rough,  turbulent  ones  daft)  it  upon  rocks  and 
quickfands.  Hence,  perhaps,  it  may  be  ex¬ 
plained,  why  the  cultivation  of  philofophy, 
mufic,  and  the  fine  arts,  all  which  manifeftly 
tend  to  humanize  the  foul,  and  to  calm  the 
rougher  paffions,  are  fo  highly  conducive  to 
longevity.  And,  finally,  why  there  is  no  fure 
method  of  fecuring  that  habitual  calmnefs  and 
ferenity  of  mind,  which  conftitute  true  happi- 
nefs,  and  which  are,  at  the  fame  time,  fo  eflential 
to  health  and  long  life,  without  virtue. 

“  JEquanimitas  fola,  atque  utiica  /elicit  as” 

I  hope  you  will  excufe  the  prolixity  of  this 
letter,  and  believe  me  to  be,  with  the  higheft 
efteem, 

Dear  Sir, 

Your  fincere  Friend 

and  faithful  humble  Servant, 

i 

A.  FOTHERGILL. 

London,  Nov.  23,  1782. 


On 


Dr.  Barnes  on  the  Influence  of  the  Imagination 3  &c.  375 


On  the  Influence  of  the  Imagination,  and 
the  Passions,  upon  the  Understanding.  By 
the  Rev.  Thomas  Barnes,  D.  D.  Read 
Feb.  12,  17  83. 

SENTIMENT  was  advanced  in  con- 


verfation  fcveral  evenings  ago,  in  this  place, 
which,  to  fome  Gentlemen,  appeared  ftrange, 
or  rather,  falfe.  The  refpe£t  I  owe  to  this 
Society  and  above  all,  to  Truth,  obliges  me 
to  endeavour  to  defend  a  point,  which  appears 
to  me,  to  be,  not  only  juft,  but  very  important. 

In  the  converlation  before  alluded  to,  it  had 
been  aflerted,  “  That  an  energy,  imparted  to 
“  one  power  of  the  human  mind,  will  often  com- 
“  municate  a  degree  of  energy  to  the  reft ,  and 
“  thus  affift  and  quicken  their  operation.” 

In  proof  of  this,  it  was  maintained,  “That 
“  in  many  cafes,  the  vigour  of  imagination  will 
“  give  correfpondent  vigour  to  the  judgment,” 
and  “That  a  degree  of  warmth  and  sensibility, 
“  will  be  greatly  favourable  to  the  clearnefi ,  as 
“  well  as  to  the  celerity ,  of  the  perceptions  of  the 
“  understanding.” 

This  fentiment  will,  probably,  alarm  thofe 
who  have  implicitly  received  what  is  fo  generally 
afterted,  “  That  pure  and  fimple  truth  has  nothing 


B  b  4 


“  to 


27  6  Dr.  Barnes  on  the  Influence  of  the  Imagination, 

<(  to  do  with  imagination,  feelings,  or  paflions ; 

<c  and,  that  he  will  bid  the  faireft  for  fuccefsful 
“  inquiry  into  any  fubjedt,  who  can  divert  his 
<c  mind  moll  entirely  of  all  affections,  and  bring 
“  it  into  a  ftate  of  abfolute  indifference ,  and 
<c  apathy .” 

It  is  not  uncommon,  to  hear  the  Imagination 
condemned  as  a  criminal  of  the  moft  dangerous 
nature,  whofe  province  is,  at  the  belt,  only  to 
amufe,  who  is  a  fworn  enemy  to  truth,  and 
whom  Reafon  wifhes  to  banifh  as  far  as  poffible 
from  her  throne.  How  often  have  we  known, 
what  was  very  dull,  for  want  of  fome  feafonings 
of  imagination,  fuppofed  to  be,  for  that  reafon, 
very  deep ?  Whilft,  on  the  other  hand,  what 
was  enlivened  by  the  animation  of  an  adtive 
fancy,  was  cenfured,  as  fiimfy,  and  irrational  ? 
As  if  a  brilliant  imagination  could  not  poflibly 
become  the  companion,  and  affiftant  of  the  ' 
pureft  underftanding  ! — That  it  may,  is  the  point 
which  this  paper  attempts  to  prove. 

In  fupporting  this  hypothefis,  I  beg  leave 
to  hazard  a  defcription  of  the  human  mind, 
which  fome  may  not  very  readily  admit.  In 
judging  of  the  mental  powers,  it  does  not 
appear  to  me  philofophically  juft,  to  defcribe 
the  foul,  as  confifting  of  feveral  diftindt  and 
difcordant  faculties,  of  which,  fome  are  com- 
mifiioned  perpetually  to  oppofe  and  contradidt: 
the  others.  The  proper  idea  of  human  nature 

feems 


and  Pajfions ,  upon  the  Under {landing.  377 

feems  to  be,  “That  it  is  one  uncompounded 
<c  essence,  continually  in  motion,  and  receiving 
“  different  denominations,  according  to  the 
**  different  modes  and  circumffances  of  its  move- 
“  ment.”  Inftead  of  confidering  the  under- 
ftanding,  memory,  paffions,  and  will,  as  diftintd 
and  oppofite  powers ,  or,  as  unconnected  tenants 
under  the  fame  roof,  would  it  not  be  more  juff, 
to  confider  them  all  as  modes  of  the  mind  itself, 
and  as  each  of  them  bearing  the  common  nature 
and  character  of  the  whole  united  fpirit  ?  We 
fhould  then  confider,  the  mind  itjelf  as  under- 
fianding,  the  mind  itjelf  as  judging,  remembering, 
feeling,  willing.  And  this  idea  would  be  exactly 
confonant  to  many  facls,  and  phenomena  of 
human  nature,  which  will  be  hereafter  men¬ 
tioned. 

/ 

However  the  common  reprefentation  of  human 
nature,  as  confiding  of  fevered  contending  powers, 
may  have  been  figuratively  adopted,  in  order  to 
folve  fome  appearances,  fuch  as,  the  experience 
of  conflifting  pajfions ,  or  of  oppofite  tendencies  in  the 
foul,  yet,  it  is  not  founded  in  philofophical 
truth,  and,  if  not  properly  guarded,  by  being 
always  confidered  merely  as  a  figure ,  it  may 
lead  to  falfehood,  and  abfurdity. 

The  full  elucidation  of  all  thefe  pofitions, 
would  fwell  this  paper  to  a  length,  far  beyond 
the  limits  wifely  appointed  for  our  communi¬ 
cations,  which,  being  intended  only  as  a  fubfi- 

diapy 


37  8  Dr.  Barnes  on  the  Influence  of  the  Imagination , 

diary  to  conversation,  (hould  rather  contain 
hints y  than  a  regular  compofition  of  finifhed  and 
artificial  fentences.  I  may  add,  this  Subject 
would  have  received  its  heft  illuftrations  and  Sup¬ 
port  from  morals,  and  religion.  But,  as  thefe 
would  lead  me  too  much  jflto  a  profeffiional 
line,  I  Shall  endeavour  to  draw  the  arguments 
from  thoSe  lower  Subjects,  of  taste,  criticism, 
and  polite  literature,  by  which  it  appears 
to  me,  to  be  unanswerably  Supported. 

The  points  we  undertake  to  defend  are  thefe  ; 
fC  That  the  imagination  and  paffions  may,  within 
“  proper  limits,  be  of  the  utmoft  Service  in 
<c  oivin"  ftrength  and  clearnefs  to  the  under- 
“  Standing.  And,  that  this  arifes, — from  the 
“  nature,  and  office  of  the  imagination,— and 
<c  from  the  principle  before  mentioned,  that  che 
“  energy  of  one  power  may  be  communicated  to 
“  the  reft,  with  the  greateit  advantage.” 

It  is  owing  to  the  narrownefs  ot  our  faculties, 
that  we  do  not  comprehend  the  Juhftance  of  the 
human  mind.  Of  its  operations ,  however,  we 
can  Speak  with  certainty.  1  reprefenc  it  to  my- 
felf,  as  one  uniform  and  flmple  ejfence,  liable  to  be 
moved  or  afledted  by  the  various  objects  around  it, 
cr,  by  the  flow  of  ideas  continually  pafling 
before  it — and,  according  to  the  ftate  and 
temperament  of  the  whole  indiviflhle  mafs.  judg¬ 
ing,  feeling,  willing,  afting.  Hence,  it  will 
follow,  that  it  will  judge,  and  feel,  and  act,  not 

according 


and  Paftions ,  upon  the  Under  ft  anding.  379 

-according  to  the  impulfe  of  Jome  diftind  and 
unconnected  faculty,  but  according  to  the  ftate  and 
difpofition  of  the  tvhole  mind. 

And,  is  it  not  true  in  fact,  that  men  do  thus 
judge,  and  feel,  and  a£t  ;  not  according  to  the 
movement  of  a  fingle  power  ;  but,  according  to 
the  general  character  and  complexion  of  the  heart  ? 
The  poet  has  beautifully  illuftrated  and  enforced 
this  fentiment.' 

- “The  difference  is  as  great  between 

“  The  optics  feeing,  as  the  objects  feen. 

“  All  manners  take  a  tin&ure  from  our  own  ; 

“  Or  come  difcoloured,  through  our  pajjions  (hewn. 

“  Or  Fancy’s  beam  enlarges,  multiplies, 

“  Contrafts,  inverts,  and  gives  ten  thoufand  dyes.” 

Pope. 

Do  not  all  Politicians  judge  upon  every  article 
of  news,  according  to  their  prepoffeffions  ?  Is  it 
not  of  equal  importance,  in  education,  to  oive 
a  proper  bias  to  the  heart ,  as  to  furnifh  proper 
ideas  for  the  head ,  in  order  to  produce  reCiitude  cf 
mind ?  Hence,  the  fanctitv  of  error  Hence, 
the  different  manner  in  which  you  judge  of  the 
fame  actions,  in  a  friend ,  and  in  an  enemy.  Hence, 
all  the  advantages  of  manner ,  of  oratory ,  of 
addrefs.  And  hence,  all  that  fafcination  of  the 
graces ,  upon  which,  if  a  noble  author  has  faid 
true,  fo  much  depends.  In  all  thefe  cafes,  the 
underftanding  afts,  not  as  a  fingle  infulated 
principle,  but  as  taking  its  tinge  and  impreffon, 

from 


380  Dr.  Barnes  on  the  Influence  of  the  Imagination , 

from  the  feelings,  the  imagination,  and  the 
heart. 

This  fa£t  will  probably  not  be  contefted. 
But  it  will  be  faid,  “  That  thefe  paffions  are  the 
<c  fources  of  all  our  errors,  and  that,  if  we  could 
“  entirely  lay  afide  imagination  and  affe&ion, 
“  we  fhould  judge  upon  every  fubjedb,  more 

impartially,  and  therefore,  more  truly.” 

Allowing,  that  truth  is  ever  one  and  the  fame, 
yet  if,  as  the  foregoing  fa<5ts  evince,  the  fame 
truth  will  appear  very  differently  to  different 
minds,  and  to  the  fame  mind  at  different  times ; 
if  the  difpofition  and  frame  of  the  mind  be  a 
kind  of  medium ,  through  which  the  fame  objeft 
fhall  appear  amazingly  diverfified,  moft  amiable 
to  one,  moft  difgufting  to  another :  Then,  it 
fhould  feem  to  follow,  that  what  is  moft  defirable 
to  a  right  judgment,  is,  not,  that  the  mind  be 
diverted  of  all  its  affe&ions,  that  the  imagination 
be  laid  afleep,  and  that  the  underftanding  alone 
be  employed  in  the  contemplation.  To  me, 
all  this  appears  to  be,  neither  neceffary,  nor 
poffible.  But,  that  the  whole  united  mind ,  con- 
fidered  as  comprehending  all  its  various  powers, 
lhall  be  in  a  proper  flate  for  the  inveftigation  and 
reception  of  truth,  and,  that  the  imagination  and 
paffions  fhall  be  of  fuch  a  temperament,  as  to 
affift  the  judgment  in  its  determination.  This  is 
not  a  ftate  of  abfolute  inaction ;  but  of  aflion 
fuited  to  their  proper  nature  and  office,  in 

fubordination 


and  Pajfwns]  upon  the  Vnderjlandirtg.  3  8 1 

iubordination  to  the  higher  powers  of  reafoning 
and  judgment. 

If  the  underftanding  were  that  pure  and  Am¬ 
ple  principle,  which  many  reprefent  it  to  be, 
entirely  diftindt  from  all  the  paftions,  and  able 
to  judge  bejl  of  every  truth,  when  molt  feparate 
from  their  influence,  we  fhould  not,  furely,  ob- 
ferve  fo  much  diverfity  of  judgment,  fuch  ama¬ 
zing  variety  of  opinions,  upon  almoft  every 
fubjedt  of  human  life.  Wherever  it  is  pojjible 
for  human  affections,  interefts,  or  feelings  to 
infinuate  themfelves,  we  find  a  tinge  of  their 
nature,  in  the  judgment.  If  we  fuppofe  the 
mind  itjelf  to  judge,  according  to  its  nature  and 
character,  we  fhall  immediately  perceive,  that 
its  fentence  mujl  be  coloured  and  diverfified — 
that  the  judgment  will  fafhion  itfelf  to  the  ftate 
of  the  heart — and  that,  in  almoft  every  infiance, 
a  falfe  tajle  or  feeling ,  will  lead  to  falfe  opinion, 
whether  in  poetry,  painting,  mufic,  criticifm, 
oratory,  or  art  in  general.  Is  there  not  an 
almoft  univerfal  conformity  between  the  feelings 
and  the  judgment  ?  Even  vice  itfelf in  the  pa- 
roxyfms  of  temptation,  for  a  moment,  feduces 
the  underftanding,  and  blinds  the  reafon.  At 
that  moment,  the  finner  promifes  himfelf  im¬ 
punity,  and  enjoyment.  Nor  is  it,  till  the  temp¬ 
tation  is  pajly  that  the  mind  fees  again  the  de¬ 
formity  and  danger  of  vicious  conduit. 


But, 


332  Dr.  Barnes  on  the  Influence  of  the  Imagination , 

But,  it  will  be  afked,  “  Are  not  th zpaffions,  then, 
the  caufes  of  our  wrong  judgments  ?”  Moft  cer¬ 
tainly  they  are •  Bur,  upon  the  fame  principle, 
that  wrong  paffions  lead  to  wrong  judgments, 
right  paflions  would  lead  to  true.  If  the  mind 
were  properly  offered,  it  would  judge  properly. 

But,  let  us  inquire  more  particularly,  into 
the  nature  and  office  of  the  Imagination — for  thefe 
are,  I  perfuade  myfelf,  very  commonly,  and  very 
greativ,  miftaken. 

Imagination  is  that  power,  or  more  properly, 
that  all  of  the  mind,  which  afifembles,  compounds, 
divides  its  ideas,  not  in  the  order  in  which  they 
firft  came  into  the  mind,  for  that  is  the  province 
of  memory,  but,  in  any  order,  and  upon  any  prin¬ 
ciples  it  choofes.  It  ranges  abroad,  through 
the  immenfe  magazine  and  repofitory  of  ideas, 
treafured  up  there,  and  joins  together,  or  fepa- 
rates,  at  pleafure,  ideas,  qualities,  and  forms. 
It  may  be  called,  the  fervant  or  labourer  of  the 
mind,  continually  employed,  to  bring  before  it, 
from  its  amazing  ftorehoufe,  materials ,  with 
which  to  build  up  its  conclufions.  It  is  the 
ever  bufy,  patient,  indefatigable  drudge,  toiling 
for  the  common  benefit  and  affiftance  of  all  the 
other  posvers  ;  and  does  not  deferve  the  indig¬ 
nities  and  reproaches,  it  is  continually  receiving. 
How  often  is  it  forced  to  be  prefent ,  and  even 
to  give  affiftance,  in  the  condemnation  and  exe¬ 
cution  of  itfelf?  How  many,  with  declamation 

moft 


and  PaJJions ,  upon  the  Underftanding, 


3*3 


moft  extravagant,  with  ideas  moft  deranged, 
with  apprehenfions  mod:  fanciful,  have  abided 
the  poor  imagination,  whilft  all  their  cenfure 
and  alarm  have  had  no  better,  than  an  imaginary 
foundation  ?  * 

A  mind  too  imaginative  does,  indeed,  often 
join  its  ideas  together  in  wild  and  ridiculous 
afiociations  One  who  is  called,  a  wit ,  joins 
only  thole  which  appear  odd  and  fantaftic.  But 
he,  whofe  judging  are  exadlly  poifed  by  his  ima¬ 
ginative  powers,  who  is,  according  to  our  fcheme, 
at  once ,  lively  to  conceive,  and  fober  to  judge, 
collects  together  only  thoje  ideas,  which  are  pro¬ 
per  to  fet  the  fubjeft  before  him  in  fuch  a 
light,  as  to  enable  him  to  form  an  exa<ft  de¬ 
termination.  The  power  of  imagining ,  is,  there¬ 
fore,  in  its  place,  as  necefiary,  as  the  power  of 
judging.  Suppofe  a  mind  which  could  only  re¬ 
member — It  would  fall,  at  once,  into  the  track 
marked  out  by  others,  and  would  never  employ 
its  own  powers,  by  reafoning  and  determining  for 
itfelf.  Accordingly  we  find,  that  perfons  of  the 
fhongeft  memory  have  generally  che  weakeft 
judgments. 

If  thefe  piinciples  are  juft,  a  mind,  which 
could  not  imagine ,  could  not  reajGn.  It  would 
have  no  materials  before  it,  on  which  to  form 
its  decifion,  Its  view  of  any  fubjeit  would  be 
narrow  and  defective.  Obferve,  on  the  other 


# 


“  turbida  tcrret  imago.”  Virgil.  ^En.  IV.  333. 

hand. 


384  Dr.  Barnes  on  the  Influence  of  the  Imagination, 

hand,  a  mind,  keen  and  fervent  in  the  pro- 
fecution  of  a  favourite  fubjed:,  viewing  it  at¬ 
tentively  on  every  fide,  catching  every  ray  of 
light,  which  can  illuminate,  and  every  kindred 
fentiment,  which  can  illuftrate  it.  Without 
animation  and  ardour,  thefe  would  never  have 
been  difcovered  j  without  imagination  and  affec¬ 
tion,  the  underftanding  would  have  lain  torpid 
and  inactive.  Fancy,  that  noble  and  neceffary 
power,  has  placed  the  fubjed  in  every  poffible 
combination  of  form  and  circumftance,  has 
called  in  to  its  aid  ideas,  images,  and  analogies, 
which,  at  firft,  feemed  mod  foreign  and  inappli¬ 
cable  ;  and  has  thus  beheld  it  in  afpeds,  which 
the  dull  plodder  would  never  have  imagined. 
By  this  means,  a  knowledge  is  acquired,  various, 
extenflve,  and  exad,  beyond  what  could  other- 
ways,  have  poffibly  been  obtained.  The  office 
of  the  underftanding,  is,  merely  that  of  a  judge, 
to  pafs  jentence  upon  the  caufe  before  it.  The 
imagination  colleds  and  arranges  the  evidence , 
and  brings  it  before  the  deciding  power,  in 
fuch  a  form,  as  may  lead  to  an  accurate  and 
judicious  determination. 

This  influence  of  the  imagination  and  paffions 
upon  the  judgment  muft,  however,  differ  greatly, 
according  to  the  different  kinds  of  evidence ,  of 
which  different  Jubjedis  are  capable.  In  mere 
mathematics ,  where  the  mind  has  to  contemplate 
pure  demonfrative  truth,  little  more  is  neceffary, 

than 


and  PaJJionSy  upon  the  Vnderjlanding.  385 

than  fuch  a  degree  of  memory ,  as  to  keep  in  view 
the  fteps  of  the  procefs,  and  fo  much  undemand¬ 
ing,  as  to  be  able  to  apply  the  plaineft  axiomss 
and  to  fee  the  truth  of  demonjlration.  Surely,  no 
great  exertion  or  exaltation  of  mind  is  necefiary 
to  this.  You  would  not  call  that  a  fuperior /pint, 
which  v/as  able  to  fee,  with  infallible  certainty, 
truths,  of  which,  when  properly  underftood,  it 
is  impoftible  to  doubt. 

Here,  we  grant,  high  degrees  of  imagination, 
fenftbility,  tafte,  are  not  neceftary.  A  mind,  which 
could  not  fee  the  certainty  of  fuch  conclufions,  if 
able  to  trace,  and  to  remember  the  fteps  by 
which  it  had  proceeded,  would  hardly  deferve 
to  be  called  rational. 

Thofe,  certainly,  are  the  greateft  and  nollefi 
fpirits,  who  can  exert  the  whole  ccllefted  powers 
of  their  minds,  upon  the  contemplation  of 
important  fubje&s,  and  determine,  with  clear- 
nels  and  truth,  where  the  evidence  is  not  fo 
irrefiftible,  as  that  the  conclufion  cannot 
poftibly  be  miftaken.  The  moft  common ,  the 
mo  ft  important,  the  great  eft  fubjedts  which  can 
come  before  the  human  mind,  are  not  capable 
of  demonflr ative  evidence.  Yet,  they  have 
evidence  of  a  peculiar  kind,  which  can  only 
be  diicerned,  in  its  full  proportion,  by  a  mind, 
properly  prepared  to  receive  ir.  Befides  me¬ 
mory  and  underftanding,  you  muft  call  in  other 
Vo l.  I.  C  c  powers. 


386  Dr.  Barnes  on  the  Influence  of  the  Imagination , 

powers.  The  heart  mutt  be  in  right  order.  The 
mind  mutt  feel  and  imagine  juftly,  in  order  to  a 
.perfect  fentence. 

Let  us  take,  for  an  illuftration,  one  of  the 
mott  refpeitable  and  ufeful  profeffions — that  of 
a  Phyfician.  The  fcience  he  profefles,  is  not, 
furely,  that  of  demonstration.  He  will  himfel’f 
acknowledge,  that  it  is  only,  a  fcience  of  pro¬ 
bability.  Suppofe  him  devoid  of  imagination, 
and  of  feeling.  How  ill  qualified  would  a 
merely  mathematical  mind  be,  to  prefcribe,  in 
cafes  which  demand,  and  almolt  every  cafe  in 
Jome  degree  demands,  prefence  of  mind,  largenefs 
of  thought,  a  view  to  remote  and  poftible  confe- 
quences,  together  with  that  quicknefs,  penetra¬ 
tion,  and  lagacity,  which  mud  unite  together, 
to  constitute  th tfkilful  ■ph'fician  ! — Take  common 
life.  What  is  Prudence,  but  another  name,  for 
an  ability  to  imagine  all  the  poffible  or  probable 
confequences  of  inch  or  fuch  a  conduit,  of  fore- 
feeing.fuch  and  ltrch  difficulties,  and  of  balancing 
the  good  and  evil,  in  fuch  a  manner,  as,  upon 
the  whole,  to  avoid  the  greateft  evil,  and  to 
obtain  the  greateft  good  ?  But  how  could  this 
-poffibly  be  done,  without  a  lively,  a&ive,  and 
well  directed  imagination  ? 

Nay,  we  may  go  farther*  and  fay,  that  even  a 
Mathematician  will  make  .very  little  progrels  in 
demonflrative  fcience,  without  the  aid  of  this 
noble,  but  much  miftaken  and  abufed  faculty. 

Here, 


and FaJJlonSy  upon  the  Underftanding,  387 

Here,  it  is  true,  imagination  has  the  narroweft 
range :  but  it  would  be  falfe  to  fay,  it  has  no 
range  at  all.  For  what  are  the  fubjeds  of  his 
boafted  reafonings  ?  They  are  points ,  linest 
JuperficieSy  all  of  which  he  can  only  imagine. 
A  Point  has  neither  length,  breadth,  nor  thick- 
nefs.  A  Line  has  length,  but  neither  breadth, 
nor  thicknefs.  A  Superficies  has  length,  breadth, 
but  not  thicknefs.  Are  then  Lines,  Points,  or 
Superficies,  objeds  of  vifion,  or  of  lenfe  ?  By  no 
means.  They  are  the  mere  creatures  of  fancy. 
His  Figures  likewife  of  circles,  fquares,  &c.  are 
not  perfed.  They  contain  innumerable  ex- 
crefcences,  and  deformities  •,  and  yet,  his 
reafonings  fuppofe  figures  exad  and  faultlefs. 

And,  how  often  mud:  imagination  prefent  before 
him,  difiances,  heights,  orbits,  &c.  which  he 
has  not  immediately  under  his  eye,  which  he 
cannot  pojffibly  concieve,  without  the  aid  of  fancy  ? 
The  application  of  mathematics  to  Aftronomy, 
Navigation,  &c.  demands  the  Janie  affiftance. 
Who  would  lcruple  to  fay,  that  Sir  Ifaac  Newton, 
enjoyed  a  brilliant  imagination In  fketching  the 
outlines  of  his  amazing  fyfiem — in  roving  through 
the  pathlels  wilds  of  fpace — in  contemplating 

“  The  dependencies, 

“  The  bearings,  and  the  ties” 

of  this  ftupendous  univerfe,  muft  he  not  have 
pofiefied  a  fancy  of  the  boldefi  wing ,  yet  ac¬ 
companied,  in  all  its  flight,  by  the  mofi  wife 

C  c  2  and 


388  Dr.  Barnes  on  the  Influence  of  the  Imagination , 

and  watchful  reafon  ?  Let  me  juft  mention 
another  exalted  charafter,  in  proof  of  the  fame 
point — Mr.  Locke.  No  where  do  you  perceive 
ftronger  lines  of  a  vigorous  and  a&ive  fancy, 
than  in  the  writings  of  this  immortal  philofopher. 
His  (tile  is  full  of  imagery  and  aliufion,  the  moft 
beautiful  and  happy.  He  has  all  the  fignatures 
of  a  glowing ,  and,  at  the  fame  time,  of  a  Joher  and 
cautious  mind.  For  Jack  imagination  only  do 
I  plead— under  the  command,  and  employed  in 
the  fervice ,  of  that  judgment,  whofe  province 
it  is,  to  direct,  and  to  control. 

