SUPPLEMENTARY TO THE STUDY OF ARITHMETIC A gentleman, unfortunately linked for life to one who tion House; but, various circumstances having delayed the This day is published, in a very large Volume, with fifty En-made him feel the weight of his chain, was one day told fulfilment of their intention, they will, I am sure, rejoice that gravings, and 1000 Woodcuts, price £1 18. bound. A Complete COURSE of PURE and MIXED MA-ing, as he kept scolding her from morning till night."- it has fallen into the hands of those whose zeal and active exTHEMATICS, including the latest improvements in ing, as from "Ah, happy girl!" said the master, "I wish I could give ertions are likely to render it more efficient. her warning too."-Joe Miller.

Miscellanies.

as well as JEW BILLY? MR. FULMER made a pun,
LAVY told me, and said the difference between the two
sinagog, and the other set all the people agog to sin. I
JEW BILLIES was, that one drew all the people to the
don't conceive his meaning, which I am afraid is a Dub-
lin teuder.

As we observed, last week, it is not often that we can select any thing from the John Bull, unmixed with obscenity or personal ribaldry. The whimsical letter, which we now transcribe from that journal, is an exception, There was a large quire of singers, but they squeaked and we thank Amicus for directing our attention to it. We too much to please me-and played on fiddles, so I supare not so much tickled with the humour of Dorothea pose they have no organs;-the priests pass all their time in dissolving sinners by oracular contusion, which, like Ramsbottom, as our friend Amicus appears to be. With transmogrification, is part of their doctoring; the mittens some few exceptions, the puns are miserable, and most out-in the morning, and whispers at night, is just equally the rageously overstrained. We are surprised that Dorothea same as at Paris. did not recollect and appropriate some very good profes sional puns, to which the names of painters have given rise. Joe Miller would have supplied her with a bonne bouche or two, associated with the names of Tenniers and Claude. We do not recollect them well, but the pun was somewhat after this fashion:

ture-fancier, for the sale of one of his pieces, which
bore the name of Tenniers, asked him if he would war-
rant it to be a Tenniers; to which the other replied in-
dignantly, "Ten years be d-d; why, I have had it
at least twenty years myself." The other joke was played
off at a picture sale-room, when the auctioneer was puffing
off an old tattered picture for a genuine landscape, by
One of the company having expressed
a great master.
his doubt of its being an original, the auctioneer said,
"I assure you, Sir, upon my honour, that this picture
is Claude." "Yes (replied the other) pointing to a hole
in the canvas, no one who looks at it can doubt that it is
claw'd-indeed, it is so confoundedly claw'd, that I de-
cline bidding for it." These puns are better, in our
opinion, than those of Dorothea, who is but a very bad
copy of Mrs. Malaprop.-Edit. Kal.

TO JOHN BULL.

Montague-place, Jan. 6, 1825.

Next to Salt Peter's Church is the Church of Saint John

the Latter end, where the Poop always goes when he is
first made; there is another basilisk here covered with
hirogriffins.

bitious and jealous collector of scarce books, has, within
the last few days, been brought to light, and is now in the
hands of Messrs. Payne and Foss, of Pall-mall.
This exhumated curiosity is a book, in small qu
said to have been once possessed by Sir Thomas Haze,
but not alluded to by him, containing the scarce editions
eleven of Shakspeare's plays, amongst which is Hasch
The perusal of the whole of these must highly gratia
qualified reader; but a careful collation of the latter is
gedy will bestow a greater reward on the diligence of
critical examiner than any, or all, of the others can give
it is, in fact, the principal feature in the volume. The
following is the title under which it appears:
marke, by William Shake-speare. As it has been duene
The Tragicall Historie of HAMLET, Prince of Dr.
times actid by his Highnesse Seruants in the Cittie of Lon
don: as also in the Vniuersities of Cambridge and Oxford,
and elsewhere. At London, printed for N. L. and Jud
Trundell, 1603."

