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broad and high. If, in following it, I have fometimes found, at its fides, other valleys running from east to weft, or in the contrary direction, these have been discovered to be very fhort, terminating on one fide in the high mountains, and on the other in the tranfverfe valley, which unites them all. It is in other refpects eafy to convince ourselves, by cafting an eye on a map of the Pyrenees, that the rivers have formed their beds from north to fouth, or in the contrary way; and that, of all the torrents which contribute to produce the Garonne and the Adour on one fide, and to augment the Ebro on the other, very few arife on the eaft or the weft. It would be to oppofe every principle of found philofophy, to believe that rivers burst through immense mounds, through the bofoms of vast mountains, rather than follow the natural hollows ready to receive them.

The mountain of Marbore is in reality the Mont Blanc of the Pyrenees its ftrata open on all fides in immenfe ravines and deep valleys; and its pics exceed, in height, those of the whole chain, M., Ramond, the favourite painter of Switzerland, has obferved, in the middle regions of Marbore, ice, which had the compactness and blue colour of that of the Alps. This mafs, however, was wholly calcareous. The obfervations which I have made in the valley of Eftaubé, confirmed by thofe of M. Ramond, have convinced me, that its ftrata, the fection of which on the fide of France appears horizontal, are inclined towards Spain in an angle of 45°. The whole of this calcareous mass, which I have examined on the fide of France, refts on granite, on argillaceous fchiftus, or on the intermediate flinty rocks.'

The height of Mont Perdu, the highest pic of Marbore, is about 1760 toifes; and our author thinks, with reason, that no part of the Pyrenees exceeds 1800 toifes: it is indeed probable that no point exceeds that of Mont Perdu in height.

Three ample memoirs on the nutrition of plants demand fome attention. In the firft, M. Haffenfratz fhows, we think decifively, that the root, or feed, contains carbone fufficient (for that is the only ingredient which air and water do not furnish) to bring the plant to a certain point; a point which does not reach to the production of feeds; for plants, in their embryo ftate, contain, like embryo animals, nourishment only for a certain period. In examining the boafted experiments of Van Helmont, Du Hamel, and Tillet, he proves that, when their plants went beyond this period, they had a communication with the earth. In the fecond memoir, the writer fhows, by a series of judicious experiments and logical reafoning, that the carbone is not acquired

by the decompofition of the carbonic acid; and in the third (which occurs in the fourteenth volume) he proves that it is conveyed to the plant, diffolved in the water by which it is nourished. Its fource is the earth.

The report of MM. Parmentier and Pelletier, on M. Grenet's method of making glue, is a valuable collection of the chemical methods of feparating gelatinous fubftances from animal matters. The inventor ufes bones, from which he feparates the glue with eafe and fimplicity. He fuppofes that the remains will make what we call ivory black; but the reporters obferve that the beauty of the black colour depends on the charred gelatina, and that from ivory is moft beautiful, because it contains the largeft portion of gluten.

M. Pelletier's experiments on the combination of tin with fulphur, are afterwards given. It is fuppofed, that not more than 20 pounds of fulphur can be united to a quintal of tin, without the affiftance of fome medium, as mercury, or crude fal ammoniac. M. Pelletier found that the tin was thus oxydated: he therefore endeavoured to unite the oxyd of the metal directly with fulphur; and he fucceeded, even in the humid way. He alfo examined the refult of the diftillation of the aurum mufivum (a compound. of tin and fulphur), either alone or with charcoal: and he has mentioned feveral new ways of preparing this fplendid fubstance, to which he has given the denomination of fulphu rated oxyd of tin.

The volume concludes with fome uninterefting extracts from Crell's annals.

The fourteenth volume begins with an account of the methods practifed by the peasants of the Black Foreft, in Suabia," to procure the falt of wood-forrel. It is generally known, that what is fold in England as the falt of lemons, is onlythe falt of wood-forrel, flavoured with the effential oil of the lemon-rind. The error, or the deception, is not great, for the falts are nearly the fame. We fear, however, from what we have lately obferved, that a worse fophiftication is sometimes practifed, and cream of tartar fubftituted in a large proportion. The true falt of wood-forrel is, we believe, occafionally prepared in this country; but much of it is imported from Germany; and chemists find, that the cost of labour and of fuel is confiderably greater than what is paid for the falt. The true procefs is therefore of importance, We cannot tranfcribe the whole, but may obferve, that the plant is not the acetofella, but the rumex acetola foliis fagittatis; and that the peasants feparate the mucilaginous parts by water, in which fine clay has been diffufed:

thefe afford, in burning, not an atom of alkali. Two cryftallifations render the falt fufficiently pure.

We meet with an interefting report by MM. Berthollet and Pelletier, on M. Jeanety's procefs for working platină. These chemifts firft give a comprehenfive account of the different attempts to fufe this metal, and then describe M. Jeanety's process. It confifts in adding arfenic and pot-ash, and fufing the mixture repeatedly, till all the iron is feparated. Platina must be very ufeful in many refpects. It is capable of being extended in leaves like gold, is unaffected by moiffure, by acids, by alkalies, or by fulphur; and is, perhaps, expanded very flightly by heat, or contracted by cold. The Spaniards may now permit its exportation, as chemists have shown, that gold cannot be adulterated by it in any important degree; or it will be determined whether, as has been lately pretended, the quantity dug up is inconfiderable.

