"I cannot resist presenting It will hardly be believed, the public with a drinking but it is true, that this drinksong, composed one morning, ing song, which the writer canor perhaps one evening, after not resist "presenting the public with," as being written by Lord Byron one morning, or perhaps one evening (conscientious alternative) after one of our dinners at Pisa, was presented to the public just as far back as 1809. The song is printed in a volume of miscellanies, edited by Mr. Hobhouse, to which Lord. Byron was acontributor,under the signature L. B. If this be not sufficient to stamp the true character of these Conversations, perhaps the next specimen may; it is, if possible, more astonishing.

Who does not know that this famous speech, which the tremblest-'tis with age, then.' Conversation-writer made his -which I am accused of Lord Byron say was made in borrowing from Otway, was the OLD BAILEY-was uttered taken from the Old Bailey by "Bailly," the Mayor of PaProceedings. Some Judges ris, on his way to the scaffold? observed to the witness, That the real Lord Byron "Thou tremblest;" "Tis should make so ludicrous a with cold, then," was the re- blunder is morally impossible. ply.'-p. 209.

Mr. Murray has already shown that Lord Byron could not have made this statement. For that Captain Medwin did "My differences with Mur- not witness the deed alluded ray are not over. When he pur- to, and that the deed, when chased Cain, the two Foscari, inspected, was found to conand Sardinapalus, he sent me tain no such condition as that a deed which you may remem- mentioned by the Conversaber witnessing. Well, after its tion writer. The publisher return to England, it was dis- was more sagacious than the covered that it contained a writer, and would not insert clause which had been introduced the passage in Italics which without my knowledge, a clause contained a statement so easily by which I bound myself to offer contradicted, but he gave them Mr. Murray all my future comcompositions."-p. 258.

but he must have something to do with it. At last, find-
ing his immediate neighbourhood too confined for the
exercise of his talents, and that the people wanted spirit
to enter into his schemes, he determined to try a wider
field, and turned his attention to objects of national im-
portance. If I am not mistaken, many of his proposals
were submitted to the ministry of the day; and, though
he was equally unsuccessful with them, as he had been
with his country friends, he still kept projecting away,

It has long been desirable that the Liverpool musical pro-till, in the latter part of his life, the mania increased to tion should form an association or society for the greater such a degree, that many of his relations considered him couragement of music in general. Liverpool is commonly as somewhat insane; but, as he was exceedingly mild id to be inimical to the science that hath charms to and amiable in his disposition, and, moreover, when the oth the savage breast," to be conspicuously illiberal in fit was on him, secluded himself from society, by shutting atronage of this branch of the fine arts. This, it is to be himself up in his study, never disturbing them unless his ped, is more severe than just. Allowing it to be true, stock of ink or paper ran short, they took no further us endeavour to remedy the evil by removing the cause. notice of, and placed no further restraint upon, his e know, that to secure our attachment to an object, it is actions, than by preventing the publication of those plans cessary that it be frequently presented to our notice, for which he had laboured so much to digest, contented, as ithout frequent and direct appeals to the passions, they they said, with preventing the world from knowing they come callous and indifferent. How then can we rea- had a madman in the family. nably expect, that a lively admiration and consequent ronage of the science of sweet sounds should exist with sons who have so few opportunities of hearing them? have, it is true, eight or nine public concerts in a year, th are so arranged, that for six months we have nearly tal cessation of music again. As these concerts engage 7 established and eminent characters, they afford little xuragement to our local talent. By introducing to the c, candidates for suffrage, in immediate conjunction wich those whose fame is established, is more likely to area means of evil than otherwise. They are, under circumstances, rendered so insignificant as to be little for by the public, and most probably feeling too ly the indifference shown them, lose altogether the lus that should prompt them to persevere in the culon of their own talents. This is one evident reason ve so few eminent musical characters amongst us; the propagation of a science in a great measure deon the abilities of its teachers, hence one cause why