Of this edition not the slightest mention has ever been made; it is, therefore, fair to conclude, that, to the rarion able and laborious commentators of Shakspeare it was w terly unknown, the earliest which has ever obtained medita being that of 1604, of which Mr. Malone gives the rele, though it is quite clear that he had no other knowledge of it.

Hamlet first appeared, according to Malone's calculs tion, in 1600, therefore the edition which has called t these few slight remarks was published only the ve after the tragedy was produced. Hence we are ide suppose, that, in some respects, it is a more exact of the original than any subsequently printed, and that, sequently, it may be considered as a better authority, the case of those disputed points, where common sens on its side, than the later editions, which were mexa to give the interpolations of the players. That it show abundance of typographical errors is most certain; an that a great want of skill in the copyist appears i places, is equally clear; but, when it omits passag reflect no credit on the understanding of their ar are anxious to believe that it is n.ore faithful to the ad such a man as Shakspeare, than those copies are wi pute to him obscenity, without even the apology of vs

I assure you the Colocynth is a beautiful ruin-it was built for fights, and Mr. Fulmer said that Hell of a gabbler, an Emperor, filled his theatre with wine-what a sight of A picture-dealer bargaining with an ignorant pic-marvels, Mr. B. oh, so superb!-the carraway, and paring, and the jelly and tea-cup, which are all very fine indeed. The Veteran (which I used foolishly to call the Vacuum till I had been there) is also filled with statutes-one is the body of the angel Michael, which has been ripped to pieces, and is therefore said to be Tore-so--but I believe this to be a poetical fixture:-the statute of the Racoon is very moving, its tail is prodigious long, and goes round three on 'em-the Antipodes is also a fine piece of execution. As for paintings there is no end to them in Room-Mr. | RAFFLES's Transmigration is, I think, the finest-much better than his Harpoons:-there are several done by HANNAH BELL SCRATCHY, which are beautiful; I dare say she must be related to LADY BELL, who is a very clever painter, you know, in London. The Delapidation of St. John by GEORGE HONEY is very fine, besides several categorical paintings, which pleased me very much. The shops abound with Cammyhoes and Tallyhoes, which last always reminded me of the sports of the field at home, and the cunning of sly Reynolds a getting away from the dogs. They also make Scally holies at Room, and what they call obscure chairs,-but, oh Mr. B. what a cemetery there is in the figure of the Venus of Medicine, Many striking peculiarities in this edition of F which belongs to the Duke of Tusk and eye–her contor- tend strongly to confirm the opinion, which it will pun appear, we wish to inculcate, that no small portion c We walked about in the Viccissitude, and hired a mac-ribaldry to be found in the plays of our great d caroni, or as the French, alluding to the difficulty of sa- poet, is to be assigned to the actors of his time, whe of course, exploded the Arch of Tightas and the Baths of pensities of their age, by the introduction and consta tisfying the English, call them, a lucky to please," and, tered the vulgar taste, and administered to the ri the lovers of what they call the belly arty, who have made they came to be considered, and then printed, Diapason. Every day exposes something new there, to tition of many indecent, and not a few stupid, joka The physicians paid great attention to poor MR. RAM, whom I told you was fond of silly quizzing, fell down on offensive speeches of Hamlet to Ophelia, in the plas a great many evacuations in the Foruin. Poor LAVY, the genuine text. Of these, the two or three ha and he suffered nothing at least that I know of. It was the Tarpaulin Rock, in one of her revelries-Mr. FUL- act 3, are not to be found in the copy of 1645, 3 a very comfortable thing that I was at home shay new, as the French say, when he went, because it is a great plea-MER said it would make a capital story when she got are we borne out in our opinion; for it is not to home, but I never heard another syllabub about it. posed that Shakspeare would insert them upon c sure to see the last of one's relations and friends. One thing surprised me, the Poop (who wears three tion, and three years after the success of his piece crowns together, which are so heavy that they call his cap, determined; still less likely is it, that a piratical a tirer) is always talked of as Paw-paw, which seems very would reject any thing actually belonging to improper, his Oleness was ill the last day he went to the which was pleasing to the great buik of those who s Chapel at the Choir and all, having taken something deli- become the purchasers of his publication. fined with romantic gout; but we saw enough of him after, shorter than in any subsequent edition, partly o The drama, as it appears in the print of 1003, and it was curious to observe the Carnals prostituting haps, to the negligence of the copyist, but, more themselves successfully before him he is like the German because the author himself elaborated and au corn plaster which Mr. RAM. used to use-quite unavail- after it had been for some time on the stage. proved his work by adding to, re-touching, as coming home-I was so afraid of the pandittis, who were However, Mr. B. the best part of all, I think, was our it, none will be hardy enough to dispute: some points, the later editions misprinted the a all in anibush with arquebasades and Bagnets that I had no many have been found to believe, and their peace all the time we were on root-but I must say I liked not be weakened by the discovery of the prese SENIS's Villa and the Casket Alley; however, home is plays was published till after his death, and the Friskhearty; and Tiffaly pleased me, and so did Miss for, it is to be observed, that no collection of heme, be it never so homely, and here we are, thank our any reason to suppose that he corrected for the even authorised the printing of those single pieces, appeared in quarto, during his life.

