no less remarkable, as it is both solid and sweet. Now this instance is important, because the vine cannot be cultivated at Brussels in the open air to any purpose. The only grapes ever produced there are from vines sheltered in walled gardens, and trained on espaliers or otherwise; nor, even thus, is the success much, since the fruit is always very late, and seldom ripens completely. The author, who has in view a different object from mine, remarks on what might be hoped for from the extension of this practice in a better climate, when the results are such in one so unfavourable. And from the general tenor of his observations, we are taught, that even in the wine countries of France, where the cultivation of the vine is no less an object of care and study than the manufac ture of wine, the practice of raising varieties from seed is scarcely known. Hence it is that not from the works of the French agriculturists, and not even on this single point, are we able to discover sufficient facts to aid much in forming our opinion on the general question. I will, therefore, pass over another reported by Rozier, since the only deduction made from it relates to the produce in wine, not to the quality, in any shape, of the new plant. That this professed philosopher in vines and their treatment should have overlooked the important consequences which might have been deduced from the study of a whole vineyard of seedlings, is a very natural object of surprise and censure to M. Lenoir; and it is one that we may fairly echo as to our own horticulturists, on the whole of this interesting question. The next, and only other decided fact which I shall here quote, proving that a hardy variety of the vine can be produced from seed, will be found in Duhamel; and he also has entirely overlooked those important, and at least possible, consequences which form the object of this notice: it is that of a vine at Chaillot, near Paris, in the garden of the Chevalier Jansens, which ripened completely every year, and produced excellent fruit, while the plant itself was an example of uncommon strength and luxuriance. The seeds were taken from a variety called the Verjus, to which I cannot give a corresponding English horticultural name, if indeed there be one. But that which alone is of much importance in the matter is, that the variety in question scarcely ever ripens at Paris; the very best result, and that only in the hottest seasons, being a faintly sweet, almost insipid produce. Here then are two instances, resting on the best authority, of hardy or hardier varieties of one plant at least, and that a most important one, produced from seed; while I hope that the example at Hackney, for which, however, I do not presume myself to vouch, will be found a third. And how often has the experiment of seedling vines been tried? Did we judge. from the general tenor of Lenoir's remarks, perhaps not a hundred times throughout all France. English gardeners will know better than I do what the trials in this country have been; but let us at least be furnished with a large list of failures before we decide that two or three instances of success do not afford ground enough for continuing these trials. And be it remembered also, that three successful examples are the results but of one succession, a single generation. If the original hypothesis is not absolutely visionary, the experiments will not be decisive, except under many more generations; and surely at least, be it the merest of hypotheses, the subject deserves that much of investigation. I need not proceed, however much illustration I might yet add; as my object is not to discuss this question, but to excite to examination; and I am desirous that this communication be as brief as possible. But it may be right first to state how the hypothesis ought perhaps to be modified, that it may not be loaded with greater difficulties than it merits, or lead to greater disappointments than it is willing to be blamed for. Abandoning the too broad principle, that any tender plant may be rendered more hardy through native seeds, and that successions of such seeds will carry this acquired constitution still further, let us commence with remembering that the sowing of the seeds of cultivated plants does produce new varieties, and that such varieties also produce others in succession, by continuing the processes of cultivation and sowing. Next, it is certain that there is a variety of character and constitution in these varieties; and here it is admitted, that, instead of gaining an improved progeny, we sometimes find a worse one, a crab, for example, from the seed of a pippin. This then may be a source of failure in single instances; but it stands in the nature of exception, and does not justify the abandoning of the experiments. If it did, he who had obtained/crabs from pippins would abandon sowing; we should have, perhaps, possessed no horticultural produce of any kind. Let the produce, therefore, be watched; and if we now watch for the sake of selecting the best fruits, let us see also if we shall not discover a plant of a more hardy constitution than its parents es Such a plant there may be, one at least out of many seeds; and in truth if this were not the case, we could not have had one fruit of any specific nature more hardy or precocious than another; or, in the examples above quoted, the vines of M. Von Mous or Jansen. This is the plant, should it occur at all, whose seeds would require our especial attention just as he who desires to produce new apples chooses his seed fram good fruits eas Bisa .smit sms2 Thus, then, let the hypothesis be modified, and then the experiments made, before we agree to