former works. His performance, now before us, bears the ftamp of the rareft perfeverance; guided on one fide by an excellent fpirit of obfervation, he pursues nature itself; and on the other fide, confulting the writings of his predeceffors and contemporaries, he knows how to find out what has been overlooked, and to make use of what has been neglected. The prefent work forms a companion to that of 1787, which compared the animantia calidi fanguinis with the amphibia. Voyage à la Nitriere naturelle, qui fe trouve à Molfetta; or, A Tour to the natural Saltpetre-pit at Molfetta, in the territory of Bari in Apulia; by M. Zimmerman, Profelor of Mathematics, natural Philofophy, and natural Hiftory, at Brunfwick. 1789. 8vo. Paris. THIS is the first production of Profeffor Zimmerman's laft voyage through Holland, England, France, and Italy. A defcription of the natural falpetre-pit, near Molfetta, in Apulia, where more of them are faid to exift, certainly was worthy to be laid before the French academy of fciences; which has alfo fanctioned it, according to the extract of the regifters of the 27th August 1788, and caused it to be printed with its privilege. Mr Zimmerman proceeded on his journey from Naples, on the 29th of February, in company with the Abbot Fortis, Mr Hawkins, a learned English gentleman, and Mr Delfico, a Neopolitan nobleman. Mr Fortis first made government acquainted with this important difcovery, and the work is now carried on under his direction. Mr Hawkins made a drawing of the pit on the fpot; Mr Delfico likewife has a share in the discovery. They went by Avellino Ariano, the abode of the Troglodytes, above fix thousand inhabitants who have their grottos in the rocks, which ferve them as hou fes. The faltpetre-pit forms nearly a circular amphitheatre of fixteen hundred Neapolitan palmi in circumference, and one hundred and twenty-five palmi in depth. The falt-petre grows out of a calcareous ftone, but must be cleared of the marine falt. According to Prof. Vairo's analyfis, a cubical palmo of nitrous earth taken from the bottom, weighed twenty-three rotoli, twenty-one ounces, two hundred and eighty grains, and yielded twenty-four ounces nitre, and four ounces marine falt; yet the fame earth, after having been elixated, after a certain fpace of time, yields again faltpetre. Ueber das Verderbnifs der Luft— or, An Oration on the Corruption of the Air which we refpire, and its noxious Qualities to men; together with an eafy and expeditious Mode of purifying it, by Charles von Eckartfhaufen. 1788. 4to, Mun chen. IN this fpeech Mr von Eckartfhaufen has given us a pretty complete fummary of thofe things which corrupt the air, and the method of purifying it again. Among the means of purifying the air, or freeing it from its phlogiston, he chiefly recommends pointed bodies; and in this refers to the experiments of a profeffor at Turin, whom he does not name. He has likewise made experiments, which proved that a light furrounded by air, which had been corrupted by the breathing of a cat, would burn much longer in a glafs veffel, furnished with pointed bodies, than without them; and hence he proposes to free our rooms of corrupted air, by means of iron bars fixed to the ceiling, in a manner that one point of them fhould be directed to the room and the other to the open air, confequently they would become conductors of phlogisticated air. The The Queft of a Wife:-A Tale. TN the internal regions of Africa, if all ed with that fimplicity in drefs, equipage, of may be and appearance, believed, lies a country, populous, extenfive, and rich in the various gifts of nature. In this region, where no European foot, fince the adventurous Gaudentio di Lucca, ever has been able to penetrate, refide people, though not in the higheft ftate of civilifation, yet poffeffed of minds capable of every improvement. Among these was born Zoban, the hero of our tale, of a family though not noble, yet refpectable, and poffeffed of what in that country conftituted very confiderable opulence. Zoban had been educated at a diftance from the capital among fages eminent for virtue and knowledge, whofe inftruction and example had had their full force in forming his principles, difpofitions and character. With a heart not infenfible to the tender attachments and endearments of life, he was poffeffed of a found and cultivated understanding, tho' as yet but little acquainted with the fentiments and maxims of the world. By the unexpected death of his father, Zoban found himself when scarce entered upon manhood, in the poffeffion of wealth that would enable him to live in comfort and even fplendour. Unlike many of his countrymen, who in that remote region could boast of all the vices of more cultivated climates, our hero felt no inclination to plunge into diffipation and debauchery, but refolved at once to fettle in domeftic tranquillity, and for that end, wifhed to feek out a confort whofe congenial manners might at once fmooth and enliven his future years. In the retirement in which he had been brought up, female fociety was almoft unknown; he found therefore, that fuch a companion as he wished for, muft be fought elsewhere; and as he had heard by report of the fuperior accomplishments of the ladies of Gumala, the capital of the country, he haftened to that city, not doubting but among the numerous virgins that refided within its walls, many eligible companions for him might be found, Taught by the leffons of the fages to fet little