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tract of country, in every direction; infomuch, that many of the common quarries, for feveral miles around, feent to be only abortive attempts towards the production of a Giants Causeway *." I fhall now fubjoin the proniifed remarks, which are fo original and fatiffactory, that every judicious reader will join with the writer of this letter, in hoping that they will be refumed and given to the publick in a more extended form; and, let me add, that the teftimony of fo accurate a judge, of the correctness of Mr. Robinfon's delineation, will raise it high in the opinion of perfons of fcience t. A. B. Remarks on the Accounts given by Naturalifts of the GIANTS CAUSEWAY. THE Bafaltic Pillars, which in the laft thirty years have been difcovered in various parts of France and Germany, and the Hebrides, have excited much attention, and occafioned many controverfies among modern Naturalifts.

The Giants Caufeway was the firft affemblage of fuch pillars that attracted notice, and is ftill admitted by all to be the neatest and most perfect group hitherto difcovered; but in point of inag nificence, the particular fpot called the Giants Caufeway is inferior to many others on the fame coaft. Mr. Pennant probably knew of no other columns in the North of Ireland when he pronounced, that "Bafalt Pillars in Staffa far exceed the Irish in grandeur." He was little aware that our Bafaltic country, and efpecially our coaft, exhibits many miles of valt perpendicular precipices, lined with Bafalt columns, in parallel ranges, with a magnificence unrivalled in any other part of the world.

The colonade at Fairhead, in the coaft of Antrim, is proved, in Nicholfon's Philofophical Journal for December, 1801, far to exceed Staffa in grandeur; its columns being each 250 fect long; that is, near five times as long as the tallest pillars at Staffa.

Nor is our fuperiority confined to the grandeur alone; our towering and

extenfive precipices difclose to the Naturalift the materials and arrangement of the ftrata of which this country is compofed, difplaying a variety of the Bafalt, of different forms and of a diffe rent principle of -conftruction, internal and external; fuch as is not met with or not noticed in any other part of the world.

As we row along the bafe of these ftupendons Façades, we enjoy a fcenery magnificent beyond defcription, and difcover many curious circumstances, which have hitherto efcaped the notice of Naturalifts: I will mention one.

The Giants Causeway, compared by Dr. Hamilton to a mole or quay, and fuppofed by Meffrs. Defmarelt and Rafpe to be a jet or current of lava running into the fea from the bafe of a volca nic hill, now appears to be a part of one of the original ftrata of our globe, placed at its interfection with the plane of the fea. This ftratum is forty-four feet thick, and entirely compofed of Bafalt Pillars of that length: it is in clined to the horizon in a finall angle, and, when traced from the Caufeway Eaftward, afcends obliquely along the face of the precipiece. It culminates at the distance of about a mile from the Caufeway: its upper furface is now elevated near 250 feet above the furface of the fea: proceeding Eaftward it dips and finally immerges at Portmoon, twó miles Eaft from the Caufeway, forming at its immerfion the vafes of two beautiful conical islands.

Magnificent as the colonades may be fuppofed, which this ftratum difplays in fo extenfive a courfe across the face of thefe mighty precipices, they are by no means our fineft; the fira tum next but one above this is eleven feet thicker, and of courfe the pillars, of which it alfo is entirely composed, are fifty-five feet each, and its extent is fomewhat greater than the former. The intermediate ftratum is compofed of another varietyof Bafalt, prifmatic, but not columnar: this is fifty-four feet thick. The Giants Caufeway ftratum where

* Appearances of the fame kind have occurred 40 miles distant, near Dromore, in a quarry in the Bifhqp's demelne land, which is beyond the limits marked in Dr. Hamil ton's map of the Bafalt Country annexed to his letters. The country people here and in the North of England, and even naturalifts in Scotland, ufe the tern Whin-Stone as fynonymous to Bafalt. Porphyry, I prefume, is only another name for it.