reject the one, and meglect the other. But this is not all. We are ignorant of the constitutions of specific plants, of their antipathies, of their sensitive systems, as I have shewn; at least our knowledge is extremely harrow. We have found some hardy, which, and for apparent good reasons, we had imagined tender. It may be that these very plants, or some of them-it may be that others (such is our ignorance)-may afford facility of naturalization through sowing, though others do not. Let us try wherever we can for it is certain that we are unable to pronounce on negatives, and that, here, probabilities at least present themselves. Whatever we gain will at least be an acquisition;. land the whole range is so extensive, that did we succeed but in one instance of a hundred, our advantages would not be small, to whatever department of horticulture or agriculture we may turn our eyes. May I hope that my learned friend, the Secretary, will join me in encouraging investigations opposed to his own opinions? but indeed I cannot doubt thatches would be among the first to rejoice that they should prove unfounded, since, with all philosophers, his aims are utility and truth. Most gladly shall I see from his pen, facts, be they what they may, which my own situation prevents me from pursuing, and ever will. fitr!te s 4 Joneed scarcely add more than a few lines on the expected practical advantages, since I could do little more than repeat what I have said on former occasions; and yet a few will not bebuseless, for the sake of those who, without them, might consider the whole discussion as a mere idle question of curiosity of To command flowers in greater variety and beauty, in greater luxuriance and profusion; to render the more rare as common as the more vulgar, and at a less expense, is a worthy object of horticultural science. To augment the variety land beauty of our shrubberies is a worthy object; and he who compares a shrubbery of 1700, of almost a century later I might say, with the shrubbery of the present day, will not for get that all this has arisen from exertions even perhaps greater [their way than what are here pointed out. Have we not also neglected our woods and plantations? Have we, at the same time, naturalized and rendered common ten, nay five, forest trees since the time of the Romans? We surely cannot have arrived at our limits, either in power or utility, among the almost innumerable trees of the world. Of the vine, in another department, I have already spoken; and here, surely, not only is the temptation great, but there is a prospect of success, for the fact is ascertained. No rational economist will desire to see the vine become an object of actual rural zeconomy; but passing by this, much pleasure, and even profit, might be derived from such improvement in that plant as would admit of its use in the manufacture of native wines, did they but replace the endless nauseous compounds under this name, made from fruits that never furnished wine, and never will. The potato also, that I may end these slight remarks, is still a tender plant; a melancholy fact, far too well known in Scotland, however little English cultivators may be aware ofitow If we have produced some hardier varieties of certain -fraits by care and cultivation; if we have a juneating apple as well as a russet, a summer as a winter pear, who shall say that an assiduous cultivation of the potato may not hereafter produce a variety that will ripen its roots in August_instead of October-ripen them before a Scottish winter arrives to destroy the only dependence of the starving occupants of five rocky Highland acres. A. 19384 te sko pn dɔadə, But I must end; and I would apologize to you for again intruding this subject on your Journal, did you not know, as well as myself, that in the present rapid succession of inquiries and opinions, that which is once out of sight is immediately forgotten, and that he who desires to call the attention of the public to any object must attempt it by perseverance and repetition. Thus have I done on the question of naturalizing sea-fish, if as yet to little purpose; while desiring nothing but investigation, I am ready to abandon both subjects as soon as any one will take up the pen in my room. I am, dear Sir, yours, &c. &c. A Medico-Chirurgical Commentary on Shakspeare, SHAKSPEARE has been allowed, by every commentator and critic, from Rowe to Douce, the meed of a matchless knowledge of human nature; but, while all agree in giving credit to the unrivalled power of his genius, some have questioned his learning and attainments. Yielding to no one in my admiration of our great dramatic bard, and fully sensible of the services these interpreters have rendered him, I would crave leave to notice one point, which seems to have escaped their observation, or, if they have alluded to it in the abstract, I do not recollect any practical illustration;-I mean, his decided knowledge of abstruse sciences. Let us take that of medicine, in all its branches, as an exemplification of this remark. One can easily understand how an intuitive knowledge of mankind might enable a genius like his "to hold the mirror up to Nature," and even to kindle into life new beings and new worlds :— Each trait of many-coloured life he drew, Exhausted worlds, and then imagined new. Or further, that his nice discrimination might render him a faithful delineator of human passions, and human actions, but that he should be versed in all "the thousand ills that flesh is heir to," and understand the proper treatment of those ills, and the niceties of medical and surgical practice, with which he exhibits in his writings so intimate an acquaintance,-this |