at least fleeces which admit of being shorn like the wool of sheep, and of being applied to the same purposes in arts. The practi cal inference is, that the different breeds of animals preserve in general their distinguishing peculiarities, when the race is not contaminated by an intermixture with others; and that it is a matter of great economical concern, to propagate as many of the wool-bearing breeds of animals as it may be possible to procure, in preference to those of the short-haired kind.

To this paper is added a kind of postscript, containing a later communication by the author on the same subject; with a sample taken from the fleece of a sheep brought from Jamaica to England: which he adduces as a farther proof of the influence of breed over climate.

Memoir on the Subject of a new Plant, growing in Pennsylvania, particularly in the Vicinity of Philadelphia. By Mr. Beauvois.This plant, which is said to have been noticed by Mr. Muhlenberg under the name of Ixia, and sent to England to Mr. Smith (probably Dr. Smith, the President of the Linnæan Society) by the name of Bartonia clandestina, is placed by Mr. Beauvois in the class of Pontederia, and is new christened Hetevandra reniformis; on account of its having two different kinds of stamina. A botanical description is added.

Supplementum Indicis Flora Lancastriensis. Auctore Henrico Muhlenberg. This paper is merely a list of the names of plants, arranged according to the different classes.

An Account of a Kettle for boiling Inflammable Fluids. In a Letter from Thomas Smith to Robert Patterson. In order to prevent accidents from the boiling over of inflammable fluids, it is here recommended to insert a long open spout in the brim of the kettle, and to apply wet sponges or rags to the bottom. It does not, however, appear that the utility of this invention has been sufficiently ascertained by experiment.

Memoir on the Sand-hills of Cape Henry in Virginia. By B. Henry Latrobe, Engineer,-Also a Supplemental Paper.- Some geogenists make fire, and others water, the principal agent in the formation of the globe, or at least of its present surface: but Mr. Latrobe contends that another element, the wind, has, in certain districts, no inconsiderable share in the operation. The whole of the extensive country of Virginia, from the Falls to the ocean, is evidently factitious; and it is supposed to be ge nerated by the operation of the wind on the fine sand of which the shore, and the bed of the Atlantic near the shore, consist. The daily action of the flood-tide conveys a certain quantity of this sand above high-water mark; and this, being dried by the sun

and

and air, is carried farther in-land by the wind. The present state of the sand-hills of Cape Henry, and the fossils obtained in digging wells, may be thought completely to justify this hypothesis. Should these sand-hills advance by the accumulation of sand blown from the shore, and at last swallow up the neighbouring swamp; and should some future philosopher attend the digging of a well an hundred feet deep, at the bottom of which, vegetable and animal exuvia would be discovered; he might, observes Mr. Latrobe, adduce these facts in support of the theory of a deluge sweeping the sand of the upper country, and depositing it along the line of its conflict with the waves of the ocean when, perhaps, in reality, the stratum of sand was not left by the water, but formed by the action of the

wind.

The Supplemental Paper contains Notices communicated by Dr. Barton in proof of the recess of the sea.

Account of Crystallized Basaltes found in Pennsylvania. By Thomas P.Smith.-Basaltes are found on the Conewaga hills in great quantities, both crystallized and amorphous. The crystals are generally tetraedal, and of a very fine grain. Mr. S. is of opinion that these basaltes have a Neptunian origin, since they are interspersed with large masses of brechia composed of siliceous pebbles evidently rounded by friction, imbedded in red free-stone.

Philological Views of some very ancient Words in several Languages. By the Rev. Nicholas Collin, D. D. Rector of the Swedish Churches in Pennsylvania.-This ingenious and elaborate dissertation is replete with matter for the amusement of the etymologist and the philosopher. Dr. Collin makes the following general remarks:

To trace the early rudiments of languages is important in several respects:Words made for new objects prove the previous want of them.-If their etymology can be ascertained, it shews the relation of these objects with other previous things.-The similarity and diversity of primitive terms point out the early distinctions of tribes; and guard against the historical errors, so common, of tracing whole nations from the same stock, by whatever similarity of languages, without discriminating what results from the mingling of different flocks.-Among the great part of mankind, that has neither writings, nor other monuments, a contemplation of their languages will yet discover many things otherwise inscrutable.-Nations that have authentic ancient records, and other monuments, will yet derive knowledge of greater antiquity from a critical study of their language, because their ancestors spoke on many things before they could write history, compose fables, or form any significant and lasting specimens of arts. Though languages change from various causes, and sometunes from whim, yet mankind in general do not make sudden and

13

great

great alterations: old words will for a long period retain their essen. tial features; and when dismissed from general use, remain for ages in local districts, or among the simple classes of society: when finally lost, they often leave kindred words behind, that convey at least a part of their signification.'--- The classical languages are edifices, whose ground-works were laid in a wilderness, on materials brought from diverse quarries of barbarous tongues: the roots of many classic words may therefore grow in Tartary and Ethiopia; many etymons and coæval words may be found in the ancient European languages, and even in their modern descendants. The classics therefore do not merit the excessive praise for antiquity, so generally bestowed on them (especially on the Hebrew); but they are very valuable for their ample writings, by which their affinities with each other, and with many other languages can be known: the Greek, as both copious and ancient, is of particular importance.' Those European lan guages which are commonly considered as entirely derived from others, will be found, on closer inspection, to possess words that are not found in these, and also roots of corresponding words in them.--Thus the whole of the English cannot be accounted for from the Anglo-Saxon, Danish, Norman, French, and British: the French, Italian, Spa nish, and Portuguese have relations beyond the wide circle of Latin, Teutonic, and Gothic, Greek, Hebrew, Celtic, and Arabian.'