Thucic is at such a low ebb.

e prospectus of the Philharmonic Society presents an tremedy for these great evils; it is intended as the for introducing our local talent to the public the most favourable circumstances. Instrumental has lately been much neglected, at least that fine fit under the head of trios, quartetts, septetts, &c.; he Philharmonic propose particularly to attend to. lso offer the amateur subscribers an opportunity asionally joining them, an object exceedingly deand as their concerts are to be held monthly, we longer experience the ill effects of our annual vaTo conclude:-as we are certain to enjoy such ages from this establishment, we shall do well rt it unanimously; and when it is found that Lican establish concerts of its own members, it will se the opprobrious epithet of being "an unmusical

PHILHARMONICUS.

THE MANCHESTER BUBBLE.

his is the patent age of new inventions."-Don Juan. TO THE EDITOR.

In the house of some friends of mine in the F, where I was in the habit of visiting when a there resided an old gentleman, a relation of the who being in easy circumstances, and having nothing to do on his own account, was enabled ote a great part of his time to the "good of the He was a great projector, and was constantly g some scheme or other for the improvement or ent of the estates or grounds of his neighbours. village, where he lived, he was to be consulted on little alteration or improvement that took place; pigstye was removed, or a duck-pond filled up,

distant parts of the world. But this is not all; for I have
just heard that it is in contemplation to engage the large
which by a conjunction with the larger one, that will
ship Columbus to take goods across the Atlantic Ocean,
arrive at this port next spring, they will be enabled to
take more goods than all the packet-ships combined.
Surely nothing but the efforts of superior genius could
operations of a canal; a plan that will fix the fame of
have associated such magnificent grandeur in the simple
Manchester on a pinnacle of glory that will defy the
deteriorating hand of time, and render her the wonder
of the world. From a contemplation of this unknown
greatness, what true patriot but must feel an inward
thrill of delight, even on the bare suspicion that he can
and thus become enrolled amongst those worthies who
add his intellectual mite to this stupendous undertaking;
have conferred so much glory on the country. Impressed
with this sentiment, I shall not withhold what I think
will render this wonder-working plan complete.
giants, say the Columbus, of 4000 tons register, to be
Let us, Mr. Editor, suppose that one of these nautical
loaded at the Manchester quay, and then imagine her to
be attached to a steam-boat, impelled by one of Perkins's
patent steam-engines, which, at a moderate calculation,
will waft her across the Atlantic in twelve or fourteen days,
nations of matter and motion that ever blest the eyes of
and you will mentally behold one of the grandest combi-
an admiring world. My pleasure would have been still
further increased, if time would have permitted me to
point out all the advantages and splendour that would be
added to navigation, by erecting a few large gas lamps at
cendant geniuses, like the first projectors of this ship canal,
the top of the steam-boat; but to a combination of trans-
a hint is sufficient; for every possible good must be em-
braced in their instructive glance of the subject, and by
their depth of thought converted into practical utility.
Yours,
A FIRM WELL-WISHER TO THE PROSPERITY
OF MANCHESTER.

Liverpool, Feb. 8, 1825.