DEAR MR. BULL-Why don't you write to us-ortions are perfect. We are all of us well, and none of us no more, as call? perhaps you may suppose, except poor MR. RAM.-of course you know of his disease, it was quite unexpected, with a spoonful of turtle in his mouth-the real gallipot as they call it. However, I have no doubt he is gone to heaven, and my daughters are gone to Bath, except LAVY, who is my pet, and never quits me.

You know we have been to Room since you heard from us-the infernal city as it is called-the seat of Poopery, and where the Poop himself lives. He was one of the Carnals, and was elected just before we was there: he has changed his name, not choosing to disgrace his family. He was formerly Doctor Dallyganger, but he now calls himself LEO, which the Papists reverse, and call him OLE or OLENESS. He is a fine cretur, and was never married, but he has published a BULL in Room, which is to let people commit all kind of sin without impunity, which is different from your Bull, which shoes up them as does any crime. He is not Poop this year, for he has proclaimed JEW BILLY in his place, which is very good, considering the latter gentleman is a general, and not of his way of thinking.

Oh, MR. BULL, Room is really a beautiful place. We entered it by the point of Molly, which is just like the Point and Sally at Porchmouth, only they call Sally there Port, which is not known in Room. The Tiber is not a nice river, it looks yellow; but it does the same there as the Tames does here. We hired a carry-letty and a cock-olly, to take us to the Church of Salt Peter, which is prodigious big:—in the centre of the pizarro there is a ba. silisk very high, on the right and left two handsome found lings; and the farcy, as Mr. FULMER called it, is ornamented with collateral statutes of some of the Apostates.

There is a great statute of Salt Peter himself, but MR. FULMER thinks it to be Jew Peter, which I think likely too; there were three brothers of the same name, as,.of course, you know-Jew Peter, the fortuitous, the capil. lary, and toe-nails; and it is curos that it must be him, for his toes are kissed away by the piety of the religious debauchees who visit his shin or shrine. Besides, I think it is Jew Peter, because why should not he be worshipped

rious the day before at dinner; he was afterwards con

able.

stars.

We have a great deal to tell you, if you will but call upon us-LAVY has not been at the halter yet, nor do I know when she will, because of the mourning of poor Mr. RAM-indeed, I have suffered a great deal for shag green on account of his disease, and above all, have not been able to have a party on Twelfth Night.-Yours, truly, DOROTHEA RAMSBOTTOM. Pray write dear Mr. B.

SHAKSPEARE.

