tuent principle.' If horns are examined, few I believe will be found to contain phosphate of lime in such a proportion as to be considered an essential ingredient.'- Fossil bones resemble bones, which, by combustion, have been deprived of their cartilaginous part; for, they retain the figure of the original bone, without being bone in reality, as one of the most essential parts has been taken away.'

an examination of the fossil bones of Gibraltar, as well as some glossopetræ or shark's teeth, the author found that

The latter afforded phosphate and carbonate of lime; but the carbonate of lime was visibly owing principally to the matter of the calcareous strata which had inclosed these teeth, and which had insinuated itself into the cavities left by the decomposition of the original cartilaginous substance.'- Bones, which keep their figure after combustion, resemble charcoal made from vegetables replete with fibre ; and cartilaginous bones which lose their shape by the same cause may be compared to succulent plants which are reduced in bulk and shape in a similar manner. From these last experiments, I much question if bodies consisting of phosphate of lime, like bones, have concurred materially to form strata of limestone or chalk; for it appears to be improbable, that phosphate is converted into carbonate of lime, after these bodies have become extraneous fossils. The destruction or decomposition of the cartilaginous parts of teeth and bones in a fossil state, must have been the work of a very long period of time, unless accelerated by the action of some mineral principle: for, after having, in the usual manner, steeped in muriatic acid the os humeri of a man brought from Hythe in Kent, and said to have been taken from a Saxon tomb, I found the remaining cartilage nearly as complete as that of a recent bone. The difficult destructibility of substances of a somewhat similar nature, appears also from the mining implements formed of horn, which are not unfrequently found in excavations of high antiquity.'

The nature of Mr. Home's paper on the Dissection of an Hermaphrodite Dog, which also contains a variety of curious observations on the formation of hermaphrodites in general, will not allow us to give a particular detail of its contents.

The last article in this volume is a Catalogue of Oriental Manuscripts presented to the Royal Society by Sir William and Lady Jones. By Charles Wilkins, Esq. This catalogue is continued from the Transactions for the year 1798. The volume closes with a list of presents of books and pamphlets, &c. and the index, as usual.

ART.

ART. II. Travels in England, Scotland, and the Hebrides; undertaken for the Purpose of examining the State of the Arts, the Sciences, Natural History, and Manners, in Great Britain: containing Mineralogical Descriptions of the Country round Newcastle; of the Mountains of Derbyshire; of the Environs of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Perth, and St. Andrew's; of Invetary, and other Parts of Argyleshire; and of the Cave of Fingal Translated from the French of B. Faujas Saint- Fond, Member of the National Institute, and Professor of Geology in the Museum of Natural History at Paris. 8vo. 2 Vols. 14s. Boards. Ridgway. 1799.

WIT

WITH the name of Faujas de St. Fond, many of our readers have long been acquainted. Those, in particular, who have devoted their attention to philosophical pursuits, will recollect that the labours of this gentleman have frequently called for our notice, in the course of our accounts of scientific Foreign Publications. When the flighty fashion of ærostatical expeditions was at its height, M. de St. Fond was among the foremost to investigate the nature and record the attempts at establishing this new mode of travelling *. Finding, however, at length, that the dominion of the air was not yet to be surrendered to mortal man, he has been contented to return to his allegiance to his mother earth; and being convinced that the safest mode of inspecting the affairs of this globe was by moving over its surface, not by regarding them from" the dizzy height" of the third or fourth heaven, he here presents us with an account of some peregrinations performed in the usual modes of conveyance. Whether his observations soar above the usual level of ability may, perhaps, appear from the account which we shall now give of them.

This tour was made in the autumn of 1784; and the reader is informed, in a short preface, that the narrative was prepared for the press in the second year of the revolution; but the troubles of that period rendered it necessary to delay its publication.' The travels were undertaken for the purpose of collecting information on many interesting subjects; and the British reader will probably find some additional entertainment in observing the impressions made on an inquisitive and intelligent foreigner, by the various objects which attracted his

We do not mean that this gentleman was one of the bold adventurers into the aerial regions, for we do not remember that he ever actually ascended in a balloon: but that his attention was par ticularly bestowed on these machines, and on the voyages made with them, will sufficiently appear by consulting our 69th vol. p. 551, &c. and vol. 71. P. 379.

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notice in this country.-The work is divided into chapters; and the subject of the first is London. M. St. Fond commences his remarks with a description of the breakfasts at the house of Sir Joseph Banks, the rendezvous of those who cultivate the sciences, where foreigners are always received with politeness and affability.'- Men of science and letters,' the author remarks, become more sociable and more intimately allied, by enjoying, as in this city, a rallying point, presenting the charms of mild society, in conjunction with those pure pleasures which every thing connected with knowlege and instruction always affords.' This is a handsome and just encomium on that well placed hospitality which is so encouraging to the communication of useful knowlege; and which is to be regarded as one among many proofs of that liberal and active patronage of whatever promises utility and public benefit, which so peculiarly distinguishes the character of the President of the Royal Society.

M. St. Fond was presented by Sir Joseph Banks with two ounces of the seed of a species of hemp obtained from China, of a quality superior to the hemp cultivated in Europe. This, on his return to France, he distributed among his most scientific friends; and he relates the success with which it was cultivated in the South of France.

