1

The appearance of the cryftals of falts is the laft object of our author's attention. He feems, in his explanation of cryftallization, to confider the water of cryftalization to be effential to the form of the cryftal; but for this opinion there feems to be no very good foundation. The water appears to be mechanically intangled in the falts; and, instead of its escape destroying the cryftal, it appears to escape, because the cryftal is deftroyed. In explaining thefe phænomena, however, if we allow a polarity in the fmall particles of the falt, we must neceffarily admit of two poles; for attraction alone is not fufficient, unless we add to their properties an elective attraction, which probably does not take place, without fome degree of repulfion.-A list of the objects proper for the microfcope follow, that obfervers, as our author remarks, may not be contented alone with the few objects, which are generally fold with the inftrument, and confider it as a spectacle which is begun and finished with a display of this limited scene. Indeed, his whole work is better adapted to prevent views fo confined: by roufing the mind, and inducing the obferver to look through every part of nature, he can alone prevent the microscope from becoming the plaything of children of a larger fize.

The volume is illuftrated by above thirty plates, of rather unequal merit. The beft are executed, as the French term it, en noir, in imitation of drawings with Indian ink, with great accuracy and beauty: even the inferior ones are clear and expreffive. The frontispiece is extremely beautiful: the light, proceeding from a fine figure of Truth, with one or two little exceptions only, is managed with fingular skill. The engravings not only reprefent the different kinds of microfcopes, but a great variety of different objects magnified.

Though, in our examination of these effays, we have found much to praife, yet we must not indulge ourselves in indifcriminate panegyric, the refuge of indolence, and a careless examination. We think, that he has omitted to defcribe a very curious, and, in the phyfiology of vegetation, an interesting fcene, viz. the appearance of the pollen, in hot water, the bursting of the elastic covering of each grain, and the escape of the fmaller atoms, the true farina. There are other omiffions in the vegetable part, at leaft of equal if not fuperior importance, to many things which are admitted; particularly the late difcoveries of Hedwig, relating to the parts of fructi fication of moffes and mushrooms.

The number is thirty-one, but fome of them are repeated under the fame title.

The

We can

The effays are fometimes enlivened, as Mr. Adams will probably call it, by poetical quotations, and occafionally by profe run mad. This method is difpleafing to a philofopher: it breaks the chain of his reflections, and leads to the mortifying reflection, that philofophy is not fuppofed to be fufficiently interefting without thefe meretricious ornaments. not compliment Mr. Adams on his taste in the selection of his adventitious decorations: fome of them, like the jewels in the nofe of an Indian, only fhew how much deformity may be increased by misplaced finery. Mr. Adams's language is neat, but often philofophically incorrect. The references to the plates are, in fome inftances, faulty. Though thefe errors detract a little from the merit of the work, and the pleasure of the reader, yet, on the whole, this performance is Spectable one. In another edition, we would recommend a particular lift of the plates to be added, fince it is not easy, if we look at the engravings only, to find what they are intended to reprefent. Our author's next work, in this department of fcience, will be Aftronomical and Geographical Effays.

very re

A Tour through the Islands of Scotland, and the Hebride Ifles, in 1786. By John Knox. 8vo. 6s. in Boards. Walter. IT appears that the plan of improving the fisheries in Scot

land has much engaged Mr. Knox's attention for feveral years; and to promote this end, he has repeatedly written and published addreffes to the gentlemen of that country, and the public; which, with fome obfervations on the antiquities of Scotland, are prefixed to the narrative of the tour.

On examining this work, we find it to be an enlargement of a pamphlet published in 1784, under the title of A View of the British Empire, &c.' and of which we gave an account in our fifty-eighth volume.

'

The volume begins with a fhort account of the author's journey from London to Edinburgh, and thence to Oban, in Argylefhire; after which he gives a general defcription of the Weft Highlands and Hebride Ifles, between Oban and Cape Wrath, in the northern parts of Scotland. Oban, he obferves, is formed by nature, and by a combination of favourable cir-cumftances, for being a principal harbour, and a centrical mart for the South Highlands, and the numerous islands near that coaft. Here likewife he thinks that a royal dock and an arfenal would be extremely advantageous to the nation.

The next place which claims particular attention from this traveller, is the island of Lifmore, above feven miles in length by one in breadth, and containing fifteen hundred inhabitants. Here, as at Oban, he propofes that a town fhould be built for

the

the accommodation of fishermen; and two of the fame kind at proper distances in Mull; a large island, and conveniently fituated for trade and navigation.

Dr. Johnfon has told us, that a dinner in the western iflands differs very little from a dinner in England, except that in the place of tarts there are always different preparations of milk: and that their fuppers are like their dinners, various and plentiful. Mr. Knox remarks on this description, that the doctor forgets the great variety of wild fowl and fish at the tables of the islanders, which no people in England, except those of the first fortunes, can command; and even few of thofe can procure fuch variety in equal perfection.

The following is given as the bill of fare of a Highland breakfast.

A dram of whiskey, gin, rum, or brandy, plain, or infufed with berries that grow among the heath.

'French rolls; oat and barley bread.

'Tea and coffee; honey in the comb; red and black currant jellies; marmalade, conferves, and excellent cream.

'Fine flavoured butter, fresh and falted; Cheshire and Highland cheese, the last very indifferent.

A plateful of very fresh eggs.

'Fresh and falted herrings broiled

Ditto haddocks and whitings, the skin being taken off. 'Cold round of venifon, beef and mutton hams.

