if he had then conceived those projects of ambition which he afterwards fulfilled-proceeds to charge him with suffering Mrs. Sheridan to have private subscription concerts at her own house, "by which," in the words of the work, "it is probable, more was obtained than could have been received in the display of her skill and melody at places of general admission-thus the same thing was practised with a finer name." Our limits will only allow us to observe upon this passage, that we believe it to be utterly destitute of the slightest foundation in fact.

raries, of whose labours he was the partner, and whose names of the authors of the verses, amongst whom the abilities he is supposed by some to have equalled, and by two first were probably Anstey and Sheridan. These are others to have surpassed. He had been far more widely mistakes, perhaps, of no great consequence; but they are conversant amongst all sorts and conditions of men, than the mistakes of an author who professes great accuracy, any of them. The character of Mr. Pitt was in the and who is extremely sarcastic upon the errors of others, highest degree lofty and retired; the society of Mr. Burke who have employed themselves upon the same subject was confined principally to his literary and political friends; before him. and Mr. Fox, in the company of those with whom he was A misrepresentation of a far more serious nature occurs not familiarly acquainted, was silent, embarrassed, and in page 144, where the author having strongly condemned reserved. But Mr. Sheridan, from his situation as Pro- the well-known decisive act by which Mr. Sheridan comprietor of a Theatre, and from his own natural disposi-menced his career, of withdrawing his wife, whose vocal tion, was more or less well-known to multitudes through- talents were of the highest order, from all public exhibiout all the various orders of life, that are to be found in tions whatsoever-an act which was absolutely necessary, this great metropolis. Many had themselves witnessed the inimitable flow and the fascinating good-humour of his wit; almost all had heard and laughed at the repetition of his jests; and even his follies and vices, as far as they were known, were of such a character as, in spite of reproof and admonition, will still excite the interest, and even conciliate the affection of the generality of mankind. Every thing about him was popular-he possessed much, that was calculated to command the admiration of the wise and the judicious; but even his faults were such as delude and delight the middle and the lower orders of From the year 1775, until the year 1779, Mr. Sheridan society. Hence, his eloquence which, vigorous as it was produced his celebrated dramatic works, upon all of which at times, was also often extremely false and meretricious, is Dr. Watkins pronounces a judgment, not entirely unjust held up in the temporary writings of the day as superior or unfounded, but extremely harsh and unfavourable. He to the more severe and perfect oratory possessed and dis-is, we fear, an enemy to the fame of him, whose life he has played by Pitt and Fox; and his public conduct is extolled undertaken to write. He gleans up every criticism, spares as an example of right feeling and patriotism upon those no hostile observation, and eagerly seizes upon and exoccasions, when in fact it was the most theatrical and aggerates every fault, which he thinks he discovers; but ostentatious. he takes no pains to set in their true light, for they need no more, the transcendent and peculiar excellencies of these compositions.-The School for Scandal, indeed, and the Critic, extort from him, for his own sake we apprehend, strong general approbation; but then he makes amends to himself, by attributing much of the latter piece to Mr. Tickell, and by throwing out we know not what vague stories, to impeach Mr. Sheridan's title as the author of the former. We have the misfortune not to coincide in taste with Dr. Watkins. We cannot concur in the cold commendation, mixed with bitter censure, which he be stows upon (p. 167.) the Monody upon the death of Garrick; a production not without faults, but still of great felicity of conception, and great beauty of execution; nor can we sanction the unqualified praise he lavishes upon the Epilogue to Fatal Falsehood, (p. 177.) which strikes us as laborious, unsuccessful, and as just a specimen as could have been chosen of the prevailing faults of Sheridan's style, both in poetry and oratory.