The old man has now been long dead, but by chance most of his papers came into my possession. When I looked them over, some years ago, I was much amused at their wild visionary nature, and thought the opinion entertained of him by his relations pretty correct; but, when I consider the many schemes that are now on foot, in which difficulties that would have been insuperable to our ancestors are considered as scarcely worth while taking into account-having just seen the advertisement of a company for the formation of a canal from the river Dee to Manchester, for vessels of 400 tons burden, and hearing it also whispered that there is likely to be another company formed for the purpose of making a cominu. nication between Liverpool and the Isle of Man, by means of a tunnel rail-road, I began to think some of the TO THE EDITOR. old gentleman's plans highly feasible, and that it a pity SIR,-Your correspondents in the Kaleidoscope, Messrs. his labours should be lost to the world: I, therefore, take Moonshine and Co. appear to me to be very blameable in this opportunity of mentioning one of his projects to you, may arise out of the subscription lately entered into at making light of the very serious consequences that possibly about the success of which he was very sanguine, and Manchester, for the purpose of forming a ship canal for shall, perhaps, gradually bring the others before the vessels of 400 tons burthen to the river Dee. Now, Sir, public; it was the formation of an embankment across whatever your said correspondents may think of it, I have the Irish Sea, from Holyhead to Howth-head, near Dub- begun to show themselves in the good old town of Liverbeen told that already very alarming symptoms have lin, taking in the Isle of Man, and leaving passages for pool. A great many of the travelling ship-brokers on the vessels at certain intervals, so that the trade of Liverpool Custom-house steps have made arrangements for an early should not be injured. His calculations and memoranda establishment in Manchester; and an eminent house in on this subject fill about three quires of paper, and, if that line has already engaged several boats with four rudyou wish, I will send them to you to copy. He proposes very respectable establishments near the docks, that disders each, to ply about the Point of Ayr. Several of the to provide materials by levelling the Carnarvonshire play in front of their houses the entertaining sign **Cookand Wicklow mountains, and enlarges much on the ing for shipping," have given notice to quit; and a tall benefits likely to arise from the barren mountains of those thin lady, that supplies many ships with vegetables, ducks counties being turned into fertile plains. He also dwells and fools (query, fowls ?) is said to entertain ideas of emigood deal upon the benefits to be derived from the closegration; though, from what has transpired latterly, the connexion it will make between England and Ireland, supply of the last article must already be abundant in that neighbourhood. when, as he says, there will be nothing to separate them. It is said that the Board of Customs in London is quite It will be useless now to go into particulars; but, if you overpowered with applications for Danpool tide waiters and think the project likely to meet with encouragement, I Custom-house officers, as it will require a few regiments will arrange a meeting with you, when we can draw up hope Messrs. Moonshine and Co. will, in future, restrain of these forces to see the cargoes safe to Manchester. I proposals, and fix the capital required, after getting a their ill-timed mirth, as it certainly will be no laughing survey and estimate made by some engineer of ability. matter to poor Liverpool. With due deference to your opinion, I think the present time highly favourable, as our good Sovereign and his ministers seem anxious to unite the two countries as closely as possible, and would, therefore, sanction the undertaking. I am, Sir, yours, respectfully, Liverpool, Feb. 7, 1825.

a

PHILO FLIM-FLAM.

TO THE EDITOR.

SIR, We live in an age of wonders, and each new national project, that promises our country an increase of wealth, must be hailed by every patriot as the harbinger of still greater prosperity. Various are the schemes now under consideration for our national good; but there is passes all the others. It must be obvious that I allude one plan announced which for depth of penetration surto the plan for uniting Manchester with the ocean, and enabling ships to take in goods at that port for the most

I now beg leave to trouble you with a suggestion or two to the originators of this grand scheme, to which, by-thedown last Saturday, at Manchester, for five shares, and bye, I understand a Liverpool merchant put his name paid his five pounds!! Their views are too confined: instead of stopping at Dampool, they ought at once to go to Carnarvon Bay. What a happy thing it would have been if this canal had been finished a few months ago; it would have saved many cargoes and lives. I am also afraid, that, owing to their great modesty, they have not fixed the amount of their capital large enough. I understand the Duke's canal cost about £1,200,000. Now, Sir, as this canal is only intended for flats of a common size, it will be a curious calculation to find out the sum required for a canal, intended for the greatest flats ever heard of.-Yours, truly,

TRIM.

things in English are called oars.
for them.