This picture is to be difpofed of by raffle to one hundred fubfcribers at one guinea each, of which near ninety have given their names. Mr. Robinfon is a native of Winderniere, in Weftmoreland, and was a pupil of Romney's. Of the poetical talents of bim and his infant fon, lee our Magazine for February last, p. 156,

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it attains its greatest height is the eighth, counting from the fea; all the lower ones immerge in fucceflion as we approach Portmoon; and where this firatum finely immerges, it has eight over it, four of them columnar, the pillars being of very different lengths, determined by the thickness of the ftratum. But in each feparate ftratum the diameters of the pillars, and the perfection or imperfection of their conftruction, appear pretty much the fame, while the whole mafs of the ftrata are steadily parallel to each other.

When I laft fummer found at the Giants Caufeway an ingenious and riding artist, Mr. Robintou, whom I knew to be bighly favoured by my friend the Bishop of Dromore, employed to make a drawing of it, I at first thought I would have directed him to parts of the coaft, which would have afforded him fubjects of greater beauty as well as novelty, But, upon reflection, I think he has made the best choice, as the name of the Giants Cafeway will probably excite an attention to the fubject and the artift, which more ftupendous fcenery could not have procured with fuch as had not feen it. It remains, then, to relate a few particulars belonging to this wonderful production of Nature, and to give a brief ftatement of the controverfies to which it has given rife among modern naturalifts.

The Giants Causeway has been often compared to an honeycomb, which it certainly refembles much; but accurate obfervers find a very firiking difference between their component prifms. The powers of the bee feem to be limited; he can conftruct his cell of no other figure than a regular hexagon, that is, with fix fides.

Mathematicians well know that the hexagon is the only regular figure (with more fides than four), of which a number put together compleatly fill up Грасе.

Yet it appears that in the Giants Caufeway, the fpace is completely filled without any fuch limitation, figures of every number of fides from three to eight (as Dr. Hamilton obferves) being intermixed, yet the fpace is as accurately filled up as in the honeycomb, and fo clofely as to hold water when an hollow in the furface fuffers it to collect.

The extreme regularity of the Giants Caufeway pillars has much embarrafled

:

Naturalifis fome afcribe their regularity to crystalization; but the celebrated Mr. Kirwan has fhewn that in many particulars thefe prifins differ from all known crystals.

Some modern Philofophers follow the opinion of a French Naturalist, a M. Definareft, who fuppofed the Giants Caufeway to be of volcanic origin, and that its regular prifins were formed in the currents of lava as they cooled, To this it has been strongly objected that fimilar figures have not been found in the currents of any known volcano.

Dr. Hamilton and M. Monnet alledge that thefe prifms were formed in the heart of the volcano, at the bottom of its crater, and that we muft wait until the mountain decays before we can difcover them.

But they cannot have been formed there, as regular bafalt prifins abound on the tops of mountains, and alfo fo veral ranges of them are found placed alternately one over the other, forming accumulations many firata deep and moft regularly difpofed, which, had they been in the crater of a volcano muft have all melted into one mafs; befides, thefe gentlemen make us wait too long for proof.

Mr. Rafpe, obferving that the Giants Caufeway ran into the fea, and conceiving it to be a current of lava, fuppofed that fome unknown quality in the falt water, together with the fudden cooling, occafioned the material, of which it was compofed, to affume regular forms.

But many currents of lava have been found in different parts of the world running into the fea, while prifins, like thofe at the Giants Caufe, have not been obferved at any of them.

An attentive examination of our coaft fhews the weakness of Mr. Rafpe's Theory, though warmly adopted by Mr. Dolomien; for although Bafalt Pillars and colonades abound in the faces of our precipices hanging over the fea for twenty iniles; yet columnar Bafalt comes into contact with the faltwater but in three points; to wit, the two interfections of the Giants Caufeway ftratum mentioned above, and at Carrickarede, five miles Eastward.