Even  in  the  a£t  of  reasoning,  which  is  gene¬ 
rally  efteemed  the  moft  folernn  and  ferious 
procefs  of  the  mind,  imagination  is  effentially 
neceffary.  For  if  the  mind  be  not  able  to 
chufe  with  advantage  thofe  intermediate  ideas, 
on  which  its  reafonings  depend  ;  if  it  is  not 
able,  by  means  of  this  excurfive  power,  to  range 
abroad,  to  view  its  fubjeft  on  every  fide,  to 
catch  minuter,  as  well  as  larger  fimilitudes  and 
differences  ;  if,  in  one  word,  it  has  not  a&ivity* 
eomprehenfion,  quicknefs,  all  which  depend 
chiefly  upon  imagination,  it  will  not  poffefs,  in 
any  confiderable  ftrength,  that  illative  power, 
which  we  acknowledge  to  be  fo  noble  a  faculty 
of  human  nature. 

If  the  preceding  obfervations  are  true,  with 
refpedt  to  mathematics — the  region  of  fcience 
which  feems  moft  remote  from  the  fairy  land  of 

fancy. 


and  Paffions ,  upon  the  Undemanding.  389 

fancy,  there  will  be  little  difficulty  in  proving 
our  point  with  refpedt  to  thofe  provinces,  which 
lie  nearer  to  its  confines.  And,  in  its  own  pro- 
vincey  in  all  that  extenfive  and  beautiful  domain, 
in  which  the  pleajures  of  the  imagination  grow, 
as  in  their  native  foil,  it  would  be  ridiculous 
to  afk,  whether  imagination  be  not  conducive 
to  exadtnefs  of  judgment.  It  would  be  juft 
the  fame,  'as  to  inquire,  whether  a  man  muft 
have  eyes ,  to  judge  of  vifihle  obje&s  j  or  ears,  to 
judge  of  founds.  Through  all  the  wide  empire 
of  criticifm,  of  tafle,  of  poetry,  of  painting,  of 
mufic,  of  arts,  fancy  reigns  with  almoft  fovereign 
fway.  A  poet,  or  an  artift,  without  imagination, 
might  as  well  be  without  ideas.  Mr.  Hayley 
has  very  juftly  obferved,  “  That  three  things 
cc  are  neceftary  to  conftitute  a  found  critic— 
“  Good  underfunding — lively  imagination — refined 
“  fenfibility”  *  In  general  to  judge  well  upon  any 
fubjedt,  you  muft  have  a  kindred  fpirit.  If  the 
poet  muft  be  "  alive  to  fancy,”  a  reader  of  poetry 
muft  inherit  a  portion  of  the  fame  infpiration. 

Let  us  fuppofe  a  critic,  fuch  as,  pehaps,  the 
world  has  fometimes  feen  aftuming  the  name,  to 
pafs  fentence  upon  Milton’s  Paradife  Loft.  Does 
he  reliffi  and  enjoy  this  divine  performance  ? 
Does  he  tafte  its  exquifite  beauties  ?  Does  his 
imagination  glow  with  its  defcriptions  ?  Does 

*  Hayjey’s  Eflay  on.  Epic  Poetry.  Notes  to  the  firft  Book. 

he 


390  Dr.  Barnes  on  the  Influence  of  the  Imagination , 

he  fenfibly  feel  the  fweetnefs,  richnefs,  and 
loftinefs  of  its  language  ?  Is  he  alive  to  all 
the  fuperior  charms  of  its  fubjed-,  its  fcenery, 
and  its  execution  ?  Alas  1  No.  Like  the  fly 
on  St.  Paul’s  Cathedral,  he  ftumbles  at  a  draw, 
or  a  hair.  But,  is  this  cold-blooded  thing ,  whofe 
fcanty  foul  cannot  expand  itfelf  to  the  dimenfions 
of  fuch  a  fubjed,  who  cannot  take  in,  at  one  grand 
and  ennobling  view,  its  whole  extent  and  ad- 
juftment,  the  connedion  of  its  parts,  the  cha- 
raders,  the  machinery,  the  end — is  he  the  proper 
critic  of  Milton  ?* 

*  “  How  did  Garrick  fpeak  the  foliloquy  laft  night  ?” 
“  Oh  !  Againfl  all  rule,  my  Lord,  moll  ungrammatically, 
“  Between  the  nominative  cafe,  which,  your  Lordfhip 
“  knows,  ihould  govern  the  verb,  he  fufpended  his  voice 
“  a  dozen  times ;  three  feconds,  and  three  fifths,  my  Lord) 
“  each  time.”  “  Admirable  grammarian  !”  “  But,  in 

“  fufpending  his  voice — was  the  fenfe  fufpended  likewife? 
“  Did  no  expreflion  of  attitude  or  countenance  fill  up  the 
«  chafm?  Was  the  eye  filent  ?  Did  you  narrowly  look?” — 
«  I  looked  only  at  the  flop-watch,  my  Lord.” — “  Ex- 
“  cellent  obferver !” 

“  And  what  of  this  new  book  the  whole  world  makes  fuch 
“  a  rout  about? — “  Oh  !  it  is  quite  out  of  all  plumb,  my 
“  Lord. — Quite  an  irregular  thing  !  Not  one  of  the, 
angles  at  the  four  corners  was  a  right  angle. — I  had  my 
“  rule  and  compaffes,  my  Lord,  in  my  pocket.” — “  Ex- 
‘f  cellent  critic !” 

“  And  for  the  epic  poem  your  Lordfhip  bid  me  look 
ti  at — upon  taking  the  length,  breadth,  heighth,  and 
“  depth  of  it,  and  trying  them  at  home  upon  an  exadf 
“  fcale  of  Boffu’s— ’tis  out,  my  Lord,  in  every  one  of 
£(  its  dimenfions” — “Admirable  connoififeur  !”  Sterne. 

Imagination 


and  Paffions ,  upon  the  Underjlanding.  391 

Imagination  is  neceffary  to  reprefent  to  the 
mind,  all  things  dijlant,  future,  invifible ,  and  even 
paft,  when  they  are  not  exactly  recalled  by  memory. 
How  wide  !  How  important  its  province  !  In 
religion,  the  happinefs  of  Heaven,  the  nature, 
character,  and  employment  of  fuperior  beings, 
the  folemn  proceffes  of  Judgment — Eternity— 
and  even  the  Deity  himfelf,  can  only  come  before 
us,  as  drawn  by  the  imagination. 

In  Hijlory ,  you  continually  imagine  charaders, 
events,  times,  places,  circumftances,  which  you 
have  never  feen.  Thefe  are  portrayed  to  your 
fancy,  by  the  pen  of  the  hiftorian  ;  and  your 
pleafure  and  improvement  will  very  much  de¬ 
pend  upon  the  clearnefs  and  celerity,  with 
which  you  paint  to  yourfelf  the  different  fcenes, 
which  are  paRIng  before  you.  All  the  pleafures 
of  Tajle  depend  abfolutely  upon  a  vigorous  and 
cultivated  imagination.  Even  in  the  actual 
contemplation  of  the  fcenes  of  nature ,  imagination  is 
as  neceffary,  to  refined  pleafure,  as  the  eye. 
Perhaps  we  might,  without  great  impropriety, 
call  it,  the  eye  of  the  mind.  If  any  perfon  fhould 
think,  this  appellation  would  better  belong  to  the 
underjlanding ,  let  him  recoiled,  that  the  eye  of 
the  body  can  give  no  exaff  information,  till 
rectified  by  the  judgment.  It  is  fo  with  the 
imagination.  The  ideas  it  prefents  muft  be 
brought  before  the  higher  tribunal  of  the 

C  c  4  under- 


392  Dr.  Barnes  on  the  Influence  of  the  Imagination, 

underftanding,  and  receive  their  fentence,  ac¬ 
cording  to  its  fuperior  determination. 

I  fhall,  perhaps,  be  told  of  the  lover,  who  fees 
in  his  miftrefs  an  imaginary  idol,  decked  all  o’er 
with  charms,  perfed  and  matchlefs,  in  every  air, 
and  in  every  attribute.  I  fhall  be  told,  of  the 
amazing  change  in  his  judgment,  when  time  and 
better  knowledge  have  taken  the  glare  from 
the  object,  (tripped  the  idol  of  her  divinity,  and 
faded  her  charms,  even  to  uglinefs.  But,  againft 
this  exception  we  meant  to  guard,  by  main¬ 
taining  only,  a  due  poife  and  degree  of  the  ima¬ 
ginative  quality. 

“  The  lover,  the  lunatic,  and  the  poet,  are 

“  Of  imagination  all  compact.”  Shakefpeare. 

Minds,  fo  exceffively  imaginative,  cannot  be 
judicious. 

But,  on  the  other  hand,  fuppofe  a  perfon  to 
contemplate  excellence,  female  excellence ,  without 
imagination — juft  as  he  would,  a  mathematical 
problem.  Would  he  do  more  exaft  and  impartial 
iuftice  to  the  fubjeft  ? 

Would  the  fairer  fex  confent  to  abide  the 
fentence  of  fuch  a  judge?  Would  they  not  juftly 
complain,  that  though  he  wore  the  form,  he  had 
not  the  fentiment,  the  foul  of  a  human  being  ? 
Would  they  not  appeal — and  who  would 
no t  juflify  the  appeal— to  the  decifion  of  a  mind, 
capable  of  feeling,  and  of  fancy,  and  therefore 

rational ? 


and  Paflions,  ufon  the  Underflandin g.  393 

rational,  and  alone  competent  to  judge  of  that 
excellence,  which  is  fitted  to  cheer  and  captivate 
the  heart  ? 

But  it  has  been  the  hard  fate  of  imagination 
to  be,,  in  general,  fpoken  of,  in  its  excejs.  We 
feldom  hear  it  mentioned,  by  thole  who  declaim 
againft  it,  without  hearing  of  the  flights  of  fancy, 
the  extravagance,  the  agitation,  the  wildnefs,  the 
J 'allies ,  the  fervours ,  the  excentricitics,  of  a  heated 
imagination.  The  fervour,  the  glow,  however, 
belong  rather  to  paffion,  than  to,  imagination. 
The  imagination  indeed  may  excite  the  palTion  ; 
and  thus  they  afcribe  the  attributes  of  the  effedl  to 
the  caufe. 

That  imagination  may,  that  it  often  does 
tranfgrefs  its  proper  bounds,  we  moll  readily 
acknowledge.  That  it  is  neceffary  to  hold  it  in 
with  a  tight  rein,  that  it  may  not  run  away  with 
the  undemanding,  and  lead  to  conclufions 
fanciful  and  groundlefs,  we  allow,  in  us  fulled: 
extent.  We  contend  only  for  that  degree,  which 
will  confift  with  the  exadtnefs  of  judgment. 

The  vivacity  and  ftrength  of  imagination,  in 
children,  is  aftonilhing.  Their  knowledge  of 
objedls  being  very  flight  and  fuperficial,  a  few 
faint  refemblances  are  fufficient  to  realize  and 
embody  them.  By  degrees,  as  their  knowledge 
becomes  more  extenfive  and  exad,  their  power 
of  imagining  declines,  the  power  of  judging  is 
improved,  and  when  thefe  two  powers  have 

attained 


394  Dr.  Barnes  on  the  Influence  of  the  Imagination ,  isle. 

attained  then  proper  balance,  the  mind  has  attained 
its  higheft  capacity. 

That  “ great  wits  are  to  madnefs  near  allied” 
That  <f  great  genius’s  are  too  imaginative,” 
proves  only,  that  the  mind,  when  in  a  frame  too 
creative  and  fanciful,  is  not  fufficiently  judicious. 
But,  furely,  a  degree  of  warmth  may  be  necejfary 
to  a  tool,  for  its  proper  aflion  ;  and  yet,  that 
warmth  may  be  increafed,  till  it  is  improper  for 
fervice. 

It  will,  perhaps,  be  faid,  that  lunatics  and 
madmen  are  under  the  dominion  of  fancy,  and 
that  upon  this  account  their  judgments  are  errone¬ 
ous.  It  is  anfwered,  that,  in  general,  if  you  will 
but  grant  their  premifes ,  they  will  reafon  from 
them,  with  aftonilhing  quicknefs  and  clearnefs  of 
argumentation.  Unhappily,  their  minds  are,  in 
fome  particular  points,  by  wrong  affociations, 
become  deranged  and  extravagant.  This  is  their 
difeafe.  But  the  fervour  imparted  to  their  minds, 
feems  rather  to  have  fharpened,  than  impaired, 
their  reafoning  powers. 

Let,  then,  underftanding  and  judgment  ever  be 
confidered  as  the  preflding  faculties  of  the  human 
fpirit.  To  their  control,  let  every  other  power 
ultimately  fubmit.  Let  the  imagination  and  the 
paffions  be  confidered  merely  as  their  fervants, 
obedient  to  their  command.  But,  whilft  they 
are  thus  obedient,  let  them  have  the  praife  of 
good  and  ufeful  fervants  •,  and  above  all^  let  them 

not 


Dr.  Eajon  on  the  AJcent  of  Vapour  '.  395 

not  be  compelled  to  criminate  and  condemn 
themjelves.  Or,  according  to  the  juft  fimile  of 
the  poet. 

“  Whilft  reafon  holds  the  helm — 

“  Let  pajjion  be  the  gale.”  Pope. 

And  let  imagination  fly  abroad  to  colleft  the 
various  fcattered  breezes,  which,  thus  united 
into  one  ftrong  current,  may  carry  the  vefTel 
forward,  acrofs  the  ocean  of  life,  under  Juch  a 
pilotage,  with  fafety,  and  fatisfadtion. 


An  Essay  on  the  Ascent  of  Vapour;  By 
A.  Eason,  M.  D.  &c.  Read  Nov.  27,  1782. 


Unde  ferenas 


Ventus  agat  nubes,  quod  cogitet  humidus 
Aufter,  Sol  tibi  figna  dabit. 


Fir.  Geo.  C.  I.  ver.  461. 


'HERE  are  few  phenomena  in  nature,  which 


-1-  have  puzzled  philofophers  more,  than  the 
afcent  of  vapour:  and  the  different  theories  laid 
down  by  Dodtors  Halley  and  De/aguliers>  have 
been  rejedtcd,  while  another,  not  lefs  liable 
to  objections,  has  been  almoft  univerfally  re¬ 
ceived. 

This  theory,  which  I  fhall  prefently  mention, 
was  at  firft  invented  by  a  French  Gentleman, 


Monfleur 


396  .Dr.  E*Jan  on  the  Ajcent  of  Vapour. 

Monfieur  le  Roi,  and  afterwards  revived  by 
Lord  KaimeSy  and  Dottor  Hugh  Hamilton.  It  is 
this — That  the  air  difTolves  water,  as  water 
does  faline  fubftances  :  the  folution  being  per¬ 
fect,  the  air  will  become  tranfparent. 

Objections.  1.  Were  this  theory  true,  evapo¬ 
ration  could  not  be  performed  without  air  ;  but 
Mr.  Watt,  contrary  to  the  theory  fupported 
by  Lord  Kaimes  and  Dr.  Hamilton,  has  proved, 
that  when  water  in  vacuo  was  boiled  with  a  degree 
of  heat  very  little  greater  than  that  of  the  human 
body,  the  (team  came  over,  and  was  condenfed 
in  the  refrigeratory.  But  he  relates,  that  the  eva¬ 
poration  was  not  quicker  than  in  the  open  air. 

2.  Were  the  doctrine  of  folution  true,  the  air 
would  be  heavier,  the  more  water  it  contained  ; 
and,  as  clouds  contain  a  great  portion  of  water, 
they  ought  to  float  on  the  furface  of  the  earth, 
and  not  in  the  higher  regions,  as  we  daily  ob- 
ferve. 

3.  We  never  could  expeCt  any  rain,  unlefs  the 
air  were  fuperfaturated  with  water  j  and  it  would 
only  yield  to  us,  what  it  coujd  not  retain  in 
folution. 

4.  It  is  univerfally  allowed,  that  heat  con¬ 
tributes,  very  much,  towards  converting  water 
into  vapour,  which  is  again  condenled  by  coldf 
In  what  manner,  will  the  do&rine  of  folution 
account  for  the  fpontaneous  evaporation  of  water, 
jind  its  being  fufpended  in  air,  in  the  colded 

weather, 


Dr.  Eajon  on  the  AJcent  of  Vapour.  397 

weather,  even  when  the  thermometer  is  below 
the  freezing  point  ?  Though  I  cannot  allow  of 
fuch  a  folution  as  above  mentioned,  I  can, 
however,  readily  admit  of  a  ftrong  attraftion 
betwixt  air  and  water ;  for  no  air  is  found  with¬ 
out  water,  and  no  water  without  air. 

Water,  which  is  eight  hundred  times  heavier 
than  air,  by  a  very  fmall  degree  of  heat,  may  be 
converted  into  vapour,  which  vapour  is  one 
thoufand  eight  hundred  times  lighter  than  air, 
according  to  Mr.  Watt.  It  confcquently  follows, 
that  vapour  will  rife  up  in  the  atmofphere,  to 
the  height  of  its  own  fpecific  gravity ;  but,  long 
before  it  could  reach  to  fo  high  a  region,  it  would 
be  condenfed  by  cold,  and  return  to  the  earth 
in  rain,  were  it  not  for  the  latent  heat*  it  con¬ 
tains,  and  the  ele&ric  matter  in  the  air. 

Whatever  I  mention  concerning  Eleflricity, 
is  from  fadls,  and  not  from  any  theory,  written 
about  it,  which  is  above  my  comprehenfion.  But 
as  the  terms  now  in  ufe,  viz.  pofkive  and 
negative,  or  plus  and  minus,  are  generally  belt 
underftood,  I  fhall  exprefs  myfelf  by  them. 

*  That  heat  enters  into  vapour,  and  becomes  an  ingre* 
dient  in  it,  is  certain.  For  example  :  if  we  diftil  a  pound 
of  fleam,  the  water  in  the  refrigeratory  will  be  heated  by 
it,  as  much  as  by  a  pound  of  water  heated  one  thoufand 
and  twelve  degrees ;  fo  eight  hundred  degrees  of  heat 
appear,  though  the  fleam  is  not  fenfibly  hotter  than  boil¬ 
ing  water,  which  is  two  hundred  and  twelve.  £xj>. 


The 


29  3  Dr.  Eqfon  on  the  Af cent  of  Vapour. 

The  able  Nollet  has  proved,  that  water  elec¬ 
trified,  will  evaporate  fafter,  than  water  which  is 
not  electrified.  Does  it  not  follow,  that  the 
more  electric  matter  is  in  the  air,  the  quicker 
the  evaporation  of  water  will  be  ?  And  Mr. 
Cavallo  has  proved,  that  at  all  times  the  atmo- 
fphere  is  electrified,  but  much  ftronger  in  frofty, 
than  in  warm  weather ;  and  by  no  means  lefs  in 
the  night  than  in  the  day:  it  is  like  wife  ftronger 
in  elevated,  than  in  low  places.  From  thefe 
faCts,  we  may  be  enabled  to  account,  why 
evaporation  is  carried  on  during  very  cold 
•weather.  All  the  heat  contained  in  water, 
above  what  is  fufficient  to  keep  it  in  a  fluid 
Hate,  will  convert  it  into  vapour ;  which,  in  a 
north  or  north  eaft  wind,  when  the  ele&ric  matter 
greatly  abounds,  will  be  carried  off  with  much 
rapidity;  and,  by  the  power  of  ele&ricity,  will 
be  rendered  ftill  lighter,  the  higher  it  afcends ; 
each  particle  repelling  each  other,  and  prevent¬ 
ing  the  cold  from  condenfing  the  vapour,  in  its 
afcent  through  the  cold  regions  of  the  atmo- 
fphere.  The  higher  it  rifes,  the  more  fpace 
there  is  for  expanfion  ;  and  the  more  it  is  ex¬ 
panded,  the  clearer  will  the  atmofphere  appear, 
and,  probably,  the  higher  the  mercury  will  rife 
in  the  barometer. 

It  likewife  appears,  that  the  eleCtric  matter 
is  more  fenfible  near  the  lurface  of  the  earth,  in 

cold 


Dr.  Eafon  on  the  Ajcent  of  Vapour.  399 

Cold  northern  countries,  than  in  warm  fouthern 
places.  Mr.  Volta,  with  a  very  fimple  apparatus, 
on  the  upper  gallery  of  St.  Paul’s,  produced 
an  eledric  fpark,  which,  he  told  me,  in  Italy, 
could  not  be  done,  but  on  a  very  high  moun¬ 
tain,  or  in  a  fituation  greatly  elevated.  This 
feems  a  wife  provifion  in  nature,  that  the  eledric 
matter  fhould  appear  near  the  furface  of  the 
earth  in  cold  climates,  to  raife  up  and  fufpend 
the  vapour  in  the  air,  which  otherways,  would 
be  condenfed  by  the  cold ;  whereas,  in  warm 
countries,  the  heat  of  the  earth  will  be  fufficient 
to  raife  vapours  to  a  great  height,  which  are 
afterwards  carried  ftill  higher,  by  the  eledric 
matter  in  the  upper  regions.  This,  perhaps, 
is  the  caufe,  why  the  air  is  fo  clear  and  tranfpa- 
rent  in  warm  climates. 

By  making  fome  obfervations  on  the  falling 
of  rain,  we  fhall  have  other  proofs,  that  the 
eledric  matter  is  the  great  caufe,  by  which 
vapour  is  fupported  in  the  atmofphere.  Here 
I  mull  obferve  a  fad,  well  known  to  ail  prefent, 
that  bodies  eledrified,  by  the  fame  eledric 
power  (no  matter  whether  pofitive  or  negative) 
repel  each  other  ;  and  when  eledrified  by  the 
different  powers,  that  is,  the  one  plus  and  the 
other  minus,  attrad  each  other :  on  coming  into 
contad,  an  equilibrium  is  reftored,  and  neither 
of  them  will  fhew  any  figns  of  eledricity. 


From 


400  2>.  Eafon  on  the  AJcent  of  Vapour. 

From  this  it  follows :  If  two  clouds  are  elec- 
trifled  by  the  lame  power,  they  will  repel  each 
other,  and  the  vapour  be  fufpended  in  both ; 
but,  when  one  is  pofltive  and  the  other  negative* 
they  will  attraCl  each  other,  and  reftore  an  equi¬ 
librium.  The  electric  power,  by  which  the 
vapour  was  fufpended,  being  now  deftroyed 
by  the  mutual  action  of  the  clouds  on  each  other, 
the  particles  of  water  will  have  an  opportunity  of 
running  together  into  each  other,  and,  as  they 
augment  in  fize,  will  gain  a  greater  degree  of 
gravity,  defeending  in  fmall  rain,  or  a  heavy 
Ihower,  according  to  circumftances. 

A  cloud,  highly  eleClrified,  pafling  over  a 
high  building  or  mountain,  may  be  attracted  by, 
and  be  deprived  of  its  electricity,  without  or 
with  a  violent  exploflon  of  thunder.  If  the  cloud 
is  electrified  plus,  the  fire  will  defeend  from  the 
cloud  to  the  mountain  ;  but,  if  it  be  electrified 
minus,  the  fire  will  afeend  from  the  mountain  to 
the  cloud.  In  both  cafes,  the  effeCt  is  the  fame* 
and  generally,  heavy  rain  immediately,  or  foori 
after,  follows :  this  is  v/ell  known  to  the  inha¬ 
bitants  of,  and  travellers  among,  mountains. 

From  this,  we  can  eafily  account,  why  thunder-* 
Ihowers  are  often  partial,  falling  near,  or  among 
mountains,  and  the  rain  in  fuch  quantities,  as 
to  occafion  rivers  to  be  overflowed ;  whilft,  at 
the  diftance  of  a  few  miles,  the  ground  continues 

parched 


Dr.  Eafon  on  the  Afcent  of  Vapour .  401 

parched  up  with  drought,  and  the  roads  covered 
wich  duft.* 

It  often  happens,  that  one  clap  of  thunder 
is  not  fufiicient  to  produce  rain  from  a  cloud, 
nor  even  a  fecond  :  in  lhort,  the  claps  mud  be 
repeated,  till  an  equilibrium  is  restored,  and 
then  the  rain  mull,  of  confequcnce,  fall.  Some¬ 
times  we  may  have  violent  thunder  and  light¬ 
ning  without  rain,  and  the  black  appearance  of 
the  heavens  may  be  changed  to  a  clear  tranfparent 
fky,  elpecially  in  warm  weather.  To  account 
for  this,  it  mull  be  remembered,  as  I  lately 
faid,  that  one  or  more  claps  of  thunder  are  not 
always  fufhcient  to  produce  rain  from  the  clouds: 
fo,  if  an  equilibrium  be  not  reftored,  little  or 
no  rain  will  fall,  and  in  a  lhort  time,  the  elec¬ 
tric  matter,  palling  from  the  earth  to  the  clouds, 
or  the  fuperabundant  quantity  in  the  air,  will 
electrify  t'nofe  black  clouds,  by  which  means  the 
particles  of  vapour  will  be  expanded,  raifed 
higher,  and  the  air  become  clear.  Clouds 
may  be  melted  away,  even  when  we  are  look¬ 
ing  at  them,  by  another  caufe,  that  is,  by  the 


*  Saspe  etiam  immenfum  coelo  venit  agmen  aquarum. 

Et  fcedam  glomerant  tempeftatem  imbribus  atris 
Collects  ex  alto  nubes. 

Ipfe  pater,  media  nitnbrorum  in  node,  corufca 
Fulmina  molitur  dextra,  quo  maxima  motu 
Terra  tremit. .  Virg . 

