An In vain I task my barren brain A blank my canvass still remains, • Invention's seventh heaven' the bard Persuades me that the creature dwells Sniffing the lamp, the ancients thought But works of art are works indeed, Must easily be done. But, zounds! if they could sit in this They'd very soon be glad enough Oh! who can tell the pang it is Till, mad at last to find I am I feel that I could strike myself But no--I'll strike my colours," " sailor got out of his hogshead, and began to all up; for pretty considerably madded he was, lay about him with a fist as hard and as big as a and could bite in his breath no longer; so he twelve-pounder cannon-shot, crying like a bull-flew upon the strange sailor, and walked into frog in a swamp,- Now I shall clear out! him like a flash of lightning into a gooseberryA plague upon ye all for a crew of cowardly, bush, like a mighty, smart, active man as he canting, lubberly knaves! I might have been was. Hold of his collar laid my Uncle Ben, sucked dry, and staid in the barrel for ever, if and I reckon they did stoutly struggle together your comrade had borne no stouter a heart for a tarnation long time, till at last the marithan you did.' Well, I guess, that by knock-ner's coat gave way, and shewed that about his ing down the helps and the neighbours he neck there was a halter, as if he had been only soon made a clear ship; and then, striding up fresh cut down from the gibbet! Then my to my Uncle Ben, who warn't not at all a feard, Uncle Ben did start back a pace or two, when but was laughing at the fun, he says to him, the other let fly at him with a pretty considersays he, As for you, brother, you're a man able hard blow, and so laid him right slick| after my own kidney, so give us your fin, and sprawling along upon the ground. Uncle Ben we'll be sworn friends, I warrant me.' But said he never could guess how long they all' as soon as he held out his hand, Uncle Ben laid there; but when they came to, they found thought he saw in it the mark of a red horse- themselves all stretched out like dead men by shoe, like a brand upon a nigger, which some the niggers of the house, with a staved rum do say was the very stamp that the devil put cask standing beside them. But now-mark upon Captain Kidd, when they shook hands you this well-on one of the head-boards of the after burying his treasure at Boston, before he barrel was wrote, W. K. The Vulture. 1701,' was hanged. Hagel!' says my Uncle Ben, which was agreed by all to stand for William says he, what's that in your right hand, my Kidd, the pirate. And July White, Uncle friend? What's that to you?' said the old Ben's woolly-headed old nigger, said that he sailor. We mariners get many a broad and was once a loblolly-boy on board that very ship, deep red scar, without talking about, or mark- when she was a sort of pickarooning privateer. ing them; but then we get the heavy red Her crew told him that she sailed from the old gold, and broad pieces along with them, and country the very same year marked on the that's a tarnation smart plaster, I calculate.' cask, when Kidd was hanged at ExecutionThen,' says my Uncle Ben again,' says he, Dock, and that they brought his body over to 'may I make an enquerry of you? Where be near the treasure that he buried; and as were you raised? and who's your Boss?' every one knows that Kidd was tied up twice, Oh!' says the sailor, I was born at Nan- why, perhaps, he never died at all, but was Introduction to the Natural System of tucket, and Cape Cod, and all along shore kept alive in that mighty elegant rum cask, till Botany; or, a Systematic View of the Organthere, as the nigger said; and for the captain my Uncle Ben let him out again, to walk about isation, Natural Affinities, and Geographical I belong to, why he's the chief of all the fierce New-York and Boston, round Charles Bay and Distribution, of the whole Vegetable Kingdom. and daring hearts which have been in the Cape Cod, the Old Sow and Pigs, Hellegat, and By John Lindley, F.R.S., &c. 8vo. pp. 374. world ever since time began.' And, pray, the Hen and Chickens. There was a fat little London, 1830. Longman and Co. where's your plunder? says my Uncle Ben to Dutch parson, who used to think that this story BOTANISTS have long felt the various anomathe strange sailor; and how long have you was only a mighty smart fable, because nobody lies and difficulties which constantly present been in that hogshead?' Over long, I can could remember seeing the pirate besides Uncle themselves in almost every department of the tell you, brother; I thought I was never going Ben; and he would sometimes say, too, that science, from studying the structure, character, to come out, I calculate. As for my plunder, they were all knocked down by the rum, and and habitudes, of plants, according to the arti I reckon I don't shew every body my locker; not by the captain, though he never told Uncle ficial system of Linnæus. That great man but you 're a bold fellow enough, and only give Ben so, I calculate; for he always stuck to it undoubtedly achieved a wonderful improve me your paw to close the bargain, and I'll fill handsomely, and wouldn't 'bate a word of it ment in the study of natural history, by the your pouch with dollars for life. I've a stout for nobody. When Uncle Ben had finished, he establishment of that beautiful system which ship, and comrades ready for sea, and there's says,- Jonathan W.' says he, I'll tell you has gone by the name of the Sexual Classificaplunder every where for lads of the knife and what it is: I'll take it as a genuine favour if tion of Plants; for all the knowledge that ex pistol, I reckon; though the squeamish Lord you'll pay Major Hickory for the sangaree and isted at the commencement of the last century Bellamont does watch them so closely. Lord the toddy, and we'll be quits another day.' respecting the anatomy and physiology of who?' says Uncle Ben, a leetle bit madded And so I paid for it every cent; but would you plants was a mere mass of chaos, in comparison and wondered. Why, Lord Bellamont, to believe it? though I've asked him for it a with the profound arrangement proposed by be sure,' answered the strannge