value on riches and external fplendour, and concluding that the fentiments of others were fimilar, Zoban took care that his outfet in life, even in the gay city of Gumala, should be markVOL. XI. No. 61. I no oftentation was difplayed, no marks of affluence exhibited in his ftyle of living. By the attention of those to whom he had been introduced, he found admiffion into feveral of the most brilliant and fafhionable circles, and thought at firft that fame had not deceived him in extolling the graces, the accomplishments and the beauty of the ladies of the capital. Our hero foon perceived with fatisfaction, that with all their charms the damfeis of Gumula were not inacceffible and inexorable divinities, but affable and condefcending to most of the youths that courted their notice. With the natural defire of gaining their favour, and the additional motive of felecting from among them a companion for life, he attempted to mingle in their fociety, engage in their converfation, and partake of their attention. But here he failed; the plainnefs of his drefs conveyed the idea of poverty, the fimplicity of his manners and obfervations furprised and difgufted the ladies, accustomed to the elegance of a city education. Coldness and difdain were the only returns that Zoban met with. 66 "What creature is "this?" cried one of them, "come among us, with a complexion fo black and ugly?" for a country refidence had increated its natural darkness. "I know 66 not," faid another, "but fuppofe he is "fome he-cub, whom his dam has fent "from the plough, to be licked into "hape in the capital." "The fellow," faid a young mifs, "might at leaft "have tried to drefs like a gentleman, "before he ventured to come near us.' "It could have been to no purpose," rejoined an old maid, "drefs how he "would, his manners will always mark "him out for a clown." Agreeably to thefe notions, Zoban found himself treated; if he ventured to pay a compli ment to a lady, the eyed him from head to foot, turned afide to her companions, and burft into laughter. If he offered his hand to conduct one to her feat, the drew it back, as if he had been in danger of touching a ferpent. If he requested the honour of dancing with another, with a contemptuous glance she told him fhe was engaged. Difgufted at this treatment, Zoban was about about to leave the capital for ever, determined to look elsewhere for a fuitable confort; but while he meditated his retreat, one of the followers of the fafhionable circles, to whom his connections and fituation were known, acci dentally mentioned one day the extent of his fortune, and gave a hint of the bufinefs on which he was vifiting the capital. The intelligence fpread with great rapidity, and the refpectability of Zoban increased in proportion. The young ladies remarked with wonder, how much the dinginefs of his complexion had been foftened by a fhort refidence in Gumala; and in his manners and addrefs how furprisingly he was improved; the plainnefs of his dress intimated the dignity of his mind, and the fimplicity of his remarks was a proof either of wifdom or of wit. Parents who had marriageable daughters folicited his acquaintance, and married ladies who had younger fifters expreffed the happinefs they would receive from his vifits. Zoban moft readily attributed all this change to the approbation bestowed on his character and conduct, the coldness of his first reception he afcribed to prudence, unwilling to repofe too much confidence in a ftranger, and present cordiality he received as the fincereft teftimony of his merit. Thus pleafed with himfelf, and charmed with the females of Gumala, he began ferioufly to look around among his numerous acquaintances, to find one with whom he might hope to form a happy and comfortable union. The first that occurred to him, as a fit object of his choice, was Damuha, a female not deficient in grace and accomplishments, but chiefly diftinguished for the nobility of her birth; her great grandfather having, it is faid, been head-cook to the first emperor of Gumala. In converfation with her, Zoban one day was fpeaking with warmth of the diftinguifhed virtues and active benevolence of one of the fages among whom he had been educated. "Of what family is he?" faid Damuha coldly. "His father," replied "Zoban, was a poor and honest farmer, and the fon rofe to reputation by his own merit alone." "thought," cried fhe fcornfully, "he muft be fome low creature, as I never heard of him before; I find he is one whom nobody knows." "By no means, Madam;" interrupted Zoban," he is well known to many people in the neighbourhood where he + "I "He may "refides, and is univerfally reckoned a "bleffing to the place.' "be known," faid Damuha, "to fome, "but it is only to vulgar folks, among "whom for my part I defire neither ac"quaintance nor connection." "Even "the nobleft, Madam, might be proud "of the acquaintance of men of merit." "Indeed, Sir, you are much mistaken; we may fometimes condescend to take "notice of them, when their fortune "is convenient for us, but as they can 66 never fuppofe themselves our equals, "the richest among them muft always "keep at a humble diftance from thofe "of high life, and even count it an ho"nour, if one of us fhould deign to make "ufe of that opulence which vulgar fouls want tafte to enjoy." If fo, thought Zoban, I should be finely matched with fuch a partner, who would do me the honour to ruin my eftate, and all the while regard me as an inferior being. He