in which that branch of science was regularly taught that subterraneous maps of the Republic of France were tracing before the war, and voyages undertaken at the expence of government for the express purpose of collecting minerals. I then endeavoured to give them some idea of the riches hitherto locked up in vast store-houses under our feet, and told them that the knowledge of minerals laid the line which separates the civilized man from the

savage. That, although every thing for the support of life was continued with an unceasing circulation from the upper stratum of earth, it was nevertheless as true, that from the bowels of it, labour drew all her tools, agriculture her support, commerce her riches, and the fine arts their materials. Plunging into fire and phlogiston, I ventured to define a metal, and endeavoured to show how the imperfect ones could be decomposed and recomposed as they lost or recovered their soul, phlogiston. The specimens were exhibited as their natural history was given, and I soon found that I had effectually excited their curiosity to search further into those recesses of wealth, to pursue a subject hitherto unknown among them. I gave these infant mineralogists the theory of crystallization; and closed by assuring them, that as I had spoken of the most useful, and consequently most valuable mineral productions, I should say nothing of the diamond, the topaz, the emerald, the sapphire, the onyx, and other brilliant and very costly minerals, they being the

playthings of kings and queens, and beneath the notice of republicans! That some of these shining baubles, not bigger than a walnut, had been purchased for a greater sum than would pay all the expenses of the American government for the past year! and this only to decorate the сар, the necklace, or the finger of a King or a Queen. Yet how many thousands of the human species are excluded from the light of Heaven, and condemned to drag out a wretched existence in holes and caverns under ground, to procure these glittering trifles. Quot manus atteruntur (says the elegant Pliny), ut unus niteat articulus!

By the time I began my next course, I found that my pupils had picked up a considerable collection of mineral productions from various parts of the country, and I soon perceived that the subject had become popular, although a year before they never heard of quartz, schistus, shörl, glist, tuffwacke, trapp, gneiss, hornblende, pyrites, or plumbago; and could hardly compose their features at the very utterance of these Gothic names.

As mineralogy has become a favourite branch among our young men, and has, morever, excited the public attention, I thought it was proper to inform you of the steps that have been taken, and the success that has followed. I have been the pioneer in this business, and having broken the way, must leave to my successor the easy task of smoothing it. But whatever we have done or shall do, the American public must ever regard

Dr. Lettsom as the father of mineralogy in this quarter of the world.

The cabinet containing the minerals could not be more advantageously placed. It is situated in one of our largest public rooms, a room that would be denominated elegant at either your Cambridge or Oxford. It is ornamented with full length paintings of our principal benefactors, viz. Boylston, who founded a professorship of Rhetoric and Oratory; Hollis, who founded two professorships, and was otherwise the greatest benefactor this University ever knew; Hancock, who founded a professorship of Hebrew and the Oriental languages; and Hersey, who laid the foundation for a professorship of Anatomy and Surgery, and likewise for the Practice of Physic. There is also a portrait of Gen. Washington and President Adams. Among the prints that ornament the room we distinguish Copley's death of the Earl of Chatham, his Death of Major Pearson, the Tribute of Money, the Nativity, and print of Mr. Lawrence. There is also Trunbull's Battle of Bunker's Hill, and the Attack on Quebec by Montgomery. In the same room is placed a large orrery, made by Joseph Pope of Boston, which is particularly described in the second volume of the Memoirs of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Adjoining this room is a smaller one filled with philosophical apparatus of English workmanship, by far the largest collection of the kind in the United States. Contiguous to the

same is the museum for natural and artificial curiosities, a catalogue of which I will send you on some future occasion. On the same floor level is the University Library, containing about 14,000 volumes, well chosen and very neat. Certain spaces between the books are covered with fine engravings of the English philosophers, divines, poets, and statesmen. On a conspicuous stand is placed a fine marble bust of the late Earl of Chatham, a man whom the Americans almost adored. Several paintings, among which is a very good one of Cardinal Bentevolio, heightens the ornament of this very valuable library. The books are placed in alcoves, and those who have contributed largely to the collection have their names inscribed above in large gold letters. Among these we distinguish Hollis and Hancock, neither of whom contributed less than a £.1000 sterling. There is likewise inscribed as benefactors your English Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts; also the province of New Hampshire, who voted a very generous sum towards the purchase of books for this library.

I am, &c.

B. WATERHOUSE.

*

LETTER CCLXII.

From the same.

Cambridge, Nov. 16, 1799.

*

Yesterday I met with the Travels through the States of North America and the Provinces of Canada, in the years 1795, 96, and 97, by Isaac Weld, jun., second edition, and have read the first volume, and merely run through the second, which relates to Canada. Of all the publications respecting the United States I have yet seen, it is the most despicable; and I feel mortified that such a series of malicious falsehood should have passed through two impressions. If the design of the writer was to check the emigration of his countrymen, the Irish, I can forgive him, because we have two many already among us; but to offer that work to your respectable public as a true picture of American society and manners, is a disgrace to any man who knows the use of letters. Such a collection of rancorous prejudices and juvenile petulance I never yet met with; insomuch, that I cannot feel easy without bearing my testimony against his representations of the common people or peasantry of this country in my collection of letters. If Isaac Weld, Jun. published those two volumes for the purpose of inducing the Irish to