sailor, the matter of twenty times, and more than that, the great Swedish naturalist. English governor of New England, and ad- Uncle Ben never gave me back the trifle that he miral of the seas about it, under King William borrowed of me, from that day to this!" " the Third.' • Governor and admiral in your Though we have said there is room for imteeth!' says my Uncle Ben again; for now provement, we must also add, there is room for his pluck was up, and there warn't no daunt- praise. Next year the Forget Me Not is to ing him then; what have we to do with the "walk in silk attire," and we have no doubt old country, your kings, or your governors? it will merit its silk gown. As a variety, we this is the free city of Boston, in the inde- give a jeu d'esprit written upon a print of a pendent United States of America, and the Painter Puzzled in the choice of a subject, second year of liberty, seventy-seven, I reckon. from the pen of T. Hood. And as for your William the Third, I guess he was dead long before I was raised, and I'm no cokerell. I'll tell you what it is, now, my smart fellow, you've got pretty considerably drunk in that rum cask, if you've been there ever since them old ancient days; and, to speak my mind plain, you're either the devil or Captain Kidd. But I'd have you to know I'm not to be scared by a face of clay, if you were both; for I'm an old Kentuck Rowdey, of Town-Fork by the Elkhorn; my breed's half a horse and half an alligator, with a cross of the earthquake! You can't poke your fun at me, I calculate; and so, here goes upon you for a villain, any way! My Uncle Ben's pluck was now 'Draw, sir!'-OLD PLAY. "Well, something must be done for May, Something I must invent and paint; Oh, for some happy hit! to throw In vain I sit and strive to think, Yet, like all general systems erected upon artificial data, the beautiful system of Linnæus has not been able to withstand the test of medern physiological investigation. The structure of plants, coupled with their external characters and medical properties, has been found so much more eligible a mode of classification than that of depending almost entirely on the organs of fructification, that the day is probably not far distant when the natural system proposed by the eminent French naturalist, Jussieu, will have entirely superseded the artificial classification of the father of the science. In the introduction Mr. Lindley observes, that "the organs of fructification are only entitled to a superior degree of consideration when found by experience to be less liable to variation than those of vegetation." Now, as the result of successive observation, by all the distinguished botanists of the day, serves to shew that there are infinitely greater exceptions and variations in the several parts of plants subservient to propagation, than in those parts of a plant which may be called its primitive structure, and which constitutes 9-10ths of the mass through. out the whole vegetable kingdom; there is every fidence, which is naturally allied to it; and I am tired to the soul of it, and shall give it argument why we should adopt the more physicians on foreign stations may direct their up.' Permission was at length granted: the rational system, recommended in the very able inquiries, not empirically, but upon fixed prin- book came out towards the end of 1803; and a work before us, of classing plants under the ciples, into the qualities of the medicinal copy was transmitted to the duchess, of which two general heads of vascular (or flowering plants which nature has provided in every no notice whatever was taken." Now what plants), and cellular (or flowerless plants), in- region for the alleviation of the maladies are the unusual incidents here?-a neglected stead of the sexual and asexual classification. peculiar to it. To horticulturists it is not less dedication is no uncommon event. Or where is But the grounds on which Mr. Lindley recom- important: the propagation or cultivation of the truth of this assertion?—“ His talents mends the adoption of the natural in lieu of one plant is usually applicable to all its kin-were so precocious, that they became a warning the artificial system we prefer giving in his dred; the habits of one species in an order that he was not destined for a long sojourn own words: will be often those of the rest: many a gar-here." As if early death were the necessary dener might have escaped the pain of a poisoned consequence of early genius. We hope our limb, had he been acquainted with the laws of readers' own feelings will deny the ensuing affinity; and finally, the phenomena of grafting, remark: "Though it is extremely doubtful if which is one of the grand features of distinction he was capable of worldly happiness, there is a between the animal and vegetable kingdoms, selfishness in our nature which makes us grieve and the success of which is wholly controlled when those who are likely to increase our by ties of blood, can only be understood by the wisdom and intellectual pleasures are hurried student of the natural system." to the grave." This is carrying the doctrine of selfishness pretty far. It cannot be denied, even by the advocate for the Linnæan arrangement, that the natural We have made no remarks on the work classification is infinitely better calculated to itself: we have no space for retrospective promote the study of medical botany, and hor-criticism; Kirke White's merits have now ticulture; and under that view, we may safely their assigned place: over-rated they certainly recommend the present "Introduction" of were; but he was a young man of undeniable Mr. Lindley as a most valuable treatise on a genius, and whose early death added the intevery important branch of science. rest of pity to that of approval. The Poetical Works of Henry Kirke White. ANOTHER of these beautiful volumes : we Of starving Genius we no more allow The Journal of the Royal Institution of Great THE first No. of this new quarterly periodical, "The principle upon which I understand the Natural System of Botany to be founded is, that the affinities of plants may be determined by a consideration of all the points of resemblance between