fhew the veftiges of their internal ftructure; for every cube is compofed of fix quadrangular hollow pyramids, joined by their apices and external furface. Each of thefe pyramids is filled up by others fimilar, but gradually decreafing; and then the form is completed. By a due degree of evaporation, it is no difficult matter to obtain thete pyramids feparate and distinct, or fix of fuch, either hollow, or more or lefs falid, joined toge her round a center. "If we examine the hollow pyramid of falt feparately, we fhall find it compofed of four triangles, and each of thefe formed of threads para.lel to the bafe; which threads, upon accurate examination, are found to he nothing more than ferics of finall cubes."†

The perfect crystallization of the falt can, however, take place only under the circumftances above mentioned, a freedom fron agitation, and from too rapid an evaporation of the water which holds the fait in folution; and it is principally on the prefence or abfence of thefe caufes that the variation in the appearance of the falt manufactured in Chefhire depends.

The manufacture is conducted in three different ways, or, rather, heat is applied in three different degrees, to effect the evaporation of the water of folurion.

1. In making the foved, or lump falt, as it is called, the brine is brought to a boiling-heat, (which, in brine fully faturated, is 226 of Fahrenheit,) and it is continued nearly at this heat during the formation of the falt. The little chryftal is no fooner formed, than, by the agitation of the brine, it fubfides to the bottom of the pan. If taken out, it appears, at firft Sight, to be granular, or a little flaky; but, if more accurately examined, it is found to approach to the form of a little quadrangular, though fomewhat irregular, pyramid.

2. In making the common falt, the chryftallization is carried on with the brine heated to 160 or 170 degrees of Fahren

heit. The falt formed in this process is in quadrangular pyramids or hoppers, clofe and compact in their texture, frequently clustered together, and larger or finaller, according to the degree of heat which has been applied. Little cubical crystals will often be intermixed with, and attached to, these.

3. To make the large-grained, or fifbery falt, the brine is brought to a heat from 100 to 110 of Fahrenheit; and at this heat the evaporation of the water and the cryftallization of the falt proceed.No agitation is produced by it on the brine; and the flowness of the evaporation allows the muriate of foda to form in large, nearly cubical, crystals, seldom, however, quite per fect.

Though the outward form of the falt produced by thefe varied proceffes is very diffimilar, there is scarcely any difference, as has appeared by the experiments which have been given, in its degree of purity. Indeed, the different proceffes, infead of being regarded as diftinct ones, might, perhaps with more propriety, be confidered as gradations in the fame procefs, interrupted only by the agitation which the heat gives to the brine. In the ftoved-falt, where the agitation is greateft, only a small portion of the little pyramid has been formed. In the common falt, the heat and agitation during the cryftallization, being lefs, the hollow pyramid is completed. In making the large-grained fishery-falt, there being no agitation, the little pyramids are enabled to un te, and to form into cubes.

That thefe are facts, is readily proved by rediffolving the large-grained fisheryfalt, and applying a boiling-heat to the brine thus made. We then procure a granular or flaky falt, refembling the ftovedfalt; while, on the other hand, if we rediffolve the ftoved-falt, and evaporate the water of folution at a heat of roo degrees, we fhall procure large cubical cryftals of muriate of foda.

Since, from the experiments which have been mentioned, and the detail of facts which has been given, it is evident that the falt manufactured in Cheshire is procured from fources much purer than bay-falt, or than falt of any other manualmoft pure muriate of foda, and has facture: fince it has appeared that it is ap fcarcely any admixture of earthy-falts: fince the falt made by the different proceffes, and the application of varied degrees of heat, differs only in outward

4

form

form, and not in its component parts: fince this falt has been found, by long experience, not only in Great Britain, but in the different countries to which it has been every year to largely exported, to be a moft excellent preferver of animal-fleth from putrefaction; and fince thefe different countries have been free from the contagious diseases wh.cn have prevailed in America-the conclufion feems obvioufly to follow, either that the author of the paper above-mentioned can have no foundation for his abufe of the falt imported from England into America, or that there must have been fome mifma nagement in the application of it.