M. Fourcroy's memoir on the phænomena which result from the union of volatile alkali with the nitrate and muriate of mercury, and on the triple falts refulting from their com bination,' is too minutely chemical to detain us. Mr. Henry's obfervations on ferments, &c. firft appeared in our language; and M. Hauy's memoir on the ftructure of the cryftals of the nitrate of pot-afh, requires a diagram for its illuftration.

M. Pelletier's memoir on the preparation of the phofphoric and phofphorous acids, deferves the attention of practical chemifts; but we fhould not greatly affift them by abridging it. M. Margueron, in a clear and judicious memoir, examines chemically the fynovia of the joints. Its fubftance is albuminous, but different from the albumen of the blood, and not very unlike the gluten of wheat.

An important memoir by M. Haffenfratz, the conclufion of which is not given, follows. It is entitled a memoir on clays, and their use in the glass houses, and porcelain works. It contains the general hiftory of clay, points out the parts of France where it is chiefly found, and gives an analyfis of the best forts.

M. Margueron has chemically examined the ferofity which fills the bladders produced by blifters, and finds it exactly like the ferum of the blood.

M. Vauquelin relates two or three experiments on the diminution of bulk fuppofed to take place in fome faline folutions from the addition of falt. In reality, as heat is fet at liberty, an expanfion would be more probable; and, on inquiry, no real diminution was obferved, except in confequence of the air difplaced by the falt, which occa

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fioned more lofs of bulk than the extricated caloric could fupply. In thefe experiments, the glaffes occafionally broke, from the cryftallifation of the falts; and, as there was no air in thefe veffels to occafion the expanfion, the author seems to doubt whether the breaking of glass veffels, by freezing water, may not rather arife from the ftrong, fudden action of the cryftals against the fides of the veffels, than from any feparation of air, to which the fractures have been attributed.

An extract from a memoir by M. Deiman, &c. on the nature of liver of fulphur, is curious, though, in substance, generally known. A letter, relating to a new gazometer, and extracts from fome German periodical publications, conclude the volume.

La Philofophie de la Politique, ou Principes Généraux fur les Inftitutions Sociales, ou l'on examine les grandes Questions de l'Egalité, de la Volonté générale, et de la Souveraineté du Peuple, et l'Abus qu'on a fait de la Doctrine de J. J. Rouf Jeau fur. ces Matières. Précédé de l'Eloge de ce grand Homme, en Forme d'Introduction. Par F. L. D'Efcherny, Comte du Saint Empire. Paris. 1797.

The Philofophy of Politics, or General Principles of Social Inftitutions; in which are examined the important Questions of Equality, the general Will, and the Sovereignty of the People; together with the Mifufe which has been made of the Doctrine of F. 7. Rousseau on thofe Subjects. Preceded by an Eulogium upon that great Man, by way of Introduction. 2 Vols. 8vo. 18s. Boards. Imported by De Boffe. THE work before us is one of the numerous productions which have originated from the French revolucion a phanomenon that mocks defcription by the variety of its affumed fhapes, but which, with mischievous aim, continues to diffuse confternation over the political hemifphere, refembling in its progrefs the eccentric and angry orb that from its horrid hair

'Shakes peftilence and war.'

To thofe who had long contemplated the manners and the events of Europe, a revolution in France could not 'occafion furprise. To a period of time not very remote from the prefent, the government of that country retained 'all the odious privileges and flavish appendages of the feudal fyftem, fcarcely preferving any of the parts of that military fabric, which contained inherent principles of political vitality. Such a government, in a region fo populous, could be fupported only by deception, practifed on

the vanity of the people; and the airy ignorance of the French character was admirably calculated to favour the deceit; a deceit which, operating on the fame character, now enables the upftart pageants of the republic to play Such fantastic tricks before high heaven

As make ev'n angels weep.'

Thus did national vanity, an enthusiasm for trifles, and a careless ignorance of the genuine principles of government, long fupport the monarchy of France. From the general to the foldier, from the poet of genius to the miferable fonneteer, from the titled courtier to the valet, from the wealthy bourgeois to the peafant with wooden fhoes, all fought the battles, fang the praises, adored the perfon, and talked of the glory, of the grand monarque. It is, however, ultimately dangerous for governments, as well as individuals, to prefume on mere popularity; for, if the main operations of a government be not practically beneficial, it will not in the hour of trial find a refuge in the prejudices of habit, or in the weakness of opinion. If the trumpet of innovation be founded, whether by the patriot or by the incendiary, the popular breath that gave a fuperficial applaufe to the pageant of yesterday, will inftantaneously join in the clamours that demand its downfal. This was the frail foundation upon which stood the throne of the Capets. A profufion of the public treasure had enfeebled the ftate; depravity of morals, and confequent contempt of religion, in the higher claffes, had corrupted the bulk of the people; and the body politic thus fatally difeafed, when touched by the finger of Reform, quickly crumbled into diffolution. Such an event, from its nature, could not be folely injurious to the government of the country in which it occurred. The demagogues who, after the feeble predominance of other factions, ufurped the chief fway over France, found it neceffary for their purpofes to use the compreffion of terror, to bind together, as a bulwark of power, thofe jarring atoms of political fociety, which, having loft the centre of practical adhesion, would never have obeyed the call of fyftem.

Among the writers, or (in compliance with the fashionable appellation) the philofophers, of whom the French demagogues have boafted themfelves the difciples, Voltaire and Rouffeau are the moft diftinguifhed.Voltaire, fagacious, witty, unprincipled, and fuperficial, expofed with fuccefs the abufes of religion and of civil fociety, but unhappily taught his countrymen to defpife the fubftance of the one, and was unable to fhow them the folid. foundations of the other, Rouffeau, ardent, ingenious, and