their various parts, properties, and qualities; and that thence an arrangement may be deduced in which those species will be placed next each other which have the greatest degree of relationship; and that, consequently, the quality or structure of an imperfectly known plant may be determined by those of another which is well known. Hence arises its superiority over arbitrary or artificial systems, such as that of Linnæus, in which there is no combination of ideas, but which are mere collections of isolated facts, not having any distinct relation to each other. This is the only intelligible meaning that can be attached to the term Natural System, of which Nature herself, who creates species only, knows nothing." This is undoubtedly the more correct view of the subject; and we only regret that Mr. Lindley has deemed it necessary, in order to obtain the approbation of the more cultivated botanist, to express himself throughout the greater part of the work in language far beyond the comprehension of the junior class of readers. Indeed, the author has committed a palpable discordance between his title-page and For British Bards are All-dine Poets now. his preface for in the former he calls his work To only one point would we direct Mr. Picker"an Introduction to the Natural System of ing's attention: these are books made for use, Botany;" and at the end of his preface he says: as well as show; and the matter should bear "In conclusion, the author has only to add, that some comparison at least with the manner. this work must not be received as an Introduc- Some of the biographies are not what ought to tion to Botany. Those who would understand be found in a work like this: they are indusit must previously possess such an elementary triously put together-but they want both acquaintance with the science as they may col- judgment and originality. Collins was overlect from his Outline of the First Principles of laden with extraneous matter (who cared for a Botany, or some other work in which the mo- reprint of Langhorne's tasteless criticism ?); dern views of vegetable organisation are ex- and in the present volume the last sheet is In a paper by Mr. Knight, " on the means plained." The work is therefore an Introduc- devoted to a set of laudatory poems, much in of giving a fine edge to razors,”—a subject of tion, and no Introduction; but which we must the old school of the eulogistic verses with no ordinary interest to the bearded sex-he leave the author to reconcile with his readers, which every poet thought it necessary to preface states the following to be a prodigious improvewhile we point out the principal merit of the his work. In the life itself, too, what shall we ment upon the methods hitherto in use." The volume its application to medical botany. say to instances like the following ?-The com- machinery consists (he tells us) " of a cylin mon-place of "his mother's mind was thus drical bar of cast steel, three inches long withabstracted from the grovelling cares of a out its handle, and about one-third of an inch butcher's shop." The subjoined phrase con- in diameter. It is rendered as smooth as it tradicts its own meaning:-" A constitutional can readily be made with sand, or, more prodeafness soon convinced him that he was not perly, glass-paper, applied longitudinally; and eligible for the duties of an advocate; and his it is then made perfectly hard. Before it is thoughts became directed to the church, from used it must be well cleaned, but not brightly the most conscientious motives :"-it reads as polished, and its surface must be smeared over if deafness were a constitutional motive. with a mixture of oil and the charcoal of wheat Again :-" The history of an author's first straw, which necessarily contains much sili book is interesting; and Kirke White's was ceous earth in a very finely reduced state. I attended with unusual incidents. A novice in have sometimes used the charcoal of the leaves literature always imagines that it is important of the Elymus arenarius, and other marsh his work should be dedicated to some person of grasses; and some of these may probably afrank; and the Countess of Derby was applied ford a more active and (for some purposes) a to, who declined, on the ground that she never better material; but upon this point I do not accepted a compliment of that nature. He at feel myself prepared to speak with decision. The advantages of such a system (the length applied to the Duchess of Devonshire; In setting a razor, it is my practice to bring natural), in applying botany to useful purposes, and a letter, with the manuscript, was left at its edge (which must not have been previously are immense, especially to medical men, with her house. The difficulty of obtaining access rounded by the operation of a strop) into conwhose profession the science has always been to her grace proved so great, that more than one tact with the surface of the bar at a greater or identified. A knowledge of the properties of letter to his brother was written on the subject, less, but always at a very acute angle, by one plant is a guide to the practitioner, which in which he indignantly says I am cured of raising the back of the razor more or less, proenables him to substitute some other with con- patronage hunting; as for begging patronage, portionate to the strength which I wish to give In the arrangement of the work Mr. Lindley gives the diagnosis, anomalies, essential character, affinities, geography, and medical properties, of each order and genera. To the dry botanical student the first five distinctions are no doubt valuable, as facilitating his course of study. But in our estimation, the comprehensive section which describes the properties and virtues of each plant in medicine, the arts, and domestic and rural economy, is by far the most valuable portion of the volume. Indeed, we are inclined to think the author is himself of the same opinion, both from having dedicated his volume to the Apothecaries' Company, and from the following remarks with regard to the substitution of the Jussieuan system instead of the Linnæan. to the edge; and I move the razor in a suc-entirely disappeared. After