Vol.  I.  D  d  heat 


402  Dr.  Eafon  on  the  Afcent  of  Vapour. 

heat  of  the  fun.  We  know,  that  tranfparenJ 
bodies  are  not  heated  by  the  fun,  but  opaque 
ones  are ;  the  clouds  being  opaque  bodies,  are 
warmed  by  the  rays  of  the  fun  fhining  on  them, 
and  any  additional  quantity  of  heat  will  rarify 
the  vapour,  and  occafion  its  expanding  in  the 
air,  which  will  foon  become  tranfparent.  When 
vapour  is  made  to  expand,  more  than  it  would 
otherwife  do,  a  certain  quantity  of  abfolute  heat 
is  neceflary  to  keep  it  in  the  form  of  vapour  5 
therefore,  when  the  receiver  of  an  air-pump  is 
exhaufting,  it  appears  muddy,  and  a  number  of 
drops  are  found  within  it ;  the  moifture  contained 
in  the  air,  in  the  form  of  vapour,  being  made  to 
occupy  a  greater  fpace  than  what  is  natural  to 
it,  and  receiving  no  addition  of  heat,  a  part  of  it 
it  condenfed.* 

If,  therefore,  the  air  is  fuddenly  rarified,  a  few 
drops  of  rain  will  defcend,  as  may  often  be  ob- 
ferved  in  the  fummer  feafon. 

I  have  repeatedly  obferved,  efpecially  during 
the  fummer,  when  the  wind  is  at  north  eaft, 
that  the  weather  is,  in  general,  cold  and  dry, 
with  a  clear  atmofphere.  Should  the  wind  fud- 

*  On  this  principle,  we  can  readily  account  for  the  mill, 
which  appears,  on  difcharging  an  air-gun  :  the  condenfed 
air  in  the  chamber  of  the  barrel,  on  being  fet  free,  will  ex¬ 
pand  fuddenly,  occupying  a  larger  fpace,  and  no  additional 
heat  being  acquired,  the  vapours  mult  neceifarily  be  con¬ 
denfed  in  the  form  of  mill. 

denlv 

# 


Dr.  Eafon  on  the  Ajcenl  of  Vapour .  403 

denly  change  to  fouth  weft,  in  a  few  hours,  black 
clouds  begin  to  gather,  vegetables  look  fickly, 
and  droop  their  leaves  ;  and,  foon  after,  comes  on 
a  violent  ftorm  of  thunder,  with  heavy  rain.* 
This  change,  I  imagine,  is  not  fo  much  owing 
to  the  fouth  weft  wind  bringing  rain,  as  to  the 
atmofphere’s  being  changed  from  an  eledtric 
ftate,  capable  of  fufpending  vapour,  to  a  ftate 
of  parting  .with  its  moifture.  As  foon  as  the 
ftorm  is  going  off,  vegetables  revive  from  their 
languid  ftate,  and  the  air  recovers  its  ufual 
■afpedt.  From  this  we  may  conclude,  that  no 
inftrument  can  be  made  to  afcertain  the  quantity 
of  moifture  in  the  air :  all  that  is,  or  ought  to 
be  expedted  from  a  hygrometer,  is  to  fhew, 
whether  the  air  be  in  a  ftate  to  retain,  or  part 
with  its  moifture.  In  apparent  dry  weather  it 
may  point  to  rain  ;  and  when  it  rains,  it  may 
point  to  fair.  For  this  reafon,  the  ftones  of  halls, 
and  fmooth  fubrtances,  are  often  bedewed  with 
Wet,  in  dry  warm  weather,  (that  is,  the  air  is  in 
a  ftate  to  part  with  its  moifture)  and,  vice  verfd , 
they  will  dry  in  the  time  of  rain. 

Left  this  paper  fhould  exceed  the  common 
limits  of  time  in  reading,  I  ftiall  pafs  over  thofe 
obfervations,  which  might  be  made  on  fogs  or 
mifts ;  a  few  excepted,  which  I  {hall  fubjoin  in  a 

•  “  Ingeminant  Aullri,  et  denfiffiraus  imber.”  Virg. 

D  d  2  note. 


404  Dr.  Edfon  on  the  Jfcenl  of  Vapour'. 

note.*  I  (hall,  therefore,  conclude  with  a  fhort 
fummary  of  the  whole. 

1.  That,  heat  is  the  great  caufe,  by  which 
water  is  converted  into  vapour,  which  is  con- 
denfed  by  cold. 

2.  That,  ele&ricity  renders  vapour  fpecifi- 
cally  lighter,  and  adds  to  its  abfolute  heat, 
repelling  its  particles ;  which  particles  would 
be  condenfed  by  cold  :  and  that,  electricity  is 
the  great  agent  by  which  vapour  afeends  to  the 
upper  regions. 

*  Fogs  are  produced  by  two  caufes  as  different  as  their 
effe&s  are  oppofite.  A  fog  may  be  be  produced  by  a  preci¬ 
pitation  of  rain,  in  very  fmall  particles,  like  a  cloud  floating 
on  the  furface  of  the  earth.  In  this  cafe  the  air  is  moift 
and  damp,  and  never  fails  to  wet  a  traveller’s  cloaths ;  the 
ftones  of  the  ftreet,  painted  doors,  and  hard,  cool,  fmooth 
bodies  are  generally  covered  with  moifture,  which  ofteri 
runs  in  large  drops:  this,  I  dare  fay,  has  been  obferved 
by  every  perfon.  Secondly,  a  fog  may  be  produced  by 
the  abforption  of  moifture,  when  the  air  is  too  dry,  and 
differs  from  the  other  juft  deferibed ;  for  it  will  not  im¬ 
part  any  of  its  moifture  even  to  dry  bodies,  ho  damp  is  to 
be  met  with  on  ftones,  polifhed  marble,  See.  This'  fad  is 
well  known  to  the  inhabitants  on  the  fea  coaft  of  Fifefhire, 
who  during  their  fummer  months,  have  frequent  opportu¬ 
nities  of  obferving  a  fog  in  the  afternoon,  driving  up  the 
Firth  of  Forth,  with  a  drying  eaft  wind,  which  often  blafts 
the  trees  and  young  vegetables,  and  therefore,  in  a  fmall 
degree,  refembles  the  Harmattan  in  drying  up  the  ground, 
and  robbing  vegetables  of  their  moifture. 


3.  That 


On  the  Merit  of  the  Ancients ,  &c.  405 

3.  That,  when  the  eleftric  power,  by  which 
vapour  is  fufpended  in  the  atmofphere,  is  de- 
ftroyed,  a  heavy  mift,  fmall  rain  or  thunder- 
fhowers,  will  be  the  confequence.  Had  the 
advocates  for  the  dodlrine  of  folution,  made  heat 
and  eledricity,  the  folvents,  their  theory  would 
have  been  lefs  exceptionable.* 


On  the  comparative  Merit  of  the  Ancients 
and  Moderns,  with  refpehi  to  the  imitative 
Arts.  By  Mr.  Thomas  Kirshaw.  Read 
February  19,  1783. 


Vitaque  tam  longte  brevior  non  fufficit  Arti. 

Frefhoy  de  arte  Graphica. 

HE  life  of  man  being  too  Ihort,  and  the 


A  extent  of  human  abilities  too  confined, 
to  make  confiderable  improvements  or  inven¬ 
tions  in  any  art,  we  ought  to  view  the  per¬ 
formances  of  celebrated  men,  with  all  the 
candour,  and  generofity,  they  fo  well  merit. 

Even,  after  all  the  advantages  we  have  received 
from  the  united  (ludies  of  ages,  we  may,  with 
great  juflice  fay,  how  fmall  and  imperfect  is  all 
our  boafted  wifdom,  and,  how  much  to  be  re¬ 
gretted  is  it,  that  we  have  not  made  a  greater 

*  This  paper  is,  through  accident,  placed  out  of  the 
(Order  in  which  it  Ihould  have  been  infcrted. 


D  d  3 


progrefs 


406  On  the  Merit  of  the  Ancients 

progrefs  in  the  fpacious  field  of  fcience ! — This 
fhort  efiay  is  intended  to  point  out  the  excel¬ 
lencies  of  the  ancients  in  the  imitative  arts: 
yet,  at  the  fame  time,  to  allow  the  moderns 
their  due  fhare  of  fame,  in  having,  not  only 
made  fome  improvements,  but  inventions,  of 
which  the  ancients  were  entirely  ignorant. 

There  is  not  a  doubt,  but  the  ancients  pofleffed 
a  polilhed  tafte,  and  a  critical  knowledge  of  the 
various  and  exquifite  forms  of  beauty  :  they 
knew  the  arts,  could  only  receive  their  per¬ 
fection  from  ideal  beauty  fuperior  to  what  is 
ever  found,  in  individual,  and  imperfect  nature. 
There  is  no  man  equal,  in  ftrength  and  pro¬ 
portion  to  the  Farnefian  Hercules :  nor,  any 
woman  comparable,  for  fymmetry  of  form,  to 
Medicean  Venus. 

Thefe  inftances  feem  to  prove,  that  the  au¬ 
thors  of  the  fineft  remains  of  antiquity  formed 
to  themfelves  ideas  of  perfect  nature,  and 
collected  from  various  individuals,  what  no 
one  could  fupply. 

It  is  faid,  that  Zeuxis,  when  he  painted  his 
Helena,  feleCted  five  of  the  molt  beautiful 
virgins  that  could  be  found ;  and,  whatever 
nature  had  formed  molt:  perfeCt  in  each,  he 
united  in  a  Angle  figure. 

Thus  painters,  and  fculptors,  render  their 
ideas  more  perfeCV,  and  exalt  their  Art  above 

Nature 


and  Moderns ,  with  refpetl  to  the  Arts.  407 

Nature  heiTclf.  In  this  manner,  by  contem¬ 
plating  grand  and  exquifite  forms  of  beauty, 
the  operations  of  the  hand  are  directed  by  the 
image  in  the  mind :  but  how  far  to  proceed, 
and  when  to  flop,  muft  be  left  to  the  judgment 
of  the  artid. 

That  the  ancients  bear  the  pajm  from  the 
moderns  in  fculpture,  will  not  be  conteded : 
their  religion  fandtified  and  encouraged  that 
branch  of  fcience.  Gods,  Demigods,  and  He¬ 
roes,  all  confpired  to  bring  it  into  the  higheft 
repute  :  and  their  images  were  often  depofited  in 
buildings  of  the  molt  exquifite  tafte,  to  com¬ 
memorate  particular  occurrences.  The  rage 
for  highly  ornamented  edifices,  perhaps  never 
rofe  to  a  greater  height,  than  amongft  the 
Romans.  1  hefe  fons  of  fortune  acquired  fo 
much  wealth,  and,  by  plundering  didant  climes, 
had  fo  collected  the  riches  of  whole  kingdoms 
into  one  city,  that  there  was  no  way  left  to 
difiipate  fuch  immenfe  fums,  but  by  engaging 
in  the  mod  expenfive  works  of  arr.  Each 
ambitious  conqueror,  defirous  to  tranfmit  his 
own  adlions,  and  thofe  of  his  ancedors  to 
poderity,  called  in  to  his  aid  the  fculptor, 
and  the  architect,  whofe  utmod  lkill  was 
exerted  to  blazon  their  achievements  in  the 
folidity  of  done  and  marble. 

This  fhews,  in  fome  meafure,  why  Sculpture 
outdripped  her  fider  Art ;  for  the  fpecimens  of 

-  d  4  ancient 


40S  On  the  Merit  of  the  Ancients 

ancient  Painting  are  much  inferior  to  modern 
productions.  They  are  deficient  in  colouring, 
chiaro-obfcuro,  and  keeping.  Several  of  the 
Clajfics *  tell  us,  there  were,  but  four  colours  or 
pigments  in  ufe  amongfl  the  ancient  artifts,  viz. 
black,  white,  yellow,  and  red.  Now,  it  is  im- 
'poflible  to  produce,  from  thofe  colours  only,  the 
variety  of  tints  neceflary  to  equal  even  a  tolerable 
colourift  of  the  moderns.  Although  this  evinces 
nothing  againft  the  abilities  of  the  ancients,  we 
may  fairly  conclude,  that  the  rich  and  luxuriant 
deicriptions,  handed  down  to  us,  are  inflated 
with  hyperbole,  fufficient  to  make  us  doubt 
the  veracity  of  fome  of  their  authors.  Unfortu¬ 
nately  for  thefe  warm  advocates,  the  difcoveries 
of  Herculaneum  have  fpitefully  contradicted  their 
afifertions,  and  furnifhed  us  with  means  to  draw 
our  own  conclufions.  It  is  very  poflible  they 
might  admire,  and  be  furprized  at  a  fight  of,  what 
appeared  to  them  the  ultimatum  of  perfection. 

The  ftories  of  Zeuxis,  and  Polygnotus  raife 
a  fmile.  The  former  is  faid  to  have  painted 
fruits  fo  naturally,  that  birds  attempted  to  eat 
them  ;  the  latter  to  have  delineated  the'  charac¬ 
ter  and  features  of  the  face  fo  truly,  that  phyfiog- 
nomifts,  upon  fight  of  the  portrait,  could  foretel 
the  precife  time  of  the  party’s  death.  Sir  Jofhua 
Reynolds,  who  may  be  juftly  confidered  as  the 
firfl  artift  in  the  world,  thus  delivers  his  opinion, 

“  Iq 


*  Pliny,  Cicero, 


and  Moderns,  with  refpefi  to  the  Arts.  409 

“  In  antique  paintings,  there  are  not  the 
ec  fmalleft  traces  to  make  us  think,  that  what 
te  we  call  light,  and  fnade,  or  a  distribution  of 
“  the  work  into  maSTes,  claimed  any  part  of  their 
<c  attention  :  thefe  may  be  ranked  amongft  the 
*c  defects  of  the  learned  PcuJJin  *  as  well  as  of 
<(  the  antique  paintings :  and  the  moderns  have  a 
ft  right  tq.  that  praife  which  is  their  due,  'for 
“  having  given  fo  pieafing  an  addition  to  the 
“  fplendour  of  the  art.  TouJJin' s  pure  and  cor- 
“  reel  ftile  was  a  direft  contrail  to  the  florid 
“  and  inaccurate  ftile  of  Rubens -f-  ;  yet  the  luxu- 
riant  brillancy  and  harmony  of  the  latter,  Jo 
<c  dazzles  the  eye,  that  we  cannot  help  thinking 
cc  all  his  deficiencies  are  fully  Supplied.”  Poujfin 
carried  his  veneration  for  the  ancients  fo  far 
as  to  give  his  works  the  air  of  antique  paintings. 
It  is  certain  he  copied  fome  of  them,  particularly 
the  marriage,  in  the  Aldrobrandini  palace  at 
Rome  ;  which,  in  the  opinion  of  that  great  artift 
before  mentioned,  is  the  beft  relique  of  thofe 
remote  ages,  that  has  hitherto  been  found. 
Thofe  of  the  antique  paintings  which  Hand 
foremoft,  are  fine,  and  correct  imitations  of 
improved  nature;  with  the  chafteft  outline; 
formed  upon  Such  certain  principles  as  no  one 

*  N.  PouJJln ,  an  eminent  French  painter.  It  fhould  have 
been  noticed,  whether  it  was  Nicholas  ,  or  Gajper  PouJJhi. 

f  Rubens,  a  famous  Flcmifh  painter. 


has 


410 


On  the  Merit  of  the  Ancients 

has  yet  dared  to  controvert.  “But  they  have 
“  a  remarkable  drynefs  of  manner,  which  is,  by 
“  no  means,  recommended  for  imitation.”  The 
compofitions  of  the  ancients  appear  to  be  much 
better  calculated  for  the  chifiel,  than  the  pencil. 

Chiaro-fcuro,  or  the  art  of  diftributing  the 
lights  and  fhadows  in  a  pidlure  advantageoufly, 
as  well  for  the  repofe,  and  fatisfadtion  of  the  eye, 
as  for  the  effect  of  the  whole  together,  leems  to 
be  a  modern  invention.  By  the  affiftance  of 
this  part  of  fcience,  objedts  receive  more  relief, 
truth,  and  foundnels.  The  mafies  of  light  and 
fhade  are  formed  by  a  proper  diftribution  of 
objects,  which,  by  an  artful  management,  are  fo 
difpofed,  that  all  the  lights  are  on  one  fide,  and 
the  fliades  on  the  other.  Sometimes,  refledted 
lights  are  neceflary;  at  other  times  they  are  ufed, 
with  a  pidtorical  liberty,  to  produce  the  defired 
.effects  it  is  the  knowledge  of  this  that  animates 
the  canvas,  and  gives  the  appearance  of  corpo¬ 
real  fubftance  to  a  flat  furface.  Rembrandt ,*  fo 
far  from  felecling  the  molt  beautiful  and  grace¬ 
ful  parts  of  nature,  frequently  made  a  bad  choice 
from  among  the  fubjedls  fhe  affords.  And, 
although  he  poffefifed  a  very  moderate  portion 
of  true  tafte,  yet  the  fire  and  fpirit,  with  which 
his  pictures  are  finifhed,  cannot  be  feen  without 
furprize  ;  and  the  effedt  produced  by  his  colour- 


#  Rembrandt ,  a  great  artift  of  the  Flemifh  fchool. 


and  Moderns,  with  rejpeft  to  the  Arts.  411 

ing,  and  expreflion,  demand  our  admiration. 
His  etchings  are  collected  at  a  great  expence 
for  the  cabinets  of  the  curious.  The  fame  fpiric, 
which  flowed  from  his  pencil,  guided  his  needle. 
Had  this  eminent  artift  vifited  Rome,  and  re¬ 
fined  his  tafte,  it  is  fuppofed,  with  his  profound 
knowledge  of  chiaro-fcuro,  and  colouring,  he 
would  have  .been  one  of  the  firll  mailers  in  the 
world. 

That  part  of  the  art,  termed  keeping,  the 
ancients  feem  to  have  been  but  little  acquainted 
with,  and  without  a  due  management  of  this, 
every  picture  would  be  filled  with  confufion. 
Inllead  of  a  proper  fubordination,  each  groupe 
or  figure,  would  feem  to  contend  for  precedence. 
This  want  of  order  deltroys  all  dignity,  and  pre¬ 
vents  the  artifb  from  forming  an  agreeable  whole. 

Any  attempts  in  antique  landfcape,  with  which 
we  are  acquainted,  are  executed  wretchedly. 
In  that  part  of  the  art,  the  fuperiority  of  the 
moderns  is  manifell. 

We  have  the  authority  of  Frefnoy*  to  fay, 
ic  that,  Michael  Angelo  furpaffed  not  only  all 
<c  the  moderns,  but  the  ancients  in  architecture, 
“  he  quotes  the  St.  Peters  at  Rome,  the  Palazzo 
“  Farnefe,  and  the  St.  Johns  at  Florence,  as 
iC  proofs  of  his  opinion.” 

•  Frefnoy ,  a  French  artift  well  known  for  his  Latin  poem 
de  Arte  Graphica, 

Etching, 


4 1 2  On  the  Merit-  of  the  Ancients ,  csV. 

Etching,  engraving,  mezzotinto,  and  aqua- 
tinta  are  all  of  modern  invention,  and  of  great 
utility.  They  deliver  down  to  us  accurate 
copies  from  the  works  of  eminent  men  at  a 
fmall  expence  and  diffufe  abroad  the  bright 
flame  of  fcience,  fo  that  even  thofe,  who  are 
far  diftant  from  the  centre  of  the  arts,  may 
roufe  their  fouls  to  a&ion,  and  enlighten  that 
fpark  of  genius,  which  might  hitherto  have  lain 
dormant.  From  thefe  meritorious,  and  in¬ 
genious  improvements,  we  can  judge,  with  great 
certainty,  of  the  various  merits  of  an  artiil,  and 
every  part,  but  the  colouring,  may  be  critically 
examined. 

The  ftile  of  the  Italian,  Flemilh,  or  French 
fchools,  may  be  pointed  out  by  thefe  copies, 
and  frequently  the  very  manner  of  pencilling, 
by  particular  artifts,  is  faithfully  reprefented. 
Thefe  arguments  are  not  meant  to  depreciate 
the  antiques,  they  will  always  engage  our  admi¬ 
ration,  and  moft  highly  merit  it. 

The  advantages,  received  by  the  moderns, 
from  ftudying  the  ancients,  are  freely  acknow¬ 
ledged.  It  is  no  uncommon  thing  to  hear  fome 
people  lament  the  decay  of  genius,  and  the  de¬ 
cline  of  arts,  in  thefe  times,  when  compared  with 
the  Auguftan  age.  However  that  may  be,  the 
moderns  have  a  right  to  claim  their  full  portion 
of  fame,  in  many  arts  in  which  the  ancients 
could  not  inftrudt  them. 

From 


Mr.  Wrnpey  on  the  Impropriety  of  allowing,  &V.  413 

From  the  candour  of  this  learned  Society, 
the  writer  of  this  Efiay  claims  protea  ion,  and 
hopes,  an  attempt  to  inveftigate  truth,  will  not 
be  deemed  audacity. 


On  the  Impropriety  of  allowing  a  Bounty 
to  encourage  the  Exportation  of  Corn,  &c. 
By  Joseph  Wimpey. 

IN  the  converfation  on  a  paper  read  before 
this  Society  fome  time  fince,  refpedHn^ 
the  propriety  of  keeping  ceconomical  regifrers^ 
their  ufe  was  queftioned  in  refpedt  to  one  of 
the  principal  objects,  upon  fuppofition,  that  a 
neceffity  for  it  did  not  exift  ;  becaufe  it  had  been 
obviated  by  meafures  adopted  for  that  purpofe. 
The  objedt  alluded  to,  is  the  exportation  of  corn. 
Notwithftanding  all  that  was  urged  againft  it, 
the  writer  is  fully  perfuaded,  the  meafure  re¬ 
commended  is  well  founded,  the  objedt  of  it  of 
very  great  importance,  and  that  men  of  very 
good  abilities,  have  had  their  judgments  milled 
by  inveterate  popular  prejudices,  or  falfe  reafon- 
ing.  Impreft  with  an  idea  of  the  great  im¬ 
portance  ol  the  fubjedt,  he  begs  leave  to  fubmir 
the  following  obfervations  to  the  confideration 
of  the  Society. 


To 


414  Mr,  hVintpey  on  the  Impropriety  of  allowing 

To  maintain  an  argument,  not  founded  on 
juft  principles,  is  like  putting  to  fea  without 
compafs  or  chart.  As  the  vefiel  would  be  the 
fport  of  the  waves  and  winds  ;  fo  would  fuch 
a  reafoner  lie  at  the  mercy  of  the  boifterous 
ftorms  of  his  paftions,  and  the  uncertain  bias 
of  his  inclinations.  To  avoid  both,  let  us 
premife  certain  proportions,  where  truth  is  not 
only  confonant  to  reafon,  but  confirmed  by  ex¬ 
perience,  and  acknowledged  fads. 

PROPOSITIONS. 

1.  The  prime  objed  of  civil  fociety,  is  the 
happinefs  of  the  members  of  whom  it  is  com- 
pofed.  No  government  can  be  juft,  whofe 
fupport  and  defence  do  not  extend  to  the  equal, 
and  indifcriminate  benefit  of  the  whole. 

2.  Though  the  good  and  protedion  of  each 
individual,  is  either  virtually  implied,  or  for¬ 
mally  conditioned  or  articled  for;  yet  it  cannot 
juftly  extend  further,  than  may  be  confident 
■with  public  good  ;  for,  the  rights  of  all  men  are 
the  fame,  and  it  is  fnocking  to  common  fenfe  to 
fuppofe,  that  one  man,  or  one  clafs  of  men, 
might,  with  juftice,  be  made  rich,  great, 
and  happy,  by  the  mifery  and  fufferings  of  a 
hundred  men,  or  at  the  expence  of  the  reft  of 
the  community.  No  government  ever  intended 
men  ftiould  Yivzupon  one  another,  but  be  equally 

advantaged 


a  Bounty,  to  encourage  the  Exportation  of  Corn.  4 1 5 

advantaged  by  the  mutual  afiiftance,  given  to  the 
common  fupport,  of  which  every  individual  is 
entitled  to  an  equal  fliare. 

3.  Public  good  is  the  barometer,  or,  if  I 
may  ufe  the  exprefiion,  the  political  balance, 
by  which  the  fpecific  gravity,  the  intrinfic 
worth,  or  fterling  value,  of  every  meafure, 
refpeCting  the  public,  is  to  be  determined  and 
afcertained<  Therefore,  every  meafure,  which 
has  a  tendency  to  promote  public  good,  is 
right  and  defirable :  every  meafure,  which  is 
inimical  to  the  public  intereft,  is  a  wrong  mea¬ 
fure,  and  fhould  be  reprobated.  To  fay  other- 
wife,  would  be  repugnant  to  common  fenfe, 
therefore  falfe  and  abfurd. 

4.  The  projects  of  individuals,  in  which  the 
good  of  the  public  is  ultimately  included,  have 
been  very  defervedly  countenanced  by  public 
encouragement:  but  fuch  encouragement  cannot 
confidently  be  continued  longer  than  the  efta- 
blifhment  of  fuch  projects;  for  if  they  could 
not  fupport  themfelves,  and  reward  the  projec¬ 
tors,  they  would  be  abfurd  projects,  and  fhould 
be  abandoned,  as  by  propofitions  fecond  and 
third  ;  the  individual  is  not  to  be  enriched,  at 
the  unjuft  expence  and  lofs  of  the  public.  Now, 
all  the  bounties,  of  whatever  nature  or  kind, 
whether  they  refpeCt  produce,  manufactures,  or 
commerce,  are  public  encouragements  ;  and  their 
origin  and  exiftence  depend,  upon  the  reafonable 

expectation  ' 


41 6  Mr.  JVimpey  on  the  Impropriety  cf  allowing 

expectation  of  their  being  fubfervient  to  public 
good  ;  if  they  are  found  not  to  anfwer  that  pur- 
pofe,  they  fhould  be  execrated  and  abandoned 
as  public  evils,  as  appears  by  the  foregoing  pro¬ 
portions. 