Our correspondent is perhaps not aware that these
Ruder is the German word

our author is a pun on the city of Cork. "I like Cat
Particularly," says Lord Lofthouse; " Bottle, you mus
rejoins Mr. Biggs. He might have added, "and
contents of a bottle better than bottle or cork." Sam
crowding of the scene they occasion, the two Aunts
Sir Lionel are three very useless, insipid persons;
withou
wit themselves, or the redeeming merit of occasioning sit
in others: of which character, in some measure, are t
descendant of Ballinocrazy and the gentleman of H
raoh's lean kind. But with judicious pruning, an
tive, well-arranged stage-business, under the emenda
auspices of a skilful artist, and, to use a modern man
rial phraseology, with the characters by the
Mr. Ryley's comedy become what is denominated a stock
strength of the company," we should not despair of st
piece-a play of occasional representation in the routine
of a season, though wholly borrowed, as the Irish Ci
unquestionably is, from Cecilia.
7th February.

GRATUITOUS SUPPLEMENT. In consequence of an accumulation
of interesting communications, and to compensate the
neral reader for the inroads made on our columns, by
musical department, we shall next week presenterraden
with a Supplement, in which we hope to introde an
ginal letter on the effects of the reformation
and manners-Original letter of B. on extinguiling fre
-Original letter of W. on inebriety-Observater, Sa
Hamilton's letter in defence of his system-Interesting
vice respecting warm and vapour bathing-Interesti
periment on locomotive machines.

these bagatelles, we do not think we shall purse
la Bagatelle department beyond next week, whe
introduce a few with which we have been f
O. N.-W. W. C. C.

RAIL-ROADS AND MECHANICAL PARADOX. We this we
sent to our readers three other letters on the ma
position, lately advanced, respecting the a
tion of bodies moving on a horizontal plane
we shall give in defence of the paradox the reCA
who complains that 4. B. T. misundersta
presents him. Along with C. C. E.'s, lett
troduce an article on the subject from the

Guardian, describing an actual experiment may
Roberts, a very able and ingenious mechanie.
trated by an engraving; and, as far as we have be
to gather from a rapid glance, it appears confirmatary

Tals familiar Miscellany, from which religious and political matters are excluded, contains a variety of original and selected Articles: comprehending Literature, Criticism, Men and Manne: s Amusement, Elegant Extracts, Poetry, Anecdotes, Biography, Meteorology, the Drama, Arts and Sciences, Wit and Satire, Fashions, Natural History, &c. &e. forming a handsome Annua Volume, with an Index and Title-page.-Its circulation renders it a most eligible medium for Literary and Fashionable Advertisements.-Regular supplies are forwarded weekly to the Agents.

No. 243.-VOL. V.

LETTERS

ON THE REVOLUTIONS OF THE GLOBE.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22. 1825.

of the matter transported by the waters, or deposited by | them, and by volcanic eruptions. We still see the most recent parts of this soil gradually formed above the ancient layers, by the decomposition or crumbling of mountains, La legère couche de vie, qui fleurit à la surface du globe, ne and by the action of rivers, which deposit the earthy mat

BY M. ALEX. B.

couvre que des ruines.-Paris: printed, 1824.

Translated expressly for the Kaleidoscope from a recent French work.

LETTER VII.

OF THE MINERAL CRUST of the globe.

ter held by them in a state of suspension'.

All circumstances concur, as you must have seen,
Madam, to make us regard the internal mass of the earth
an enormous collection of metallic matter, melted by
eat; nevertheless, however conclusive may appear the
guments in support of this opinion, which I have had
e honour of suggesting to you, we shall still be com-
lled to acknowledge, that we can merely form conjec-depth.
res on this subject, and that we shall, without doubt,
wer be able to confirm, by direct observation, the facts
which reason induces us to admit the probability. This
not the case with respect to the mineral crust, which
ay be considered as the shell which envelopes the earth.
this we know at least, by direct and easy observation,
superficial part, to the depth of fifteen or eighteen hun-
red fathoms. If we could carry our researches no further,
his portion would certainly be very small, compared with
total bulk of the spheroid, or even with that of the
tineral crust, which is probably fifteen or twenty leagues
thickness; but the revolutions experienced by the
obe have furnished geologists with much more exten-
ve means of investigation.