this, MM. Persoz | bability, a melancholy death by hydrophobia.' cession of small circles from heel to point, and and Nonat sought to ascertain whether the That which induced Mr. Fischer to try the back again, without any more pressure than prussic acid, being absorbed into the vessels above remedy, in the case of serpents, was 'a the weight of the blade gives, till my object is and tissues, the chlorine would follow and de- page of the late Bishop Loskiell's (with whom attained. If the razor have been properly compose it. Two dogs of equal strength were I was personally acquainted), in his History of ground and prepared, a very fine edge will be taken, the crural veins laid bare, and separated the Missions of the Moravian Church in North given in a few seconds; and it may be renewed from the neighbouring parts, and especially America, which says, as far as I recollect, that again, during a very long period, wholly by the the accompanying nervous fibres; then a drop at least among some tribes they were not at all same means. I have had the same razor, by of prussic acid was put upon each vessel. The alarmed about the bites of serpents, having al way of experiment, in constant use during effects were instantaneous; a few drops of ways in use such a sure remedy as salt for the cure more than two years and a half, and no visible chlorine (solution) were let fall on to one of of them—so much so, that they would suffer a portion of its metal has within that period the crural veins the other animal was left bite for the sake of a glass of rum. It was this been worn away, though the edge has re-alone. The first was as immediately recovered that induced me to try the cure of venomous mained as fine as I conceive possible; and I as it was injured the second died directly. bites with salt; and the trial has exceeded my have never, at any one time, spent a quarter of The first felt no inconvenience after some expectations. P.S. The advice of killing all a minute in setting it." If any of our bristly hours, except from the wound. Endeavours dogs is neither practicable nor necessary: friends obtain the luxury of an easy shave by were then made to kill him, by putting prussic apply salt to man and dog, the bitten and the employing this simple process, we are sure acid upon the eye and upon the crural vein of biter, all will be most probably well,' &c." they will thank us, and remember Mr. Knight the opposite side; but the animal only felt "Protraction of Vegetable Life in a dry with smooth and grateful feelings. temporary inconvenience and a few convulsive State: Medico-Botanical Society.—Mr. HoulThe remaining extracts are the most novel movements, and was very quickly at ease. ton produced a bulbous root which was dis. miscellanies which we can pick out. Hence it appears, that the chlorine administered covered in the hand of an Egyptian mummy, "Manufacture of Charcoal.-A new process, before-hand is taken into the circulation, and in which it probably had remained for two recommended in the Journal des Forêts, for is then an effectual remedy against prussic thousand years. It germinated on exposure to this purpose, is to fill all the interstices in the acid. Trials made with the chlorides of lime the atmosphere; when placed in earth it grew heap of wood to be charred with powdered and soda, in place of chlorine, shewed that with great rapidity." charcoal. The product obtained is equal in they possessed no corresponding powers, being every respect to cylinder charcoal; and, inde- quite inert as antagonists to the hydrocyanic English Prisoners in France. By the Rev. pendent of its quality, the quantity obtained is acid." R. B. Wolfe. 8vo. pp. 168. London, 1830. very much greater than that obtained by the "On the Cure of Animal Poisons, and pro- Hatchard and Son. ordinary method. The charcoal used to fill the bably Hydrophobia, by the local Application of WE do not very much admire the overstrained interstices is that left on the earth after a pre- Common Salt. (Rev. J. Fischer.)—The Rev. religious style of this publication: there is not vious burning. The effect is produced by pre- J. G. Fischer was formerly a missionary in matériel enough for a volume; and we conventing much of the access of air which occurs South America, and is anxious to call the at- fess we are rather more impressed with the in the ordinary method. The volume of char- tention of the public to the probable utility of good intentions of Mr. Wolfe,-who, we must coal is increased a tenth, and its weight a fifth." common salt as a remedy in cases of hydro- say, appears to have done all in his power for "Potash obtained commercially from Felspar. phobia, if, at least, the opinion be correct, that the religious instruction and comfort of his According to M. Fuchs, this important what will cure the bites of venomous serpents fellow-sufferers,- than with any necessity for alkali may be extracted from minerals contain- will be efficacious in the former class of cases. the work before us. We extract the following ing it, by the following method :-They are to He says, I actually and effectually cured all anecdote,-a curious struggle between care and be calcined with lime, then left for some time kinds of very painful and dangerous serpents' generosity:in contact with water, and the liquor filtered bites, after they had been inflicted for many "On the officers and crew of the Minerve and evaporated. M. Fuchs says he has thus hours; for immediately after I had applied my being ordered to Epinal, a march of nearly five obtained from nineteen to twenty parts of remedy, the pain subsided, and the patient hundred miles, Captain Brenton, having enpotash from felspar, and from fifteen to sixteen calmed which remedy was nothing else than deavoured, without success, to procure money from mica, per cent." common table salt; and I kept it on the place for his bills, tried to raise a small sum upon "Chlorine an Antidote to Hydrocyanic Acid. or wound, moistened with water, till all was his watch. But, the watchmaker having of -MM. Persoz and Nonat have verified the healed, within several days, without ever any fered what he considered quite inadequate