The fact of Hamlet having been performed so Cambridge and Oxford, is not the least remarka in this edition of the tragedy; we are not aware th circumstance has ever before been recorded. There in this copy, several variations from the general text; some of them of importance. Of these, the nents of the commentators will, of course avail then and a great many restorations may rationally be p It is inconvenient to enter into further detail: bur that an exact copy of the play will be published, notes of the different commentators subjoined an

* A copy of this edition of 1604 was, however, in

A literary treasure, of no common value, and of most singular rarity, which is likely to excite a strong interest in the minds of all well-read lovers of the ancient English ble's collection, and is now in the possession of the drama, and will awaken the hopes and fears of every am- Devonshire.

pared. A very useful and entertaining volume might thus be produced, that would indulge public curiosity, and perhaps throw a new light on some parts of a drama that is, by many able judges, viewed as the chef-d'œuvre of Shak

speare.

ON THE IMPROPRIETY OF INDULGING GRIEF FOR
THE LOSS OF NEAR RELATIONS, OR PARTICULAR
FRIENDS. BY SIR JOHN SINCLAIR, BART.

workmanship of the Moorish jewels which I examined at
Granada, and the same designs which are to be found in
the dresses of the Moorish women, and on the Jewesses
of Tetuan, on the coast of Africa. The bracelets form a
single ring, and are so perfectly resembling each other,
that one would suppose them manufactured by the same

artist.

The principal hall of the baths is covered with beau tiful ornaments, and the cornice is supported by an infinite number of small figures in alto-relievo, of a very original character.

It is difficult to describe the charm that one feels in touching these objects on the very spot where they have stood for ages, and before the illusion is entirely destroyed. One of the windows was covered with magnificent glass, which has just been deposited in the Museum of Naples. All the jewels have been taken to the King. They will be shown to the public in a few days.

tion may be uttered with all the action and declamation of an Athenian demagogue, and an essay appear even in the Spectator, and be read with the taste and pathos of Putnam, when, at the same time, the only real difference between them is the difference of name.

ment.

Among the ancients, we find oration and oral instruction to have been much more general than essay and written instruction. Greece and Rome were celebrated for their orators. Their statesmen thundered in the forum; their It is impossible not to feel severely on such occasions, philosophers taught in the streets; and all Rome is said and often for a considerable period of time; but to indulge in grief, or to give way to despondency, ought not only to to have flocked to the gardens to hear Statius repeat his be avoided, but is in fact reprehensible. It does no good Thebaid. Indeed, oratory was the most necessary, and to those who are gone, and may do much injury to the almost the only part in the education of an Athenian or a living. We are not entitled, indeed, thus to waste the Roman; at least, those who wished to rise above the helth and strength given us for useful purposes. If it is mere plebeian, were obliged to acquire this accomplishsin (as it is universally acknowledged to be) to put an And, for this reason, it is not surprising that the Pomp i has been for twenty centuries buried in the ennd to our own lives by violent means, it is equally sinful > do so by indulging grief, and thus slowly destroying that trails of the earth; whole nations have passed away over ancients have risen to such a pitch of grandeur in the art te which ought to be dedicated to promote the happiness its head: its monuments have remained standing, and all of persuasion, and that the orations of Demosthenes and its ornaments, untouched by the hand of time. A conof our fellow creatures, and to prepare ourselves for another and a better world. Besides, we do not know but temporary of Augustes, were he to return on this earth, Cicero have never been surpassed, but are, at this day, the best models of manly and powerful eloquence. But hat it may have been fortunate for the friend we have might say, "Hail, my country! my place of dwelling the only one on the earth that has preserved its form, and the ancients did not entirely neglect the essay. The ost, that he has quitted these sublunary scenes. www be enjoying the pleasures of eternity, whereas, if he even to the most insignificant objects of my affections Epistles of Seneca to Lucilius, though under a different as young, he might have fallen into temptations which Behold my bed, behold my favourite authors-My paint-name, are, in reality, beautiful essays; the comparisons ight have proved fatal to his future peace and happinessings are still as fresh as on the day they first ornamented this world, and his eternal felicity hereafter. If he my walls. Let me traverse the city, I recognise the spot, of Plutarch are decidedly such; and we find scattered up in middle age, he might have got into a state of health where, for the first time, I applauded the delightful scenes and down, in the longer writings of the ancients, detached pieces, which carry all the marks of the most polished uch would have rendered his existence, instead of a of Euripides and of Terence." essays. But, to modern times does the praise of excellence sing, a source of misery to himself and his friends. ad if he was advanced in life, death is an event which, in essay-writing chiefly belong. The essays of Addison, Socrates well remarked, instead of being a calamity, it is confessed, are not excelled, and perhaps not equalled, y prove the greatest good; for in old age great evils are by any thing of the kind either ancient or modern; and be apprehended, as pain, sickness, decay of sight, detheir superiority justly entitles him to the honourable apof hearing, perhaps decay of understanding,-and the pellation, Father of Essay. of those who have escaped all those evils is not to be Evented. In short, those who bear the loss of their