But whatsoever were the imperfections either of his talents or of his political life, we cannot help thinking, that the work before us does not do adequate justice to the former, and treats the latter with an undue and undeserved asperity of this we shall adduce presently a few instances; but we must first observe, that the volume commences with a detailed account of Dr. Sheridan, the friend and companion of Swift, which was, perhaps, already sufficiently well known. It then proceeds, to narrate the whole of the Theatrical career of Mr. Thomas Sheridan, the father of the late Mr. Sheridan, as well as the works of his mother, who was undoubtedly a woman of rare merit, of great virtues, and great abilities; for whose memory Mr. Sheridan always felt the greatest gratitude and

veneration.

The account of the early years of Mr. Sheridan's life, comprising his education and his marriage, may possibly be upon the whole correct; it is, however, not favorable to this conclusion that we know it to be otherwise in two instances. It is certain, that Mr. Sheridan was, in conjunction with Mr. N. B. Halhed, the author of a free imitation in verse, of the Epistles of Aristænetus, which is positively denied in the 125th page of this volume, and the verses beginning

Mark'd you her eye of heav'nly bluewere not, as is asserted by Dr. Watkins, addressed to Miss Linley, but to Lady Margaret Fordyce, as may be seen by a reference to the poem from which they are extracted, which may be found in the collection of pieces intitled, "The Foundling Hospital for Wit," under the signature of "Asmodeo," a word composed of the initial

In the year 1780, Mr. Sheridan entered into public life. The various political transactions in which Mr. Sheridan was engaged, and the debates in which he bore a part, are detailed at considerable length from that period until the year 1788. The narrative is sufficiently faithful, but heavy and cumbrous, and may be justly criticised, as being rather an inadequate history of the time, than a biographical account of the Politician. This series of years presents a series of events of the utmost importance-the overthrow of Lord North's administration-the unfortunate and ill-timed death of Lord Rockingham, which put an end to the administration that bore his name-the doubtful and much-contested measure of the coalition

the overthrow of Lord Shelburne's administration-the| India bill, and the dismissal of the Coalition Ministers→ the accession of Mr. Pitt to power-the Irish propositions, the Commercial Treaty-and the Trial of Mr. Hastings--throughout all these momentous transactions, Dr. Watkins pronounces almost invariable condemnation upon Mr. Sheridan, and those with whom he was politically connected. To every action he imputes the worst motives, and in some instances undervalues and detracts from their abilities. Of the accused Governor General of India, he appears to be an eager advocate, and he is not content with accusing the Managers for the Commons of the greatest violence and injustice, in conducting the trial, but ascribes to them, in pages 249 and 250, the basest motives for commencing the prosecution. There are many representations, both of facts and opinions, in this latter, as well as in the former part of the work, upon which we should have wished to make some observations-they open a wide field, and present to us many subjects, both interesting and important; but we are restrained by our limits; and in dismissing the subject, we would venture to address one word of advice to Dr. Watkins upon the further prosecution of his work. He is now approaching that awful course of events, which is known under the general name of the French Revolution. In entering upon that field of misery and blood, in treating of that fearful dispensation of Providence, and of the conduct of the public men of all countries, whose lot was cast in those difficult times, we earnestly exhort him to dismiss from his mind all prejudice and prepossession, to reconsider his subject with the most careful attention, and to feel in giving his decision, that to preserve the most rigorous impartiality is the bounden duty of an Historian.

MAN the Younger.

Not seeing her will almost break my heart,
And getting at her almost break my wind.
Never did body trifle so with mind!

So raise its projects, and so knock them flat!
Never was amorous lump of humankind

So self-suspended between this and that; So goaded by the flesh-so hindered by the fat!" After he had happily surmounted all these obstacles, and was seated beside his nymph, the Fair pursued

Her prattle, which on literature flowed;

Now changed her author, now her attitude,

And much more symmetry than learning showed.
Eudoxus watched her features, while they glowed,
Till passion burst his puffy bosom's bound;
And, rescuing his cushion from its load,
Flounced on his knees, appearing like a round
Large fillet of hot veal, just tumbling on the ground."
At this spectacle, his Agnes laughs outright, and the
sheepish lover tries to rise;

"But Fate and Corpulency seemed to say,
Here's a Petitioner that must for ever pray."
At last a servant came.