quickly took leave of Damuha and refolved never to feek a wife among high-born damfels. The next that attracted his particular attention was Lemouri. Her beauty, as beauty in that country was deemed, furpaffed most of her companions, and had the advantage of being fet off with a drefs always difpofed in the most just and elegant tafte; her livelinefs and gaiety were confpicuous wherever fhe entered. Zoban was ftruck with these fplendid qualifications, and willingly joined the crowd of her admirers. On the evening of a great feftival he attended her to an entertainment, where the company as ufual made a point of vying with one another in the elegance of their appearance and the splendour of their dreffes. Lemouri was diftinguished by all. The fymmetry of her form and beauty of her features were no less admired than the peculiar grace with which the plume of feathers that adorned her head was difpofed. With secret delight fhe heard expreffions of admiration breathed around, and the fatisfaction fhe felt infpired her with unwonted hilarity. She fmiled, fhe talked, fhe flirted, with fuch lively good humour and enchanting grace, that Zoban was enraptured, and fancied he had now met with the paragon of the fcx. In the midst of her gaiety, a ftranger lady entered the room, with graces and charms equal to Lemouri, and with a head-drefs ftill more eminent for elegance and fplendour. The applauses of the company were transferred to the new-comer, and the the good humour of Lemouri inftanta- fo in the most expert and expeditious neously disappeared. Fretful and pee- mode. In this diverfion it happened vish, the complained, with no fmall pe- that Yado took a fhare, and Zoban platulance, of the warmth of the place, the ced himself by her fide as an unconcernvulgarity of moft of those who were pre- ed fpectator. He had not fat long, when fent, and the infufferable tedioufnefs of he was furprised to find the countenances all fuch amufements. Zoban was afto- of all engaged affume a caft of the deepest nifhed at the change, but thought it be thoughtfulnefs, and Yado, regardless of came him to divert this temporary effu- the pleasures of conversation, attentive fion of melancholy by fome amufing con- only to the pofition of the flicks on the verfation. He began fome good natured table. By and bye her face began to remarks on the company, whom, with put on a ftill more ferious afpect, till at characteristic fimplicity, he praised with- length she exhibited a picture of horror, out referve; and among others, com- and ftarting up uttered a multitude of mended, with fome ardor, the appear- execrations on the fabricator of flicks, ance of the rival ftranger. Lemouri that had proved fo unmanageable in her only replied by fome poignant reflec- hands. In a few moments he faw her tions on the folly and want of tafte of it down once more to the fame diverfion,. the young men of that age, and the va- and obferved her artfully contriving fo nity of country boobies attempting to to fubftitute one piece for another, that mix in the circles of fashion. At that he came off as victorious, though ininftant, an accomplished young Guma- ferior in skill and conduct. Zoban was lan came up, and feating himself by her confounded at thefe new traits in his fide, began a converfation, in which in- miftrefs's character, but thought a damfel genuity itself could scarce trace the fha- attached to an amufement which could dow of a meaning, intermixing many excite firft to anger, fury, then to deceit fatirical remarks on the aspect of thofe and difhonefly, was very different indeed around them, and giving hints that the from the female he would wish to felect formidable rival was, in his opinion, auk for a wife. ward in her person, fantastic in her dress, and homely in her countenance. Lemouri recovered her gaiety, and fmiled upon her new companion; but Zoban, who once more attempted to addrefs her, was repulfed with a frown, in which indignation feemed blended with contemptuous difguft. Though our hero could not divine the caufe, he felt the effect of this conduct, and from that hour was convinced it would be prudent in him to chufe for his companion a lefs capricious fair. Zoban was foon confoled for the uneafinefs this disappointment had given him, by the captivating converfation and mild graces of Yado, who though not poffeffed of all the charms, feemed free from the caprices of Lemouri, and did not entertain fuch ideas of her beauty as to be fenfibly hurt by the applaufe of a rival. Zoban frequently made one in the felect parties of pleasure, in which Yado bore a part, and found always new occafion to admire the disposition and manners of his new companion. There prevailed at that time among the ladies of Gumala a diverfion not unlike the childrens play of caftle-building, in which the whole amufement confifted in the various arrangement of certain blue, green, and yellow flicks, and the victory was affigned to the perfon who was able to do Difappointed in each of thefe objects of his choice, our hero next began to think of paying his addrefs to Endiva, in hopes of finding in her a difpofition free from the failings that had difguited him in his former acquaintance. Among the other inftructions which Zoban had in his education received, was a fleady and uniform abhorrence of vice, in whatever forms it might appear; a fimilarity of thought he expected in all he converfed with, and used, without much referve, to give vent to thefe feelings when