5.  Cheap  and  dear  arc  relative  terms;  and 
are  meafured  or  eftimated,  by  their  rife  or  fall 
above  the  medium  value.  The  medium  value 
of  things  may  be  eftimated,  at  the  price  they 
Hand  the  grower,  the  breeder,  or  the  manufac¬ 
turer  in,  with  a  reafonable  profit  on  the  fame, 
for  the  maintenance  of  himfelf  and  family, 
be  the  commodity  whatever  it  may.  If  it 
deviates  from  that  ftandard,  it  will  be  dear, 
in  proportion  to  its  advance  above  it,  or  cheap, 
as  it  falls  below  it.  But  cheap  and  dear,  being 
relative  terms,  they  muft  depend  on  fomething 
elfe  for  their  exiftence;  and  this  is  very  well 
known  to  be  fcarcity  and  plenty.  If  the  demand 
for  any  commodity  is  encreafed,  beyond  the  quan¬ 
tity  adequate  to  the  fupply,  its  price  is  necef- 
farily  advanced.  But  if  the  quantity  exceeds 
the  demand,  the  price  as  necelTarily  falls ;  and 
it  is  not  in  human  power  to  prevent  it.  From 
hence  follows : 

6.  Propofition.  Whatever  meafure,  rule,  or 
law,  increafes  the  quantity  of  any  commodity, 
in  proportion  to  the  demand  for  it,  neceflarily 
makes  it  cheaper*,  and  whatever  increafes  the 

demand, 


a  Bounty }  to  encourage  the  Exportation  of  Corn.  417 

demand,  in  proportion  to  the  quantity,  as 
neceffarily  renders  it  dearer. 

Now,  there  is  hardly  any  public  queftion  re- 
fpedting  agriculture,  manufactures,  or  com¬ 
merce,  but  its  expedience  and  ufe  may  be 
afcertained  by  fome  one,  or  more,  of  thefe 
propofitions. 

The  queftion  before  us  is  of  the  greateft: 
importance  f  there  is  not  a  Jubjebt  in  the  realm , 
tvhofe  intereft:  is  not  affected  by  it.  Nothing  can 
be  more  interefting,  than  that  proper  meafures 
fhould  be  taken  reflecting  an  article,  upon  which 
the  people  depend  for  their  daily  fubfiftence.  It  is 
a  meafure,  however,  in  which  men  of  good  fenfe 
have  been  deceived  and  deluded  ;  by  which  millions 
have  been  foolifhly  thrown  away,  to  the  advan¬ 
tage  of  our  neighbours  ;  and  which,  to  this  hour, 
has  its  advocates,  who  contend,  not  only  for  its 
continuance,  but  alfo  for  its  extenfion.  But  the 
effects  of  popular  prejudice  are  indeed  very 
furprizing. — Let  us  firft  take  a  curfory  view  of 
its  hiftory,  and  then  try  its  merit  by  the  fore¬ 
going  propofitions. 

Patriotifm,  genuine  patriotifm,  is  a  word  of 
noble  fignification.  But,  a  true  patriot,  one 
who,  in  all  things,  at  all  times,  and  upon  all 
occafions,  prefers  the  good  of  the  community 
to  his  own  private  intereft,  would  be  as  Angu¬ 
lar  a  phenomenon  in  the  political  world,  as  a 
Phoenix  in  the  natural.  It  is  an  objedt  one  may 
Vol.  I.  E  e  contemplate 


4 1 8  Mr.  IVimpey  on  the  Impropriety  of  allowing 

contemplate  with  pleafure ;  but  rarely  be  in¬ 
dulged  with  the  fight  of.  Legiflators,  like 
Judges,  fhould  be  incorrupt :  their  ears  fhould 
be  open  to  no  voice,  but  that  of  truth.  But 
where  fhall  we  find  thofe,  who  have  no  intereft 
in  the  laws  they  enadt ;  or  thofe,  who  can  dived 
themfelves  of  the  influence  of  fuch  intereft  ? 

Unhappily,  the  landed  intereft  of  the  country 
is  placed  in  oppofition  to  that  of  commerce,  and 
they  contemplate  each  other  with  an  evil  eye. 
This  has  a  pernicious  tendency  ;  fince  they  are 
connected  together,  like  links  in  a  chain,  and 
fince  their  fafety  and  intereft  depend  upon  their 
union.  Neither  could  fubfift  long  without  reci¬ 
procal  aid. — But  to  proceed  to  fadts. 

One  of  the  calamities  of  the  civil  war  was,  a 
fcarcity  and  dearnefs  of  provifions.  When  peace 
was  reftored,  men  betook  themfelves  to  their 
civil  occupations,  and  agriculture  was  encouraged 
by  men  of  ability.  In  1687,  wheat  was  at  a 
lower  price,  than  it  had  been  at  any  time  in  the 
century;  fomewhere  from  three  fhillings,  to  three 
and  four-pence  a  bufhel.  The  circumftances  of  the 
farmers,  of  thofe  days,  were  very  different  from 
the  prefent.  If  the  prices  were  low,  they  were,  not- 
withftanding,  obliged  to  go  to  market :  nor  could 
they  keep  large  flocks,  for  a  change  of  times,  and 
an  advance  of  price.  Therefore,  when  corn  fold 
low,  their  rents  were  ill  paid,  and  the  land-owner 
was  affedted  by,  and  partook  of,  the  diftrefs  of  his 

tenant. 


a  Bounty,  to  encourage  the  Exportation  of  Corn.  4 1 9 

tenant.  To  remedy  this,  the  bounty  was  de- 
vifed,  and  a  market  was  procured  abroad :  for 
it  was  clearly  feen,  as  the  demand  increafed, 
the  price  mufi  do  fo  too  ;  and  the  event  fully 
evinced  the  policy  of  the  meafure,  for  the  year 
following,  the  price  was  nearly  double.  Could 
this  relief  have  been  given  to  the  farmer  and 
land-owner,  without  injury  to  the  reft  of  the 
community,  it  would  have  been  juft:  but,  when 
it  is  confidered,  that  there  is  no  one,  even  in  the 
loweft  circumftances  of  life,  who  is  not  taxed  to 
pay  the  bounty,  perhaps  it  will  appear  rather 
cruel,  to  oblige  poor  wretches,  who  with  the 
greateft  care  and  induftry,  cannot  provide  bread 
fufficient  to  fupport  their  families,  to  contribute 
towards  the  enriching  of  the  farmer,  and  in¬ 
creasing  of  the  rent  of  the  land-owner. 

But,  what  fays  the  advocate  for  the  bounty  ? 
Why,  he  tells  you,  that  the  time  of  granting 
it  is  the  great  aera,  from  which,  improvements 
in  agriculture  are  to  be  dated.  That  at  the 
fame  time,  it  has  benefitted  the  land-owner 
and  the  fanner,  has  added  to  the  riches  of 
the  nation,  and  has  lowered  the  price  of  corn, 
which  is  a  common  blefting  to  all.  That  it 
has  been  very  beneficial  to  the  land-owner  and 
farmer,  we  not  only  admit,  but  have  proved ; 
but  that  it  has  added  to  the  riches  of  the  na¬ 
tion,  is  denied  :  and  that  it  Should  be  the  means 
of  lowering  the  price  of  corn,  is  contradictory, 
abfurd,  and  impoftible.  But  it  is  faid,  it  has 

E  e  2  lowered 


420  Mr.  iVimpey  on  the  Impropriety  of  allowing 

lowered  the  price,  and  the  fad  is  indifputable. — . 
Fads,  indeed,  are  ftubborn  things,  and  not  to  be 
warped  to  accommodate  any  body.  But,  be 
it  remembered,  affertions  are  not  fads:  and 
any  one,  who  is  remarkable  for  fcarlefsnefs  of 
afifertion,  can  never  be  depended  upon  for  fads. 

What  effed  the  bounty  had  upon  the  price 
of  corn,  can  only  be  known,  by  comparing 
the  prices  for  a  confiderable  number  of  years, 
before  that  meafure  was  adopted,  with  the  fame 
number  of  years  after.  This,  and  this  only, 
is  the  true  method  of  afcertaining  the  fad.  But 
to  compare  plentiful  years  with  years  of  fcarcity, 
can  only  ferve  to  expofe  the  fraud  and  artifice 
of  the  writer,  and  to  impofe  upon  the  credulity 
of  the  reader.  The  following  is  a  true  ftate  of 
the  fad,  as  any  one  may  fatisfy  himfelf,  who 
will  be  at  the  trouble  of  infpeding  the  Windfor 
Tables,  which  he  may  find  in  Bifhop  Fleetwood's 
Chronicon  Pretio/um,  in  four  trads  relating  to 
corn  :  and,  I  think,  in  one  of  the  volumes  of 
Mnjeum  R uf  i cum  et  Commercials.  The  fad  is, 
if  the  average  price  of  corn  be  taken  from  thofe 
tables,  for  twenty-five  or  thirty  years  before  the 
bounty  was  enaded,  and  for  the  fame  term  after, 
it  will  appear,  that  the  price  was  confiderably 
lower  before  the  bounty,  than  it  was  after. 
This  was  the  time  for  difcovering  the  effeds 
of  the  bounty;  and  the  fad  is,  it  advanced 
the  price,  nearly  double,  the  firfb  year. 

We 


a  Bounty ,  to  encourage  the  Exportation  of  Corn.  421 

We  will  now  fhew,  that  the  natural  and 
neceffary  tendency  of  the  bounty  is,  to  raife  the 
price;  and  that  it  is  impoffible  it  fhould  do 
otherwife  ;  and  therefore  abfurd  to  affert  it.  The 
advocates  for  the  meafure  fay,  “It  encourages 
the  farmer  to  grow  more  corn,  by  providing  a 
market  abroad  ;  this  makes  it  more  plentiful,  and 
confequently  cheaper.”  This,  in  fa<5t,  is  faying, 
the  farmer  has  more  encouragement  to  grow 
corn,  when  the  price  is  lower,  than  when  it  is 
higher.  The  market  is  nothing  to  him, 
abftra&ed  from  the  price.  When  he  fells  his 
corn,  he  neither  knows  nor  cares  what  becomes 
of  it  afterwards :  he  looks  only  to  the  price. 
If  it  affords  him  a  reafonable  profit,  he  proceeds 
with  alacrity;  and  his  diligence  and  induftry 
will  be  excited  in  proportion  to  his  gain.  But,  it 
feems,  the  bounty  lowers  the  price  and  renders  it 
cheaper,  and,  at  the  fame  time,  encourages  the 
farmer  to  extend  its  culture,  and  grow  larger 
quantities,  than  he  would  otherwife  do  !  This 
is  the  land-owner’s  argument;  but  where  is  the 
man,  who  can  reconcile  ic  to  common  JenJe  ? 
Repugnant  as  this  is  to  the  common  fenfe  of 
mankind,  it  is  the  great  argument  made  ufe  of, 
not  only  to  continue  the  bounty,  but  to  increafe 
and  extend  it,  I  could,  therefore,  wifb,  as  it  is  a 
queftion  of  very  great  importance,  to  be  permit¬ 
ted  to  fift  it  to  the  bottom. 

E  e  3  The 


4  22  Mr.  Wimpy  on  the  Impropriety  of  allowing 

The  farmer  ftands  on  the  fame  ground  as  the 
manufacturer  :  every  article  of  his  farm  ftands 
him  in  a  certain  price ;  and,  if  he  cannot  fell  it 
for  a  profit,  lufficient  to  maintain  himfelf  and 
family,  in  time  he  muft  wafte  his  capital,  and 
come  to  ruin.  Suppofe  he  cannot  grow  wheat 
under  four  {hillings  a  bulhel,  which  is  about  the 
average  coft :  it  is  evident,  he  muft  fell  it  for 
more  than  four  {hillings,  or  he  lofes  by  that 
article.  Now,  if  the  bounty  (as  the  advocates 
for  it  maintain)  lowers  the  price,  is  it  poftible  to 
conceive,  that  it  fhould  encourage  the  farmer  to 
extend  its  culture  ?  Or  rather,  is  it  not  felf- 
evident,  that  it  would  not  only  difcourage 
his  fowing  corn,  but  neceftitate  him  to  difcon- 
tinue  the  practice,  to  fave  himfelf  from  ruin  ? 
Put  a  fimilar  queftion  to  any  Gentleman  here, 
who  is  verfed  in  manufactures  of  any  kind. 
Suppofe  a  Velveret  ftands  him  in  four  {hillings 
a  yard  :  fo  long  as  he  can  fell  it  for  four  {hillings 
and  fix-pence,  or  five  {hillings,  he  will  be 
encouraged  to  make  as  much  as  he  can  :  but  let 
any  meafure  be  adopted  which  falls  the  price  to 
three  {hillings  and  fixpence,  would  he  not 
immediately  relinquifti  that  branch,  and  betake 
himfelf  to  fomething  elle  ?  Surely  he  would. 
And,  why  Ihould  not  the  farmer,  for  the  very 
fame  reafon,  abandon  the  planting  of  wheat, 
when  the  bounty  has  lowered  the  price  fo,  that  a 
buftiel,  which  ftands  him  in  four  {hillings,  he  can 

only 


ci  Bounty ,  to  encourage  the  Exportation  of  Corn.  423 

only  fell  for  three  fhillings  and  fix-pence,  three 
fhillings,  two  fhillings  and  fixpence,  or  even 
but  two  fhillings ;  for,  at  all  thefe  prices  has 
wheat  been  exported  ?  It  is  plain  then,  if  the 
price  of  grain  is  lower  now,  than  it  was  in  any 
former  period,  it  muft  be  owing  to  fome  other 
caufe;  for  a  bounty  has  a  direftly  contrary  effeft. 

Another  argument  for  the  bounty  is.  That  it 
encourages  exportation  j  and,  as  corn  is  the  pro¬ 
duce  of  our  own  lands,  it  greatly  increafes  the 
riches  of  our  country. 

I  anfwer — To  object  to  the  exportation  of 
corn,  or  any  other  article  of  commerce,  when  it 
can  be  done  on  advantageous  terms,  would  be 
extreme  folly.  But  exportation,  procured  by 
means  of  a  bounty,  is  fo  far  from  being  advan¬ 
tageous,  that  it  deftroys,  for  the  mod  part,  all 
polTibility  of  advantage  :  even  of  real,  fubftantial 
advantage,  which  mud,  and  would  happen,  if 
not  prevented  by  the  bounty.  Every  man  is 
thoroughly  fenfible,  that,  if  he  purfues  a  bufinefs 
by  which  he  is  a  lofer,  the  longer  he  continues 
in  it,  and  the  larger  his  dealings,  the  more  he 
fuffers  by  it.  Juft  fo  it  operates  in  regard  to 
the  public  ;  for  the  public  and  individuals  only 
differ,  as  greater  and  leffcr :  and  the  lofs  of  the 
one  is  in  exa£t  proportion  to  that  of  the  other. 
To  fhew  this,  let  us  fuppofe,  for  example,  as 
before,  that  wheat  Hands  the  farmer  in  four 
fhillings  a  bufhel  :  that  the  prefent  market  price, 

E  4  however, 


4?  4  M-r-  Wimpty  on  the  Impropriety  of  allowing 

however,  is  no  more  than  thre_e  fhillings,  and  that 
there  is  not  a  Sufficient  demand  even  at  that.  The 
legislature,  to  relieve  the  farmer,  and  accommo¬ 
date  its  members,  gives  a  bounty  of  five  fhillings 
a  quarter,  or  feven-pence  halfpenny  a  bufhel,  to 
procure  a  market  abroad.  And  is  it  not  'ablejfed 
relief  which  it  affords  ?  In  the  firffc  place,  the 
farmer  fells  for  three  fhillings  what  coft  him  four 
fhillings  ;  and,  towards  that  three  fhillings,  the 
public  pay  feven-pence  halfpenny.  The  ffift  is  a 
lofs  of  twenty  five  per  cent,  and  the  latter  of 
more  than  twenty  ;  making  together,  above  forty- 
five  per  cent.  !  What  a  glorious  trade  for  England , 
attended  with  fuch  immenfe  advantages  !  But 
how  much  better  for  the  fagacious  Dutchman, 
who  buys  a  commodity  at  forty  five  per  cent, 
below  its  real  value,  which,  in  the  fpace  of 
twelve  or  eishteen  months,  there  is  almoft  a 
certainty  of  felling  again,  Sometimes  in  the  fame 
market,  at  a  hundred  per  cent,  profit 

But  it  may  be  afked,  what  is  to  be  done,  when 
the  nation  is  fo  unfortunate,  as  to  be  over¬ 
whelmed  with  fuch  an  abundance  :  for  it  mufl 
be  obferved,  fuch  low  prices  never  happen,  but 
in  confequence  of  a  Series  of  propitious  feafons  ? 
I  anfwer,  we  fhould  then  imitate  the  Dutch,  and 
ftore  up  our  corn  when  cheap,  that,  when  un¬ 
fruitful  feafons  come,  we  may,  like  them,  fell  it 
at  a  large  profit  without  a  bounty,  with  a  Saving 
of  £200,000  a  year  to  the  public.  This,  I 

think. 


a  Bounty ,  to  encourage  the  Exportation  of  Corn.  425 

think,  is  about  the  average  fum  we  have  annually 
paid  for  bounties,  and  is  fufficient  to  purchafe 
about  a  fourth  of  the  corn,  we  have  ufually  ex¬ 
ported.  Eut,  giving  a  bounty  of  twenty  per  cent, 
to  export  corn,  when  the  price  is  fo  low,  leaves  fo 
little  upon  hand,  that  the  firft  bad  feafon  which 
comes,  raifes  the  price  to  double;  and  the\n, 
when  you  fhould  fell  for  a  profit,  you  have  no 
corn;  but 'are  forced  to  prohibit  exportation, 
even  without  a  bounty,  or  to  import  from 
abroad,  at  double  the  price  you  fold  at.  It  is 
now  about  ninety  five  years,  fince  the  bounty 
commenced,  and  thus  it  has  operated  from  the 
beginning.  The  firft  unfavourable  feafon,  after 
a  year  of  large  exportation,  hath  conflantly 
raifed  the  price  immoderately,  as  appears  from 
the  tables  above-mentioned,  and  it  is  impodible 
it  fhould  be  otherwife. 

It  has  been  alfo  obferved,  that  in  Italy ,  and 
other  places,  where  corn  is  not  permitted  to  be 
fent  abroad,  it  is  always  dear.  Doubtlefs  it  is. 
We  have  no  objection  to  exportation,  when  we 
have  any  corn  to  fpare  :  on  the  contrary,  we 
recommend  the  praftice.  Bur,  is  there  no  dif¬ 
ference,  between  giving  a  bounty  of  twenty  per 
cent,  to  force  a  trade,  which  reduces  you  to 
almoft  a  famine,  and  felling  at  a  fair  average 
price,  which  obtains  all  over  Europe?  The 
former  impoverifhes  and  diftreftes  you  ;  while  the 
other,  if  you  had  any  corn  to  fell,  would  infall i- 


426  Mr.  Wimpey  on  the  Impropriety  of  allowing 

bly  enrich  you.  The  exportation  of  corn,  upon 
fair  and  juft  principles,  would  be  a  very  valuable 
article  of  commerce ;  and  not  lefs  fo,  in  a  national 
view,  than  a  private  one,  to  the  land-owner 
and  farmer:  but  fo  execrable  has  been  our 
management,  by  forcing  a  market  with  the  lofs 
of  from  thirty  to  fifty  per  cent,  that  when  a 
fcarcity  comes,  when  the  price  advances,  and  we 
fhould  gain  fifty  per  cent,  inftead  of  having  corn 
to  fell,  we  are  forced  to  buy,  and  often  to 
give  double  the  price  we  fold  at. 

We  quite  miftake  the  matter,  in  fuppofing, 
the  laws,  in  being,  have  provided  a  fufficient 
remedy :  no  law  ever  was,  or  ever  can  be, 
effectual  to  that  purpole,  while  a  bounty  fubfifts. 
It  is  in  vain  to  think,  that  trade,  like  water, 
will  find  its  own  level,  when  fo  large  a  fiuice  is 
opened  to  deftroy  that  level.  We  may  as  well 
throw  a  quarter  of  a  hundred  weight  into  one 
fcale,  to  preferve  its  equilibrium,  as  to  give  a 
bounty  of  twenty  per  cent,  to  put  us  upon  an 
equal  footing  with  the  other  corn-markets  in 
Europe. 

The  impropriety  of  the  bounty  is  not  lefs 
apparent,  in  the  influence  it  has  on  the  farmer’s 
condutt.  It  often  tempts  him  to  plant  wheat 
on  land,  which  is  not  fuited  to  it ;  and  fome- 
times,  two  or  three  years  together,  on  the  fame 
land  ;  which  too  often  proves  a  great  lofs  to 
himfelf,  and  alfo  to  the  public.  For  the  farmer 

cannot 


e  Bounty ,  to  encourage  the  Exportation  of  Com.  427 

cannot  luffer  materially  in  the  failure  or  lols 
of  his  crops,  but  the  public  will  be  affe&ed  by 
it :  and,  what  is  worfe,  while  he  plants  wheat, 
for  the  fale  of  which  the  public  are  loaded  with 
a  heavy  tax,  he  omits  planting  other  grain, 
which  England,  is  obliged  to  import  from  abroad. 
At  the  fame  time  that  we  have  paid  two  hundred 
thoufand  po_unds  a  year  for  bounties  on  corn 
exported,  we  have  paid  five  hundred  thoufand 
pounds  for  oats  imported,  making  together  feven 
hundred  thoufand  pounds.  Can  a  more  ftriking 
proof  of  the  folly  of  the  meafure  be  defired, 
than  giving  fuch  a  fum  to  force  a  trade  in  one 
article,  which  neceftarily  obliges  us  to  be  pur- 
chafers  for  fo  large  a  fum  in  another,  without 
any  the  leaf:  allowance  whatever  ? 

But,  there  are  thole  who  would  perfuade  us, 
that  to  grow  corn,  or  trade  in  it  to  any  advan¬ 
tage,  our  ports  fhould  be  always  open,  that  the 
merchant  might  export  or  import,  as  bed  fuited 
his  intereft.  If  the  merchant  were  the  only  man 
in  the  kingdom  whofe  welfare  was  to  be 
confidered,  perhaps  it  might  be  right  3  or,  if 
mankind  confidered  all  nations  as  brethren, 
among  whom  charity  univerfally  prevailed,  the 
maxim  might  be  juft.  But  whilll  neighbouring 
nations  calculate  their  own  intereft,  by  the  lol's 
of  it  in  others,  the  country  which  fhould  be 
anxious  to  provide  bread  for  its  neighbours, 
would  be  lure  to  want  it  for  itfelf.  On  this 

plan. 


428  Mr.  Wimpey  on  the  Impropriety  of  allowing 

plan,  what  would  become  of  the  farmer  and  land- 
owner  ?  I  anfwer  both  would  be  totally  ruined. 
In  mod  countries  in  Europe ,  both  land  and 
labour  are  fo  much  cheaper  than  in  England , 
that,  in  fruitful  feafons,  grain  would  be  poured 
in  upon  us  in  fuch  immenfe  quantities,  and 
the  pi  ice  fo  far  reduced,  that  the  farmer  mult 
give  up  his  bufinefs,  and  the  land-owner 
cultivate  his  land,  for  the  bare  maintenance  of 
his  family.  On  the  other  hand,  when  the  feafons 
proved  unfavourable,  and  the  crops  were  infuffi- 
cient,  our  ports  might  be  open  to  no  purpofe; 
no  corn  would  arrive ;  the  unavoidable  con¬ 
sequence  would  be,  a  general  famine;  and  un¬ 
der  the  influence  of  fuch  an  execrable  meafure,  it 
would  not  be  in  the  art  or  power  of  man  to  pre¬ 
vent  it.  It  is  not  in  corn  only,  that  high  cuftoms, 
prohibitory  and  penal  laws,  are  abfolutely  necef- 
fary,  but  in  very  numerous  branches  of  manu¬ 
factures;  indeed,  in  manufacture  almofl:  the  whole 
of  linen  and  filk.  Vaft  quantities  of  the  former 
are  imported  under  duties  of,  from  eighteen  to 
twenty-five  or  thirty  per  cent ;  and  a  vaft  variety 
of  fmall  wares  'at  twenty-five;  and  one  article 
at  almofl;  cent,  per  cent.  Even  fine  broad-cloth, 
which  is  a  ftaple  commodity  of  this  kingdom, 
I  have  known  imported  under  an  infurance  of 
twenty-five  per  cent,  ad  valorum.  In  (hort, 
were  our  ports  open  to  all,  as  fome  Politicians 

advife. 


a  Bounty ,  to  encourage  the  Exportation  of  Corn.  429 

advife,  the  Englijh  mechanic  muff:  do  as  much 
work  for  three-pence,  at  leaff,  as  he  now  does 
for  a  fhilling  *,  and  then  I  aver,  he  would  be 
much  better  paid,  than  an  ingenious  workman  now 
is  in  France. 