From the account which has been given of the variation in the figure of the falt procured by the different procelles of manufacture in Chefhrre, it will readily be conceived that tele, though differing little in purity, may admit of very various application in the prefervation of animalfleth and provifions.

For table ufe, for the falting of butter, and for various domestic purposes, a preference is given, both in England and in the different countries of Europe to which it is fo largely exported, to the falt prepared by a boiling-heat; the fmalinefs of its grain better fitting it for these purpofes.

For the fame reason, and from the readinefs with which it diffolves, this falt is well adapted for making the pickle ufed for Ariking the meat, which is the first part of the procefs in curing fish, and preferving animal-flesh.

For the packing of fish and provifions, it is by no means fo proper as the common or large-grained fifhery falt; and, as might be expected, it is found, when applied to this purpofe, not to preferve them equally well from putrefaction; for, being fo ready of folution, the whole of it is formed into brine, which, be ng forced out from betwixt the layers of fleth of fish, by the preffure of thee on each other, the different portions of animalmatter come into clofe contact, without having any falt left interpofed. Whereas, when the falt of larger grain is ufed, a confiderable part of i long remains undiffolved, feparating the different portions of meat, admitting, in fome degree, the brine to flow betwixt the layers, and furnifhing a conftant fupply of faturated brine, from the folution of the falt in the fluids exuding from the animal matter, to every part of the packed provifions.

H. P.

To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine.

SIR,

IF the Danes themselves have just cause

IF

of complaint, that the study of their language is neglected even by the learned of their own nation, this reproach undoubtedly ought not to be extended to those who are unacquainted with it in other countries. Notwithstanding this difcouragement, several valuable publications have lately appeared in Denmark in their native drefs, of which I intend, from time to time, to send you some account. In the lift of thofe, Mr. Suhm's Hiftory of Denmaik has undoubtedly the first claim to public attention. This truly respectable historian was a gentleman of eafy fortune, highly cultivated talents, and amiable manners: he devoted a long life to the execution of this work, which he has not founded on thofe tales that float on the breath of tradition, nor the relations of thole who believe with little examination, "or the confidence of others, who expect to be believed without any:" by fo doing, he has brought back the hiftory of his country to what it fhould be, a School of inftruction. He has weighed every doubtful point, even in the times of intellectual darkness, with philofophic precifion, and the temper of a man in the pursuit of truth; for undoubtedly, as Mr. Burke fays, it is to be lamented "that heats are kindled among wife and learned men upon fubjects, which in themselves feem the leaft of all others of a nature to rouze the paffions." As the most interefting part of this hiftory, to the English reader, will be found in that period when the United Kingdom was connected with Denmark either by treaties, or involved in war, I propofe to furnish you occafionally with a tranflation of tome of thofe articles, as well as o hers that relate to the manners, laws, &c. of thofe times, which are now called rude and barbarous, from Snorra Sturiefen, Speculum, Regale, and other writers, fcarcely known in this country.

As I have mentioned Mr. Subm, perhaps a faint outline of his hiftory may not be unacceptable. The tile runs thus, "A History of Denmark from the oldeft Times to the Year 1095." It confifts of four volumes, quarto, with a Supplement. In the first volume, the writer traces the origin of the Danes up to the remoteft antiquity:-weak in the beginning, he pro

ceeds to fhew, step by step, how they gathered ftrength by the addition of one province after another to their original territory. He then fhews how this rude and unpolished people affumed, by degrees, a national character, when violence yielded fomewhat to law, and when all the rules of natural juftice were enforced. He then traces their naval expeditions to Spain, Italy, France, England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, &c. In the fecond volume, he exhibits the internal ftrength, and foreign conquefts, of the Danes. This fubject is alfo continued through a large portion of the third volume. In the fourth, he points out the fatal effects of the inordinate ambition of a state that wishes to extend its conquefts beyond certain bounds. The fupplement is interefting, as it comes down to a period in which our monkish historians began to fhed fome light on the history of our own country, and when mankind were not content to wrap themselves up in the gloom of legendary tales. Westminster, May 12, 1804.