to favourable results which M. Simeon had ob- bad effect occurring afterwards. I, for my its value, he withdrew, and was standing at tained relative to the remedy which chlorine part, never had an opportunity to meet with a the door of the auberge, reflecting on his si affords against prussic acid. They operated mad dog, or any person who was bitten by a tuation, when he was accosted by a person, upon three dogs, upon the eyes of which a drop mad dog; I cannot, therefore, speak from ex- who said he understood he wished to dispose of of prussic acid had been placed. Dividing the perience as to hydrophobia; but that I have a watch. Concluding the applicant wished to symptoms into three periods, namely, i. un-cured serpents' bites always, without fail, I take advantage of the distress of the prisoners, easiness, ii. tetanus, iii. interrupted respiration, can declare in truth.' Mr. Fischer then the captain answered rather abruptly, Yes, they found that when chlorine was applied in quotes Dr. Urban's practice from Hufeland's but you will not buy it.' 'That is more than the first period, the relief was immediate, the German Medical Journal. He had six me- you know,' rejoined the stranger; let me see respiration became regular, vomitings and al- thods: but his most successful was to apply the watch.' It was accordingly put into his vine discharges occurred, the animal gradually a thick pledget, soaked in any saline solu- hands, and the information given him, that the regained its strength, rose unsteadily, and in tion, to each wound, or to each place where the watch and seals had cost thirty-one guineas. about half an hour was as lively as at first. teeth had made a mark without breaking the C'est un prix bien fort,' said the Frenchman; Applied at the second period, the symptoms skin, and retain them there by bandages. The and, if I were to purchase the watch, I would were arrested, but the restlessness continued best solution is of salt one ounce, or one ounce not give more than fifteen louis for it; but, as awhile; and though respiration was less pain- and a half, to a pound of plain water, and the I should only keep it as a pledge for the payful, the convulsive movements continued for ten wounds are to be kept constantly moistened ment of any money I might advance, I will minutes, then occurred vomitings, &c., as be- with it. The lint is to be renewed and soaked give you twenty-five.' The captain began to fore, and at the end of an hour the animal was twice a-day; the places wetted every two have a more favourable opinion of his dealer; perfectly well. The two dogs thus treated hours, and even washed by the patient, espe- and, expressing his surprise at this novel mode being tried next day with the same quantity of cially if any indications of relapse, as itching of making a bargain, delivered to him the prussic acid, but without chlorine, died in a or pain, should manifest themselves. A case watch; and twenty-five louis were paid down, few minutes. In the third case all the effects is then quoted from the Kent Herald, and and a note given with the watch to Captain of the prussic acid were produced before the Morning Herald of July 28, 1827, as follows: Brenton's agent in England, requesting him to chlorine was applied; the respiration had ceased A friend of ours was some years since bitten redeem the watch by paying the money, and for twenty-five seconds, and the animal was by a dog, which a few hours afterwards died any additional expenses which might be inrapidly perishing; but the chlorine not only raving mad. Immediately upon receiving the curred. The Frenchman went away, and the recalled it to life, but ultimately restored it to bite, he rubbed salt for some time into the captain had scarcely time to communicate the full vigour the full effect only occurred, how-wound, and, in consequence, never experienced information to his officers, when he was seen ever, after some hours. Ten days after, it was the least inconvenience from the bite, the sa- returning, and a general apprehension was felt quite well, and the paralysis of the abdominal line qualities of the salt having evidently neu- that he had repented his bargain. But what parts, which occurred in all, had in this case tralised the venom, and prevented, in all pro-was their surprise when he thus accosted the · . . captain: Monsieur, ma conscience me pique, the conversion of the Indians, various laws yielded in former times such immense riches, je suis indigné de la caution qui m'a fait were passed in the reigns of Philip II. and so might they in these times be rendered prendre un gage d'un brave officier essuyant le Philip IV., in which it was directed that equally productive. sort de la guerre; reprennez votre montre, neither the monks nor the clergy should be "Don Geronymo Ustariz, in his Theorica y monsieur, et donnez moi votre billet d'échange allowed to employ themselves in working Practica de el Comercio y Mineria, proves to pour l'argent.' This was, of course, gratefully mines, it being considered indecorous and of demonstration, by reference to the circumacceded to. But the stranger soon returned a bad example. In the other conquests and co-stances of England, France, and Holland, that second time.Encore, monsieur, ma conscience lonies of the Spaniards similar regulations were the debility and depopulation of Spain are not me pique. Comment! encore?' 