Dr. Hutton, adhering to the igneous fyftem, but giving up the ufual mode of producing lava by volcanic eruption, affirms that all Bafalt (the ftone of which the Giants Causeway is formed). is Love, fuit fufed, and then confoli

dated

dated in the bowels of the earth, whence it was elevated to its furface, and to the tops of our mountains, by Abe expanfive force of fabterranean fire. Wild as this fafhionable theory muft appear, and contrary to all probability, at is alfo unfupported by any fpecies of proof, and contradicted by facts in every part of this country; for instead of the diftucation and conterfion of the Stratz, which according to his Theory, te fays, we malt expect, (Edinburgh Tranfactions, vol. 1. p. 265), and infiead of finding them, as he fays, we do, * in every poffible position, from hori zontal becoming vertical, from continuous broken, and feparated in every pobly direction, from a plane bent and doubled," nothing can exceed the regularity with which the firata are difpofed over the whole face of this Badali country, nor does their fieady parallelifin feem ever to be difturbed.

Though Bafalt has for a long time been pretty generally confidered as à volcanic productos, yet more accurate modern obfervers have difcovered maay circumfiances which fhew it never could have been a fufion-for inftace,

All lavas abound with air-holes, while not a fingle cavity is to be found in any of our Bafalts, except what are

mentioned below.

All lavas are accompanied by feoria, nos a particle of which is to be found at the Giants Caufeway, or any where

on our coat *.

Currents of lava are ftated by Sir William Hamilton, Ferber, and SpaJanzani, always to vary in their deufay; their materials being generally arranged according to their peeific grawives: thos, at the bottom compact lava, then cellular lava, then feoria, Battly einders and volcanic afhes. Now st Bafalt be of volcanic origin, our frase muût be currents of lava, of courfe hald be governed by the fine rule: antiead of which, every Bafalt firatum

here is of uniform denfity and uniform naterial from top to bottom.

Marine fhells and their impreffions have lately been difcovered in fome of our Bafaltst: this proves they never were in fufion, as fuch fubftances calcine and turn into line with a very moderate heat.

Bafalt pillars have also been lately found with cavities filled with fresh wa ter; a fact incompatible with igneous fufiont.

Mr. Kirwan derives every thing fro aqueous folution; and fays, that the material of which our Caufeway is formed was Split into .columns by de ficcation.

Eminent as this great man undoubt edly is, in the chemical and mineralogicaf branches of Natural Hiftory, yet, on this fubject, his theory feems to be as infufficient as thofe of any of his predeceffors; for his fyftem does not ac count for the delicate articulations of our pillars, by far the most curious circonfiance attending them, and mot happily exhibited in different points of view in the prefent picture.

This theory too is incompatible with the different ranges or firata of pillars placed on one another with folid rock between them.

But, above all, it is contradicted by fact, our pillars being in clofe contact with each other, as appears by their furface holding water whereas, had they been formed by their fubftance fplitting on deficcation, great intervals muft have exifted between them.

From all this, it muft appear, that Philofophers have not yet difcovered the process adopted by Nature, in the conftruction of this beautiful and âupendons work; but though we cannot penetrate the fecret of her operations, it is with pleasure we admire her magnificence, especially when joined to the not conftimimate neatnefs; and where are both fo abundantly displayed, as at

i

* Some travellers bave thought they oblerved velges of fire and feria of iron; but, if they trail broke the flones, they would trave found they had been deceived by the exderior appearance, and that the internal structure was in empatible with any fuch principle. Some topes which have been picked up on our coaft have been produced as exlabaing real marks of fire; but thefe had been uted in forming hearths for the burning' of kelp.

+ Thefe had not been difcovered when D., Hamilton's book was published.'

That foch water could not poffibly have get trough any chinks or clefts between the bafalt columns will be fhewn below, for nothing can be more compact and clofely joined, fo as not to admit the minuten interval. Indeed, this water is always found as-akind of nucleus, within the molt compact part of the tone, and juclosed in a glazed co vercle, or gloffy thell, which feems to have formed its nidus from the first formation of its trony bed.

the

the Giants Caufeway and its vicinity The toils of a journey are amply repaid by the contemplation of fuch wonderful objects; and to those who are too dittant for fuch an expedition, Mr. Robinfon's fine picture, finished on the Spot, and now at Belfast, will give a better idea of the Giants Caufeway, and its towering promontories, than any thing of the kind yet attempted.