C. H. WILSON.

ACCOUNT of the MURDER of PRINCE ALFRED in 1036, from the DANISH of

MR. SUHM.

"England ftood thus on the death of Hardeknud, who was at one

Knud:

time confidered by the English as the heirapparent to the throne, according to the arrangement of Knud and Emma, was abfent in Denmark, which he was heir to, and which he governed as regent. The best and most of the English writers, as well as the encomialt of Emma, agree in in this ; fo that little credit is to be given to fome later hiftorians, who fay, that he was in England at the time of his father's death: for if this had been the cafe, he would have feized immediately on the English crown. Harald, Knud's fon by Alifa, was present in England, when his

Out of this clafs Ingulphus, who died in 1109, must be excepted. This writer afferts, p. 894 and 895, that Hardeknud was in England at the time of his fathers death; and that he, after a divifion of the kingdom between himself and his brother Harald, went to Denmark. It is not probable, however, that he would have quitted the country at a moment when public opinion was in fuch a doubtful ftate. Befides, the affairs of Denmark made it neceffary that he fhould vifit that kingdom previous to his father's death, fo that he might be ready to affume the fovereignty of it as foon as that event took place.

MONTHLY MAG. No. 115.

father died; and poffeffed at the time, a part of Scotland as his patrimony. He was young, lively, and affable; and, through these qualities, had won the hearts of the Danes fettled in England, as well as many of the English themselves. It fhould not then be matter of furprize, if he embraced fo favourable an opportunity to afcend the English throne, in the abfence of his brother, who was already in poffeffion of a kingdom; fo that, according to the opinion of those days, it was thought equitable that the fecond fon fhould have a kingdom alto. For, notwithstanding his father was a Dane, yet his mother was an English woman, which weighed very much in his favour with the natives; and in order to ftrengthen his claims to the English fceptre, h's party gave out, that his father himself, in his laft moments, had declared him to be his fucceffor. Several English writers do not hesitate to affert, that his father had divided his dominions in the following manner; namely, that he bequeathed England to Harald, Denmark to Hardeknud, and Norway to Svend. This affertion does not even bear the femblance of probability; because it is well known, that Knud wifhed to unite the crowns of England and Denmark, as the fubjugation of the former had coft him fo much blood and

look

up

treafure for this very purpose; and besides, the Danes conceived that they had a claim on England on that account: yet, setting this afide, it is not likely that he would oppose the wishes of his beloved Emma, to whom he had promised, that Hardeknud, his and her fon, fhould fucceed to the crown of England; and in order that his intention in this refpect should be the more fully understood, the English, at the exprefs defire of the king, were taught to The encomiaft, in addition to this, fays, to him as his immediate fucceffor. that Hardeknud, in the life time of his father, was appointed regent over all his dominions, Norway excepted. And in other places, he fays, that Knud and Emma always treated him as the heir apparent, and allowed him an establishment to maintain the dignity of that title. This was fo well known, and fo clearly underfood, that Harald and his party, in the beginning, ventured no further than to fay, that Harald only wifhed to rule the kingdom in truit for his brother Hardeknud. And Roger Hovedon fays, that notwithstanding Harald affumed the reins of government, yet he did not rule with the authority of his father, becaufe a more lawful heir, namely, Hardeknud, 3 N