"Then heaved upon his legs the man whose name Is lifted up so high by never-dying Fame."

The stately stanza of Spencer, made fashionable again by Childe Harold, has a happy effect in this poem. The grotesque figures of Colman never danced better than to the dead march of Byron.

decided protest against those indelicacies and indecencies We cannot, however, conclude, without entering our which deform the volume. La mere en defendra la lecture fillesa."

LES BATTUECAS, par Madame la Comtesse de Genlis, 2 vols. 12mo.

WHAT is a dithyrambic? said a lady to a poet who presented to her a work under that name:--what is the Eccentricities for Edinburgh--Poems, by GEORGE COL-meaning of Las Battuecas? was the exclamation of all the ladies of Paris, when they first heard of this new producMiss Plumptre tells us, that she travelled from Loudon tion of a celebrated and fertile pen. This singular and to Bristol for the purpose of embarking at Liverpool. whimsical name, which neither gives pleasure to the ear, Mr. Colman, we find, writes his book in London, and nor excites recollection, and which indicates no particular prints it in Edinburgh. He seems to think, that an author subject, would have been fatal to the work of any other should resemble a leaper, and begin his career at some writer; and the book of an obscure author, with this distance, in order to take a run. "Eccentricities," there- obscure title, would probably have been allowed to remain fore, is a most appropriate name for this production; not undisturbed on the bookseller's shelf. But if the uame of nomical imitations; inasmuch as, while the centre of its the Battuecas be little known, all are well acquainted with attraction was to be London, it went all the way to Edin-that of Madame de Genlis. It always rouses our curiosiburgh for its aphelion. The comet has now, however, ty; and though the titlepage should convey nothing to appeared above our English horizon: we have pointed the mind or the imagination, we are always certain that our glasses at it, and traced its course, with no small plea- mind and imagination will be displayed in a work of hers. sure, through the whole of its orbit down from its peri- But, before we proceed to notice more particularly this last helion in the ་་ Sun-poker," to the sign of the twins, in offspring of her pen, we shall endeavour to throw some "Bunn and Bunt." light on the title. Indeed we do not hesitate to say, that we consider this, Viene de las Battuecas." He comes from the Battuecas,” by far, the happiest of Mr. Colman's efforts. Where he is a Spanish proverb, used to indicate a simpleton, one condescends to the Hogarthisms of Peter Pindar, he sur- who knows nothing that is passing around him, and who passes his original; neither does he fall at all short, where is slow in comprehending the plainest things. Such is he adopts the Flemish school of Pratt. But where he the idea which might naturally be formed of a detached chuses to be himself, he may defy competition. tribe, inhabiting a spot separated from the rest of the The most agreeable of his "Eccentricities," is "The world and deprived of all communication with civilized Luminous Historian"-a story founded on Gibbon's amor-men. ous visit to a young damsel up an Alpine hill. We cannot resist inserting a stanza or two.

"Alas! he cried, pedestrious I depart,
To scale Olympus, and a Goddess find:

Father Feijoo, in his Teatro-Critico (tom. 4, 5 edition, Madrid, 1749,) mentions it as a prevalent opinion in Spain, that the inhabitants of the valley of the Battuecas (a wild district among the mountains of the Bishopric of Coria,