opportunities prefented; it was true that he found the company frequently fhocked at the bluntnefs of his expreffions, but he attributed this not to any want of diflike to what was bad, but to a tenderness, that was backward in speaking fcandal of their neighbours. To this difpofition he referred the conduct of Endiva, when he found her often difpofed to palliate and excufe the diffipation and debauchery of the youths of the age; though he was at the fame time unable to account for the malignant ingenuity with which the difcovered, and expofed the bad actions of fome whofe general conduct was blamelefs. About this time an intrigue of a very criminal nature, attended with circumftances of falfehood and deceit on the part of the feducer, made fome noife in Gumala. Zoban heard heard the circumftances with horror, and spoke of it to Endiva in the strongest ftyle of condemnation. To his furprife he found the did not exprefs much diffatisfaction, and faid only, the fellow had been no doubt imprudent and in discreet. "But is not his conduct, Ma"dam, fo wicked as to merit univerfal "deteftation?"-"Don't be fo violent "on the fubject," faid Endiva, "Gen"tlemen in fashionable life must have a"vocations."-" I should scarce have "thought," anfwered Zoban, "that "the virtuous part of the fex would have "called by fo gentle a name, a conduct "fo flagitious I certainly expected, that "they at leaft would have united in ba"nifhing from their fociety those men "whofe debauchery and profligate lives "fhew the estimation in which they hold "female virtue."-" Such men, my good "Sir, are men of fpirit and men of honour, and a few irregularities in the "conduct of fuch, may be easily over"looked or forgiven." "" But can thofe "who pafs a great part of their hours "in the company of the diffolute and "abandoned, ever be fit to appear in "the prefence of the modeft and virtu"ous"-"No doubt of it, and much "fitter too than thofe cold and formal "fools, in whofe company infipidity and "languor prevail, and whofe regularity "of conduct betrays a want of fpirit "more contemptible in the eyes of the ladies, than exceffes that proclaim a foul fuperior to the vulgar." Zoban broke off the converfation, and rejoiced at his good fortune, in difcovering in time the fentiments of Endiva, as he was convinced that the approbation of vice could never be a very eligible quality in a companion for life. 46 The attention of Zoban was foon after folicited by the character and conduct of Radzig, and both his own obfervation and the voice of report fatisfied him that fhe could not be charged with pride or caprice, the love of gambling, or a predilection for diffipation; in fpite of the folicitations of her companions, her time was paffed in a ftate of domeftic tranquillity, unknowing and almost unknown. To her he found means to get himself introduced, and to recommend himself to her notice, began a conversation that he thought was suited to her difpofition. As fhe feemed to have as little relish as himself for fashionable gaieties, he made no mention of thofe, but expatiated with the rapture that he felt on the beauties of Nature, and the wisdom of its Author, as well as on the various works of ingenuity which the inhabitants of that region had from time to time produced. Radzig heard with liftless attention, and made no reply. When Zoban ventured to afk her fentiments on any subject, the only anfwer he received was, "I know nothing of these matters." Still he attempted to intereft her attention, by renewing the theme in the moft pleafing colours he could find; but in the midft of the converfation, he was interrupted by his miftrefs breaking out, "I never faw the like of it."-" Like what Ma"dam," faid Zoban. "Like that fly upon the wall," faid fhe; "I have "been flapping at it with a feather for "half an hour, and it will not fly a"way." Zoban was confounded at this employment which Radzig had amused herfelf with during his exertions to entertain her; and never thought more of paying his addresses to one who knew fo little how to value or employ her time or her talents. Zoban was by this time tired of a purfuit that feemed to him almost hopelefs; and bidding adieu to Gumala, returned to his native place to confole himfelf for his disappointments in the converfation of the fages. To one of them he unbofomed himself, and, recounted his adventures. The old man, well acquainted with the world, fmiled when Zoban mentioned his reforting to the capital in queft of a wife: and wibing to direct his inexperienced views, began a converfation on the subject. "I fhould "fcarce have thought," faid he, "of "expecting to find in Gumala, the cen"tre of diffipation and folly, a proper "companion for one of your difpofition; "not but fuch may be found there, but "they are but rarely to be met with. "But among what claffes in the capi"tal did you make your inquiries?” “In "the fafhionable circles." "I no longer "wonder at your disappointments; they "were no other than any one, acquaint"ed with the world, could have forefeen. "Pray, amidst all the eagerness of your re"fearch, did you ever think of turning 66 your attention to any females known "and diftinguished for their piety?" "Never." Strange! do not you "conceive, that fuch a difpofition, "if fincere, muft prove an infallible "fecurity againft the faults and failings "which fo juftly offended you in the fe"veral objects, on whom you had fixed your choice?"-" I know not.""Would not a principle that enjoins hu |