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SOUTHERN
MlLLEDGEVlLLK, TUESDAY, MAY 7, 1822.,
PUBLISHED WEEKLY,
BYS. QRAYTL-IVD * R.M. OR ME,
O ' 11 uncock Street.opposite the Auction Store,
A T TORI r. DOLLARS. IS ADVAHCX, OR '‘'Lit
DOLLARS AT THE EXPIRATION or THE
YEAR.
DT AJrertl<etneM« conspicuously inserted
#7 the customary rates. Letters on busiinssi, in
<11 Clues, most he ro»r rtm
1\\ a\3TVU>iWT\.
i,s ACT to emend the lews new in forte, es to
the issuing of original writs mid final process
jo the Circuit Courts of the United Steles
within the State of Tennessee.
jj f a madid by Ihe Senate anil flame of
Representatives of the United States vf.lme-
, iea in Congress assembled, That in each a ret
every ease where a citizen of any one of the
T’uiied States shall wish to commence a suit
ju the Circuit Court of the United States for
either the District of East or of West Tennes
see against two or more citizens of the state of
Tennessee,some of whom reside in East and
some in West Tennessee, it shall and may
| iw f tl for such citizen to cause the Clerk
of the Circuit Court, in which he may select
>„ com nonce, his suit, to issue duplicate
,,1-iti—one directed to the Marshal of East,
and the other to the Marshal of West Ten
res3ee —which writs it shall be the duty of
the respective Marshals to execute and re
turn and when returned, they shall he dock
eted’and proceeded in to judgment as one
case only. . .
Sec. 2. And be if further enacted, That in
fach and every case where a judgment has
been recovered, or nay be hereafter reco
vered in cither of said Circuit Courts, it shall
and may - he l iwful for the plaintiff in any
such action to cause his writ of Acre facias
alias fieri facias, or other process of execute
on to he directed and delivered to the Mar
,jv’i 0 f c \ther East or West Tennessee, at Ins
election—and it shall be the duty of such
Marshal to whom the same may he direct
ed to du execution thereof, in the same
manner, and under the same penalties, that
\, P w ould be if the judgment had been ren
dered in the court of the district of which lie
Jj Marshal. pmup p. B ARBOUR,
made, payable by citizens of the United
States on similar articles imported into saiif
Pensacola or St. Augustine, in ships and
vessels of the United States, from any of
the ports or places of Spain, or her colonies,
and without paying auy higher tonnage du
ty than by law now is, or at the time shall
be laid, on any ship or vessel of the United
States, coming from any pprt or place of
Spain, or any of her colomeB, to said ports
of Pensacola or St. Augustine.
PHILIP P BARBOUR,
Speaker of the House of Representatives
1 JOHN GAILLAKU,
President of the Senate, pro tempore.
Washington, March 80’, 1822—Approved,
s JAMES MONliOE.
AN ACT supplemental to an act, entitled 11 All
net authorizing tit*,disposal of certain tots of
public ground In lha city of New Orleans
and town of Mobile.
lie it enacted by the Senate and Home oj
Representatives of the United States of A
meriea in ('ongressassembled, That the cor
poration of the city of New Orleans be, ar.d
are hereby, authorized to appropriate so
much of the lot of ground on which Fort St.
Charles formerly stood, as may he necessa
ry for continuing Esplanade street to the
Mississippi river ; and, also, to sell and con-
,ey that portion of the said ground which
,ic's below said street: the proceeds of such
sale shall be applied to the purchase of the
ground necessary for the opening of Victo
ry street, and the. public walk and Elysian-
fields, and to such other purpose as the said
corporation may deem expedient.
1‘HIEIP 1*. BARBOUR,
neaker of the House of Representatives.
JOHN G.MLLiARD,
President of the Senate, pro-tempnre
Washington, March SO. 18**.-Approved,
JAMES MONROE.
Pnenker of the House of Representatives
P JOHN OAILLARD,
President of the Senate, pro tempore.
*.s!.miton, **" Tames' klQNROE
AN ACT concern'ng the commerce «nd navi
gatiori of Florida.