But,  as  I  find  fome  Gentlemen,  the  mofr  re- 
fpetffable  in  general  for  their  judgment,  think 
differently  on  this  fubjeft,  I  with  to  give  it  a 
little  further  inveftigation.  I  remember  Mon- 
fieur  Furgot  (who  was,  at  leaft,  as  refpe<5table 
for  his  humanity  as  for  his  penetration,  and 
in  neither,  perhaps,  much  inferior  to  any  man) 
thought  it  was  a  cruel  meafure  to  Ihut  the  ports, 
and  keep  back  our  corn,  when  fo  many  pro¬ 
vinces  were  ftarvin?  for  want  of  it.  He  con- 

k— > 

tended,  it  was  a  narrow  policy,  and  that  gene¬ 
ral  happinefs  requires,  that  the  ports  fnould 
be  always  open,  and  commerce  left  to  thofe 
whofe  bufinefs  it  was  to  purfue  it.  This,  I  ob- 
ferve,  was  trying  the  queftion  by  the  laws  of 
•  humanity,  and  not  by  the  policy  of  dates ;  and 
particularly,  not  by  the  politics  of  the  court  of 
France ,  in  one  of  the  fir  ft  departments  of  which 
he,  at  that  time,  filled  a  diftinguifhed  place, 
with  much  honour. 

If  the  laws  of  juftice  and  humanity  univerfally 
prevailed,  and  every  man,  of  whatever  country 
or  nation,  efteemed  every  other  man  as  his  bro¬ 
ther  and  his  friend,  if  all  men  had  but 


one 


/ 


430  Mr.  Wimpey  on  the  Impropriety  of  allowing 

one  common  object  of  purfuit,  viz.  the  general 
peace  and  happinefs  of  mankind  ;  and  if  each 
individual  were  content  with  his  proportion  of 
good,  as  it  arofe  from  the  general  (lock,  com¬ 
merce  and  every  thing  elfe  would  put  on  a  very 
different  face. 

It  would  be  loft  labour  to  attempt  to  prove, 
what  every  one  is  daily  an  eye-witnefs  to.  The 
prefent  fyftem  of  politics,  not  only  among 
princes  and  ftates,  but  in  fmall  communities, 
and  among  individuals  too,  is  not  only  to  make 
the  greateft  advantages  poffible  of  the  wants  and 
diftreffes  of  others,  but  to  create,  as  far  as  is 
practicable,  thofe  wants  and  diftreffes,  as  the 
moft  certain  and  direct:  road  to  fuch  advantages. 
Hence,  the  accurfed  third  of  conqueft,  to  feed 
the  ambition  of  princes,  and  the  atrocious  fpirit 
of  monoplizing,  to  create  fcarcity  in  the  midftof 
plenty,  todiftrefs,  perhaps,  ten  thoufand  perlons 
in  order  to  gratify  the  infatiable  avarice  of  one. 
Whoever  may  attend  to  the  prefent  fyftem  of 
things,  as  actually  exifting  in  a  populous, 
induftrious,  fertile  country,  where  the  eyes  of 
every  individual  are  open  to  private  advantage, 
will  foon  fee  the  neceftity  of  reflrictive  lawsj 
to  protect  the  weak  and  innocent  againft  the 
fraud  and  abufe  of  thofe,  who  make  artifice  and 
cunning  their  ftudy,  to  impoverifti  and  enflave 
the  reft  of  mankind.  This  is  an  affair  of  the 
lafl:  importance,  which,  I  am  afraid,  is  very 

far 


a  Bounty ,  to  encourage  the  Exportation  of  Corn.  43 1 

far  from  being  well  underftood.  Some,  I  verily 
believe,  from  a  generofity  of  temper,  and  bene¬ 
volence  of  difpofition,  wifh  to  fee  every  means 
practifed,  which  might  probably  reduce  the  price 
of  commodities,  efpecially  the  necelTaries  and 
conveniences  of  life.  To  this  end,  it  has  been 
thought,  that  if  the  ports  were  thrown  open,  and 
the  flux  and  reflux  of  the  articles  of  commerce 
might  beas'free  as  the  tides,  it  would  necefTarily 
occafion  plenty  ;  and  that  this  would  as  neceiTarily 
lower  the  price,  which  would  be  a  convenience  to 
all,  and  particularly,  a  great  blefling  to  the  in- 
duftrious  poor.  This  do&rine,  plaufible  as  it  may 
feem,  from  the  humanity  of  the  fpirit  by  which 
it  is  didtated,  I  regard  as  a  fophifm  of  the  mofl 
dangerous  kind.  Nothing  could  fooner  reduce 
this  country,  to  the  deepefl  poverty  and  diftrefs. 

What  is  it,  that  has  raifed  this  country  to 
the  Hate  of  affluence,  eafe,  and  happinefs,  it 
has  long  enjoyed  ?  Not  the  natural  fecundity 
of  its  lands:  for,  in  that  refpedt,  it  is  very  far 
inferior  to  many  other  countries.  Neither  our 
lands,  their  natural  produce,  nor  the  populouf- 
nefs  of  the  country,  could  add  one  grain  to  its 
riches,  without  the  induftry  and  labour  of  its 
people  :  I  mean  thofe,  who  not  only  labour 
for  their  maintenance  and  fupport,  but  aifo, 
for  the  neceffaries  and  conveniences  of  thofe, 
whofe  circumftances  enable  them  to  pay  for  what 
they  are  unable  or  unwilling  to  provide  for 

themfelves. 


4?2  Mr.  Wimpey  on  the  Impropriety  of  allowing 

themfelves.  It  is  the  well-directed  induftry  of 
the  labouring  poor,  which  conftitutes  the  riches 
of  a  country.  They  are,  when  beneficially  em¬ 
ployed,  the  true  finews  of  its  profperity  ;  to  pro¬ 
mote  and  effeft  which,  is  the  heighth  of  political 
wifdom.  Numbers,  unlefs  ufefully  employed, 
are  the  bane  and  curfe  of  every  community. 

Nature,  in  the  moft  fertile  foil,  and  climate, 
can  only  provide  the  rough  materials  ;  it  is  the 
induftrious  and  laborious  man,  who  cultivates 
the  earth,  reaps  the  grain,  fhears  the  flock, 
fabricates  the  cloth,  fells  the  timber,  penetrates 
into  the  bowels  of  the  earth,  and  navigates  the 
feas.  Upon  the  unremitting  toil  of  thefe  labo¬ 
rious  people,  do  the  riches,  the  profperity,  and 
the  happinefs  of  every  populous  country  depend. 
A  populous  country,  deflitute  of  employment 
for  its  people,  would  foon  exhibit  a  dreadful  fcene 
of  wretchednefs  and  mifery.  A  people,  ener¬ 
vated  and  difpiritcd  for  want  of  employment, 
and  the  means  of  a  comfortable  fubfiftence,  to 
be  procured  by  it  alone,  would  foon  become  the 
fcourge  and  curfe  of  a  country. 

But  let  us  make  the  experiment ;  like  fight¬ 
ing  a  battle,  it  will  be  much  more  fafe  to 
do  it  on  paper,  than  in  the  field.  I  am  very 
far  from  pretending  to  have  a  perfect,  or  even 
a  comprehenfive  view  of  the  fubjeci  ;  but,  I 
hope,  without  vanity  it  may  be  faid,  I  have  a 
practical  knowledge  of  commerce,  fufficient  to 

enable 


a  Bounty ,  to  encourage  the  Exportation  of  Corn:  433 

enable  me  to  point  out  the  inevitable  ruin, 
that  muft  attend  the  fyftem  of  eftablilhing  free 
ports,  for  the  importation  and  exportation  of 
all  kinds  of  commodities  without  reftridtion. 

I  will  beg  leave  to  premile  a  few  proportions 
relative  to  this  fubjedt,  the  certainty  of  which, 
I  perfuade  myfelf,  will  not  be  difputed. 

1.  If  the  labour  and  induftry  of  a  people  are 
the  fources  of  the  riches  they  pofiefs,  thefe  fources 
muft  dry  up  or  abate,  in  proportion  as  the  peo¬ 
ple  want  employment. 

2.  Both  the  land,  and  labour  of  England  are 
very  high,  in  comparifon  with  thofe  of  almoft  any 
other  country  in  Europe;  confequently,  fuch 
countries  can  under-fell  England ,  ceteris  paribus , 
both  in  corn  and  manufadtures,  in  any  market 
in  the  world. 

3.  The  produce  of  the  earth,  in  its  natural 
ftate,  and  raw  materials  of  all  kinds,  have  their 
value  exceedingly  increafed,  by  the  fkill  and 
labour  bellowed  upon  them,  in  converting 
them  into  goods  and  wares,  often  in  the  pro¬ 
portion  of,  from  five  to  twenty  for  one,  and 
fometimes  a  great  deal  more :  therefore,  where 
there  are  people  to  be  employed,  and  fuch  goods 
and  wares  can  be  vended  with  advantage,  ic 
is  extremely  bad  policy,  to  fuffer  the  raw  mate¬ 
rials  to  be  exported,  on  any  pretence  whatfoever. 

4.  Moft  countries  have  fome  advantages  pe¬ 
culiar  to  them,  arifing  from  the  foil,  climate, 

Vol.  I.  F  f  fituation. 


434  Mr-  Wimpey  on  the  Impropriety  of  allowing 

fituation,  or  natural  productions  of  the  fame. 
The  genuine  and  mofi:  warrantable  policy  of 
any  country  is,  to  accommodate  fuch  advantages 
to  the  good,  the  well-being,  and  profperity  of 
its  people.  Indeed,  general  policy  renders  it 
necefiary,  to  put  every  (late  upon  an  equal  foot¬ 
ing  with  its  neighbours  j  for  it  would  be  deemed 
weaknefs  or  madnefs,  to  neglect  local  advan¬ 
tages,  when  every  ftate,  and  every  individual 
around  us,  were  availing  themfelves  to  the 
utmoft  of  their  power,  to  profit  by  them. 

5.  If  the  exportation  of  raw  materials  is  fo 
impolitic  a  meafure ;  how  much  more  fo  is  it, 
to  encourage  the  manufactures  of  other  nations, 
when  they  ftand  in  competition  with  our  own, 
and  have  a  direCt  tendency  to  fupplant  us  in 
our  market  at  home,  and  in  the  confumption  of 
our  own  manufactures,  though  infinitely  better 
accommodated  to  the  uncertain  climate  of 
Great  Britain ?  This  is  moft  unpatriotic,  and, 
to  the  laft  degree,  culpable. 

Now,  fheep’s  wool  is  one  of  thofe  peculiar 
local  blefiings,  with  which  Great  Britain  and 
Ireland  are  favoured,  beyond  any  other  part  of 
Europe.  Its  quality  is  fuch,  that  every  ounce 
of  it  is  capable  of  being  wrought  into  ufeful 
clothing  of  fome  kind,  which,  it  feems,  is  a 
rare  and  fingular  cafe.  The  value  of  wool, 
when  wrought  into  cloth,  upon  an  average,  is 
reckoned  to  be  in  the  proportion  of,  five  or  fix  to 

one- 


a  Bounty ,  to  encourage  the  Exportation  of  Corn.  4 35 

one.  The  number  of  inhabitants  is  faid  to  be 
fomewhere  from  fix  to  feven  millions,  and  that 
one  third  of  thefe  are  faid  to  be  employed  and 
maintained  by  this  manufacture.  The  proportion 
feems  large;  perhaps  they  are  over-rated.  Sup- 
pofe  only  a  fixth  of  the  people  to  be  employed  in 
this  branch,  the  object  is  important,  fo  much 
fo,  that  the  wifdom  of  the  legislature  has  always 
thought  it'necefiary  to  encourage  this  manu¬ 
facture  by  every  means  in  its  power.  The 
queftion,  it  feems,  is — “Have  they  judged  and 
acted  rightly  ?”  The  grazier,  perhaps,  will  tell 
you,  no;  for  if  he  were  permitted  to  export  his 
wool,  he  could  fell  it  at  double  the  price.  This 
is  very  true,  and  would  certainly  be  a  great 
prefent  advantage  to  him  :  but  how  long  would 
it  continue  to  be  fo  ?  That,  perhaps,  he  never 
thought  of,  nor  of  other  confequences,  which 
would  certainly  overbalance  even  his  partial 
advantages. 

If  it  be  true,  as  it  is  generally  believed,  that 
one  pack  of  Englijh  wool  enables  the  French  to 
work  up  two  packs  of  theirs;  and  if  labour  in 
France  is  cheaper,  by,  at  lead,  one  half,  than  in 
England ,  they  could  afford  to  give  a  Shilling 
for  a  pound  of  wool,  that  is  now  fold  for  fix- 
pence,  and  fell  their  cloth  at  little  more  than 
half  the  price — fay  two  thirds  at  mod — that 
an  Englifo  manufacturer  could  do.  Where,  then, 
muff  we  fend  our  cloth  to  market  ? 

F  f  2 


Bur 


436  Mr.  Wimgcy  on  the  Impropriety  of  allowing 

But  it  has  been  faid — If  the  French  would  give 
us  a  double  price  for  our  wool,  and  fupply  us 
with  cloth  equally  good,  at  two  thirds  of  what 
we  give  for  it  now,  that  is,  as  good  fuperfine 
cloth  for  twelve  {hillings  a  yard  as  what  we  pay 
eighteen  {hillings  for  now,  and  fo  for  other  forts 
in  -proportion,  is  it  not  evident  we  Ihould  be 
very  great  gainers  by  the  bargain  ?  1  anfwer  : 
labour  and  toil  are  generally  the  effedfs  of 
necefiity,  and  not  of  choice.  Few  men  would 
be  at  the  pains  of  doing  any  difagreeable  labour 
for  themfelves  and  families,  if  they  had  any 
fure  means  of  doing  as  well,  or  better,  without 
it :  but  what  mud  the  man  do,  who  is  deditute 
of  fuch  means  ?  If  he  fhould  fell  his  pound 
of  wool  to  T.  for  a  {hilling,  which  E.  would 
only  give  him  fix-pence  for,  would  that  enable 
him  to  give  twelve  {hillings,  or  fix  (hillings,  to 
T.  for  a  yard  of  their  cloth  \  This  is  the  true 
quedionj  for  at  leafb  nine-tenths  of  the  people, 
perhaps  ninety-nine  out  of  a  hundred,  mud 
earn  their  bread,  and  cloaths  too,  by  their 
labour.  It  is  not  the  cafe  of  the  woollen 
manufactures  only,  but  of  almod  all  manufac¬ 
turers  and  artificers  whatever.  It  has  been  faid, 
if  that  branch  fail,  let  them  betake  themfelves 
to  fome  other !  I  fhould  be  happy  to  fee  the 
man,  who  could  point  out  the  means  of  employ¬ 
ing  a  million  of  people  beneficially,  in  any  other 
branch  whatever. 


The 


a  Bounty,  to  encourage  the  Exportation  of  Corn .  437 

The  linen  manufacture  comes  the  neared  to 
the  woollen  :  and  the  weaver  of  the  latter,  might 
foon  be  brought  to  weave  the  former.  But  here 
you  are  under  a  fimilar  dilemma :  for  not  a 
piece  could  be  made  in  Great  Britain  without 
great  lofs,  if  foreign  linens  were  not  fubjeCt  to 
cuftoms,  almoft  equal  to  a  prohibition.  The 
linens  of  Silefia ,  Pomerania ,  Saxony ,  Poland ,  Ruffia , 
Flanders,  and  Holland,  pay  cuftoms  from  eighteen 
to  thirty,  and  upwards,  per  cent. ;  and  thofe  of 
France  are  prohibited.  If  you  turn  to  the  filk 
manufacture,  you  are  there  protected  and  encou¬ 
raged  by  fimilar  means.  French  filks  are  abfo- 
lutely  prohibited  :  thofe  of  Italy  pay  too  heavy 
a  duty  to  be  worn  in  common  :  the  Eajl  Indian 
are  prohibited  under  very  fevere  penalties. 
Were  it  not  for  very  heavy  duties,  and  pro¬ 
hibitions,  not  a  piece  of  any  of  thefe  goods  could 
be  made  here. 

Where  then,  {hall  we  find  employment  for  fo 
many  millions  of  people,  who,  upon  the  fcheme 
of  a  free  trade  and  open  ports,  would  be  deprived 
of  their  ufual  means  of  fubfifience  ?  Our  manu¬ 
factures  of  lace  are  upon  the  fame  footing : 
black  and  blond  filk  laces  are  prohibited  :  thread 
lace  pays  a  duty,  upon  low  goods,  of  four  or 
five  hundred  per  cent.  The  fmall  wares  of 
Harlem  are  under  the  fame  predicament.  Fil- 
letings,  tapes,  bobbins,  threads  of  all  kinds 
and  denominations,  pay  duties  from  twenty  to 

F  f  3  thirty 


4^3  Mr.  Wimpey  on  the  Impropriety  of  allowing 

thirty  per  cent,  and  fome  much  more;  and, 
notwithftanding  all  this,  the  Englijh  manufacturer 
is  often  puzzled  to  fell  goods  in  our  market  at 
home,  upon  terms  equally  low  with  the  foreign 
manufacturer. 

From  hence  it  is  eafy  to  fee,  that  the  laws  of 
this  country,  refpecting  commerce,  are  abfo- 
lutely  nec.eflary  to  its  very  exiftence.  Repeal 
the  laws,  open  the  ports,  and  invite  all  the 
world  to  a  free  correfpondence  with  you,  and 
you,  at  one  ftroke,  deprive  .millions  of  people 
of  the  means  of  fubfiftence.  What  will  you  do 
with  them  then?  Maintain  them  you  cannot: 
for  the  whole  income  of  the  lands  bears  but  a 
fmall  proportion  to  the  amount  of  the  produce 
of  their  labour.  The  plain  anfwer  is — Many 
would  be  hanged,  more  would  be  ftarved,  and 
many  more  would  emigrate  into  other  countries, 
as  they  did  formerly  into  this,  in  hopes  of 
employment. 

The  grazier,  by  this  time  too,  would  begin 
to  feel  the  effeCts  of  his  error :  for  having  no 
market  to  go  to,  but  France,  with  his  wool, 
and  that  being  glutted,  it  is  more  than  probable, 
he  would  fall  fliort  of  the  price  he  now  fo  much 
complains  of  at  home.  For  wool,  and  corn, 
and  all  commodities  whatever,  are  fubject  to, 
and  governed  by  the  fame  law.  Every  man, 
and  every  date,  that  is  in  want  of  any  articles 
whatever,  are  ready  to  buy  at  a  fair  pi  ice:  but 

the 


a  Bounty ,  to  encourage  the  Exportation  of  Corn.  439 

the  feller  mull  fubmit  to  very  difadvantageous 
terms,  to  prevail  upon  the  buyer  to  purchafe 
a  commodity,  he  has  no  occafion  for,  and  knows 
not  what  to  do  with. 

1  would  beg  leave  juft  to  mention,  by  way 
of  illuftration,  that  the  grazier  is  now  under 
the  very  fame  predicament,  that  the  farmer  was 
near  one  hundred  years  ago.  Wheat  was  then 
at  little  more  than  three  (hillings  a  buftiel ;  ex¬ 
portation  was  encouraged  by  a  bounty  to  enhance 
its  price.  The  experiment  fucceeded,  as  it 
infallibly  muft;  and  the  very  next  year  it  was 
nearly  double.  The  grazier  s  hopes  are  equally 
well  founded.  Were  he  permitted  to  export  his 
wool,  the  price  would  immediately  advance, 
not  only  for  exportation,  but  tor  nome  comump- 
tion  too  ;  and  were  it  not  for  the  ruinous  effects 
I  have  defcribed,  the  meafure  would  certainly 
be  juft  and  politic.  But  if  the  price  hereafter 
fhould,  by  any  means,  fall  a  penny  or  two  pence 
a  pound  below  what  it  is  now,  is  it  poflible  to 
conceive,  that  this  circumftance  could  encourage 
the  grazier  to  inceafe  the  quantity  ;  or  can  we 
reconcile  it  to  common  fenfe,  that  a  circunri- 
ftance  happening  to  a  man,  in  any  profeffion, 
by  which  he  is  a  fufferer  to  a  very  confiderable 
amount,  fhould  animate  him  to  extend  and  in- 
creafe  his  trade  ?  Yet  this  is  the  very  argument 
ufed  by  the  advocates  of  the  bounty.  A  bounty, 
fay  they,  encouraged  exportation ;  exportation 

F  f  4  encouraged 


440  Mr.  W  imp  ey  on  the  Impropriety  of  allowing 

encouraged  the  farmer  to  plant ;  and  planting 
lowered  the  price ;  the  price  is,  therefore,  lower 
than  it  was  before  the  bounty  took  place ;  the 
fall  of  price  is  owing  to  the  bounty  ;  ergo,  the 
fall  of  price  encouraged  the  farmer  to  plant  more 
corn!  But  this  is  a  fophifm,  as  dangerous  as  it 
is  abfurd. 

Were  it  true,  that  the  average  price  of  wheat 
has  been  cheaper  fince  the  bounty  than  it  was 
before,  it  is  clearly  demonftrable,  that  could  not 
be  the  caufe.  From  1730  to  1750,  there  were 
twenty  fuch  years  of  plenty  as  were  never  known  ; 
confequently,  the  average  price  of  thofe  years 
was  lower  than  was  ever  known  before  or  fince- 
But  it  feems  to  have  been  forgotten,  how  necef- 
farily  and  how  largely  the  price  mud  have  been 
affedted,  by  the  great  improvements  which  have 
been  made  in  agriculture  during  the  laft  century. 
Clover,  turnips,  and  potatoes,  are  fuch  an  acqui- 
fition,  as  ultimately,  by  means  of  general  im¬ 
provement,  affedts  the  price  of  all  the  produce 
of  a  farm.  Potatoes  alone  contribute,  in  moft 
families,  to  lefien  the  confumption  of  bread  ;  and 
in  dear  times,  in  feveral  counties,  among  the 
poor,  they  almoft  totally  fupply  the  ufe  of  it.  It 
fcarcely  admits  a  doubt,  that  this  ufeful  root 
alone  has  lowered  the  average  price  of  wheat,  at 
lead  fix-pjence  a  bufhel. 

What  has  occafioned  the  loud  outcry  of  the 
fall  of  price  in  coarfe  wool  ?  The  very  fame 
«  caufe, 


'  a  Bounty ,  to  encourage  the  Exportation  of  Corn.  441 

caufe,  that  would  have  lowered  the  price  of  corn, 
if  exportation  had  not  kept  it  up — that  is — im¬ 
provements.  In  countries  which  have  been 
drained,  the  lands  inclofed,  and  the  turnip-cul¬ 
ture  adopted,  the  pafture  has  been  amazingly 
increafed,  and  the  fize  of  the  fheep  alfo :  fo  that 
a  double  quantity  of  wool  has  been  raifed  upon 
the  fame  extent  of  land,  and  the  grazier  wuuld 
be  nofufFerer,  though  he  fhould  fell  for  half  the 
former  price  :  for  the  lofs  in  quality  is  more  than 
compenfiited  by  the  increafe  in  quantity. 


On 


442  Mr.  White  on  the  Natural  Hifory  of  the  Cow. 


On  the  Natural  History  of  the  Cow,  fo  far  as 
it  relates  to  its  giving  Milk,  -particularly  for  the 
Use  of  Man.  By  C.  White,  Efq.  F.  R.  S. 
&c.  Read  March  12,  1783. 

T^JATURALISTS  Teem  to  lay  it  down  as  a 
general  principle,  that  neither  animals,  nor 
parts  of  animals,  are  primarily  intended  for  the 
ufe  of  man,  but  are  only  capable  of  a  fecondary 
application  to  his  purpofes.  Itmuft,  however, 
be  allowed  that,  in  many  inftances,  the  fecon¬ 
dary  ufe  is  fo  manifeit  and  important,  that  it 
cannot,  with  propriety,  be  excluded  from  the 
original  defigns  of  the  all  wife  Creator.  And  it 
appears  to  me,  that  the  Cow  in  its  faculty,  of 
giving  in  fuch  abundance,  and  with  fo  much 
eafe,  its  Milk,  which  forms  fo  excellent  an  arti¬ 
cle  of  aliment  for  the  human  fpecies,  is  a  ftriking 
example  of  this  fubordination  to  the  ii.terefts  of 
mankind.  For  this  animal  differs  in  fome  parts 
of  its  organisation  from  moft  others,  having  a 
larger  and  more  capacious  udder,  and  longer 
and  thicker  teats,  than  the  largeft  animal  we 
know;  and  (he  has  four  teats,  whilfl  all  other 
animals  of  the  fame  nature,  have  but  two. 

Sh§ 


Mr.  White  on  the  Natural  ITiJiory  of  the  Cow.  443 

She  alfo  yields  the  milk  freely  to  the  hand, 
whijft  mold  animals,  at  leafc  thofe  that  do  not 
ruminate  in  the  fame  manner,  refufe  it,  except 
their  own  young,  or  fome  adopted  animal  be 
allowed  to  partake. 

This  is  a  fubject  which,  one  would  have  thought, 
had  long  fince  been  exhaufted  ;  but  I  have  not 
been  able  to  find  any  thing  fatisfa&ory  in  the 
few  authors  I  have  read.  I  muft  confefs,  indeed, 
that  my  knowledge  in  Natural  Hiftory  is  very 
confined,  and  fhould  therefore  wifh  to  hear  the 
lentiments  of  thofe  learned  Members  of  this 
Society,  who  have  made  the  hiftory  of  nature 
their  more  particular  ftudy. 

In  the  fir  ft  place,  the  Cow  is  of  that  clafs  of 
horned  ruminating  animals ,  which  have  cloven  hoofs , 
four  ftomachs ,  a  confiderable  length  of  intejlines ,  are 
furnifhed  with  fuet ,  and  have  no  dentes  incifores 
in  the  upper  jaw.  From  the  different  ftru&ure 
of  the  ftomach  in  thefe  creatures,  a  ruminant 
animal  will  be  ferved  with  one- third  lefs  food, 
than  another  of  equal  bulk.  Graziers  are 
fufficiently  acquainted  with  this.  The  reafon 
is,  that  ruminating  animals  have  many  and 
ftrong  digeftive  organs ;  and  every  thing  capa¬ 
ble  of  being  converted  into  chyle,  is  extra&ed 
from  the  food  ;  which  therefore  yields  a  greater 
quantity  of  milk:  but  a  horfe’s  and  .an  afs’s 
ftomach  is  not  fitted  for  this  i  fo  that  they  require 

a  much 


444  Mr.  TVhite  on  the  Natural  Hi/lory  of  the  Cow. 

a  much  greater  quantity  of  food  to  extraCt  the 
fame  nourifhment. 