L

He may

C. N.

Literature, Criticism, &c.

ESSAY I.

ON ORATION AND ESSAY.
"Concitata, et sine intermissione in morem nivis
superveniens, oratori data est: at lenis et melle dulcior seni

profluit."

SENECA'S EPISTLES.

The motto, with which I have commenced these remarks, shows very strongly the difference between oration and essay. The application of the word “concitata” to oration, is a metaphor taken from a horse pricked to full

ds with fortitude, or with pious resignation to the LofGod, act more as becomes Christians than those who e way to despondency, and thus disqualify themselves m continuing in that course of life to which they have n accustomed. How often, indeed, is our acting with gnation and fortitude essential for the interests and the ing without intermission like snow: but the language of gallop, and is very descriptive of the fire and impetuosity

tre prosperity of children, or of others who are con ted with, or depend upon us? Let us resolve to imiin such trying afflictions, the exemplary conduct of vid, the man after God's own heart." When a favo#thild became sick, while he remained alive, the affec

ate parent fasted, and wept in bitter anguish, saying,
Who can tell whether the Lord will be gracious to me,
the child may live?" But no sooner had the child
1, than he threw off his affliction, and said, Now he
ead, wherefore should I fast? Can I bring him back
? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.'
"his answer of David is considered to be the most

and the most philosophic of any recorded in history; shing at the same time the best lesson that ever was ed, of all that is reasonable and religious in grief. J. S. George-street, Edinburgh.

The Traveller..

R. TAYLOR TO MR. CHARLES NODIER.

Pompéi, Nov. 16, 1824 #culaneum and Pompéi form such important objects thistory of ancient times, that in order to study them by deserve, we must live, we must reside upon the 1 order to follow up a very curious search in which I

engaged, I have taken up my residence in the house Jiomed; it stands at the gate of the city, near the road tombs, and is so conveniently situated for my object, I have preferred it to the palaces near the Forum. 4 door to the house I lodge in, is the house in which

resided.

The language of the orator is impetuous and fiery, descendwisdom and age flows gently and sweeter than honey,

There are no two kinds of literary composition so essentially different, but which are so often confounded, as Oration and Essay. This confusion originates in authors not being sufficiently careful of the general style of their writings. If they can only commit their thoughts to paper in elegant language, in harmonious sentences, and with close connexion, they are satisfied, and they seem to think that enough; while the particular kind of writing which they profess to use, and which their subject implies is entirely forgotten. They write as if they thought all prose composition of the same character; and that the difference in style between the orations of Tully and the essays of Addison was accidental, and not essential. But this is not the case; for, indeed, the different shades of prose composition are quite as necessary, and quite as numerous, as those of poetry; though, in consequence of the former having no metre, the limits of the various shades are not so well defined as they are in the latter, In Poetry, we have Tragedy, Epic, and Satire-Odes, Sonnets, and Epigrams: the structure and length of these have been so clearly laid down, and so generally allowed, that if a person should write in direct opposition to the established laws of any one of them, and yet call his piece by the name of that one, he would be ridiculed and treated as a fool. Prose compositions may be divided into Disquisition and History, Comedy and Dialogue, Oration and Essay: these are not so strictly confined as the various kinds of poetry, but wander on without restraint at the pleasure of the writer. They have, however, their laws; they have features and peculiarities, upon which their name and existence depends. Thus an inquiry on a deep metaphysical subject must not be clothed in the gay dress of fictitious narrative, nor should history assume the precision and dull formality of disquisition.