Re it enacted by the Senate and 1 louse of
Representatives of the United' States of Arne-
Viea in Congress assembled, That any ship or
vessel possessed of, and Bailing under, a
Spanish register, on the tenth day of July,
one thousand eight hundred and twenty-
In, and continuing to belong wholly to a
citizen or citizens of the United States then
residing within the territories ceded to the
United States by the treaty of the twenty-
second of February, one thousand oigh
hundred and nineteen, between the United
States and Abe King of Spain, the ratifica
tions of which were exchanged on the twen-
second Of February, one thousand eight
hundred and twenty-one, or to any person
"r persons being, on the said twenty-second
v ' of February, an inhabitant, or inhabit
ants, of the said ceded territory, and who
rontinue to reside therein, and of which till*
master Ha citizen of the United States, or
an inhabitant as aforesaid, may be registered
enrolled, and licensed, in the manner pre
scribed by law ; and being so registered
enrolled, and licensed, shall be denominated
and deemed a ship or vessel of the ;
States, and entitled to the same |m
and benefits: Provided, 1 hat it tl
lawf„| for the collector to whom appl
th ill be made for a certificate of r»
enrolment, or license, by any citizen
ited
ges
F he
biion
intr-
the]
Iat* r.soi.isn mOAZim.
A Retrospect of the progress of philoso
phy and Science.
Formerly it was esteemed citremel
unphilosophical, and the very summit of
ill breeding in scholarship, to vulgarise
science by rendering it intelligible or
useful. Pythagoras, Socrates, and Aris
totle, kept their grandest speculation-
masked in symbols of mystery, (or the
sole use of favourite disciples ; and in
modern times, natural philosophers, che
mists, mid physicians, have, in this, ot
ten followed in the steps of their ancient
masters. In the earlier ages, indeed,
—by many so ignorantly praised,—phi
losophy was a most useless and idle stu
dy ; inapplicable to any earthly purpose,
except, perhaps, to exercise the heads of
ieVctX-’ wb" "•***•
looked upon by-:’ rest of the world ei
ther a* tinged with lunacy, or as having
unhallowed intercourse with evil spirit.
Nor was this wonderful, while philoso
phy was confined to the cloister and the
study, and walked not abroad among the
men of the world, except when veiled in
darkness and mysteries.
Among other mighty achievements,
the press has dispelled much of this ar
tificial darkness.—broken down the im
pertinent barriers of the schools, and
torn the veil of mystery from the face of
learned ignorance, and solemn stupidity.
Science, and philosophy, the pursuit
of which was formerly little better than
an apology for ignorance and idleness,
have now become useful and popular,
and begin to be domesticated in every
family circle, from the peasant’s cottage
to tlie palace of the price. Within n
few years, ■ complete revolution has
thus been effected un almost every branch
of human inquiry and coutrivauce. The
principles of husbandry, gardening, und
mining are. Iieuce becoming every day
better known, and the practical results
nrc quite wonderful. Itesi dee, our halls,
our theatres, and our streets, are most
splendidly illuminated with gas ;* our
edifices are protected from the b,roke ol
the thunderbolt; our weightiest ma
chinery, and even our ships are put in
motion hv the steam of water : our m
nors are shielded from the formerly des
as aforesaid, tlftvid tructive explosions of subterranean ta
tirioMti'Ilia being entitled to receive su p 0 urs;t in short, we cannot name n ils
certificate of registry, enrolment, or licemhe ., nrtm( , n t of human convenience which
deposit' , with the collector, the register uPvt. ^ ^ , nle j T rccl ,j V cd the most cssen
bjTJhStoS iSilS "’tte ■■™.) U»i .Ions imkingtm.iv Iho in™ object of
follot
W?ance*to tile United States of America,
un d that 1 do entirely renounce and abjure
ail allegiance ar.d fidelity to every foreign
prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty whtt-
Ivor, and particularly to the lung ofS^i,
Bee n A id be it further enacted, **hal
the inhabitants of said ceded territory, who
were residents thereof on the said tweet -se
cond day of February, U who shall taki tin
said oath and who continue to reside there
in, or citizens of the United Slates i widen
therein, shall he entitled to all the benefits
and privileges of owning ships or vessels of
the United States, to all intents and purpo-
se», as if they were resident citizens of the
United States. , ,
See ft And be it further enacted, Flint,
■ to coin-
habitant, as aforesaid, to make such nata
tions in the forms of the oaths, certified is,
and licenses, as shall render them apfddn-
i.l,. to the. cases herein intended to he f»f-
v iiled for : And provided, also, That el “ t
inch inhabitant, applyin;
allowing oath: “I, A B, do swear (nr af- , c i e ntific pursuit, and by rejecting and
inn) that 1 will lie faithful and bear true at- gcon ,i„ g away all learned jargon, and
the theories of dreaming speculation
A iring the term of twelve yeais
m-nce three months after the wen) ...