was

was expected from Denmark. This laft named prince had a powerful partizan in the famous Earl Godwin, whofe attachment to him arofe in fome degree from the favours which Knud and Emma had heaped on him, but still more from his unbounded ambition; because he conceived, that if the two crowns fhould be united under one head, the king muft neceffarily be ablent on fome occafions in Denmark, which would not be the cafe if each kingdom was governed by its own monarch. The earl's wife besides was a Dane. Hardeknud had also an additional fource of power in his mother's treasures; for immediately on the death of the king, Emma removed to a nunnery at Winchefter, and carried with her all the money that Knud had left her, which the pro mifed to give to her favourite the moment he landed in England. Hardeknud's party, in order to weaken the intereft of Harald, fpread a report that he was not the fon of Knud, but that his mother artfully feigned that he was pregnant, and that on her pretended lying-in, the fon of a fhoe maker was privately conveyed to her chamber, which the paffed off as the fon of the king. But as Knud had a fecond fon, Svend, by the fame queen, they they alfo gave out that he was the fon of a priest, and that the king never fufpected the deceit. Thus every bafe attempt was made, through the wicked medium of party views, to blacken the memory of the innocent mother, in order to impair the intereft of her fons. But what will not ambition do, when the object is a crown!

"The banished English Princes, Alfred and Edward, (the fons of Ethelred by Emma,) were carce ever thought of, though they lived in a neighbouring state; namely, Normandy. They could expect no affiftance to regain their right from the Duke of Normandy, who was then only eight years old and it is well known, that their own mother bore them little affection, as he never lked their father; but was fond of Knud; and all her maternal affections were certered in Hardeknud; fo that the exiled princes had but a fmall party in England, which was then divided between Hardeknud and Harald. Matters had now come to fuch a crifis, that every thing bore the appearance of a civil war; in the dread of that event, men, women, and children, fled for refuge to the monafteries. The thinking part of the natives, anxious to avert such an aw. ful irritation of Providence, propofed that a meeting should be held at Oxford, in

2

order that the fenfe of the heads of the nation might be taken on the fituation of public affairs. Both parties accordingly met, the powerful Earl Leofric of Leicefter, was called to the chair; and after a very stormy debate, it was at length refolved, that Harald fhould be invested with the regal power, fo long as his brother Hardeknud remained in Denmark. Earl Godwin, and all the nobility in Weffex, opposed this refolution; but on finding that it was likely to be carried by a large majority, they yielded to it at laft. The artful Earl Godwin though he yielded, did it with a view of gaining time, in hopes that, in the interval, Hardeknud would come over from Denmark. And as he faw that Harald entertained fome fears from the party of the exiled princes, which was gathering ftrength in England, he began to contrive how he might improve that circumftance in favour of Hardeknud; and at the fame time, he wished to get rid of thofe unhappy exiles, who might one day prove a thorn in the fide of his favourite. Harald and the earl laid a plot together, with different views undoubtedly, to take away their lives. To accomplish this abominable end, Harald caufed the following letter to be written to Alfred and Edward, in the name of Einma :-" Deareft fons, at the fame time that we lament the death of our lord and king, and that your lawful kingdom is daily rent in pieces from you, it fills me with furprize to think that you can remain quiet under fuch afflicting circumftances. The ufurper, who has feized on your rights, gathers daily ftrength. He flies from place to place, and through promifes, gifts, entreaties, and threats, adds to the number of his partizans ; yet, withal, they would much rather that one of you fhould rule over them, than one who has impofed an intolerable yoke on them. I earnestly requeft that one of you will come hattily and privately over to me, that we may confult what is best to be done on an occafion that will not admit of the least delay. Let me know by the bearer what you intend to do. Live and be happy, vitals of my heart." Alfred, the youngeft, with his brother's confent, on the receipt of this letter, prepared to fet out for England. In his way he called on Baldwin Earl of Flanders, who kindly received him, and advifed him in vain to take a party of his own foldiers with him; but Alfred thought himfelf fufficiently fecure with a party of men that he found in Boulogne ready to accompany him. Having landed at Sand

wich,