he searches are carried on with perseverance; and with hardour and care, a new quarter of the town and magent hot baths have just been discovered. In one of rooms of those baths my attention has been particularly #cted by three seats made of bronze, of a form entirely Down, and in the highest state of preservation. On of them was placed the skeleton of a female, whose s and neck were covered with jewels: in addition to 4 bracelets, the form of which was already known, I e taken off the neck of the skeleton a necklace, the Oration and Essay also differ most materially. It is not kmanship of which is absolutely miraculous. I assure that our most skilful jewellers could make nothing enough that one be heard and the other read, to constitute re elegant, or of a better taste. It has all the beautiful that an Oration and this an Essay: it is possible an ora

|

66

of the oration. The expression in the opposite part of the sentence gently and sweeter than honey," also paints very correctly the particular style and genius of the essay.

The language of oration is strong, energetic, and nervous: the words are chosen, not so much for their softness and smoothness, as for their length and emphasis, for their rolling and torrent sound. The diction of essay, on the contrary, is soft and melodious, seldom rising above its level, but gliding on in a smooth and even course, and, for the most part, calm and unruffled. The oration chiefly preserves an exact and geometrical order: it delights in the frequent repetition of single words; it delights in pressing a multitude of questions; it delights to hang on a single if the whole weight of its argument; it delights to protract the sense, to invert the phrase, and, in the end, to distract the hearer by the sudden blaze of its longconcealed meaning. The essay very seldom preserves that methodical order which is necessary to the oration, but, like a fanciful rivulet, meandering through the meadows, flows now here, now there, and is as quickly turned into a third course. It takes no pains to hide its meaning, but tells it you almost ere you begin. Variety of expression is its glory and delight; but its beauty is spoiled by repetition. One of the finest oratorical sentences (though not intended as such) is a celebrated passage in St. Paul's writings, "Finally, Brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." But, perhaps, the most powerful and perfect oration that ever came from the lips of man, is that of Cicero, Lege Maniliâ;" especially the part where he speaks of “Testis est Italia," &c. the acts of Pompey,

"Pro

The most beautiful specimens of essay writing may be found in Addison's papers on the imagination: such is the well known passage on the system of the heavens,-" But when we survey the whole earth at once, and the several planets that lie within its neighbourhood, we are filled

with a pleasing astonishment, to see so many worlds hang-1
ing one above another, and sliding round their axles in SIR,-Induced by the acknowledged talent displayed
such an amazing pomp and solemnity," &c. Oration in your entertaining miscellany, a constant reader begs
may be compared to a wild scenery, composed of lofty leave to solicit, either from you or any of your correspon-
mountains and foaming cataracts, of impetuous rivers dents, an answer to the following question, which has oc-
casioned no inconsiderable discussion amongst my friends.
and forests of boundless extent. Essay may be compared A. died, bequeathing property to B, estimated at £10,000,
to a landscape adorned with hills and groves, with smiling out of which an annuity of £1000 per annum is directed
meadows and running streams. Oration is like the male to be paid to C, aged 62 years, during the term of his
part of the human species, and essay resembles the female natural life. "What is the real value of B.'s share at the
part: in the former we trace courage, strength, and dig-time of A.'s death?" Or," Which is the most equitable
mode of ascertaining the same, without having recourse
nity; in a word, every thing meant by manliness: in the to a public sale?"
latter are modesty, gentleness, beauty, and firmness.