'Yes, sir,' enforced, as appears from the following extract: to be attributed to the attraction held out by said he, I have been considering how I can "The council of Lima prohibits curates and the Indies, but to the importation of foreign best relieve it. I am a merchant of L'Orient, incumbents from working mines (amongst goods, by means of which our money is drained my name is Dubois; I am returning home; other lucrative occupations), under pain of ex- from us, and our manufactures are annihilated, and having examined my purse, I find I have communication, ipso facto incurrenda; forbid- thus having the effect of a heavy tribute. And just twenty-five louis more than I shall want ding other ecclesiastics from engaging in actual that hence it is that La Mancha, Guadalaxara, for my journey. Here,' continued he, de- trade only; but the council of Mexico, setting Cuenca, Soria, Valladolid, Salamanca, and stroying the first note, and putting the addi- forth that many curates and incumbents un- other cities of Castile, the emigration from tional sum into the captain's hand, add these dertook the ministry in the Indies more from which to the Indies is in the smallest proporto the former, and give me a bill for the a lust of gain, and in the expectation of hav- tion, are the least populous parts of Spain; whole.'" ing the services of the Indians in agriculture while Cantabria, Asturias, Navarre, the mounor mining, than from a desire to guide and tains of Burgos and Galicia, from which parts Commentaries on the Mining Ordinances of enlighten their minds, orders, that no secular the departures for the Indies are more numeSpain. By Don Francisco Xavier de Gam- or regular curate shall cultivate land within rous, are the most populous districts; the conboa. Translated from the original Spanish his jurisdiction, nor within the space of ten dition of the inhabitants being, in fact, imby R. Heathfield, Esq. Barrister at Law. leagues around; not excepting even the land proved, and the cultivation of their land ad2 vols. 8vo. London, 1830. Longman and of his own patrimony or of the church, if he vanced, by the remittances they receive from Co. has an opportunity of letting it: but that if their relations in the Indies." DON FRANCISCO XAVIER DE GAMBOA, no person can be found willing to take such whose celebrated work has lately been ren- land on lease, then he may employ the Indians dered available to the British public, was born who are so disposed in cultivating it; but that of a distinguished family in the province of no compulsion shall be used towards them, and Guadalaxara, in New Spain. His great talents that they shall be paid for their labour, and be and abilities, though continually exerted with kindly treated; and that if any such person as honour to himself as an advocate in the courts aforesaid shall act otherwise, the bishop shall of his native country, seem to have been more deprive him, if he be a secular clergyman, of particularly directed to the examination of the his benefice, and if a regular, of his cure, and laws of mining, the various scientific processes shall suspend his right of electing, or being carried on at the mines, and the vast import-elected to any office." After entering into various details relative to the proposed establishment of a general mining company, Gamboa proceeds to give a most minute and accurate account of the many extraordinary processes to which the miner has recourse for the recovery of the gold and silver from the ore. We regret that our limits do not permit us to make a few extracts of these curious and interesting operations, for the accuracy of which we ourselves can fully vouch, having had opportunities of witnessing ance of the mineral riches embosomed in the A great deal of interesting information is in person the magnificent and splendid operamountainous regions of Mexico. In the course given relative to the mines of quicksilver, and tions of the gold and silver mines of New of events he was appointed to an official situa- its consumption in the Americas, besides a Spain. We must beg to refer the reader to tion at the court of Madrid; and it was during singular sketch of the ancient riches and mines the work itself, where the experiments dehis residence at that capital that he produced his of Spain itself, with a theory explanatory of tailed in the various methods of reduction, by celebrated Commentary. Warmly attached to the causes which led to the impoverishment of smelting and amalgamation, serve to develope his native country, and ardently desiring its that country, notwithstanding the great wealth the secrets of metallurgic philosophy, for their welfare and prosperity, he had taken frequent and power of its colonies. proficiency in which science the Mexican opportunities, throughout the work, of point- "In the history of the Maccabees, where miners are justly celebrated. ing out such alterations and improvements as the great power of the Romans is described, The work contains much valuable informamight tend to develope more largely the exten-it is mentioned as one of their mighty acts in tion on the subject of private rights to mines sive resources of New Spain, and encourage Spain, that they had made themselves masters-their regulation and management-the prothat spirit of enterprise which had already of the rich ores of gold and silver. From no duction of ores-the mode in which mines are achieved the covering of a once barbarous coun- other country (according to Fray Juan de la taken possession of, and denounced when abantry with noble cities and numberless villages, Puente, who cites Solinus, Pliny, Lucius doned, &c. A detailed account is given, insmiling amid the universal luxuriance of its Florus, Strabo, Posidonius, Polybius, Aris- terspersed with many curious anecdotes and now cultivated valleys and prairies. totle, Diodorus Siculus, Herodotus, and other incidents relative to the carrying into execuGreek and Latin authors) could so great antion of the various laws passed on the subject abundance of these rich ores be procured. He of subterraneous communication in mines, and states, upon the authority of Strabo, that dur- the removal of the rich pillars left in the proing a conflagration on the Pyrenees, streams gress of the work, as a support to the vault of gold and silver flowed down their sides; from which the ore has been removed. that all the mountains and hills of Spain afford The singular magnificence and beauty of the materials for money; and that that coun-those vast natural grottos, which sometimes try is an inexhaustible source of metallic ore; occur at great depths in mines, and of which we that Plutus, the god of riches, holds his habita. have been more than once delighted spectators, tion beneath its surface; and that the Cartha- caused a deep impression, and at the same time ginians, on their landing there, found the a feeling of curiosity to fathom the origin of basins and even the mangers made