We may in fact easily be convinced, that the mountains led primitive, that is to say, the most ancient and the st elevated, are not formed by a more considerable cumulation of the superficial layers of the mineral crust, tby a new position of all the layers found in a depth of equal to their height; so that the knowledge of the mposition of a mountain, elevated four thousand fathoms ove the level of the sea, is equivalent to that which Fuld result from an examination, by means of artificial cavations, of the different layers of which the soil is nposed to the depth of four thousand fathoms. Opportunities of exploring the mineral crust are also mished to geologists by earthquakes, whose violent conssions have often overturned, and thrown into a nearly arizontal position, immense masses of the soil, and thus fought to the surface of the earth layers, which their tural depth would, without doubt, have long concealed o our researches. By means similar to these, geologists Ive been enabled to acquire a very satisfactory acquaintice with the nature of the soil, to the depth of several agues. Finally, volcanoes, by forcing up substances om the interior of the soil, without causing them to ndergo any change, afford a method of investigation, ading to a certain knowledge of the truth.

The mineral crust is divided into two parts: first, the rimitive soil, which is supposed to have covered the pheroid from the most remote antiquity; secondly, the luvial soil, or soil of deposition, which, being more suerficial than the former, envelopes it in all its extent. It has been thus called, because it is principally composed

PRICE 3d

should see it agitated by movements, still more frequent and violent: these must be favoured by its state of burning liquidity, and by the vacancies which eruptions cannot fail, in the course of time, to occasion in its interior. I shall not speak of the action of magnetism, by which it is most probably incessantly agitated. Thus, all the matter of this globe, which, at first, appears to us in a perfectly quiescent state, is really in motion, and undergoing continual changes.

The mineral crust does not bear the character of an individual mass entirely produced by the same cause; it is, on the contrary, composed of a very considerable number of layers, which are evidently the result of successive I shall not here give you the names of the rocks which operations. These layers differ from each other in thick compose the layers of the primitive soil, as far as the ness, in their composition and in the nature of the pro-depths to which we have been able to penetrate; they ductions which they inclose. To give you an idea of their would merely present you with a barbarous jargon, withnumber, it will suffice to tell you, that these, more than out impressing any idea in your mind. I must, however, ten metres thick, are thought to exceed the usual dimen- make one exception in favour of the most important rock sion, and that the mineral crust, which is composed of of this soil; I mean granite, with which you are certainly their united mass, is probably fifteen or twenty leagues in acquainted, since it is so commonly used in our country, where it is vulgarly called pierre de granite. Here, the The layers of the primitive soil differ from those of the stumps placed along walls are generally made of this stone, alluvial soil, and the soil of deposition, not only in the so well adapted for that purpose, by its hardness and duragreater density of their contexture, and their more con- bility; but it is not used for building, on account of the siderable thickness, but also in their situation. They are high price at which it is sold, and of the difficulty of hewgenerally placed more horizontally, and preserve, in a ing it. Almost all the public and private monuments in greater extent, a parallel position with respect to each Brittany are constructed of granite, both because it may other; they are also less frequently observed to diminish there be procured at a moderate price, and because the progressively in thickness, or entirely to disappear in cer- want of a softer kind of stone in that province does not tain places. The layers of the primitive soil are, for the allow to the inhabitants the liberty of choice. In a great most part, composed of matter much harder than that of part of our province, the primitive soil is found almost the alluvial soil, and the soil of deposition, and to them bare; a circumstance naturally leading us to conclude particularly belongs the name of rock, taken in its usual that this spot has been exempt from the different inundaacceptation. This word is commonly used to denote tions of the sea, which, as we shall shortly see, have elsemineral substances of hard and heavy contexture, but in where formed the greatest part of the alluvial soil. works on geology, it designates the matter composing a layer, whatever it may be, even if it were clay, or sand. The manner in which the formation of the layers of the primitive soil was effected, is a question not yet resolved by geologists. Some consider it as the result of the crystallization of the most superficial parts of the spheroid, when it began to grow cold; those who adopt this opinion, are designated by the name of Vulcanists, or Plutonists. Others, on the contrary, suppose that these layers were formed in the seas, by the precipitation of matter, whose constituent parts were held by them in a state of solution.