PERM

W. R.

Mr. URBAN, Gloucefter, May 10. ERMIT me to communicate an infcription that the late Sir Wm. Draper defigned for his obelik at Clifton, which he raised to the memory of the late Lord Chatham. If you should think it worthy of a place in your valuable Mifcellany, as the production of an elegant Latin fcholar, it may afford a degree of fatisfaction to one of your conftant readers, that he has contributed thus much, though at fecond-hand, to a choice collection of materials with which your publication is monthly acknowledged to abound. Yours, &c. C. H.

I add a fragment of Sir Wm. Draper's Letter addreffed to Wm. Gordon, efq.. who occupied the houfe at Clifton, called Manilla Hall, in the year 1781.

"This war is a moft troublefome bulinefs even in its molt profperous ftate: I wonder that the purfes as well as patience of the nation are not totally exhaufted. I profefs that my political eyes bave not difcernment enough to difcover, how a decrease of commerce and an increase of enemies can end, but in our total ruin, unlefs a fpeedy ftop be put to the conteft. I fee by the papers, that 24 millions are wanting for the year, and voted accordingly. It was a bold stroke-but what Poloft have we taken to fornifh the meaus? I read of no naval victories; undecifive engagements are bad omens at fea.

I wish my honeti praife of the dead may not be mifconstrued into fatire against the living. 1 with moft fincerely, that every line may be appro priated to lord N. at the conclusion of the war. His good qualities deferve better fuccefs than he has met with; but he has more enemies to firuggle with, and more difficulties to conquer.

"If you think proper to inferibe the

following written lines on the pillar,
they are entirely at your letvice."
Catera defunt

by Sir W. Draper, to the memory of
An infeription for an obelisk raised
the late. Lord Chatham, and fent
W. Gordon, efq, to be infetibed
thereon, 1781.

"Viro memorabili, invicto, *
qui in dubiis rebus trepiar que
patriæ laboranti

vindicem fe impavidum obtúlít,
ruentis imperii ftætor,

confilii et exempli fingularis au&tór,
qui grandia aufus et affecutus
Britanniæ gloriam,

jam propè intermortuam,
refufcitabit, adauxit,

qui orbem ferè univerfam animo complexus
hoftibus ubique profligatis,
Europam, Afiam, Africam, Americam,
victoriis peragravit,
triumphis illuftravit,
GULIELMO PITT."

Mr. URBAN,

May 29

YOU will rejoice to hear that Mr. commemorated, with great fellivity, in PITT's birth-day was yesterday Merchant Taylors Hall, Threadneedleftreet, by a company feldom equalled for rank and refpectability of character.

Among thofe prefent were the
Dukes of Rutland and Montrofe.-Mar-
quifles Cornwallis, Townshend, Buck-
ingham, Exeter, Worcelter-Earls
Spencer, Camden, Welimorland, EL,
fex, Cowper, Gower, Eution, Temple.→→
Lords Romney, Whitworth, Carrings
ton, Grenville, Loftus, Wallingham
Morpeth, Gwydir, Bruce, Hawkef
bury, Rolle, Hood, Catlereagh, R.
Seymour, F. Campbell, W. Gordon,
Braybrook, Yarinouth, Woodhouse,
Mulgrave, Bayning, Hervey, G. L
Gower, Louvaine, and Villiers.-The
Attorney and Solicitor-General.-Ad-
miral Berkeley.-Generals
Egerton, Gafcoigne.Sirs. R. Peele,
W. W. Wynne, R. Buxton, H. Mild-
may, R. Vaughan,, J. Wrottelley, S..
Stewart, Chriftopher Banes.--Alder-
men Curtis, Anderson, Price, Flower,
&c.The doors were opened foon,
after 4, when the company collected in
vast numbers-The three rooms were
occupied as follows:

The large room contained
The fecond room
The third room

Lenox,

505.