After having premised these general observations, the author proceeds to illustrate them by considering, 1st, what knowlege is to be obtained from existing words, respecting the early State of Mankind; and, 2dly, respecting the early Condition of the Earth, Animals and Vegetables.

We have not space for Dr. Collin's learned and numerous illustrations of his hypothesis relative to the light which is to be derived from comparing the families of words: but we shall insert his brief general view of the subject:

Languages are widely scattered and jumbled fragments of a mirror, which, when skilfully joined and polished, will present instructive pictures of men and things in pristine times. True philology is therefore so far from being a mere amusement, as to deserve the application of individual talents, and the cherishing care of nations.'

Several parts of this paper evince that the author is an amiable man; and the whole certainly manifests much deep research and profound disquisition.

Here we are now to close our concise view of this very bulky publication; and if we were to speak generally of its value and importance, we confess that we should say that they are not commensurate with its size. We would offer to our American brethren the advice which has frequently been addressed to European societies; viz. to exemplify a greater degree of selec tion in the choice of their materials, and an anxiety to produce a good volume of transactions rather than a large one.

ART.

ART. IV. An Inquiry into the antient Greek Game, supposed to have been invented by Palamedes, antecedent to the Siege of Troy; with Reasons for believing the same to have been known from remote Antiquity in China, and progressively improved into the Chinese, Indian, Persian, and European Chess. Also, Two Dissertations: I. On the Athenian Skirophoria. II. On the Mystical Meaning of the Bough and Umbrella, in the Skiran Rites. 4to. pp. 190. 14s. Boards. Becket. 1801.

A

CAREFUL investigation of the customs and institutions of the Antients, however it may be derided by some persons, is attended with many beneficial effects to the cause of literature: since, while it gratifies a laudable curiosity, it serves in the mean time to elucidate and unfold many collateral doubts and difficulties; opens a variety of new sources of information; and answers the important purpose either of removing illiberal prejudice, or introducing a greater certainty and more intimate knowlege of the truth.

Though the subject of the present Inquiry may at first appear trivial, the author will be found deserving of no slight commendation for the ingenuity and learning which he has displayed, and for the curious and able disquisitions which he has here presented to the public. He shews himself throughout to be possessed of no common share of classical knowlege, and to have a peculiarly happy talent for that species of criticism which forms the basis of this work. He modestly withholds his name from the title-page: bus we learn that the volume is the production of Mr. Christie, junior, son of the well-known Mr. C. of Pall Mall; and it reflects equal credit on the parent who has given so good an education to his son, and on the son who has made so good an use of it.

The chief matter proposed to be elucidated in this Inquiry is the origin of the antient and well-known game of chess; 'whether it be more naturai to conceive the game to have been invented by an effort of the mind of one person, and devised, formed, and perfected at one instant of time; or whether it may not be considered probable that some rude materials existed, which, falling into the hands of ingenious and able workmen, at different periods, were variously fashioned by them, and united at last in the elegant structure of the modern game.' In order to ascertain the truth of this point, the author enters on his subject with a discussion of the Greek games, the Terra and тpodio, or game of merrils; and he combats, with much ingenuity, an opinion sanctioned by Sophocles and Euripides, that Palamedes was the inventor of the TT. He next passes to the consideration of the Ludus Latrunculorum of the Ro

mans;

mans; which, from a want of accuracy in the description given of it by Latin writers, is involved in some degree of obscurity. This game appears to be a descendant of the Greek TETTE; and Dr. Hyde has endeavoured to shew that it nearly resembles our game of draughts.-He then proceeds to consider the Roman Alveus, another game, allied to the Ludus Latrunculorum, and played with dice in the manner of backgammon. There seems to be this difference between the Alveus and former games, that this had its central line denoted by the cross, instead of iεpa ypaμun; and the author subjoins the following remark: This cruss, however, upon the Alveus, may be considered as the first Christian moralization upon any game; and from an endeavour to make the relaxations of men subservient to religion, the custom of drawing moral reflections from the game of Chess became afterwards common with the monks of the middle ages.'

was

The next chapter contains remarks on the game of the cv; which resembled the former, and was played with dice. It constructed by the Orientals upon the foundation of the TETTEZ, which, from the moves in playing it being directed by the cast of the die, resembled rather the wagers of shepherds, than the stratagems of war; notwithstanding which, the ob ject in playing the game, and even (as may appear upon mi nute investigation,) the very construction of the board, and disposition of the pieces, shew it to have been but a perversion of the military TETTEL, whilst the terms respecting it were purely pastoral. To illustrate his remarks on this subject, the author quotes, from the Greek anthology, part of one of the epigrams of Agathias, in which king Zeno is described as forming a party at the game; and in which the point turns, with a simplicity peculiar to the Greek epigram, on the illsuccess of the king. Whether our readers will take the hint, and avoid entering the lists, since even a king could not escape a defeat,' we cannot foretell.

Passing on to the consideration of the terms used in the antient games, and the nature of the ipa vpzμμn or vallum, the writer proceeds to trace the resemblance between the Chinese game of chess and the antient πέττεια. For a particular account of the Chinese mode of playing, the reader is referred to the treatise of Dr. Hyde; and some remarks are added on the origin of the king and other pieces of chess, which the author very ingeniously considers as a personification of the ispa pauus. In confirmation of these conjectures, he observes that the game is termed by the Chinese "Siang Ki,” or the game of Elephants; whence he forms a probable conjecture that it is derived from the Indo-Persian, and ori

ginally