With respect to the origin of the layers of alluvial soil, there is only one opinion; every body agrees in considering them to have been formed by the waters.

Granite is the most ancient stone ever seen in the place, originally assigned to it by nature; it lies beneath all the other layers, and is also found in the most elevated places, where it forms the central ridges of most of the great chains of mountains. It is there generally found bare; layers of posterior formation are seen only lower down, placed on the sides of the mountain, in the order in which the sea has deposited them. We might be induced to consider granite as forming the nucleus, or ground-work of the whole mineral crust.

I find, Madam, that I have already several times attributed the formation of the different layers of the alluvial soil to the presence of the sea in the places now forming the surface of our continents. You are, perhaps, curious to know upon what reasons I ground this opinion, the correctness of which is now no longer disputed by men, whose judgment upon this subject may be relied upon. I will do what I can to satisfy your curiosity.

It would be very erroneous to suppose, that the different parts of the globe are in a state of permanent tranquillity. Although the layers of the mineral crust are not incessantly agitated, like the liquid and gaseous subWhen excavations are made in a flat country, in order stances upon its surface (the air and the water) they are to study the composition of its soil, it is, as I have already nevertheless almost continually modified, displaced, and told you, found to consist of a succession of layers placed consumed by the process of composition, and of decom-horizontally, and parallel with each other. These layers position, by the disturbance arising from springs situated at very great depths, and particularly by earthquakes. There is no part of the mineral crust which has not thus been more or less violently agitated at different times, and from all these different movements have resulted the modifications of which we have spoken. If we could penetrate far enough into the interior of the globe, to reach the internal mass, there is every reason to believe that we

are composed of various kinds of matter, and, for the most part, inclose the remains of marine bodies, fish bones, and particularly an innumerable quantity of shells, which sometimes constitute the whole mass of the soil to a very great depth. These remains of marine bodies are generally so well preserved, that it is impossible to entertain the least doubt respecting their nature. They are found in the hardest stones, as well as in sand, or soft

"There are, in these groups, several teeth, evidently worn away: now, how could they have been worn away, if they had not been used? Some of the shells also are bruised; which would not be the case, if they had been formed in the stone. Others are broken into several pieces, which, upon being joined together, are found to conform in shape. Parts of the sea-urchin form different petrifactions, which, when they are united, render the animal complete.

Earths; and they are situated at depths where, certainly, be in all parts the same, but the enamel is harder than the
men could never have placed them. Voltaire, who interior, and the colour varies. If they were formed in
always indignantly refuted all arguments adduced to sup- the stone, it must be either by a gradual growth, or all at
port the belief of religious traditions, fearing, without once; but, if they became larger by degrees, they would
doubt, that the existence of these shells, which were meet, in the hardness of the stone, an obstacle to their
already much spoken of in his time, should be construed increase. On the contrary, we cannot suppose that they
into a confirmation of the universal deluge, endeavoured are originally produced in their full size, because that
to prove that they had been lost, at the period when pil-would be contrary to the rules of nature, who, in all her
grimages were in fashion, by men who brought them to works, advances progressively.
Europe, upon their return from the Holy Land. It is
needless in the present day, as you will perceive, to take
the trouble of showing the absurdity of this opinion.
Voltaire displays his ignorance of matters of this kind
when he speaks of these beds of shells as if they had been
snall collections, like the heaps of oyster-shells thrown
before doors; since they are sometimes found in banks of
a hundred or two hundred leagues in extent. In Tou-
raine, there exists a mass of land of 130,000,680 cubic
fathoms in bulk, almost entirely composed of shells, Besides, the rough edges of these pieces of shells evi-
whole or broken. The peasants of the neighbouring dis-dently show, that they must have been broken; because,
tricts dig them from the ground, and use them to fer- if they were complete, and in the state in which nature
tilize their fields. These shells are all placed horizontally, had originally produced them, all their external parts
like those found at the bottom of the sea; therefore, to would be perfectly smooth and round. When nature pro-
all, who have witnessed this phenomenon, it is evident duces an animal without an arm, or a leg, the extremity
that the waters of the sea have been extended over La to which the limb wanting would have been affixed, is
Touraine, where they must have formed a gulf, at a certainly not in the same state as if that limb had been
time much anterior to the most remote periods of which separated from it by some accident; it is covered with skin,
we have any historical record.
and smooth like the rest of the body.