250

149 ---904

The number who fat down exceeded that for which the dinner had been

ordyted

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ordered at a Guinea a head by four. The dinner, which was from the London Tavern, was ferved up about a quarter paft 6, and was of a very fupenór kind, both in quantity and quality. When "The King" was given as a toatt, all the company joined in "God Save the King!" "The Queen," "The Prince and Princefs of Wales," The Duke of York, and all the reft of the Royal Family," after wards followed, and were moft cordially given. Earl Spencer (who was in the chair), previously to his propofing Mr. Pitt's health, wifhed to ftate to the company, that he had that morning received a letter, which he read, the fubftance of which was, "that Mr. Pitt had received with much pride information of the honour which his Lordship, and those who compofed the meeting, intended to confer on him that day; that, however thankful he was for this teftimony of their regard, he begged that his lordship would make his belt excufes for declining his perfonal attendance; that the occafion of the meeting would belt point out the delicate propriety of his abfence; but that no man could recollect with greater pleafure and refpect fuch a very flatter. ing diftinction of his friends." Earl Spencer, after reading the letter, fhortly obferved, that although they all fincerely regretted his abfence, yet that none would the lefs cordially unite with him in drinking" Mr. Pitt," to whom this country was fo much indebted for the prefervation of its rights and liberties. The toaft, with three times three, was londly reiterated from all parts of the room, accompanied by univerfal huzzas, and the waving of bats and handkerchiefs, in teftimony of the most cordial approbation. Dignum augmented the general joy by an Anacreontic Song, written by Mr. George Rofe; and, after the tumult of general applaufe had in fome degree abated, Earl Spencer gave The Wooden Walls of Old England;" which was immediately followed by the glee of "Britain's best Bulwarks are her Wooden Walls." Sir Robert

Peele called attention to a propofition

he had to fubinit to the meeting; he
fhould make no apology for the toaft
he was about to propofe, but gave
"The Worthy Chairman." This met
with enthufiaftic approbation. Lord
Spencer remarked, that it was impof-

fible for him to exprefs the fentiments. he felt for the diftinguished honour which had been thus conferred upon him; he fhould therefore content himfelf with thanking the company moft cordially, and drinking to "The Health of all prefent," The glee of "The mighty Conqueror of Hearts, followed the toaft of the " Army and Navy of the United Kingdom."-"The Lord Mayor and City of London" was given with univerfal applaufe; and the glee of the "New Mariners," was next fung. Earl Spencer then addrefled the company-"We have heard with pleature a very excellent glee refpecting

the Stormy Winds," and I now beg leave to give you, "The Pilot that weathered the Storm." The toaft produced the moft enthufiaftic applause, and Mr. Dignum gave an excellent fong, which was written by Mr. Canning

In the courfe of the evening a variety of other toafts were given; as, "The British Army and its brave Commanders!"-"The Memory of Lord Howe and the First of June, 94 !"-" Earl St. Vincent, and the Fourteenth of February!"-"Lord Duncan, and the memorable Battle of Camperdown!""Lord Nelfon, and the glorious Battle of the Nile!"-" General Abercromby, and the brave Heroes of Egypt !" Then Earl Spencer gave, "The Throne; the Virtues that fill it, and the Councils that preferv'd it!" This was very loudly applauded. At a quarter before 10, Earl Spencer, looking round how to conclude the evening handsomely, gave again the toast of "The Pilot who weathered the Storm ;" and the last song was repeated with ftill greater enthufi afin. After this Earl Spencer gave, "The Merchant Taylors Company; and thanks to the Mafter, Wardens, and Court of Afliftants, for the ufe of their Hall. The health of Marquis Cornwallis was then propofed, and drank with the moft general and enthufiaftic acclamation. The company broke up about half after 10. Civis.

Mr. URBAN, Slawson, Apr. 20.

I up has any medicinal virtues;

WISH to know whether Ketch

and if any, what they are; having lately heard of its being used in America, and the West Indies, as a, preventative or cure for the Yellow Fever. Yours, &c. J. TAILBY.

*Thefe excellent Songs fhall both appear in our next. EDIT.

Mr.

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