Pla

in the neighbourhood of the Pena Francica, fourteen leagues uame of this Battuecan is Placide, and endowed with the from Salamanca, and eight from Cuidad-Rodrigo) lived most brilliant gifts of genuis, he lives amidst the other several ages in that sequestered spot, without having any Battuecans the most simple and innocent of men. But communication with the rest of Spain, to which they were though that ignorance and simplicity sometimes defend unknown, and of which they themselves knew nothing. The him against certain of the vices of civilization, they are not following is the manner in which this mysterious valley is sufficient, it appears, to secure him against jealousy. Placide" represented to have been discovered. A page and a lady's is exposed to the envy of the men, while he is the object maid of the family of Alva, wishing to marry without the of the predilection of all the young of the other sex. knowledge of their master, or having already committed cide, contrary to the advice of a good missionary, departs a fault, the usual consequences of which they had reason from the valley, and enters into another world, only a few to apprehend, were therefore desirous of withdrawing leagues off, in quest of other men whom, in his modesty, themselves from the Duke's anger and public censure, he believes greatly his superiors, and whom he supposes directed their course towards the Battuecas. After wan- to have much more cause to pity than to envy him. It dering long through difficult and tortuous paths, they at has been the ambition of Madame de Genlis to paint the length crossed the summit of the mountain, and were constrast of the ideas, sentiment, and prejudices, of sasoon astonished at finding in the valley below, a race of vage and civilized man. She strikes an equitable balance men completely savage, speaking an unknown tongue, between the advantages and disadvantages of the two strangers to all commerce with their neighbours, and ac-states. She pleads the cause of society with a powerful tually persuaded that they were the only inhabitants of eloquence, and sometimes attacks it with arguments this earth. The two fugitives soon published the disco-equally forcible and brilliant.

very they had made, and the Duke of Alva,' on hearing The simplicity of Placide involves him in many troubleof their adventure, thought only of bestowing the benefits some adventures; but love soon civilizes him, and the of civilization on this race of a new species, and he was most noble and wealthy of Spanish heiresses resolves to fortunate enough to succeed in this project. The epoch bestow her hand upon him. There are in this part of the of this discovery is fixed about the middle of the reign of work about fifty pages which are highly interesting. Passion Philip II. who ascended the throne in 1556, and died in is painted with warmth and animation; noble and delicate 1598. sentiments are gracefully expressed; and striking situations It is true that Feijoo and other authors state facts are contrived with great skill and a strict regard to probawhich throw discredit on this account; but with these bility. After this, Madame de Genlis leaves the valley of historical investigations Madame de Genlis had no con- the Battuecas and Spain. She transports her reader to cern. She wanted only a foundation, and the popular France, and once more introduces on the scene the first story served her purpose. Sure of embellishing whatever hero, Adolphe, who has returned to his country to endeashe touches, she relied on her own strength in sustaining your to find his Caliste. She has perished on the scaffold! the edifice she had resolved to rear on an imaginary basis. A new character is now brought forward; a young FrenchIt is not until her work is somewhat advanced that woman, excited by public and private distress, and by the Madame de Genlis introduces her readers to the Battuecas. excesses of the Revolutionists, is impelled by feelings of The commencement of the first volume turns entirely on virtue and devotedness to the highest degree of heroism. the loves of Adolphe de Palmene and Caliste d'Auberive, "Et dans un foible corps s'allume un grand courage." whose parents fly from France in consequence of the ReThe horrid Spanish war reconducts the reader to the volution. Obliged for their safety to take different roads, Peninsula, and the hope of again meeting with the Battuethey agreed to meet in spain, but Adolphe on arriving cans is revived. In fine, Placide re-appears. He rescues an there with his father seeks in vain for Caliste and her mo- infant from the flames at the moment when a whole family ther. At last, after several months passed in anxiety and is about to be destroyed. This child, in consequence of despair, he receives an enigmatical letter from Caliste, from a collar, a cross, &c. is recognised: and the denoument which may be equally concluded, either that she is in a con-is brought about in a manner which is the most satisfactory vent which she does not wish to leave, or in a prison whence for Placide and the fair Spaniard, and most romantic for she cannot escape, or in the power of some rival who has the reader. forced her to write; or any other dreadful supposition may be formed. He received other letters equally obscure, and in the melancholy state of mind produced by these communications he enters the famous valley of the Battuecas, which, according to Madame de Genlis, remains still undiscovery to the wants and wishes of mankind, is always covered in 1806. There he finds a hero far more extraordi-a subject of pleasing contemplation. This is perhaps one nary than the valley—a supernatural prodigy of admirable of the best results which can be expected from the Royal beauty and prodigious strength, who, without instruction, it the more especially from a very recent calculation of beauty and prodigious strength, who, without instruction, Institution, and similar establishments; and we allude to example, or model, had become a great musician, a great Mr. Brande, in one of his popular lectures in Albemarle painter, and a great poet! A volume of his poems, which, unknown to him, had been printed at Madrid, formed the admiration of the Spaniards, who knew not to whom they were indebted for this master-piece of literature. The The date refers to the Duke of Alva, who carried on the war against the Dutch.