Befides these articles, which are commonly placed on the table at once, there are generally cold beef and moor-fowl to thofe who chufe to call for them. After breakfast the men amuse themfelves with the gun, fishing, or failing, till the evening, when they dine, which meal ferves, with fome families for fupper.'

Great Loch Broom has in all ages been celebrated for its herring fisheries, and is confequently the grand refort of the buffes from the towns on the Clyde, at the distance of two hundred miles or upwards. Whatever be the cause, the arrival of the herrings is faid to be more certain here than in any other part of the kingdom. Till of late, they were remarkable for their large fize, as well as their richness and flavour. Their richness, we are informed, continues the fame; but their size is diminished from five hundred to eight or nine hundred for each barrel.

Mr. Knox tells us, it has been obferved by the oldest men now living, that the fhoals of herrings do not frequent the coaft of Sutherland with that regularity and conftancy which is perceived on the fhores of Rofs-fhire. But though this uncertainty of the herrings furnishes a difcouraging circumftance against a fishing station, the cod and ling fishery is invariable

to

to those who can venture a confiderable way in the open fea, where the fish are large and inexhaustible and the great fishery off the fouth coaft of Iceland, to which there is an open fea, and no interruption whatever, is yet more important. The fubfequent extract affords strong reafons for erecting a town in this quarter.

Veffels which frequent that fishery from Holland and other parts, generally allow one month upon an average, for the outward bound paffage; but if a town was established at Loch Laxford, or Loch Inchard, the veffels from thence could run over with any wind, in three or four days. Other veffels have

to navigate the dangerous paffage of the Pentland Firth, or the channel between the Orkney and the Shetland islands; but between Cape Wrath and Iceland there are no lands, no interruption to the progrefs of the veffels through the night as well as the day.

Shipping from other parts, who have long outward and homeward voyages, generally chufe the longest day, which hap pens not to be the best season for cod: that fish is in its highest perfection between November and April, or the beginning of May at fartheft a circumftance which may throw the Iceland fishery almost entirely into the hands of the north-west inhabitants of Scotland, and particularly thofe upon lord Rae's eftate, The very oil extracted from fish taken in the Iceland feas might enrich the whole coaft in a few years.

But there is an argument in referve, that fuperfedes all other confiderations, and points out in the most forcible manner, the expediency of a town near Cape Wrath, even admitting that no fishery could be carried on from these shores, or near them.

• The diftance between Loch Inchard and Cape Wrath, and from thence to Loch Eribol on the north fea, is above twenty miles. In this long track, which to navigate requires different winds, there is no place where a veffel can fafely anchor in rough weather, or where the can receive the smallest affiftance to repair any damage the may have received in her voyage. The coaft to Cape Wrath is compofed of a perpendicular line of rock from 100 to 250 feet high, against which the fea breaks with inconceivable violence, throwing its fpray fometimes over the fummits, to a confiderable diftance upon the lands.

On the east fide of the Cape the fhore is exactly fimilar, ex-cepting the opening at Durnefs, which being moftly dry land at low water, no veffels approach it unlefs driven thither by ftress of weather, when they are inftantly stranded or broke to -pieces.

The effects of this inhofpitable fhore, which denies either an afylum or a fupply to the finking vcffel, falls heavy, as for merly obferved, upon the commerce of thefe kingdoms, befides the uumber of men who die through cold and fatigue, or who go down with the fhip to the bottom of the ocean. A town therefore

Therefore, at either of the above-mentioned places, would prove a most desirable boon to the fhipping of all the European nations, and particularly to thofe of Great-Britain and Ireland. Here able hip-carpenters might be accommodated with a graving dock, and furnished with all manner of materials for the immediate repair of fuch veffels as were forced thither through leaks, dent, rough weather, or contrary winds."

Mr. Knox informs us, that in different parts of his journey he expreffed a wish to fleep in the room which had been occupied by Dr. Johnson. What beneficial effect he experienced. from this nocturnal gratification we are not told, nor does it appear from his narrative. He feems to have been at great pains in examining the western coaft of Scotland in particu lar he points out feveral places where, he thinks, towns might be built with great advantage, towards promoting the fisheries; and for his exertions in endeavouring to excite the public attention to this important object, he is entitled to commendation.

Select Beauties of Ancient English Poetry; with Remarks by Henry Headley, A. B. 2 vols. 12mo. 8s. fewed. Cadell. FROM a period confiderably earlier than the reign of

queen Elizabeth, to the conclufion of the laft century, this nation has produced a race of poets, whofe works, though now neglected and forgotten, were once the delight and admi ration of the age in which they lived. Some of these have foared to the heights of the epic and dramatic mufe: fome have undertaken to illuftrate the annals of their country; and have beautified the plainnefs of hiftorical narration with the graces and ornaments of poetry: fome have fent their fancies to wander in the fairy regions of allegory, have embodied the virtues. and vices, the paffions and affections of man, and dreffed them out with all the charms of fiction. Some tranfport us into the calmnefs and repofe of rural fcenery; and entertain us with the artless loves of fhepherds: while others, on the contrary, have introduced us to the refined gallantries and politeness of cours. Some elevate our minds to the noblest fentiments of heroism and valour; and others foothe and fubdue us by the tendereft feelings of humanity. By a fate, however, not uncommon, they have funk into neglect: and the original editions are now become fo fearce, that few have an opportunity of confulting them. An attempt, therefore, to restore thefe writings to general notice, by the means of a republication, is certainly useful and commendable; fince it not only tends to gratify curiofity, but to ftrengthen and improve the Vol. LXV. Jan. 1788.

E

public