A  Cow’s  udder  is  fo  capacious,  that  it  frequent¬ 
ly  contains  ten  quarts  of  milk,  which  it  will 
yield  twice  a  day ;  and  it  is  not  only  remarkable 
for  its  quantity,  but  its  quality,  as  fome  cows 
will  afford  twelve  or  fourteen  pounds  of  butter 
in  a  week.  The  fize  and  form  of  the  teats  ap¬ 
pear,  at  the  firft  fight,  as  if  they  were  made  on 
purpofe  for  the  hand  to  draw  off  the  milk.  But 
this  is  not  the  only  advantage  they  poffefs ;  the 
thicknefs  permits  the  lactiferous  tubes  to  be  of  a 
larger  diameter,  and  the  length  of  them  makes 
the  fyphon  fo  much  longer,  and  the  extraction  of 
the  milk  of  courfe  fo  much  more  eafy. 

The  cow  having  four  teats  is  a  ftriking  peculi¬ 
arity,  the  number  in  all  other  animals,  bearing 
fome  proportion  to  the  number  of  young  ones,, 
they  bring  forth  at  a  time,  as  in  the  bitch,  the 
cat,  the  fow,  &c.  But  the  Cow  does  not  bring 
forth,  at  a  birth,  more  young  ones,  than  thofe 
animals  who  have  but  two  teats. 

The  Cow  will  yield  her  milk  to  the  hand  as 
freely,  and  will  continue  to  give  her  milk  for 
as  long  a  time,  without  any  calf  coming  near 
her,  as  if  it  were  permitted  to  fuck  her  con- 
ftantly.  This  is  not  the  cafe  with  the  afs,  which, 
next  to  the  Cow,  is  the  animal  we  are  moft 
accuftomed  to  have  milked  in  this  part  of  the 

world, 


Mr.  White  on  the  Natural  Uijlory  of  the  Cow.  445 

world.  For  it  is  well  known,  that  an  afs  will 
foon  grow  dry,  if  her  foal  is  not  permitted  to 
fuck  part  of  the  milk  every  day,  but  fhe  is  not 
a  ruminating  animal. 

The  human  milk  cannot  long  be  preferved 
in  the  breads,  without  the  child  be  permitted 
to  fuck.  It  otherwife  foon  acquires  a  bad  faltifh 
fade,  and,  in  a  fhort  time,  leaves  them  entirely  ; 
and  this  will  happen,  if  the  child  alone  fucks, 
if  it  be  not  permitted  to  fuck  four  or  five 
times  a  day.  T  hree  times  a  day  I  find  is,  in  ge¬ 
neral,  not  fufficient  to  keep  the  milk  good,  and 
in  proper  quantity.  I  do  not  mean  to  fay,  that 
it  is  impoffible,  in  any  fubjed  whatever,  to  keeD 
the  milk  without  a  child  fucking  conftantly. 
1  believe  there  have  been  indances  of  fudion  by 
perfons,  above  the  age  of  infancy,  and  even  by 
puppies,  keeping  the  milk  for  fome  time;  but 
thefe  may,  in  fome  meafure,  be  confidered  in 
the  light  of  adopted  children.  What  I  would 
wifh  to  enforce  is,  that  the  mod  dexterous  and 
mod  flcilful  women,  who  draw  breads,  do  not 
keep  the  milk  without  the  adidance  of  the  child  ; 
and  when  I  have  particularly  defired  them  to 
do  it,  they  have  not  been  able,  though  they  have 
fwallowed  the  milk,  and  repeated  the  fudion 
four  or  five  times  a  day. 

Capivaccius,  it  is  faid,  faved  the  only  heir 
of  a  noble  family  by  ordering  him  to  lie  between 

tw.o 


446  Mr.  White  on  the  Natural  Hijlory  of  the  Covt. 

two  nurfes,  in  the  flower  of  their  age,  and  fuck 
their  breads. 

Foreftus  tells  us,  that  a  youth  at  Bologna,  of 
twenty-nine  years  of  age,  labouring  under  a 
true  marafmus,  lived  upon  the  milk  of  a  beau¬ 
tiful  young  nurfe,  of  eighteen  years  of  age,  who 
lay  in  the  fame  bed  with  him,  by  which  means 
his  emaciated  body  was  well  redored.  In 
both  thefe  indances,  I  fuppofe  the  milk  was 
preferved,  without  the  child  being  permitted 
to  fuck.  I  am  informed  that  goats,  flieep, 
and  rein  deer  will  give  milk  freely  to  the 
hand,  without  the  kid,  lamb,  and  the  fawn 
having  accefs  to  them,  but  they  are  ru¬ 
minating  animals  of  the  fame  kind  with  the 
Cow. 

Upon  the  whole,  I  believe  we  may  infer, 
that  the  property  of  yielding  milk,  without  the 
young  one,  or  fome  adopted  animal,  in  fome 
meafure  partaking  of  it,  is  confined  to  that  clafs 
of  ruminating  horned  animals  who  have  cloven  hoofs , 
four  fomachs,  long  intefines ,  are  furnifhed  with 
fuet ,  and  have  no  foreteeth  in  the  upper  jaw. 
That  cows,  Iheep,  goats  and  deer  are  of  this 
kind,  and  no  others  ;  and  that  the  Cow  has  this 
property  in  a  more  eminent  degree  than  the 
others,  owing  to  the  capaciouinefs  of  her  udder, 
and  the  fize,  form  and  number  of  her  teats. 
There  are  other  ruminant  animals,  befides  thofe 

I  have 


Mr.  White  on  the  Natural  Hiftory  of  the  Cow.  447 

i  have  mentioned,  fome  of  which  are  without 
horns  or  cloven  feet,  and  without  fuet;  fome 
have  only  two,  fome  three  ftomachs,  and  fome 
are  furnifhed  with  fore-teeth  in  the  upper  jaw  j 
but  I  cannot  learn  that  any  of  thefe  are  pofiefled 
of  the  property  I  have  mentioned. 

It  may,  perhaps,  be  faid,  that  the  Tartars  ride 
mares,  upon  their  excurfions  for  plunder,  in  order 
to  live  upon  the  milk,  and  probably  do  not  take 
their  foals  with  them-  But  this  will  not  difprove 
the  doctrine  I  have  advanced  5  as  the  milk  will 
hardly  defert  them  in  fo  Ihort  a  time,  as  one  of 
thefe  excurfions  might  laft. 

Is  there  not,  therefore,  fomereafon  to  conclude 
that  the  Cow  w'as,  by  the  omnifcient  Author  of 
nature,  intended  to  give  milk,  particularly  for 
the  ufe  of  man  ? 


448  Mr.  Henry  on  the  Natural  Hi/lory,  idc. 


On  the  Natural  History  and  Origin  of 
Magnesian  Earth,  •particularly  as  connected 
with  thofe  of  Sea  Salt,  and  of  Nitre  ;  with 
Observations  onfome  of  the  Chemical  Pro¬ 
perties  of  that  Earth,  which  have  beeny 
hitherto ,  either  unknown ,  or  undetermined.  By 
Thomas  Henry,  F.  R.  S.  &V. 


AT  UR  A  LISTS  and  Chemifts  formerly 
^  divided  the  different  kinds  of  earths  into 
five  genera,  viz.  the  Siliceous,  or  Verifiable,  the 
Calcareous,  the  Gypfeous,  the  Argillaceous  and 
the  Talcky.  But  recent  difcoveries  having  proved 
the  Gypfeous,  to  be  a  compound  of  Calcareous 
earth  and  vitriolic  acid,  and  the  Talcky,  to  con- 
fid  of  a  mixture  of  Argillaceous  with  other  earths, 
the  genera  were  reduced  to  three.  M.  Baume 
has  even  attempted  a  farther  reduction  ;  *  and 
has  endeavoured  to  prove,  that  two  of  thefe  are 
merely  modifications  of  the  other:  argillaceous 
earth  being,  according  to  him,  a  vitriolic  fait, 

*  Baume,  Chymie  Experimentale  et  Rationee,  vol  I. 
far  la  Terre. 

formed 


(f  Magnejian  Earth.  449 

formed  by  the  union  of  vitriolic  acid  with  fili- 
ceous  earth  ;  and  the  calcareous,  a  combination 
of  the  fame  earth,  with  certain  portions  of  air 
and  water,  effedted  by  the  operation  of  various 
marine  animals :  and  he  fuppofes,  that  when 
calcareous  earth  is  deprived  of  air  and  water,  it 
will  return  to  its  primitive  date,  viz.  that  of  fili- 
ceous  earth. 

This  theory  is,  perhaps,  rather  fanciful,  than 
juft.  The  operations  of  Nature,  it  mull  be 
allowed,  are  generally  Ample — but  we  may  fim- 
plefy  too  far;  and,  in  forming  fyftems,  we  fhould 
not  fuffer  our  imaginations  to  carry  us  beyond 
thofe  bounds,  which  our  fenfes,  and  experiment, 
warrant. 

Calcareous  earth,  indeed,  in  the  form  in  which 
we  commonly  find  it,  is  a  compound,  confiding 
of  earth,  air,  and  water ;  and  is  not  cpnfidered 
as  pure,  till  it  be  deprived,  by  fire,  of  the  two 
laft  elements.  It  is  then,  properly,  pure  calcare¬ 
ous  earth ;  but  it  does  not  appear  that  longer  cal¬ 
cination,  though  it  may  dived  it  of  fome  of  the 
properties  of  calcareous ,  will  ever  reduce  it  to  the 
nature  of  filiceous  earth. 

Every  earth  with  which  we  meet,  and  which, 
v/hen  feparated  from  thofe  acids,  or  other 
accidental  bodies,  that  are  combined  with  it, 
refids  every  power  we  poffefs,  to  produce  any 
farther  decompofition,  and  yet  differs  in  all,  or 
any  of  its  properties,  from  the  other  known 

^0L*  G  g  earths. 


4;o  Mr.  Henry  on  the  Natural  Plijloiy,  &c. 

earths,  may  be  admitted  to  form  a  new  gentm 
And,  on  thefe  grounds,  two  new  genera  have 
lately  been  added  to  the  other  three.  The  bafis 
of  fome  fpars,  * * * §  which  had  been  generally  deem-^ 
ed  to  be  calcareous  earth,  has  been  proved 
to  differ  from  it,  in  its  affinities  and  fome  other 
properties ;  and  has  been  admitted  to  form  a 
diftindt  genus,  under  the  title  of  Barytic  or  Pon¬ 
derous  Earth  :  and  another  kind  of  earth,  which 
though  rarely,  if  ever,  found  pure  in  nature,  y<"t 
abounds,  in  great  quantities,  in  various  forms  of 
combination,  from  which  it  may  be  feparated  by 
chemical  means,  has  been  allowed  to  form  a 
fifth  genus,  under  the  appellation  of  Muriatic , 
or,  Magnefian  Earth. 

This  earth  was  alfo,  for  fome  time,  con¬ 
founded  with  calcareous  earth,  of  which  it  was 
fuppofed  to  be  a  modification  ;  for  by  the  earlier 
modes  of  obtaining  it,  it  was  mixed  with  luch 

*  x.  Marmor  Metallicum,  Croftjl.  182.  Gypfum  Spa- 
thofurn,  Spathum  Fufibile,  Margraf.  &c.  Terra  ponde- 
rofa  vitriolata.  Bergman.  Sciagrapbia  Ponderous  Spar. 

2.  Marmor  Metallicum,  Cronjledt  Min.  §  18.  B.  Calk 
or  Cauk. 

3.  Gypfum  cryftallifatum  capillare,  Cronjledt.  Min. 

§  19.  B.  Radiated  Cauk. 

4.  This  earth  has  been  alfo  found  of  a  fparry  appearance, 
and  combined  with  aerial  acid  only  ;  Terra  ponderofa  aerata. 
See  Dr.  Withering’s  Experiments  and  Qbferaiations  on  the 

Terra  Ponderofa.  Phil,  Tranf.  vol  LXX1V.  p.  293. 

a  quantity 


of  Magnefum  Earth .  451 

i.  quantity  of  calcareous  matter  as  to  dilguife 
its  diftinguifhing  features,  and  even  make  it 
aflume  fome  of  the  character! fries  of  calcareous 
earth.  But  the  accurate  experiments  of  Mefirs. 
Black  and  Margraaf,  foon  removed  the  obftacles, 
which  impeded  our  more  perfect  acquaintance 
with  its  nature,  and  they  procured  it  pure  from 
the  mixture  of  other  earths ;  in  which  ftate  they 
found  it  fcr  different,  from  what  it  had  been  re- 
prefented,  that  it  was  declared  to  be  an  earth, 
Jui  generis.  But  though  Dr.  Black  went  thus 
far,  he  did  not  proceed  to  fet  it  at  the  head  of 
a  diftinct  genus ;  but  placed  it,  with  all  thofe 
earths,  which  he  has  claffed  together,  under  the 
general  generic  head  of  Ahjorbent  Earths ,  of  which 
he  was  content  to  make  this  a  fpecies.  It  has 
fince  obtained  a  more  honourable  rank,  and  forms 
a  feparate  genus. 

M.  Fourcrov,  who  follows  the  arrangement  of 
his  predecefior  M.  Bouquet,  has  placed  calca¬ 
reous,  ponderous,  and  magneffan  earths  among 
the  falts.  There  fhould  feem  to  be  ftrong  ob¬ 
jections  to  this  arrangement,  even  with  refpeft 
to  the  two  former  ;  though  their  being  fapid, 
and  foluble  in  water,  may  give  fome  counte¬ 
nance  to  it.  But  the  infipidity  and  total  infolu- 
bility  of  pure  magnefia,  together  with  its  not 
being  fuffble,  by  the  ftrongeft  heat  we  can  apply, 
as  will  prefently  be  friewn,  are  proofs  of  its  being 
a  real  earth. 

G  g  2  Though 


452  Mr.  Henry  on  the  Natural  Hi/lory,  &c. 

Though  magnefian  earth  is  rarely  found  pure, 
in  nature,  it  is  contained,  in  a  faline  form,  in  all 
nitre  heaps,  from  the  mother  ley  of  which  fair, 
it  was  formerly  extrafted  ;  in  the  water  of  feveral 
medicinal  fprings,  and  even  in  our  common 
wells.  But  the  fea  is  the  great  fource  from 
which  we  obtain  it ;  in  the  waters  of  which,  it 
is  united  to  the  marine  acid,  in  which  form  it 
remains,  after  the  cry ftallifation  of  the  fea  fait, 
and  is  afterwards  feparated  from  the  marine,  and 
united  to  the  vitriolic,  acid,  by  a  particular  pro- 
cefs.  It  is  then  called  Sal  Catharticus  Amarus , 
and,  from  this  fait,  the  magnefian  earth  may 
be  precipitated.  One  hundred  parts  of  the  fait 
yield,  on  precipitation  by  a  mild  alkali,  forty- 
two  of  magnefia,  united  with  aerial  acid.  If 
a  cauftic  alkali  be  employed,  the  product 
amounts  to  only  twenty-five  parts.  But  a  por¬ 
tion  of  this  lad  may  be  driven  off  by  calcination, 
and  confifts  of  water,  and,  perhaps,  Jome  aerial 
acid,  for  it  is  difficult  to  procure  the  alkali  quite 
free  from  that  gas.  The  Magnefia  is  then  laid 
to  b t  pure.  One  hundred  parts  of  fal  catharticus 
amarus  contain  only  nineteen  of  pure  Magnefia, 
and  according  to  Bergman,  thirty-three  of  vi¬ 
triolic  acid,  and  forty-eight  of  water.  But 
Mr.  Kirvvan,  who  reckons  only  on  the  real 
acid,  makes  the  proportion  of  acid  twenty- four, 
and  of  water  fifty-feven,  parts. 


Sir 


Of  Magnefian  Earth. 


453 


Sir.  T.  Bergman  relates,*  that  he  procured  a 
fait,  fimilar  to  the  fal  catharticus  amarus,  by 
lixiviating  the  earthy  matters,  feparated  by  wafli- 
ing  from  the  filver  ore  of  Sahlberg,  on  the 
furface  of  which  the  fait  forms,  by  expofure  to 
the  air.  One  hundred  weight  of  the  earth 
yielded  fixty-five  pounds  of  this  fait.  M.  Mon- 
net,  alfo,  difcovered  a  kind  of  Schiftus,  which 
on  calcination,  and  lixiviation,  furniftied  a  fmall 
portion  of  the  fame  fait. 

Magnefian  earth  may  alfo  be  feparated,  by 
means  of  vitriolic  acid,  from  fome  fpars,  mar¬ 
bles,  and  other  earthy  and  ftony  bodies  of  which 
it  forms  a  component  part. 

The  compound  fpar,  defcribed  by  Mr. 
Woulfe,  f  contains,  in  100  parts,  60  of  mil'd 
calcareous,  35  of  mild  Magnefia,  and  5  of  iron. 

One  hundred  parts  of  Creutzenwald  (lone 
contain  12  of  mild  Magnefia. 

The  Kolmord  marble ,  the  Pietra  Ealchinay  the 
Verde  Antico ,  and  the  Griotte,  a  red  marble  from 
Autun ,  all  contain  fmall  portions  of  Magnefia. 

The  Spuma  Maris ,  an  earthy  fubftance,  from 
which  the  Turkey  tobacco-pipes  are  made,  is 
faid  to  confift  of  equal  parts  of  magnefian,  and 
filiceous,  earths. 


#  Bergman  de  Magnefia. 

|  Phil.  Tranf.  vol.  LXIX.  p.  29, 


Steatite, 


454  Mr.  Henry  on  the  Natural  Hi/lory,  &c. 

Steatite,  or  Soap-rock,  contains,  according  to 
Sir  T.  Bergman,  17  of  mild  Magnefia  in  100 
parts  of  that  compound. 

A  loofe  earth,  found  in  Silefia,  and  defcribed 
by  Margraaf,  contains  *  of  its  weight  of 
Magnefia. 

Fibrous  Afbeftos  contains,  in  100  parts, 
from  1 1  to  28,  and.  Coriaceous  Afbeftos, 
from  11  to  26  parts  of  magnefian  earth, 
united  to  aerial  acid.  Amianthus  affords 
18,  6,  Lapis  Nephriticus  33,  and  Venetian 
Talc,  an  undetermined  number  of  parts  of  the 
fame  earth. 

Colourlefs  Mica  affords,  on  analyfis,  20  parts, 
in  100,  hlue  Schiftus  8,  black  Hornjlone  16,  and 
Killas  6  parts  of  Magnefia. 

Magnefia  is  alfo  contained,  in  fmall  quantity, 
in  Chryfopathium,  Felt-Spar,  Schoerl,  and  Ba- 
faltes  :  and  Pumice-ftone  yields  of  it,  from  6 
to  15  parts  in  100. 

A  martial  muriatic  fpar,  found  by  M.  Monnety 
at  St.  Marie  aux  MineSy  and,  by  him,  named 
Pifolitesy  is  conftituted  of  50  parts  of  Silex,  the 
remaining  parts  confifting  of  mild  Magnefia  and 
Iron,  the  proportions  of  which  are  not  dq- 
termined.  * 

Such  are  the  compounds  under  which  mag¬ 
nefian  earth  is  principally  found  ;  and  I  havq 

*  Vide  Kirwan’s  Elements  of  Mineralogy,  paflim. 

colle&ed 


of  Magnefian  Earth.  455 

collected  them  under  one  view,  as  it  may  be 
ufeful  to  Tome  artifts,  particularly  thofe  con¬ 
cerned  in  the  potteries,  to  know  what  earths 
and  dones  contain  it,  and  in  what  proportions. 
Magnefia,  as  prepared  for  the  fhops,  would  be 
too  expenfive  for  the  purpofes  of  manufactures, 
which  may  perhaps,  often,  be  equally  anfwered 
by  ufing  it  in  thefe  combined  forms. 

It  may  feem  extraordinary,  that  a  fubftance, 
fo  plentifully  diftufed  in  a  date  of  combination, 
fhould  fo  rarely  occur  pure.  *  But  the  cafe  is  the 
fame,  as  the  celebrated  Bergman  has  obferved, 
with  Clay,  which  is  always  found,  in  nature,  com¬ 
bined  with  other  fubdances.  f  Siliceous  earth 
is  indeed,  fometimes,  found  pure  in  the  form  of 
Rock  Cryjtal ;  but  Bergman  detected  fmall  por¬ 
tions  of  both  argillaceous  and  calcareous  earth, 
in  the  fpecimens  which  he  examined.  Ponde¬ 
rous  earth  is  generally  combined  with  vitriolic 
acid,  and  the  mod  pure  date,  in  which  it  has 
been  obferved,  is  its  combination  with  aerial 


*  I  have  been  allured  by  Mr.  Fabroni,  that  Magnefia 
has  been  found  pure,  in  the  Pyrenees.  This,  however, 
was,  probably,  not  pure,  in  the  prefent  acceptation  of  the 
term  ;  but  pure  from  any  other  admixture,  than  that  of 
aerial  acid,  for  which  magnefian  earth  has  a  ftrong 
attra&ion. 

f  Clay,  commonly  fo  called,  does  not,  in  general,  con¬ 
tain  more  than  from  twenty-five  to  forty-eight  parts,  in 
jne  hundred  of  pure  argillaceous  earth. 

Gg  4  acid, 


456  Mr.  Henry  on  the  Natural  Hi/lory,  &c. 

acid.  Calcareous  earth  has  indeed  been  dif- 
covered,  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Bath,  in  the 
ftate  of  quicklime,  though,  probably,  not 
wholly  diverted  of  aerial  acid.  But  they  are  all 
more  frequently  found  combined  with  other 
fubftances,  forming  faline  compounds,  or,  one 
or  more,  mechanically  mixed  with  each  other, 
conftituting  fpecies  and  varieties. 

The  late  Dr.  Lewis,  has  confidered  the  earth 
which  is  obtained  from  vegetables,  after  in¬ 
cineration,  and  wafhing,  as  of  the  fame  nature 
with  Magnefia:  and  if  we  endeavour  to  trace 
the  origin  of  magnefian  earth,  it  may  appear 
not  improbable  that,  as  all  calcareous  earth  is 
the  refultof  the  deftruCtion  of  teftaceous  animals, 
fo  the  magnefian  arifes  from  vegetables,  which 
have  perilhed,  and  undergone  fome  procefs 
in  the  great  laboratory  of  nature;  whereby 
they  are  reduced  to  this  ftate.  By  putrefaction 
they  are  altered  to  a  fine  black  Mold.  And  it 
may  be  that,  Nature,  who  often  operates  by 
flow  and  fecret  fteps,  may  make  fuch  further 
changes,  as  to  convert  this  Mold  into  mag¬ 
nefian  earth. 

But  the  origin  of  magnefian  earth  is  fo  con¬ 
nected  with  that  of  fea  fait,  which  it  always 
accompanies,  that  it  may  not  be  improper  to 
confider  them  together ;  as  it  is  probable  that 
they  are  both  formed  under  fimilar  circumftances, 
and  at  the  fame  time. 


Philofopher$ 


of  Magnefian  Earth.  457 

Philofophers  have  been  much  puzzled  to 
account  for  the  original  faltnefs  of  the  Sea. 
Some  have  imagined  it  muft  have  been  furnifhed 
by  rivers,  which  flowing  from  the  land,  con¬ 
veyed  with  them  fuch  quantities  of  fait,  from 
accumulations  of  that  mineral,  formed  within 
the  bowels  of  the  earth,  as  to  communicate, 
and  continually  fupply  faltnefs  to  the  Sea  j  while 
others  hatfe  attributed  its  impregnation  to  rocks 
of  fait,  fituated  at  the  bottom  of  the  Ocean.  To 
both  thefe  opinions,  objections  have  been  made  j 
and  the  learned  Bifliop  of  Landafr,  *  has  chofen 
to  adopt  another,  viz.  that  the  Sea  was  originally 
created  fait.  In  fupport  of  this  theory,  and  in 
objection  to  the  others,  efpecially  to  that  which 
aflerts  the  origin  and  fupply  from  the  land, 
it  has  been  advanced,  that  a  great  part  of  the 
finny  inhabitants  of  the  ocean  cannot  exift  in 
frefli  water,  and  therefore  it  is  not  to  be  fup- 
pofed,  that  they  (hould  ever  have  been  placed 
in  a  fltuation  unfuited  for  their  fupport.  It 
might  alfo  have  been  added,  that,  there  is  as 
much  difficulty  in  accounting  for  the  origin  of 
the  fait,  which  the  rivers  are  fuppofed  to  wafh 
down,  as  for  its  formation  in  the  Sea.  But 
might  not  the  great  Creator,  by  whole  Fiat 
all  things  were  produced,  accommodate  the  firfl; 
inhabitants  of  the  Sea  to  their  temporary 

*  Watfon’s  Chemical  EiTays,  vol.  II. 

fuuation ; 


45  S  Mr.  Henry  on  the  Natural  Hifto<y)  &c. 

fituation  ;  and  gradually  produce  luch  changes 
in  their  conftitutions,  as  to  make  the  faltnefs 
of  the  water  neceflary  to  their  fupport  ?  Changes, 
equally  great,  appear  to  have  taken  place  in 
the  human  habit.  The  duration  of  life,  in 
particular,  was  protracted,  in  the  earlier  ages, 
to  a  length  convenient  for  the  fpeedy  population 
of  the  world  j  and  when  that  end  was  accom¬ 
pli  (bed  to  a  certain  degree.  Providence  afligned 
limits  to  the  exiftence  of  mankind,  at  the  utmoft 
of  which  we  fcldom  arrive,  and  beyond  which 
we  never  pafs. 