This opinion is so well grounded, and now so unanimously adopted, that if I did not consider myself bound to mention to you all the different ideas formed on the subject, I should not speak to you of the hypothesis, which attributes the formation of these marine productions in the bosom of the earth, to an irregular action of the creative powers of nature: it is founded upon this futile reason, that the exterior of most of the shells found in a fossile state resembles, in colour, the stones in which they are inclosed. The author of a work, printed in 1749, has, in answer to a writer anterior to himself, very satisfactorily refuted this opinion, although the knowledge of these facts was then new and very limited. I doubt whether or not I should make myself as well understood as he has done, and shall therefore adopt the convenient plan of transcribing for you some pages of his work.

"As these shells are composed of pellicles laid over one another, it is natural, that at all times, but particularly after the death of the fish, they should imbibe some of the ooze, slime, or sand, in which they are buried, and that they should assume its colour. Besides, they are distinguished from the substance of the stones that inclose them, by a vitriolic matter upon their surface, and by a smoothness, which causes them easily to be separated. If they are soaked for some time in water, they no longer remain in a state of petrifaction, and, in son.e degree, lose the colour which they had contracted. It is therefore evident, that these shells, bones, and teeth of fish, are real marine bodies.

Woodward, an English author, has, since the publication of Scilla's work, composed a treatise, to prove that most of the petrifactions found in the small island of Malta, are the teeth of a fish, called the sea-dog. There is a singular group, engraved in the dissertation of Scilla, containing a petrified jaw bone, which still retains three teeth of this kind. The author thence concludes that the teeth found detached from their jaw bone, and inserted in stones, have the same origin as these. Some of them have fangs, others are without; some, also, are still covered with enamel, in others a part of it is wanting.

"If these teeth, says Scilla, were productions proceeding from the stone itself, their substance and colour would

palc

century, the protection afforded to them by the noble
houses in Italy, and the monarchs of the rest of Europe
the high condition of Gothic architecture, the rise of
ing, and the other arts under Cimabue and his country.
men, and the poetical celebrity of Dante, Petrarch,
Chaucer. Not having Mr. Southey's work immediate's
by me. I will not pretend to say that Mr. Butler's ase
tion with respect to that author is incorrect. That
Southey himself believes the revival of letters to be
tirely owing to the reformers can hardly be supposed.
Whatever his other deficiencies may be, he possesses goo
much learning and information to entertain such an idea
if he has wilfully endeavoured to lead his readers to draw
such an inference, he can only be said to have acted with
great disingenuousness.
Whoever the “most other