But although we may thus figure to ourselves the forms of oration and essay, yet these bounds are often overstepped; and we are not to suppose in such cases that this liberty may not be lawfully granted. There are some writers who have naturally so much vigour of thought, that they cannot confine themselves to the common form, but rise in their essays very near to the style of the oration. There are orators, on the contrary, who are not able to keep up the lofty and nervous character of the oration; but soften and temper it down by reducing it to the more gentle form of the essay. Even so the landscape is not always visited by sunbeams, nor does the stream always flow so softly. The tempest howls o'er the once bright scene, the trees roar with the wind, and for the murmuring of the rivulet is heard the sound of rushing waters. The wild scenes of nature also are not always terrific and imposing. Instead of the descending fury of the cataract, summer brings the dashing of the mild cascade, and the cloudcapp'd Olympus becomes beauteous as Mount Ida. The human character will very well illustrate the subject. Masculine energy is sometimes supplanted by feminine gentleness; and the mind of the female, in some instances, surpasses the common stature, and rises to the height and power of the male. But when the man sinks so much below the standard of his species that all traces of it are lost, then he is considered effeminate and disgusting: and when the woman so much forgets that delicacy and refinement, which is the charm of her sex, and attempts, in every action and thought, the bold forwardness and force of the man, she in her turn is looked upon as masculine and disagreeable. And thus we see, that although a moderate imitation, the one of the other, rather improves and beautifies each, yet when such imitation is extreme, it destroys every thing noble in the one, and all that is lovely in the other. Exactly the same relation do essay and oration bear to each other. When oration imitates too much, too often, or too long, the gentle style of the essay, it becomes petty and feeble; and when essay perpetually aspires to the lofty style of the oration it becomes rigid and bombast. Y. Z.

Ahorne, Derb.-W. Hoon;

OR,

Literary and Scientific Mirror.

UTILE DULCI."

Tais familiar Miscellany, from which religious and politicalmatters are excluded, contains a variety of original and selected Articles; comprehending Literature, Criticism, Men and Manners,
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No. 240.-VOL. V.

Natural History.

LETTERS

ON THE REVOLUTIONS of the globe.

BY M. ALEX. B.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1825.

Earthquakes are often felt during the period in which eruptions take place; sometimes the earth experiences no concussion at that time in this case the eruption is said to be tranquil.

As the distance of thunder is computed by the interval of time elapsing between the moment when the lightning La legère couche de vie, qui fleurit à la surface du globe, ne flashes, and that in which the noise of the explosion is

vre que des ruines.

Paris: printed, 1824. ·

heard, so it has been attempted to calculate the depth of volcanic foci by the time intervening between the eruption, Translated expressly for the Kaleidoscope from a recent French and the noise which precedes it. It does not appear that

Work.]

LETTER V.-CONTINUATION OF VOLCANOES.

I will, Madam, repair the omission of which you accuse by defining, as exactly as I can, the terms which it be necessary for me to use, in the observations I have to make respecting volcanoes.

By volcano is meant, sometimes the receptacle in ich eruptions are prepared, sometimes the mountain duced by them, and often both the mountain and eptacle.

The focus is the receptacle containing the volcanic matwhen in a state of incandescence, and the causes which ve reduced it to that state.

very positive results have been obtained by this means:
the facts ascertained tend, however, to prove, that the
depth must be immense.

Lavas are the principal productions ejected in volcanic
eruptions; they are metallic substances in a state of fusion;
they are viscous, and incandescent, and, when they issue
from the crater, assume the form of a vast sheet of burning
liquid; they flow over the soil, overturning or burning
whatever interrupts their course, and advance with a ra-
pidity proportioned to the primitive impelling force, to the
inclination of the ground, and to the obstacles opposed to
their progress. According to the modifications of these
different circumstances, lavas are sometimes whole years
in advancing two or three leagues; at others they traverse
seven or eight leagues in twenty-four hours. The time
necessary to cool lavas is very variable: it is evident that
the proximity of marshy grounds, and the action of rains,
and currents of water of every kind, must accelerate this
process.