Notwithftanding  what  I  have  here  advanced, 
1  muft  confefs  myfelf  inclined  to  join  in  the 
opinion,  that  the  Sea  was  originally  created  fait. 
But  all  faline  lubitances,  with  which  we  are 
acquainted,  are  fubjeft  to  gradual  decay,  de- 
compofition,  or  volatilization,  in  long  procefs 
of  time,  and  when  expofed  to  the  a&ion  of  air, 
moifture  and  heat.  Nature  has  eftablifhed  an 
univerfal  fyftem  of  alternate  deftruftion  and 
recompofition  in  her  works  ;  and  is  continually 
carrying  on  procefles  in  her  grand  laboratory, 
which  art  is  unable  to  imitate.  Animals  and 
vegetables  perifh  and  decay ;  and,  when 
corrupted,  contribute  to  the  fupport  or  ac¬ 
commodation  of  each  other;  and  many  mineral 
Jubilances,  though  more  permanent  than  thof? 
yrhich  conllitute  the  other  kingdoms,  are  liable 

tq 


Of  Magnefian  Earth.  459 

to  confiderable  changes,  are  frequently  de- 
compofed,  and  forced  to  enter  into  new  com¬ 
binations.  It  is  not  therefore  to  be  fuppofed* 
that  the  fame  individual  fale  has  been  contained 
by  the  ocean,  from  the  creation  to  the  prefent 
time.  We  know  that  the  waters  are  continually 
evaporating  into  the  atmofphere,  forming 
clouds,  defending  again  in  rain,  replenifhing 
the  earth,  and  after  forming  rivers,  returning 
to  the  fea.  Sea  fait  riles,  by  a  moderate  heat, 
with  the  vapour  of  water,  and  is  often  carried  by 
ftorms  to  confiderable  diftances.  By  thefe  and 
other  means,  it  is  probable,  there  muft  be  a  con¬ 
tinual  wafte  of  fait,  which  Nature  muft  have  fome 
mode  to  fupply. 

The  ocean  is  replete  with  animals  and  plants.’ 
The  deftruction  and  corruption  of  thefe  muft 
furnifh  much  matter,  fitted  for  the  formation 
of  faline  fubftances,  much  earth,  much  of  the 
principle  of  inflammability,  and  of  air;  and,  if 
water  were  not  a  part  of  their  compofition, 
the  fea  would  plentifully  fupply  that  elementary 
ingredient.  By  the  putrefa&ion  of  fimilar  fub¬ 
ftances,  mixed  with  calcareous  earth,  moiftened 
with  water,  and  expofed  to  the  gradual  a&ion 
of  the  air,  Nitre  is  formed.  May  not  the  fame 
fubftances,  under  different  circumftances, 
covered  by  the  depth  of  the  ocean,  and  feparated 
hereby  from  immediate  communication  with 
the  air,  produce  Sea-Salt.  It  has  lately  been 

difcovered 


460  Mr.  Henry  on  the  Natural  Hifiory ,  &c. 

difcovered,  by  an  ingenious  chemift,*  that 
though  Nitre  is  produced  by  the  above  fubftances, 
with  the  accefs  of  air,  yet  if  they  be  fo  placed 
that  the  air  may  be  excluded,  and  the  fituation 
perhaps  not  too  moift,  Sulphur,  and  not  Nitre, 
is  the  refult.  So  that  the  three  mineral  acids 
ihould  feem  to  have  a  fimilar  origin,  and  it  is  not 
without  good  grounds,  that  they  are  faid  to  be 
modifications  of  each  other. 

But  it  may  be  faid,  that  the  analogy  in  the 
produ&ion  of  Sea-Salt  and  of  Nitre  is  not  corn- 
plete.  That,  in  the  one,  both  the  alkaline  and 
acid  parts  of  the  fait  are  formed;  whereas,  in  the 
other,  the  acid  only  is  produced  in  the  beds, 
and  it  is  necefiary  to  add  an  alkaline  fait  to 
conftitute  the  bafis  of  the  Nitre.  I  cannot  how¬ 
ever  allow  of  the  force  of  this  obje&ion.  Though 
the  addition  of  the  alkali  be  necefiary,  in  thele 
northern  latitudes,  yet,  in  warmer  climates, 
where  Nature  is  more  vigorous  and  a&ive,  there 
is  no  doubt  but  fhe  forms,  or  devellopes,  both 
the  acid  and  alkali  of  Nitre,  at  the  fame  time. 


*  M.  Fougeroux.  vide  Memoirs  del  ’  Academie  Royale 
des  Sciences  pour  l’annee  1780. 

The  Sulphur,  produced  under  the  above  circumftances, 
was  found,  amidft  the  ruins  of  an  old  houfe  which  had 
been  built  in  a  very  filthy  place,  contained  in  a  mafs  of 
earth,  and,  in  part  cryftallized ;  and  conftituting,  in 
feveral  of  the  la.ge  portions  of  the  earth,  a-third  of  the 
whole  mafs. 


To 


cf  Magneftan  Earth.  46  r 

To  the  evidence  adduced  by  Dr.  Wall,  in  his 
ingenious  paper,  on  the  origin  of  the  Fixed  Vege¬ 
table  Alkali,  and  of  Nitre,  I  have  to  add  that  of 
Baron  Dillon,  the  intelligent  tranfiator  of  Mr.- 
Bowles’s  Travels  in  Spain,  who  has,  perfonally, 
allured  me  of  the  authenticity  of  the  fad ;  and 
of  a  Gentleman  who  refided,  during  feveral 
years,  in  the  Eafb  Indies,  as  fuperintendent  of 
the  manufactures  of  the  Company,  and  fully 
confirms  the  account,  that  Nitre  is  procured, 
from  the  foil  of  certain  places  in  that  country, 
merely  by  lixiviating  it,  and  evaporating  the 
water,  without  the  addition  of  any  alkaline  fait. 
The  Duke  de  Rouchefoucauld  alfo  obtained  one 
ounce  of  nitre  in  the  pound,  from  chalk  of 
Roche  Guyon  :  and  it  is  faid,  by  M.  Fourcroy, 
to  be  found  quite  pure  in  chalk  beds. 

Indeed  the  relation  between  the  production 
of  thefe  two  falts  is  very  ftriking  ;  for  at  the  fame 
time  that  Nitre  is  formed  in  the  beds,  a  con¬ 
siderable  quantity  of  Common  Salt  feems  to  be 
produced  ;  and,  during  the  evaporation  of  the  ni¬ 
trous  ley,  fuch  quantities  of  it  are  feparated,  that 
we  cannot  fuppofe  the  whole  to  have  pre-exifted, 
as  fuch,  in  the  urine  and  other  animal  matters, 
ufed  in  the  nitre  heaps,  but  mud  regard  it,  in 
fome  meafure,  as  a  new  produft. 

Nor  does  the  analogy  Hop  here.  Together 
with  the  Nitre,  which  is  formed  in  the  beds, 
and  with  the  Sea-Salt,  which  we  fuppofe  to  be 

formed 


4  6  2  Mr.  Henry  on  the  Natural  Hijlory ,  £fr. 

formed  in  the  ocean,  another  fait  confifting  of 
marine  acid  and  magnefian  earth,  is  always  pro¬ 
duced,  or,  at  lead,  is  always  found  mixed  with 
thefe,  and  is  left  in  the  mother  ley,  remaining 
after  their  cryftallifation.  It  fhould  feem,  there¬ 
fore,  highly  probable,  that  Nature,  at  one  and 
the  fame  time,  fabricates  from  the  conftituent 
parts  of  animal  and  vegetable  fubftances,  not 
only  the  alkaline  and  acid  falts,  but  the  mild 
and  taftelefs  earth  of  Magnefia — and  that  this 
earth  is  the  refult  of  the  decompofition  of  vege¬ 
tables,  whofe  other  component  parts,  combining 
with  animal  matters  with  which  they  meet, 
and  aided  by  the  concurrence  of  air,  water, 
and  heat,  conftitute  the  different  acids  and  al¬ 
kalis,  neceffary  to  the  formation  of  Sea-Salt  and 
of  Nitre.  * 

Meffrs. 


*  M.  Baume  is  of  opinion  that  the  conftituent  parts  of 
fixed  alkaline  fait,  are  calcareous  earth,  water,  and 
phlogifton  :  and  he  afferts  that  he  has  produced  this  fait, 
by  calcining  together  equal  portions  of  powdered  marble1, 
and  the  charcoal  of  oil  of  hartlliorn  ;  and  that  the  quantity 
of  fait  was  always  diminifhed  by  a  diminution  of  the 
inflammable  matter,  employed  in  the  experiment.  He 
attempts  to  account  for  the  formation  of  faline  fubftances, 
in  the  humid  way,  in  the  following  manner.  “  Les 
teftacees  croiflent  et  periflent  dans  la  mer.  La  Nature, 
par  le  movement  des  eaux,  brife  et  reduit  en  poudre 
impalpable  beaucoup  de  coquiiles  de  ces  animaux,  et  met 
la  terre  calcaire  en  etat  d’etre  difloute  par  1’ eau.  L’ eau 

de 


Of  Magnefian  Earth .  463 

Mefirs.  Black  and  Margraaf,  and  particularly 
the  former,  have  thrown  great  light  on  the  Che¬ 
mical  Hiftory  of  Magnefian  Earth.  The  EfiTay 
of  the  former,  in  particular  relates  a  number  of 
experiments  made  in  the  mod  accurate  manner, 
and  of  dedu&ions  the  molt  clear  and  fatisfa&ory, 
of  any  treatile  extant.  An  effay  the  more  valu¬ 
able,  as  befides  the  difcrimination  of  that  earth 
from  the  Calcareous,  it  has  laid  the  foundation 
of  the  many  valuable  difcoveries  relative  to  the 
nature  of  fixed  air  and  the  various  Gafes,  which 
have  been  the  fources  of  the  mod  valuable  im¬ 
provements  in  Chemiftry.  Happy  I  mud  efteem 
myfelf  if,  following  fuch  great  matters,  I  have 
been  able  to  add  any  new  or  ufeful  information.* 

The 

de  la  fner  diflout  de  meme  la  matiere  inflammable,  non 
feulement  des  corps  dont  nous  parlons,  mais  de  tous  les 
corps  organifes  qui  croiflent  et  pendent  dans  Ton  fein: 
elle  elabore  a  fon  gre  la  matiere  inflammable,  et  la  reduit 
dans  la  etat  convenable  pour  former  differentes  matieres 
falines.  De  cette  union  il  refulte  differentes  fels,  fuivant 
Petat  des  fubftances,  et  les  proportions  dans  lefquelles  ces 
fubftances  fe  font  combinees.  Je  penfe  que  les  fels 
contenant  de  l’acide  vitriolique  et  ceux  contenant  de 
l’acide  marin,  font  les  fels  que  la  nature  forme  le  plus 
abondamment  dans  la  mcr ;  ils  font.  Pun  et  l’autre,  des 
fels  primtifs.  Chymie  Experimentale  et  Raifonnee 

vol.  I.  p.  205. 

*  The  principal  improvements,  which  I  ventured  to 
i°  Black’s  procefs  for  preparing  Magnefia 
Alba ;  thofe,  I  mean  of  employing  a  larger  quantity  of 
•  water. 


464  Mr*  Henry  on  the  Natural  Hijlory ,  &c. 

The  late  Sir  Torbern  Bergman  has  purfued 
the  fubjedt  with  great  fuccefs.  He  has  fatisfac» 
torily  explained  fome  of  the  phenomena  of  the 
procefs  for  the  preparation  of  Magnefia ;  has 
afcertained  its  affinities  with  all  the  acids,  to 
many  of  which  Dr.  Black  had  not  extended  his 
inquiry,  and  defcribed  the  Salts  formed  by  their 
union  with  this  bafis.  And  he  has  given  an 
account  of  the  refult  of  various  experiments, 
made  with  a  view  of  determining  the  degrees  of 
fufibility,  which  Magnefian  Earth  exhibits, 
when  expofed  to  a  ftrorig  heat,  either  mixed  with 
other  earths,  or  per  Je .* 

water,  for  the  firft  wafhing,  and  of  throwing  the  mixture, 
of  the  Saline  Liquors,  into  boiling  water,  and  continuing 
the  co&ion,  inftead  of  boiling  the  mixture,  previous  to  the 
addition  of  the  water,  have  been  adopted,  in  the  later 
editions  of  the  Edinburgh  Pharmacopoeia. 

*  This  excellent  Chemift  has  done  me  the  honour  to 
quote  my  difcoveries  relative  to  the  difference  of  the 
'fepticity  of  Magnefia  Alba,  when  applied  to  flefh  and  to 
bile;  and  fubjoined  my  name  in  a  marginal  note  to  the 
paflage.  He  then  proceeds,  in  the  next  paragraph,  to 
cite  the  antifeptic  properties  in  both  cafes  of  Calcined 
Magnefia,  and  its  power  of  rendering  refmous  fubflances 
foluble  in  water,  in  which  paffage  he  has  ufed  my  own 
words.  Yet  M.  Fourcroy,  and  after  him,  his  tranfiator 
Mr.  Elliot,  have  mentioned  M.  Bergman,  only,  as  the 
relator  of  the  latter  fa<fts,  without  noticing  the  author 
from  whom  he  had  taken  them.  My  Effay  was  publifhed 
in  May,  1773,  whereas  the  date  of  that  of  Sir  Torbern 
Bergman,  which  like  moft  of  his  other  excellent  Tra£ls, 
was  written  as  a  Thefis  for  one  of  his  Pupils,  is  Decem- 
ber  23,  1774. 


cf  Magnefia  Earth.  465  . 

Magnefia,  fays  M.  Bergman,  expofed  to  a 
long  continued,  and  very  violent  fire,  aggluti¬ 
nates  and  begins  to  fhew  figns  of  fufion,  efpe- 
cially  if  the  Magnefia  has  been  prepared,  by 
calcination,  from  the  mother  leys.  Mon.  Dar- 
cet,  on  the  contrary,  had  averred,  that  the  earthy 
t>afis  of  Epfom  Salt  refitted  the  a&ion  of  a  fire 
equal,  in  continuance  and  force  to  that  of  a 
Porcelain  furnace.  And  M.  Macquer,  in  the 
new  edition  of  his  Chemical  Dictionary,  declares, 
that  he  has  expofed  the  Earth  of  this  Salt  to 
the  greateft  heat,  that  could  be  formed  in  the 
focus  of  M.  de  Trudaine’s  large  lens,  without 
the  leatt  appearance  of  a  tendency  to  fufion. 
M.  Morveau  had  operated  on  Magnefia  fepa- 
rated  from  the  mother  ley  of  Nitre,  and  had 
concluded  it  to  be,  not  only  in  itlelf,  the  molt 
fufible  of  all  earths,  but  that  it  even  decided  the 
fufion  of  other  earths.  •  But  on  making  his  expe¬ 
riments  with  Magnefia,  precipitated  from  Epfom 
Salt,  he  found,  that  on  leparately  expofing  two 
Ueffian  crucibles,  the  one  containing  Chalk,  and 
the  other  an  equal  portion  of  Magnefia,  to  the 
ftrongeft  degree  of  heat,  that  could  be  produced 
in  M.  Maequer’s  furnace,  the  chalk  was  fufed  into 
a  beautiful  tranfparent  glafs,  and  had  attacked 
and  dilfolved  the  crucible,  for  more  than  half 
its  thicknefs,  wherever  the  Calcareous  Earth  had 
reached.  But  the  Magnefia  was  formed  into 
a  round,  white,  opake,  folid,  mafs,  not  having 
the  appearance  even  of  the  femivitrification  of 

Vol.  I.  H  h  Porcelain, 


466  Mr.  Henry  on  the  Natural  Hijlory ,  &c. 

Porcelain,  and  without  the  lead  adhefion  to  the 
crucible.* 

This  experiment  Teems  to  coincide  with  that 
of  Bergman,  but  to  differ,  in  Tome  degree,  from 
that  related  by  Macquer.  Mr.  Magellan,  whom 
we  have  very  defervedly  -  ranked  among  our 
honorary  members,  has  lately  favoured  me  with 
an  account  of  fome  curious  experiments,  made 
in  London,  which  may  ferve  to  clear  up  this 
point.  1  fhall  therefore  comply  with  his  requeft 
to  lay  an  extract  of  his  letter  before  the  Society ; 
and  then  beg  leave  to  add  a  few  remarks  on  the 
fubjedt,  and  on  fome  other  of  the  chemical  pro¬ 
perties  of  Magnefian  Earth,  which  are  either  un¬ 
known  or  undecided. 

“  I  "have  a  fadt,”  fays  Mr.  Magellan,  “  to 
*c  relate,  which  may  be  agreeable  to  you,  con- 
<c  cerning  the  portion  of  Calcined  Magnefia  you 
“  favoured  me  with.  On  my  return  to  London, 
“  many  experiments  were  making  with  a  mod 
“  powerful  burning  lens,  executed  by  Mr. 
<c  Parker.  Among  thefe,  was  a  very  (triking  one, 
“  which  puzzled  me  much,  made  with  Calcined 
“  Magnefia,  caked,  by  preffure,  into  a  cubic 
form,  of  i  of  quarter  of  an  inch  per  fide^ 
This,  expofed  to  the  focus  of  the  lens,  W23 
“  reduced  from  tVo  to  t®o  on  each  fide  of  the 
cube.  On  hearing  this  I  was  (truck  with  the 
<c  fadt,  which  is  contrary  to  the  known  property 

*  Opufcules  Chymiques  et  Phifiqucs  de  M.  T.  Berg¬ 
man,  traduits  par  M.  de  Morveau,  tome.  I,  p.  398. 


“  of 


Of  Magnefian  Earth .  467 

rf  of  Magnefia,  viz.  of  not  changing  its  dimen- 
*c  fions,  nor  receiving  any  alteration  in  its  con- 
“  fiftence,  by  the  ftrongeft  heat.  I  therefore 
“  went,  the  fird  fair  day,  to  the  place  where 
“  the  lens  was  at  work,  carrying  with  me  the 
“  very  fame  bottle  with  which  you  favoured  me. 
,c  I  made  a  fimilar  cube  of  your  Magnefia,  with- 
Ct  in  the  fame  metallic  box  that  had  been  ufed 
<c  in  the  former  cafe  3  but  1  found  that,  by  ex- 
tc  pofing  it,  even  for  a  longer  time,  to  the  force 
tc  of  the  lens,  than  the  other  Magnefia  had  been, 
c<  this  of  yours  was  not  fenfibly  diminifhed  in 
<c  bulk,  nor  did  it  become  harder,  as  the  other 
(C  had  done,  which  muft  have  had  a  confiderable 
“  portion  of  Argillaceous  or  Siliceous  Earth  in 
**  its  compofition,  to  occafion  it  to  Ihrink  in 
te  fuc'n  a  manner.  I  was  told  it  was  bought  of 
ct  a  very  good  and  reputable  Chemift.  But,  very 
tc  probably,  he  may  precipitate  his  Magnefia* 
“  with  uncryftallifed  Tartar,  or  with  any  other 
“  Alkali,  whereas  Bergman  prefers  the  vola- 
“  tile.  Or,  perhaps,  cryftallifed  Tartar  has 
“  always  fome  filiceous  or  other  earthy  ( Alfa— 
‘c  ftance,  which,  mingling  with  the  Magnefia, 
“  prevents  its  adhering  to  its  fpecific  charafter. 
“  1  wifh  to  know  whether  I  am  right  iu  this  way 
,c  of  accounting  for  the  difference ;  for  as  I  am 
,c  now  preparing  for  the  prefs,  a  fecond  edition 
<c  of  Cronftedt’s  Mineralogy,  I  wifh  the  facl  to 
<c  appear  in  its  true  and  proper  light.” — So  far 
Mr.  Magellan. 

0 


H  h  2 


It 


468  Mr.  Henry  on  the  Natural  Hiftory ,  i£c. 

It  is  very  probable  that  the  Magnefia,  ufed 
in  the  experiments  of  Meffrs.  Bergman  and 
Morveau,  was  pure,  as  the  former  recommends, 
and  the  latter  actually  employed,  the  Volatile 
Alkali,  to  effeCt  the  precipitation  of  the  earth. 
The  difference,  therefore,  between  their  experi¬ 
ments  and  that  of  M.  Macquer,  mod  probably 
depended  on  the  communication  of  fome  portion 
of  Siliceous  or  Argillaceous  liarth,  from  the 
crucible  in  which  they  were  made.  Whereas 
M.  Macquer’s  experiments,  being  made  in  a 
metallic  box,  and  the  heat  directed  immediately 
to  the  Magnefia,  no  tendency  to  vitrification 
would  appear. 

In  regard  to  the  difference  between  the 
Magnefia,  which  was  firft  expofed  to  Mr. 
Parker’s  lens,  and  my  own,  I  can  only  fpeak 
from  conjecture.  I  have  been  particularly  care¬ 
ful  to  have  my  Alkaline  Lixivium,  which  is, 
a  folution  of  the  ftneft  pot  afh,  perfectly  purified  : 
and  have  frequently  obferved,  that  after  it  has 
been  freed  from  all  Neutral  Salts,  and  from  all 
the  earthy  matter,  that  the  filter  could  feparate, 
the  folution,  on  long  {landing,  has  become 
again  turbid,  and  depofited  a  copious  white 
fediment.  Bergman,  who  deferibes  a  fimilar 
fediment  declares  it  to  be  Siliceous  Larth, 
that  had  been  held  in  folution  by  the  Alkali, 
and  is  precipitated  by  the  fixed  air,  attracted  by 
the  fait.  This  faCt  is  adduced  by  him,  as  a 

proof 


of  Magnefian  Earth.  46^ 

a  proof  of  the  acidity  of  that  gas.  Perhaps  the 
ingenious  Chemift,  who  prepared  the  other  por¬ 
tion  of  Magnefia,  not  adverting  to  this  circum- 
ftance,  or  juftly  not  confidering  it  as  materially 
affefting  the  medicinal  properties  of  the  Magnefia, 
though  it  would  greatly  alter  its  chemical  quali¬ 
ties,  might  have  ufed  his  Lixivium,  foon  after 
filtration,  and,  by  this  means,  the  extraneous 
Earth  might  have  been  introduced  into  the 
Magnefia,  and  have  affected  its  fufibility. 

Dr.  Black  had  faid,  in  his  excellent  Effay  on 
Quicklime  and  Magnefia,  that  Calcined  Mag¬ 
nefia,  diffolves  in  the  vitriolic,  nitrous,  marine, 
and  acetous  acids,  and  forms  with  them  Salts, 
fimilar  to  thole  produced  by  the  uncalcined 
earth  with  the  fame  acids.  But  Mr.  Monch, 
a  German  apothecary,  has  afferted,  that  though 
he  poured  half  an  ounce  of  ftrong  vinegar  on 
twenty  grains  of  Calcined  Magnefia,  and  fuf- 
fered  the  mixture  to  ftand  for  twenty-four  hours, 
only  feven  grains  of  the  Magnefia  were  diffolved  ; 
and  that  he  was  unable  to  diffolve  more  than 
the  fame  quantity,  by  digefting,  in  a  moderate 
heat,  an  equal  portion  of  Calcined  Magnefia, 
in  half  an  ounce  of  a  mixture  confiding  of  one 
part  of  firong  vitriolic  acid  and  fix  of  water,  for 
twenty  hours.  And,  what  is  ftill  more  extraor¬ 
dinary,  he  could  diffolve  only  nine  grains  out 
of  twenty  by  boiling  for  a  conliderable  time, 
in  an  ounce  of  the  fame  diluted  acid.  But  in 

H  3  the 


\  » 

470  Mr.  Henry  on  the  Natural  Hiftory ,  &c. 

the  nitrous  and  concentrated  marine  acids,  he 
acknowledges,  they  difTolved  entirely.* 

Mr.  Kirwan,  alfo  fays, that  this  earth,  per- 
fe&ly  dry  and  free  from  fixed  air,  could  not  be 
difTolved  in  any  of  the  acids  without  heat.  But 
that  in  a  heat  of  180°.  thefe  acids,  diluted  with 
four  or  fix  times  their  quantity  of  water,  at¬ 
tacked  it  very  fenfibly.  There  is  no  doubt  but 
Calcined  Magnefia  difiolves  much  lefs  rapidly 
than  the  mild.  The  aerial  acid,  contained  in 
the  latter,  while  it  is  expelling,  keeps  up,  as 
Bergman  has  juftly  obferved,  an  intefiine  motion, 
•whereby  the  particles  of  the  earth  are  agitated 
and  feparated,  fo  that  freih  furfaces  are  con¬ 
tinually  prefented  to  the  Magnefia.  Whereas, 
if  an  acid  be  added  to  this  earth,  when  diverted 
of  air,  this  motion  is  wanting,  and  that  part 
of  the  acid,  which  becomes  faturated  with  the 
earth,  envellopes  the  remaining  earth,  and'  pre¬ 
vents  the  immediate  adion  of  the  free  acid  on 
it.j;  Continual  agitation,  however,  will  greatly 
promote  the  folution. 

Mr.  Monch,  feems  not  to  have  £een  aware 
of  the  greater  quantity  of  acid,  requifite  to 
diflolve  Calcined  -Magnefia,  than  would  be 
neceffary  for  the  uncalcined.  Nor  indeed  to 

*  Vide  London  Medical  Journal,  vol.  III.  p.  97. 
f  Philofophical  Tranfaftions,  vol.  LXXIJ.  p.  193. 