VARIETIES.

GAS LIGHTS.-The application of philosophical dis

Street.

Illumination has produced a daily consumption of 28 He stated the curious fact that the adoption of Gas chaldrons of coals in the retorts of the Gas Companies of the metropolis, for the required production of 336,000 cubit feet of Gas, whose light is equal to that of 76,500

of Argand's lamps, each of which is equal to that of six | field, resides at present in Switzerland. She is employed candles! Political economists, however, are not agreed in translating English Novels into French, and has just whether or not the additional consumption of coals re- published one under the title of " Ludovico, ou le fills compenses our seamen for the correspondent diminution d'un Homme de Genie." of maritime employment in the whale fishery.

RAPID ILLUMINATION. In reference to the preceding article, we can state that an ingenious chymist has a plan in progress for the instant illumination of the largest buildings lighted with Gas, even where there are one thousand lights, as in extensive manufactories, &c., and upon a principle that might be applied to the metropolis itself, were it not that its adoption would throw such numbers out of employ. The plan is to produce inflammation by means of the Electric or Galvanic shock, the ends of the conducting wires being brought nearly into contact over the apertures of the tubes, similar to the common lecturing experiment of kindling spirits of wine, or forcing a hole through an insulated card.

Notwithstanding the calamities which have weighed upon France, the zeal for the dissemination of vaccination has not diminished. In 76 departments, according to the return, out of 626,641 children born in 1815, 251, 116 have been vaccinated.

A Medical Student in Paris is now undergoing prosecution before the Criminal Tribunal, for having procured a Fellow Student to write his Thesis for him. BAROMETERS.-Considerable improvements have taken place in these useful instruments, by which they become easily portable.-Gay Lussac has invented a new one, which allows a free entrance to the air without danger of spilling the mercury; of course it may be used without trouble or preparation in the ascent of mountains, &c.

To facilitate the ignition, a simple apparatus will fill the upper spaces of the tubes with a Gas easily inflam- The measuring of heights by the barometer is likely to mable, called, by Sir Humphry Davy, Hydro-phos-be much facilitated, and rendered more accurate, by a phoric, and which Gay Lussac has lately been preparing table invented by Dr. Bischof, which presents the correcby a slow combustion of phosphorus saturated with pot- tion of the length of the mercurial column, for every ash, from whence proceeds phosphorous acid; and the latter being heated rapidly in a retort with a tube bent into water, a gas is drawn off which combines a very small portion of posphorus iu proportion to its volume, and therefore is not spoutaneously inflammable in contact with atmospheric air, but easily inflammable by electricity or heat.

change in the temperature of the atmosphere. The necessity of such corrections is evident, even for meteorological purposes, and renders it essential that the barometer should always have a thermometer attached to it.

A series of observations on the two instruments, with reference to each other, is a desideratum in a climate so changeable as that of Great Britain.