I wait for peace,' says he, to repay my obligations to the English, for it is no more than just to return that which they have so generously lent us. I should have published, a long time ago, the result of these experiments, but have been prevented by the melancholy remembrance which reminded me, that of eleven persons to whom I gave some of the seed from China, and who, with an enthusiasm for the public interest, devoted their whole attention to its cultivation, eight have been dragged to the scaffold, without respect for names signalized by virtue and talents. Buffon was dead—they took his son.'

Some particulars are mentioned of several well-known characters, to whom the sciences are much indebted, and with whom the author became acquainted in this country; Mr. Whitehurst, Mr. Cavallo, Dr. Lettsom, Messrs. Wedgewood, Ramsden, Winch, John Sheldon, &c. Some very curious anecdotes are related of the last named. There was,' says the author, none of the English gravity about him. I love to meet with such exceptions; but I know that he who is by lively and vigorous conceptions elevated to great undertakings, who labours with ardour, and unites a variety of information to an aptitude and passionate desire for knowing much, cannot have the same uniformity of character, nor act in the same systematic manner with common men.'

M. St.

M. St. Fond does not confine his remarks to objects merely intellectual. We are not disposed, indeed, to deny that there is much good sense in a substantial English dinner; and the author has described two, with much commendation, of which he partook in company with the members of the Royal Society. He bestows a strong eulogy on coffee; which, he observes, Voltaire called the quintessence of the mind. In France, we commonly drink only one cup of good coffee after dinner. In England, it seems to be all one what kind they drink, provided they have four or five cup fulls.' He complains of this liquor being rendered so disgusting, in a country where it is so necessary for removing melancholy humours."

The second chapter contains the particulars of a visit to Mr. Herschel at Slough, which gave us much pleasure. It concludes with the following paragraph :

I remained until day-light in that astonishing observatory, constantly occupied in travelling in the heavens, with a guide whose boundless complaisance was never wearied by my ignorance, and the importunity of my questions. I passed about seven hours there, employed without intermission in observing the stars. That delightful night appeared no more than a dream to me, and seemed to last only a few instants; but the remembrance of it is indelible; and the grateful recollection of the kindness with which Mr. Herschel, and his interesting sister, condescended to receive me, will never be erased from my heart.'

The author afterward visited the gardens at Kew, and the British Museum. He justly prefers the former to any other gardens of the kind which he has ever seen. At the British Museum, he censures the want of arrangement.-Many other curiosities of the capital are noticed.

Towards the end of August, M. St. Fond departed for Scotland, in company with Count Paul Andreani of Milan, Mr. William Thornton, (an American gentleman,) and M. de Mecies.-M. St. Fond was indefatigable in his mineralogical examinations of the country over which he travelled. They stopped some days at Newcastle to view the coal mines and manufactories. The simplicity of the buildings, and the economy observed in the management of these concerns, obtain much commendation. It is,' says the author, a taste for pomp and grandeur which almost always ruins the manufactories of France, and prevents those new ones which we want, from being established.' Few things attracted more of the notice and admiration of the travellers, than the roads constructed with so much persevering ingenuity for transporting coals from the mines to the water side. The great economy produced by these contrivances, enables the English to sell the REV. MARCH, 1800.

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coal

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coal which they export, at a lower price than it can be afforded from our own mines, in all cases where we have to bring it more than three or four miles by land. Marseilles affords an example in point, where the coal of England is cheaper than the coal from their own mines, of which there are a great number within four or five leagues.' The author relates a conversation between several learned Americans, among whom was Dr. Benjamin Franklin; in which it was maintained that to her coal mines, principally, England is indebted for her wealth and power; the comfort of cheap fuel being so great an encouragement to industry in cold countries. "I have observed," said one," in several provinces of France, through which I have travelled in winter, that from the want of fuel, the effect of the cold was such, that whole families were compelled to retire to their beds, where they remained in a state of torpor, unable to labour, and consuming in a few days all their little savings."-" That season which is so fatal to the industry of other countries, does not diminish the labour of the English people; and the necessary consequence of a great mass of population, constantly employed in pursuits of commerce and manufactures, is an increase of wealth, equally advantageous to the state and to individuals."

In the road to Edinburgh, and indeed every where throughout his tour, the author has examined and described the internal organization of the country. The hills of Dodmill, and Channel Kirk inn, which abound with many varieties of trapp, he particularly recommends 'to those who consider the materials that enter into the formation of mountains, objects worthy of their attention and inquiries. It would be difficult to find a place more favourable for this study, since here it may be said, Nature displays herself uncovered, and affords the observer an opportunity of tracing the manner in which she rudely sketches or perfects porphyry with a basis of trapp.'

The principal object of M. St. Fond's inquiry, in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh, appears to have been the grand iron foundery at Carron, which he visited:-but the regulations established at those works did not admit of his obtaining unlimited communications. The travellers then proceeded to Glasgow; and the author has given an account of many volcanic productions observed in the environs of that place. They continued their route by Dumbarton, and along the banks of the beautiful lake Loch-lomond, to Inverary: but, as they were there at the time when the justiciary lords were on the circuit, the travellers would have found very indifferent accommodations, had they not fortunately been provided with letters of introduction to the Duke of Argyle, who was then at Inverary

Castle,