I  Bergman  Opulc.  de  Magnefia.  §  XIX. 


have 


of  Magnefian  Earth.  471 

have  known  the  quantity  required  for  the 
folution  of  the  latter.  1  have  found  twenty 
grains  of  mild  Magnefia  require  an  ounce  and 
half  of  diftilled  vinegar  for  its  folution.  This 
may  feem  a  large  quantity  ;  but  let  it  be  re¬ 
membered  that,  “  the  quantity  of  each  balls, 
**  requifite  to  faturate  a  given  quantity  of  each 
<e  acid,  is,  dire&ly  as  the  affinity  of  luch  acid 
<e  to  each  balls.”*  10©  grains  of  real  vitriolic 
acid  require  215  of  vegetable  fixed  alkali 
to  neutralife  them ;  whereas  the  fame  portion 
of  acid  would  be  neutralifed  by  80  grains  of 
Magnefia;  and  the  proportional  quantity  of  this 
earth  to  that  of  the  alkali,  necelfary  to  faturate  a 
given  quantity  of  acetous  acid,  would  be  Hill 
fmaller. 

But  Mr.  Kirwan’s  experiments  are  more  worthy 
of  attention.  His  accuracy  in  every  thing  he 
undertakes  is  undeniable;  nor  would  he  pro¬ 
bably  have  erred,  but  in  a  cafe  in  which  the 
mod  faithful  Experimental!!!  might  be  liable 
to  deception. 

I  do  not  know  any  thing  more  fubjedl  to 
variety  than  the  folubility  of  pure  Magnefia 
in  acids.  I  have  dilfolved  1 1  grains  of  aerated 
Magnefia  in  fufficient  quantities  of  each  of 
the  four  principal  acids,  when  I  have  found  the 
earth  neutralifed.  Five  grains  of  pure  Magnefia, 
which  is  equal  to  twelve  of  the  aerated  has 

*  Kirwan  in  Phil.  Tranf.  vol.  LXXIIf.  p.  38. 

H  4  dlffolved) 


472  Air.  Henry  on  the  Natural  Hijlory,  &c. 

difiolved,  without  heat,  in  the  fame  quantity 
of  the  vitriolic,  and  even  with  fmaller  quantities 
of  the  nitrous  and  marine  acids,  than  were 
neceflary  for  the  folution  of  the  aerated.  The 
a&ion  of  the  acetous  acid  was  fomewhat  lefs 
complete,  on  the  pure  than  on  the  aerated.  The 
acids  were  previoufly  diluted  with  about  five 
times  their  weight  of  water,  except  the  acetous 
which  was  concentrated,  and  the  Magnefian 
Earth  was  intimately  mixed  with  half  an  ounce 
of  water,  and  continually  agitated  with  a  glafs 
tube,  till  the  folution  was  finifhed. 

Thus  I  have  often  made  complete  folutions 
of  pure  Magnefia.  Eut  at  other  times  I  have 
found  it  obftinately  to  refid:  folution,  though 
prepared,  previous  to  calcination,  in  every 
refpeft,  fimilar  to  the  other,  and,  though,  ap¬ 
parently,  perfectly  calcined.  This  for  fome 
time  puzzled  me  exceedingly;  till  at  lad  I  dif- 
covered  it  to  depend  on  the  date  of  calcination, 
and  that  by  continuing  the  fire  for  a  longer  time, 
this  infoluble  Magnefia  acquired  its  cudomary 
folubility.  Another  circum dance,  attending  the 
calcination  of  Magnefia,  I  have  always  been  un¬ 
able  to  explain.  In  a  certain  period  of  the 
procels,  though  the  Magnefia  were  ever  fo  tade- 
lefs  before  calcination,  and  though  it,  at  this 
time,  fhews  ro  effervefcence  v/irh  acids,  yet  it 
has  acquired  a  dilagreeable,  bitter,  pungent 
tide,  fomewhat  refembling  lime.  But  it  does 
not,  like  lime,  or  Magnefia  containing  that  earth, 

form 


of  Magneftan  Earth.  47  j 

form  a  lime-water.  This  obnoxious  tafte  is  alfo 
deftroyed  by  a  further  extenfion  of  the  calcina¬ 
tion.  On  what  can  this  property  depend  ? 

Magnefia  has  been  defcribed  as  throwing  out 
a  phofphoric  light,  in  the  latter  periods  of  the 
calcination.  This  is  a  phenomenon  which  nei¬ 
ther  I,  nor  any  of  the  perfons  I  have  employed, 
m  the  calcination  of  Magnefia,  have  ever  been 
able  to  obferve.  Indeed  I  do  not  fee  how  it 
could  happen,  except  the  Magnefia  contained 
vitriolic  acid  or  alkaline  fait.  M.  Fourcroy, 
who  mentions  the  faft,  cites  the  authority  of 
MefTrs.  Butini  and  Tingry,  of  Geneva;*  and  the 
procefs,  which  he  has  given,  from  the  former 
of  thefe  Gentlemen,  is  very  ill  adapted  to  free 
the  Magnefia,  from  the  whole  of  the  vitriolared 
tartar,  formed  in  the  mixture.  Now,  fuppofin°- 
aerial  acid  to  be  a  compound  of  Air  and  Phlo- 
giflon,  the  laft  portions  being  feparated  with 
difficulty  from  the  Magnefia,  a  decompofidon 
of  the  Gas  may  take  place,  and  a  new  combina¬ 
tion  enfue.  The  Phlogifton,  quitting  its  aerial 
bafis,  may  unite  with  the  Earth  and  Vitriolic 
Acid,  and,  by  this  union,  a  Pyrophorus  be 
formed;  and,  probably,  from  this  caufe,  the 
appearances,  defcribed  by  thefe  Chemifts/ may 
have  proceeded. 

•  Fourcroy’s  Lpftures,  vol.  I  p.  163,  and  z9z. 


END  OF  VOL.  FIRST. 


\ 


■ 


D  E  X 


I 


N 


T  O 


the 


FIRST  VOLUME. 


A. 

£  Aft/ S,  ancient,  defcribed  -  _  ^05 

Acids,  their  ufe  in  bleaching  linen,  by  Dr.  Eason  240 
Addison,  Mr.  quoted  -  f 

Aikin,  Dr.  fenior,  his  character  ^ 

-  junior,  on  attempts  to  winter  in  high  northern 

latitudes  -  .  _  _  -  89 

Akensjde,  Dr.  his  beautiful  defcription  of  diftrefling 
fcenes  accompanied  with  pleafure  -  _ 

A>nufements,  literary  ones  recommended  .  _  , 

Animal  { ubftances  regenerated  -  „  325»338 

*  -  bones,  329;  nerves,  333;  arteries,  334;  crabs 

and  worms,  .335 

Ancients,  knew  that  water  would  cooj  more  ealily,  which 

had  been  heated  -  , 

'  -  262 

*  - that  the  evaporation  of  fluids  produces 

cold  ....  . 

20£ 

'  that  air  is  diflolved  in  water,  by  means 

of  heat  and  agitation  , 

- why  the  lower  air  is  more  heated  than  the 

hi8h"  '  .  -  -  -  26S 

'  why  hail-ftones  fuddenly  concrete  -  268 

- lhat  air  is  Separated  from  water  by  freezing  269 

Ancients,  knew  that  water  will  rife  to  its  level  in  pipes  269 

- compared  with  moderns  as  to  the  imitative  arts  40c 

Arthur’s  feat,  pebbles  found  there  * 

Arts,  a  general  acquaintance  with  them  neceflary  to 
excellence 

77 

— —  plan  for  extending  them  .  -  -  84 

B, 


I  N  1>  E  X. 
B. 


Page 


Barnes,  Dr.  on  poetry  -  -  -  54 

- - on  the  affinity  fubfifting  between  the  arts  -  72 

Barrow,  Dr.  his  obfervaiion  on  general  fcholars  72 

Be  fait  es  -  -  -  -  -  38 

Baume,  quoted  -  -  -  32,  33,  449,  462 

Beauty  in  the  imitative  arts,  defined,  and  accounted  for  121 
Bell,  Dr.  on  the  generation  of  cold  -  -  1 

Bifmutb,  forms  ftriae  on  its  furface  r  -  40 

Bi.ack.lock,  Dr.  an  account  of  him  -  -  166 

BlinaniJ's,  obfervations  on  by  Mr.  Bew  -  -  159 

Brindley,  what  advantage  he  might  have  received 

from  education  -  -  8  3 

Brown,  Mr.  of  Virginia,  his  method  of  making  faltpetre  203 
—  Mr.  author  of  the  EfTay  on  the  Charadterillics, 
quoted  -  -  -  -  230 


C. 

Carew,  his  account  of  aged  perfons  in  Cornwall  -  359 

Cavallo,  his  account  of  the  electricity  of  the  atmo- 

fphere  -  -  398 

Caufenuay  Giants,  deferibed  -  -  38 

Charades,  riddles*, &c.  why  agreeable  -  1 1 3 

Chemiflry  recommended  to  the  commercial  ftudent  24 

_ _ _  adopted  the  fymbols  of  altronomy  254 

Cheselden,  Mr.  couched  a  young  man  born  blind,  with 

fuccefs  -  -  -  -  178 

Chiaro-fcuro,  a  modern  invention  -  -  410 

Chry ft  alligation,  by  Dr.  Eason  -  -  29 

Cicero,  his  account  of  the  effeCt  of  Carbo’s  Oratory  69 
Colours,  inftances  of  perfons  who  cannot  accurately  dif- 

tinguiffi  them  -  -  “  1 82 

Confiia  of  feelings,  the  caufe  of  pleafure  -  1 57 

Contraft,  in  poeoy,  painting  and  mufic,  agreeable  119 

Copper,  why  it  has  the  fymbol  of  Venus  -  256 

Corn,  a  bounty  upon  it  improper  -  -  413 

Couy 


INDEX. 


Page 

Cow,  adapted  to  the  ufe  of  man  -  -  442 

- - has  four  ftomachs,  long  inteftines,  &c.  -  443 

— —  has  four  teats,  gives  her  milk  to  the  hand,  &c.  444 

Curiofty ,  one  caufe  of  pleafure  in  viewing  fcenes  of 
diftrefs  -  -  -  - 

Cujloms,  necefiary  in  the  prefent  date  of  Europe  43, 

Cylinder-wire,  its  application  to  corn,  bark,  fand,  &c. 

D. 

Diverfions,  of  hunting,  {hooting,  &c.  reconcileable  with 


humanity 


341 


the  human  mind  naturally  inclined  to  them  345 
they  conduce  to  health  and  pleafure  -  346 

do  not  diminish  the  pleafure  of  the  animals  349 
often  purfued  by  perfons  the  moll  humane  and 


benevolent  - 

Dreams ,  of  a  blind  man  refpefting  vilible  obje&s 
Dyers,  but  few  of  them  chemijls 

E. 

Earth,  magnefian ,  its  origin  . 

. . — -  calcareous,  not  convertible  into  filiceous 

» —  -  divifion  of,  into  five  genera 
Eason,  Dr,  on  chryftallization 

Eajl,  the  beautiful  patterns  from  thence,  accounted  for 

- its  poetry  fine,  becaufe  defcribing  natural  fcenes 

Eledricity ,  its  influence  in  evaporation 

.  - — - - in  fufpending  vapour 

Engraving,  a  modern  invention 
Epic  poem,  demands  unity  of  a&ion 
Evaporation ,  from  a  heated  human  body 
- - « - in  vacuo 


355 

181 

27 


455 

449 

450 
29 

27; 

276 

398 ' 
400 
412 
J26 

3 

39<> 


Execution  of  malefadors,  why  attended  by  fo  many  perfons  148 
Exercife,  its  elfedt  in  preventing  the  fcurvy  -  J06 

. -  of  the  mind,  pleafant  -  -  1io 

- - a  caufe  of  the  pleafure  felt  in  contemplating 

fcenes  of  dillrefs  -  ,-5 

F. 


INDEX. 

I 

F. 


Pagg 

Fijb  — oil  and  fat,  ufed  by  the  Samoides,  Efquimaux, 


&c.  as  food  -  -  -  _  ic»* 

Fixed  air,  machine  for  impregnating  water,  &c.  with  it  52 
Flint ,  probably  compounded  of  water,  and  an  acid  3  5 

Fly-futtle,  not  yet  ufed  in  the  Norwich  manufafture  84 

Fogs,  caufes  of  them  -  -  404 

Pordyce,  Dr.  experiments  on  cold  -  1 

Fulham,  account  of  falt-petre  works  formed  there  201 

Future  Jlate,  differently  reprefented  by  different  people  286 


G. 

Gardening,  its  flyle  and  tafle  among  the  ancients  297 

Gardens,  hanging  ones,  of  Babylon,  defcribed  -  301 

■ - of  Lucullus,  defcribed  -  -  308 

— ; - of  Pliny,  his  Laurentine  Villa,  defcribed  312 

• . . modern,  defcribed  and  recommended  -  322 

Gentleman,  the  importance  to  him  of  a  tafle  for  literature  9,  10 
Glauber,  his  attempts  to  make  falt-petre  -  19^ 

Greenland,  account  of  feven  Dutch  failors  who  wintered 

there  1633  -  -  '93 

Gypfum,  five  forts  of  -  -  -  32 


Hall,  Rev.  Mr.  on  the  influence  of  tafle  on  morals  223 
Haygarth,  Dr.  his  machine  for  impregnating  water, 

&c.  with  fixed  air  -  -  -  32 

Heat,  latent ,  not  unknown  to  the  ancients  -  267 

Heathen  religion,  favourable  to  fculpture  -  407 

Henry,  Mr.  on  the  advantages  of  literature  and  philofo- 

phy,  and  their  confiftency  with  commercial  purfuits  7 

- - -  on  the  prefervation  of  fea  water  by  quicklime  4  t 

■ - on  the  natural  and  chemical  hiflory  of  mag- 

neflan  earth  -  -  -  448 

Hiflory,  particularly  Englifh,  ufeful  to  a  tradefman  t6 

• - requires  a  good  imagination,  in  order  to  be  read 

with  pleafure  -  -  391 

Horace 


/ 


I  •*  N  D  E  X. 

Horace,  his  description  of  a  true  poet 
Hudfons  Bay ,  wintered  in  by  Monck,  and  James 

J- 

Jam^s,  captain,  winters  in  Hudfon’s  Bay 
Ice,  modern  way  of  making  it  in  the  Eaft  Indies 
Imagery,  how  far  it  conftitutes  the  eflence  of  poetry 
Imagination,  neceflary  to  corredt  judgment 

-  — - defined  ... 

-  - - - amazingly  flrong  in  children 


Page 

59 

90,92 


9* 

266 

56 

378 

382 

393 

285 


Indians,  American,  their  mufic  and  poetry  plaintive 
Johnson,  Dr.  remarks  on  his  criticifms  upon  Milton  66,  71 
Iron,  why  it  has  thefymbol  of  Mars  -  257 

IJIands,  more  healthy  than  continents  -  366 

Italy,  peculiarly  favourable  to  longevity  -  358 

Jupiter,  his  fymbol  accounted  for  -  -  247 

- — - why  applied  to  exprefs  tin  -  ?  258 

K. 

Keeping,  in  painting,  little  underftood  by  the  ancients  41 1 
Kirshaw,  Mr.  on  the  Comparative  merit  of  the  ancients 

and  moderns  -  405 

Kirwan,  Mr.  quoted  -  -  454,470 

Knowledge,  general,  neceflary  to  particular  -  73 

• - mathematical,  its  connexion  with  Imagina- 

. 387 


tion 


L. 


Laniaff,  biftiop  of,  quoted  -  -  -  457 

Laodjcape  painting,  ancient,  very  bad  -  411 

Language,  originally  poetical  -  -  58 

Laocoon,  flatue  of,  defcribed  -  -  123 

l.aplanders ,  account  of  their  diet  by  Lin  n/eus  -  99 

Ltnen,  bleached  by  acids  -  -  -  240 

• -  manufadlures,  the  duties  they  pay  when  imported  437 

Likkjeus,  his  accountof  the  diet  of  the  Laplanders  99 
Litttaiure  and  philofophy,  foften  the  rigours  of  war  8 

Literature 


I  1ST  D  E  & 


Page 

Literature  and  philofophy,  multiply  the  fources  of  pleafure  9 


_ _ *  are  ufeful  to  the  gentleman  10 

— - — - - to  the  merchant  11 

. - - .  furnilh  agreeable  amufement  14 

London ,  bills  of  mortality,  quoted  from  1728  to  1758  362 

Longevity,  obfervations  on  by  Dr.  Fothergill  355 

- - tables  of  -  -  557*  35s>  36° 


— - —  depends  on  air.  Sec.  365  ;  foods,  &c.  367  ;  mo¬ 

tion  and  reft,  369;  fecretions,  &c.  369;  affeclions 
of  mind,  369 

M. 

. "Machine ,  for  impregnating  water,  &c.  with  fixed  air  5  2 

Machines,  generally  invented  by  perfons  not  educated  to 

mechanic  employments  -  -  82 

Magellan,  Mr.  his  letter  to  Mr.  Henry  on  the  infufi- 

bility  of  magnefia  -  4 66 

Magnefan  earth,  its  natural  and  chemical  hiflory  448 

■  . —  various  combinations  in  which  it  is 

found  -  -  -  452 

- - -  —  its  origin  -  -  -  455 

- - infufibility  afcertained  -  465 

. . — - - folubility  in  acids  when  calcined  proved  469 

- - -  not  phofphoric  -  -  473 

Manners,  rude  and  ferocious,  in  mountainous  and  uncul¬ 
tivated  countries  -  -  -  281 

Manufactures,  cotton  in  particular,  depend  upon  machines  80 
Mars,  his  fymbol  explained  -  253 

Medici,  the  family  of,  their  charader  by  lord  Orrery  238 
Memory,  peculiarly  ftrong  in  blind  perfons  -  175 

Merchant,  importance  of  talle  for  literature  in  him  1  1 

Metcalf,  John,  though  blind,  a  celebrated  furveyor 

and  projector  of  highways  -  -  172 

Milton  defended  71 

-  fuperior  to  Homer  and  Virgil  in  unity  of  adion  130 

Mind,  human,  improperly  faid  to  confift  of  feveral  diftind 

powers  -  -  -  -  377 

Miners , 


1 


INDEX. 

Page 


Miners ,  in  general  hardy  and  ferocious  -  283 

Modulation,  regular,  eflential  to  poetry  »  60 

- different  in  different  languages  -  68 

Monck,  captain,  winters  in  Hudfon’sBay  -  90 

Moves,  Henry,  Dr.  account  of  him  -  |68 

Muriatic  acid ,  recommended  for  bleaching  linens  242 

N. 

Newton,  Sir  Isaac,  poffefled  a  vigorous  fancy  389 

O. 


Oratory,  capable  of  imagery  and  elevation,  as  much  as 

poetry  -  -  -  6 1 

Ofiris ,  the  fupreme  deity  of  the  Egyptians,  his  fymbol  246 

P. 

Pallas,  Mons.  his  account  of  illands  between  Kam- 

fkatka  and  America  -  9S 

Parry,  the  blind  mufician,  account  of  him  -  167 

PaJJions,  their  influence  and  ufe  in  direfling  the 

judgment  -  -  381 

Pebbles,  produced  by  irregular  chryffallization  •  37 

Percival,  Dr.  his  tribute  to  the  memory  of 

Charles  de  Polier,  Efq.  -  -  287 

Phyjtiian,  what  neceflary  to  conftitute  a  fkilful  one  386 

Plan,  for  extending  arts  and  manufaflures  at 

Manchefter  -  g^ 

Pleafure,  of  contemplating  fcenes  of  diftrefs  accounted 


for  -  -  . 

Polier,  Mr.  de,  on  the  pleafure  of  mental  exercile 
■■  ■  -  tribute  to  his  memory 
Polite  Arts,  tafte  in,  neceflary  for  a  manufaflurer 
Pct-ajh ,  ufe  of  in  making  falt-petre 

Qi 

Quicklime,  applied  to  the  prefervation  of  fea  water 
— —  quantity  requifite 
— its  adlion  accounted  for  - 

I  i 


144 
1 10 
287 
28 
217 

4* 

49 

49 

R. 


VOL.  I. 


INDEX. 

R. 


Page 

Regijlers,  oeeonomical,  recommended  - 

’  - to  know  the  Hate  of  population  137 

- - to  difcover  thieves,  &c.  -  138 

* - - - to  know  the  quantity  of  corn 

annually  produced  - 

Rfid,  Dr.  quoted  ...  jgg 

Rein  deer,  their  blood  drank  warm,  how  it  afts  as  a  pre- 

fervative  from  the  fcurvy  -  -  104 

Religion,  how  far  influenced  by  the  fcenery  of  a  country  279 
Rembrandt,  charadter  of  his  paintings  -  410 

Repofitory,  propofed  for  chemical  and  mechanical  arts  85 
Reynolds,  Sir  Joshua,  quoted  -  -  409 

Rhyme,  why  agreeable  -  _  -  1  j  3 

Roi,  Mr.  d  e ,  his  theory  of  evaporation  -  3915 

S. 

Saturn,  his  fymbol  explained  -  -  -  232 

— —  why  ufed  to  reprefent  lead  -  -  257 

Saltpetre,  treatife on  by  Mr.  Massey  -  184 

• .  — -  caufes  of  the  ill  fuccefs  of  trials  for  making 

it  in  England  -  -  185,  &c. 

■■  ■  what  principles  enter  into  its  compofuion  188 

—  - how  the  peculiar  acid,  neceflary  to  form  it, 

is  generated  -  -  -  191,  &c. 

■ . the  influence  of  putrefaction  in  forming  it  193 

————— caufes  of  its  abundance  in  India  -  193 

»  the  old  and  approved  method  of  obtaining  it  203 

■'  "  makers  of,  in  Paris,  incorporated  -  208 

—  ■  account  of  the  author’s  experiments  209 

—  . —  method  of  making  it  in  Paris  -  21 1 

— — - tranflation,  on  the  ufe  of  pot-afh  in  making  it  217 

* - —  procured,  ready  formed,  upon  the  earth,  in 

Warm  climates  -  461 

Salt-fea,  its  natural  hiftory  as  connected  with  that  of 

magrielian  earth  ...  456 

Salt- 


INDEX, 


Page 

Salt-fea,  or  lay,  better  than  (hat  made  from  rocks  or 

fprings  -  43 

Samoides,  drink  the  warm  blood  of  rein  deer  -  58 

Saunderson,  Dr.  account  of  him  -  163 

Scenery,  of  a  country,  its  influence  upon  the  inhabitants  271 
Scurvy,  occafioned  by  fait  meats,  and  fpirituous  liquors, 

100 

4°7 

4* 

82 

33 
9 


in  cold  climates 

Sculpture,  promoted  by  the  heathen  religion 
Sea-vjater,  its  compofition 
Smith,  Dr.  on  the  wealth  of  nations,  quoted  - 
Spar,  Derbylhire,  how  compounded 
Spectator,  No.  41 1,  quoted  -  - 

Spitsbergen,  account  of  feven  Dutch  failors  who  win¬ 
tered  there  1638 

—  —  - - eight  Englilhmen  ditto 


Eaft,  four  Ruffians  winter  there 


93 

9+ 

96 

104 

167 


Spirituous  liquors,  unfavourable  to  the  fcurvy 
Stanley,  Mr.  the  blind  mufician,  account  of  him 
Steam,  a  powerful  principle,  lately  applied  to  different  ufes  79 
Ster ne,  quoted  ... 

Stones,  precious,  originally  in  fufion  -  34 

■ - -  contain  three  principles  36 

Sumy’s  Memoirs,  extra#  from,  relating  to  an  intended 

cabinet  -  .  _  .  g^ 

Sun,  the  origin  of  its  aflronomic  fymbol  -  246 

Symbols,  ufed  firft  by  affronomers,  and  afterwards  by 

chemifts  -  245 

Sympathy,  the  fource  of  many  noble  pleafures  -  134 


T. 

Tajle,  its  influence  upon  the  ftrong  poetic  character  65 

-  its  analogy  to  the  moral  feelings,  aflerted  134 

•- -  its  influence  not  favourable  to  morals  -  223 

* -  diftinguiffied  from  the  moral  fenfe  -  226 

- -  may  fliew  the  beanty  of  virtue,  without  giving  the 

power  ...  228 

Tap, 


£> 


3$ 


N 


X. 


Tafe,  Its  connexion  with  genius 
— - : — — -  with  religion 


PagS 

233 
23  3 


— —  inftances.in  which  it  produces  misfortune  or  im¬ 
morality  -  -  -  234 

— —  effefls  of  it  at  Athens  -  -  236 

' Tempcji  at  fea,  agreeable  to  behold  from  the  Pnore  149 

Towns,  large,  unfriendly  to  longevity  -  362 

Tur  got,  Monf.  his  letter  to  Mr.  Wimpey  -  135 

•— - -  remarks  on  preventing  the  exporta¬ 
tion  of  com  -  -  -  429 

U. 


Undemanding,  influenced  by  the  imagination  and  paffions  381 
Unity,  of  adtion  in  painting  and  poetry,  why  agreeable  126 

v. 

Vapour,  eight  hundred  times  lighter  than  air  -  397 

• -  quicker  from  water  eledhified  -  398 

Venus,  the  fame  with  Ifis  ;  her  fy  mbol  accounted  for  250 
Verfe,  regular ,  its  origin  accounted  for  -  64 

Volta,  Mr.  his  remarks  on  eledlricity  -  399 

W. 

MW,  its  horrors  foftened  by  literature  -  8 

Whale's  fritters,  eaten  by  perfons  wintering  at  Spitzbergen  93 
Wheat ,  itsprice  in  1687  .  -  -  -  4lS 

_ _ often  fown  injudicioufly,  and  why  -  426 

Whitehurst,  Mr.  his  inquiry  into,  &c.  quoted  367 

Wimpey,  Mr.  againft  the  bounty  on  corn  -  413 

Windfor  tables,  quoted  ...  420 

Woollen  manufacture,  the  numbers  employed  in  it  435 

Y. 

Youths,  two,  Tailored  from  confumptions  by  human 

milk  -  -  446 

Yti.i.  1 S Zsfxxsi  JJJL •  Vrd*  .1  ^  ff, 

Cl  A  ;  •- L  tttl 

\  I