of silver. those strange vacuums formed in the earth's And he likewise asserts, quoting Aristotle, crust, many hundred yards below its surface. that upon the ancient Phoenicians navigating It is with pleasure we select the following to Tartessus, the Spaniards gave them, in ex- description :change for oil and other ordinary merchandise, "In some places, natural vaults of extraor more silver than the ships were capable of con- dinary beauty and extent are found, exceeding veying; and that upon setting sail, they not even one hundred raras in height and length. only made their common utensils, but even From their vaulted form, they are in themtheir anchors, of silver. But of all the writers selves firm and strong by nature; and although on this subject, Don Antonio Carrillo Lasso is fearful places to enter, yet their firmness is the most deserving of attention, he having col- well known, and the miners work in them with lected, with admirable erudition, many most security. They are found to contain ore, loose remarkable and wonderful instances in refer- sand, or earth, which the miners gradually ence to all the different provinces of Spain, remove, leaving the vault, store, or depository, and with the view of shewing, that as they empty and hollow. And after removing the So much were his Commentaries admired and valued for the interesting information with which they are replete, that they received the warm approval of majesty; and, in fine, became a book of reference throughout all the Spanish colonies in America. Shortly afterwards, Gamboa was appointed to the high office of regent of the audiency of Mexico, which post he filled with great credit and distinction till the period of his death. In the work now before us an interesting account is given of the arrangements entered into between the crown and those individuals whose capital and time were devoted to the working and exploring of gold and silver mines, and many curious details regarding the rewards offered and the inducements held out to the aborigines of the country to reveal their important discoveries; for it appeared that the Indians were in the habit of concealing veins of silver and gold to prevent them from being worked, imagining, perhaps, that if discovered they would be taken from them. Many of the clergy who passed over to New Spain shewing themselves to be more interested in the accumulation of gold and silver than in whole of the contents, they frequently, upon breaking in further, discover other vaults, to which they are guided by indications derived from the colour of the ground, or from the echo returned on striking with a crow or bar, as if from a hollow place. This is the description given of the mines of Chiguagua, by Don Mathias de la Mota, and we have received information to the same effect from several persons of great experience in that district, particularly with regard to a work called San Augustin, in the mine of Aranzazu, belonging to the family of Trasviña, which is an extremely firm and most beautiful vault, capable of containing the largest church in Madrid or Mexico. Such also is the case with regard to the mines of Zimapan, where, according to the account of persons who have had much experience in working them, similar vaults are found. These caverns being formed by nature, do not require pillars of support, and it would, indeed, be a difficult matter to set about forming them. But when the hills are artificially undermined and cut away, it is impossible that they should sustain their own weight, unless supported by strong and firm pillars." The greatest attention was paid to the prohibition of removing pillars of rich ore, left as supports to the vaults : their convenience. In a word, they conjugate | satisfied of the correctness of its details, and As a proof that Mr. Heathfield's translation is not confined solely to the dry details and laws connected with mining operations, we give the following extracts relative to the employment of numbers of the lower classes in the city of Mexico : "No court or city contains so many servants of servants, or deputy servants, as Mexico, where it is the practice of the domestic servants to transfer their burdens to a variety of others, and thus to pass their time in amusements and idleness. There is a set of persons whose business is that of making cigars, which it is the custom of all ranks and sexes to smoke-an Pompeiana; or, Observations of the Topogra phy, Edifices, and Ornaments of Pompeii. By Sir William Gell, F.R.S., F.S.A., &c. New Series, Part IV. Jennings and Chaplin. A LARGE portion of this Part is occupied with a minute and learned description of the Therma which were excavated at Pompeii in the year 1824; but as it would be impracticable, without the plates, to render that description intelligible to our readers, we will quote a curious episode, on the use of glass by the ancients. Speaking of a window which is placed close under the vault of the roof, in one chamber of the baths, Sir William Gell says: "It was not only formed of glass, but of good plate glass, slightly ground on one side, easy and lucrative employment, which it would so as to prevent the curiosity of any person be much more proper to make over to poor ciform bars of copper, and secured by what upon the roof. This glass was divided by cruwomen, who might employ themselves in this "And although it may seem hard, supposing way, putting aside their distaff or spindle, by might be termed turning buttons of the same the vein to become barren, to be disabled from which means such unfortunate persons might metal. Of this glass all the fragments remained cutting into the pillars or reservoirs, however procure something additional to make their at the excavation, a circumstance which aprich in gold or silver, yet it would be still lives easy, and compensate for the little esteem peared not a little curious to those who imaharder that the whole mine should be ruined by in which their needle-work and other labours gined that its use was either unknown, or very falling in, and that human life, the most are held. The host of idlers employed in this rare, among the ancients, and did not know that