The chimney is the passage through which the vapours
during the eruptions, and after they have ceased.
The crater is the inverted cone which terminates the chim-
its structure is generally very complicated, because it
ves from every different eruption a new modification;
I never simple, except in mountains that have ex-
The surface of lavas becomes cold and hard much sooner
enced only one eruption. Such are to be found among than the interior, and it often happens that a current of
extinct volcanoes, as, for instance, those in France, incandescent matter is seen to issue from a mass of solid
the borders of the Rhine; all those, actually burn-lava; sometimes, also, when the surface is perfectly cold,
have undergone several explosions.

the matter of the internal part is discovered, through the
ry eruption occasions a new crater, surrounded by crevices of the exterior, to be still in a burning state.
ight elevation, formed of the lava, and other inco-
It is very important to observe, that it is as impossible
at matter thrown out before the eruption takes place, to ascertain the state of a current of lava by the surfaces
it is over, and in the period of its duration. Vesu-presented to the air, as it is to judge of a metal in fusion,
and Etna present striking instances of the compli- by the scioria which cover it.
of form thus produced; in the latter, the principal
iney generally remains undisturbed, whilst an erup-
takes place towards the bottom of the mountain. The
e phenomenon has been observed at Teneriffe, and in
By other places.

The symptoms that precede the eruptions of Vesuvius e been particularly observed. As this mountain is ated in a country which has, for many ages, been inited by an enlightened people, there have always been ad men of observation, who have taken care to give an et description of the phenomena they witnessed. When a new eruption is about to take place, there is erally an increase of the vapours discharged from the tral chimney, the earth is agitated by slight shocks, Subterraneous noises are heard; mineral waters are rupted, springs of fresh water become muddy, wells nge their level, and are sometimes entirely dried up; ally, a disengagement of carbonic acid is often remarked cellars, and other places under ground.

Eruptions of lava are generally succeeded by a very slow and gradual discharge of vapours, which, though not abundant, are corrosive, and disengage a considerable quantity of sulphur.

Much more intense vapours result from the trituration of lavas, which, when reduced to very fine dust, by being forcibly driven through the air form what are called volcanic ashes, and cover the horizon with so thick a cloud, that all the space beneath it is involved in utter darkness. The winds transport volcanic ashes to very remote distances, and often with the greatest rapidity. This will not appear astonishing, if we consider that the wind sometimes moves at the rate of a hundred and thirty-two feet in a second, that is to say, twenty-nine leagues an hour, and seven hundred leagues in twenty-four hours, if it blew, during all that time, in the same direction, and with the same violence.

A large quantity of muddy water is sometimes seen to

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issue from the mountain, during an eruption; but, as you may imagine, Madam, there is no reason why we should believe that mud and water enter into the composition of volcanic matter. This circumstance is easily explained, since it is known, that the cavities of volcanic mountains often inclose vast collections of water. When the surrounding soil is forced away, this water will necessarily escape, carrying along with it clods of earth and stone, and sometimes the fish that subsisted within it. M. de Humboldt has observed this phenomenon, and has described the fish ejected from the sides of the mountain.

There is another phenomenon, which assumes the form of an aquatic eruption, still more likely to lead us into error than the one I have just described. It often happens, if eruptions take place at a time when the atmosphere is much charged with humidity, that the burning air, issuing from the crater, dissolves that humidity, and causes it to ascend to the upper regions of the air; the water then being condensed, falls down in torrents, which drag along with them, to immense distances, the earth and stones of the mountain. As the crater is enveloped in obscurity, it might easily be supposed that these torrents are ejected from it.

It is not unusual to see eruptions, which occasion no discharge of lava. When that happens, the volcanic mountain generally experiences a complete change of form, and a very perceptible diminution of its height. Among the Andes, mountains have been known to lose a fifth or a sixth part of their elevation; but in this case, the matter, withdrawn from the summit, was added to the

base.

There are sub-marine volcanoes, as well as sub-marine earthquakes. Instances of these are known in the sea near Iceland, in the Grecian Archipelago. Their existence is incontestable, and their eruptions, like those that take place upon the continent, are accompanied by the discharge of vapours, and by concussions of the earth. We are little acquainted with the other phenomena attending them, on account of the difficulty of observing them. A fact, important to be observed, is, that all volcanoes, hitherto known, are seated upon the primitive soil; this is invariably the case, with respect as well to ancient volcanoes, as to those which are still burning; the alluvial soil, when found in volcanic mountains, is always placed above the layers of lava, so that it must evidently have been the result of an order of things subsequent to the