A PERIODICAL journal in Latin is published at Paris FIGURE OF THE EARTH. From the various anomalies under the title of Hermes Romanus. It has had consi- which have been observed by the gentlemen occupied in derable success, and the second volume is now in pro- the grand trigonometrical survey of this kingdom, it has gress. The last number contains some Latin verses by a been ascertained that a considerable difference exists belady, Madame C. F. Julie de ***. The subject of her tween the latitudes and longitudes of places determined poem is the Melo-drama, and she displays great know-astronomically, and again calculated by triangles from ledge of antiquity joined to classical elegance of versifica- fixed points of survey. Some modern philosophers go so tion. The editor replies very respectfully to his fair correspondent, though in conclusion he takes the liberty of giving her a piece of advice more recommendable for its propriety than its gallantry-Cura familiam dein Musas. The Paris Papers have spoken of an English gentleman who subscribed very liberally for this journal. It was the Honorable Francis Henry Egerton, who on going to the publisher's office to get the number for December, ordered 20 copies regularly. The editor has returned his thanks in iambies.

far as to assert, that astronomical calculations can no longer be considered as designating correctly the relative situation of places: and they consider these anomalies as proceeding either from irregularities in the figure of the earth itself, or from irregularities in the densities of the strata. Perhaps this applies only to the astronomical quadrant on shore, from the plumb line being attracted out of its proper line of gravity: but not to observations made at sea; or with the Hadley's quadrant and an artificial horizon.

In the last number there are some French poems, which NUMISMATOLOGY.-The science of numismata is appear there like foreigners who do not speak the lan-likely to receive considerable improvement from the new guage of the country. The editor apologizes for this irre- invented chemical blow pipe. It has long been a subject gularity, by observing, that these verses appear at the of witticisms upon venerable antiquaries, that they preperiod of the Saturnalia. The excuse will perhaps be tended to read illegible coins and medals; but the fact is thought satisfactory on account of its Latinity, if the now realised by recent experiments of Dr. Clarke of readers are as indulgent as the Jesuit who gave a student Cambridge, whose blow pipe, with all that taste for the absolution on very serious sins, because he confessed them true ærugo which Martinus Scriblerus laughs at, acin language which reminded him of Terence. tually affords a test for distinguishing ancient bronze from

Madame de Staël has produced a great sensation among modern brass. The learned professor has already subthe Literati of Italy, by an article on English and German jected an Egyptian bronze medal of the Ptolemies, and a literature, which she has inserted in the Biblioteca pub-medal of M. A. Antoninus to the test, and found them to lished at Milan; and in which she recommends to the consist of copper and tin without the addition of zinc, and Italians the study of Shakspeare and Schiller. Her Essay without any perceptible difference in their qualities. has given rise to a number of replies. FLORAL BOTANY.-The preservation of flowers, after Madame de Montolieu, the author of Caroline of Litch-being culled, is always matter of interest with those who

66

BATHS OF BAREGES.

delight in the produce of the parterre. Some curious experiments have been tried, which may eventually refer to A German Nobleman who visited those baths in August, this subject, by MRS. ANNE IBBETSON, a lady whose 1816, wrote to a friend in Germany some interesting letessays in the philosophical Magazine, upon the Physiology ters during his stay there, of which we have seen several of Vegetables, are highly deserving of notice. She ob- extracts. From Bourdeaux the journey occupied six days, serves that she has proved that the apparent flower, whilst and was very tiresome and slow, as it was necessary to forming in the root, consists only of the pistil and corolla, take a great quantity of luggage, Bareges itself yielding no and that a specimen, having these, if thrown on a glass, accommodation except food, nothing that may be called would (from the line of life" being cut) eject moisture comfort. But a part of the way was through a country sufficient to continue the vegetable growth of the flow- far exceeding every thing that our traveller had ever before ers, as long as the juices remained: and that she had beheld. I have seen," says he," the banks of the known them continue in moisture sufficient, for nearly a Loire from Blois to Tours; those of the Elbe from Dreswhole week. The application of this to valuable flowers den to Meissen; but they are surpassed by La Chalosse, for ornament is obvious. which is the name of this part of Bearn, about fifteen ARTIFICIAL CONGELATION. The mildness of the leagues in breadth. Here are vast plains covered with season has been alarming to the Confectioners and the finest corn, meadows, woods of oak and ash, large others, with respect to the supply of their Ice Cellars; fields of Turkish wheat (maize), in the vineyards; not of but a recent discovery by a gentleman at Blackheath, such a melancholy aspect as those of Medoc; on the conmay set their anxieties at rest. He has ascertained trary, nothing can be more pleasing, more picturesque. that a new frigorific mixture, more calculated for the The vines are planted in extensive fields, in the form of a diminution of sensible heat than any other at present quincunx, ten or twelve feet from each other. Every vine known, may be made from snow and alcohol, and con- six or seven feet high, is supported by a cherry-tree, round sequently from ice and alcohol; the temperature of the which it twines; the tendrils embrace the boughs, which snow, in repeated experiments, being reduced from 32° to are inwreathed with the beautiful foliage of the vine; and 17°. The alcohol was not very strong; therefore a from the top the longest shoots descend, and are carefully greater degree of refrigeration may be expected. The in-led in festoons to the next cherry-tree, forming in all diventor is of opinion that pounded ice will not refrigerate rections the most lovely bowers with the fruit hanging on so rapidly as snow, from its being less liable to a speedy every side. The cherry trees are adorned with the glow