a window of the same kind had been precious gift of nature, should in consequence way is very considerable, and was raised up be put in jeopardy. Indeed, this is a point within the space of about twenty years; for in found in the baths of the villa of Diomedes. upon which no precaution should be dispensed the year 1720 the plan of selling cigars ready Glass seems to have, at first, been brought from with; and those who servilely give way to the made had not been devised, and in the year Egypt, and to have, in fact, received its name eagerness of the miners, and authorise them to 1740 very great numbers were engaged in the of vaλos from the Coptic. Crystal, xquerades, remove or weaken the pillars of support, act in business, but who would have been much better or the permanent ice of the ancients, originally opposition to the dictates of conscience, and to occupied, if, instead of dealing in smoke, they designated the natural stone itself. It is said the true interests of the mine, and render had been employed with a pick and gad in to have been little known in Rome before 536 themselves gravely responsible for their con- giving ventilation to the works of the mines." U.C., but this would give ample time for its duct. All which is shewn by Agricola in a The next passage shews the wide con- use at Pompeii long before its destruction. very few words." trast which exists between the sober, frugal There are few subjects on which the learned labourers in our metallic mines of Cornwall seem to have been so generally mistaken as and in the collieries of Northumberland, and that of the art of glass-making among the the half-civilised race who are employed in the ancients, who seem to have been far more skil mines of Mexico and Peru; while it affords ful than was at first imagined. Not to menthe best possible commentary on the blessings of free institutions in promoting national industry and social improvement. In another part of this valuable work, the privileges of the miner are spoken of, and some of the causes pointed out which have led to their frequent embarrassments and ruin. The propensity to thieving which exists among the Indian miners is descanted upon, in terms which shew Gamboa to have been well aware of their pilfering habits,-a circumstance of which we recollect many curious instances. tion the description of a burning glass in the Nubes of Aristophanes, v. 764., the collection which Mr. Dodwell first formed and brought "The miner's chief enemy is the miner into notice at Rome, by repolishing the fraghimself. He is, generally speaking, prodigal, ments, is sufficient to prove that specimens of "They steal the iron picks and crows; they unlimited in his indulgence in expensive luxu- every known marble, and of many not now steal the candles; they steal the ore, by means ries and superfluities, and even in his vices. existing in cabinets, as well as every sort of of various very subtle and dexterous con- The workmen drink, game, and lavish, all they precious stone, were commonly and most suc trivances and stratagems; and they steal the get; and they have no notion of economy, but cessfully imitated by the ancients, who used silver from the smelting works, and from the are all for the present moment. They often, these imitations in cups and vases of every size vats and washing places in the amalgamation in the height of their folly, attire themselves in and shape. In the time of Martial, about a works, with no less dexterity, under the very rich cloth or fine cambric, and then go down century after Christ, glass cups were common. eyes of the overseers. Upon one occasion, into the mine, where their holyday dress gene-except the calices allasontes, which displayed in the reduction works of the Marquis de rally serves for wadding, or to ease the blow of changeable or prismatic colours, and, as Vossius Valle-Ameno, in the mining district of el the pick. If this be the character of the work- says, were procured in Egypt, and were so rare, Monte, the amalgamator being present, and the men, what may not some of the masters be that Adrian, sending some to Servianus, or workmen shut in, several ingots of silver dis- expected to be? The fault is not in the dered that they should only be used on great appeared from the room; and on the circum-fession, but its professors; and the greater their occasions. The myrrhine vases, however, which stance being investigated, it was found that prodigality, the more they are to be pitied. It were in such request, seem at last to have been they had fastened a string to the ingots, which is a melancholy thing to see a man reduced on successfully traced to China. Propertius calls being carried out by the gutter, through the a sudden to the wretched condition of an Irus, them Parthian; and it seems certain that the force of the water, the party posted outside for who was previously rich as a Croesus; of which porcelain of the East was called mirrha di the purpose was enabled to drag away the melancholy reverse a multitude of instances silver. They steal clothes and money from might be cited among the once respectable each other; and if they contrive to elude the Mexican miners." searcher at the mouth of the mine, they will We have been much pleased with this well-on the same subject, aid full of interesting and importafterwards boast, in his presence, of the thefts translated work; and the more so, as, from they have committed. They steal the rich ore, having consulted the best authorities, visitors by throwing it amongst the rubbish, as if it of the scenes described, and witnesses of the were mere refuse; afterwards recovering it at effects of the laws commented upon, we are pro have invested so large a capital in the mining enterprises In reviewing a work of this importance to those who of which it treats, we ought to notice another publication ant information: we allude to the Quarterly Mining Re view, Nos. I. and II. (published by T. Boosey and Simp kin and Marshall), which is not only replete with intelligence respecting the foreign mining associations, but also with various excellent details and remarks on every species of mining in the British dominions. |