writers" may be, their conduct has proceeded from ignorance, or from an intention to deceive; in the latter case, every man of honest feelings will at once condens, them. But does not Mr. Butler know, that no Protestant author of talents and candour ever held an opinion on this subject different from his own Sismondi, Roscoe, and a host of equally conspicuous names might be adduced in afirma. tion. Indeed the Protestants have not only never decisi the previous revival of literature, but on the contrary t regarded it as one of the causes which produced the Rev. mation. "The enlarged conceptions acquired by the ame of the Greek and Roman writers," observes the clone Warton, seem to have restored to the human "Some of these groups contain representations of the free exertion of its native operations, and to have commo spawn of shell fish, in the different stages of their pro-ricated a certain spirit of enterprise in examining rev gress. There are also amongst them corals and skins of subject; and at length to have released the inter serpents in great numbers. One of the most curious is capacity of mankind from that habitual subjec that which represents a lobster holding between its claws that servility to system, which had hitherto p a shell-fish already half crushed. Could mere chance, from advancing any new principle or adopting new says the author, have produced so perfect an imitation of opinion. Hence, under the concurrent assistedi a what is every day passing in the sea between the species preparation of circumstances, all centering in the sam of the lobster, and that of the small shell fish upon which period, arose the reformation of religion." (H. E. P. t it feeds. Finally, there is, among these groups, a shell, 3, p. 266, 8vo. edit. Mosh. v. 4, p. 9) containing the animal itself in a state of petrifaction; an incontestable proof that it must have lived there."

Scilla, the author who proved in so conclusive a manner the marine origin of the shells found in the interior of the earth, and upon the summit of the highest mountains, endeavours to explain the cause of their presence there by means of an hypothesis, which needs only to be made known, that its absurdity may be perceived.

He supposes that there are subterranean passages, by means of which the sea communicates with every part of the earth; that the spawn of fish, having been carried along these passages, are deposited in the interior of the earth, where they are afterwards developed. I repeat that it would be ridiculous, in the present day, to attempt seriously to prove, first, that these pretended canals do not exist; then, even if they should exist, how impossible it is that the spawn of fish, after having been conveyed to their extremities, could penetrate through mountains, rise to their summits, and, finally, that they should be alive when they have reached them.

Literature, Criticism, &c.

Mr. BUTLER'S OBSERVATIONS on the REFORMATION.
TO THE EDITOR.

If, by his remarks on the second part of the it "Was learning materially benefited by the Reformation Mr. Butler intends to say, as from one or two pange it would appear he does, that the civil dissentions, a wars, which attended its breaking out in the Gerne neighbouring states, as well as the troubles attenda the change in England and Scotland, prevented, dar their continuance, the material advancement of len;}}| have no hesitation in agreeing with him; but if he: that after these disturbances and this effervesenc passions subsided, learning did not materially fel beneficial effects of the Reformation, and continue t them each successive year, there are few, I think, not be disposed to call in question the justness of nion. Look at the state of letters in England inneñas previous and subsequent to the Reformation. A literature almost unbounded in its extent and ex shot up, as it were, in an instant, and the gl Elizabeth, when compared with that of Mar Henries, tells what the mind unfettered cand Geneva became at once the Athens of Europe,

and refuge of the most learned of the times, and the w Countries, having cleared themselves of the blaty of Spain, sent from their innumerable presses w have never been surpassed in importance, or in the e ence they exerted over the world at large. The SIR,-"Was the revival of letters owing to the Refor- acknowledge, were not the effects solely of the Reform mation, or materially forwarded by it?" Mr. Butler, in but without that event they would have been his examination of this fourth inquiry, commences with momentous nor so rapid. But, what may seem stran the following observations:-"The great advances which some Catholics, it was not the literature of the Pre were made in every branch of literature, both on the Conti-states alone that was materially benefited by the ret nent and in England previously to the Reformation, are that of Catholic countries was in certain branches a kept in the back-ground by yourself, and most other equally ameliorated. Is it too much to assert, tha writers against the Roman Catholic religion, so that the knowledge Mr. Butler himself possesses so exterisi generality of readers think that the revival of polite litera- ecclesiastical literature, is in great part owing to ture was entirely owing to the reformers; but justice formers? Let us hear the observations of a most should be done to our Catholic ancestors." He then takes Jesuit on the subject of the sacred studies" of a rapid view of the state of letters before the sixteenth tholics at the period of the reformation: "Cold and