solution.

EXPERIMENTAL DANGERS. The accidents which so frequently result from the hazardous experiments of our modern chemists, have led Dr. Clarke to consider that subject with attention. He has accordingly constructed a philosophical screen, which secures the operator from the effects of unexpected explosions, without interfering with the necessary accuracy of experiment.

RECENT EARTHQUAKES.-It is asserted by a writer in the Philosopical Magazine, that the Earthquake in Scotland, in August last, had the effect of completely filling the waters of Loch Leven with mud and sand to such a degree as to require two days for it to subside. The lake itself is about 100 feet in depth.

The casts from the antique and the modern works of Art, sent from the POPE to the PRINCE REGENT, and presented by his Royal Highness to the Royal Academy, are now arranging in the Hall, and in other convenient situations in different parts of the Royal Academy.

It is an evident proof of the mildness of the season at present, that during the past week, crocuses and daisies, "the early promise of the spring," were displayed for sale in Covent Garden Market; and round London the lilac trees are now in flower.

It is subject of regret when the discoveries of Science, for the preservation of men, are neglected, either through ignorance or obstinacy. During the past week, one life was lost, and several persons wounded, at Bagillt Colliery, on the river Dee, in Cheshire, in consequence of a candle being carried into the mine. Davy's lamp would have prevented the fatal catastrophe. We put this particularly to the consideration of our readers, who possess those valuable concerns. It is their duty to aid the extension of

Science !

ing red of their own fruit, and the ground below is covered with maize and other corn. The whole forms a most delightful scene of fertility of the finest productions of nature, and the most luxuriant vegetation. These truly Elysian fields are watered by the Adour, which, pouring down from the mountains of Bigorre, flows in various arms, until, uniting at Bayonne, these fall into the sea. In the bosom of this lovely landscape are numerous villages, almost touching each other, and all testifying the prosperous situation of the inhabitants. The wine, however, is not good, and is distilled into brandy. But on the other hand, the cultivation of the vine, elsewhere so expensive, here costs the peasants hardly any thing. The cherry trees are the permanent, and of themselves profitable props, which in other places are very expensive. The fields are ploughed by oxen.-Such is this part of the country of Henry IVth."

The writer describes Bareges itself as a most gloomy abode, buried deep between high mountains and rugged rocks which exclude the beams of the sun, and almost the light of the day, and scarcely leave room for a few inhabitants to settle near the wonder-working springs. The town consists of a single street about 500 paces in length. The houses, about 44 in number, lean on one side of the street close against the wall of rock, and on the other hang over the Gavé, which washes the opposite wall.

more.

The power of these hot baths is astonishingly great. They are so tonic that the writer says he was than once obliged to interrupt the use of them for a time. They are a sovereign remedy for severe wounds, for corporal injuries of long standing, for gout, and for cancerous swellings, which are dispelled by these waters. For the latter the neighbouring baths of St. Sauveure, however, seem to be more salutary, being milder and of a more saponaceous quality." Bareges is uncommonly