. ornl day of February, one tliousimd eight
bundled and twenly-o.lt, being Hie day of
the exchange of the ratifications of said
treatv, Spanish ships or * easels, coming
den only with the productions ot Spanish
growth or manufacture, directly from tlu
ports of Spain, or her colonies, shall be ad
milted into the ports of Pensacola and b
Augustine, in the said ceded teiii o.),
the same manner as ships and vessels ol tt.i
United Slates, and without paving any <>
her or higher duties on their, a' S'"'* 11 f u# £r0 dsmp
law now urc, or tliall at the timo Re *
To promulgate in the most intelligible,
brief, and popular form, whatever shall
appear to us useful or worthy to be
known, and to expose whatever may
wear the aspect of unfounded pretension,
or mystical nonsense, will be the aim ol
the sketches which we now offer, and
shall occasionally continue. Our wish is
to exhibit a comprehensive, bird s-eye
view of all that is now doing by philoso
phers k men of science ; to give an idea
of the most recent improvements, as
well as changes of retrogression, to our
mere littetary readers, and those who
have not leisure to peruse the volurni-
* Coconut oil, far producing c*» for family
use, proposed by Mcs«rs l a v lor u<" * 1
nenu. || is wllhout sinrll, yield, u very bright
flame, mid li economical
t A Mr Lester »ny» lb* safety l*mp 1
clragnn that lures tins miner to de-triiction,
giving him confidence to work in the imd-t of
fire damp ; but nft’ordii'R •'* wanly a light thn
he is often tempted to open the 'skroen, and
111e surrounding gas explodes, and kills linn —
There is, vve doubt not, some truth in this —
i y\ r |,,Mrr lum iliscuveri d e modtt cl eralirj
ndtn scientific Jotironl^ ind Transaction*
daily publishing! We shall thus also
give philosophers themselves an oppor
tunity of seeiog their labors fairly esti
mated by the high standard of utility, by
keeping which constantly before us, we
hope we shall be able to steer cleat of
all party spirit and partiality.
OSOLOOT.
We shall begin with the almost new
and romantic science of Geology, the
object of it is to investigate the structure
of the globe, and the rocks, he. which
compose its exterior ; for of the interi
or little can be known, except that the
nearer the centre the more dense and
weighty are the materials composing it,
whichjcannot, therefore, ax haabeen sup
posed, be either air or water. Geology
is, at present, perhaps the most fashiona
ble of the sciences ; and the number o!
able men now devoted to the study must
soon bring it to great advancement.—
The most useful departments of Ibis sci
ence are those which relate to mining for
metals, coal, rock salt, and alum, ; to the
comparative ability to withstand the wea
ther ; and, analogous to this, the crumb
ling of rocks, and the nature of the soil
which they produce. On these subjects
we have discoveries and facts published
almost dailv, hut cannot here find room
for an intelligible abstract. The more
general principles of the science are
employed in investigating the age of
rucks, sand, gravel, and peat ; and in
determining whether these were formed
by fire, hv the sea, by lakes, by rivers,
or by the changes of the weather. It
has been an inquiry of soma interest in
toe science, to find a test by which to
distinguish sea shells from (resh water
-hells ; as in rocks where shells are
found, such a test would at once deter
nine their derivation. Mr. Sowerby
nas lately attempted something of this
mnd; but he confesses himself that he
nas not arrived at much certainty. The
Imnes of an animal found imbedded in
rocks, near Maestricht and Vicenz,a
hich had hitherto puzzled Cuvier and
uher eminent naturalists, have been de
ermined by Summering to belong to
species of lizard, which, from its great
size, he calls the giant lizard. It is oow
mknoivn, but he conjectures that it is the
Dragon of antiquity, so universally,
though (if he is right) falsely reputed
fabulous. This enormous lizard is 23
■et in length. A plate of me .. r>e*
nay be seen, Ann. Phil, in 135 N. S.l
We need not, alter this, despair of find
ing in som rock or gravel-pit, the skele
ton* of centaurs, grifiins, harpies, or
even that of the renowned Pegasus.
minkralogt.
The circumstance most worthy of no
tice in this science, at present, is the am
bitions attempt of M. Mobe, of t reyberg,
ihe successor of the celebrated Werner,
to establish a jargon of new names, ex
tremely uncouth and lengthy', a combi
nation of Greek, Latin, and I eutonic.
\V e are sorry to see Professor Jameson
and Mr. llrade lending their aid to the
ropagation of these barbarisms.
Almost every scientific journal an
nounces the discovery of new-tninerals ;
but we are usually very sceptical us to
the genuineness of these novelties so
frequently thrust on our notice ; (or we
cannot often perceive a greater anxiety
make out a discovery to be new,
than to indetify the examined mineral
with species already known.
DOTAN v.
The study of Botany, lately so fash
ionable, is rather on the decline, owing,
we have no doubt, to the great minute
ness, and the absolute barrenness of the
Linc'an system. This system, which
was for many years unite unrivalled,
seems to be rapidly falling into the back
ground, and the more abstruse and equal
ly useless system of jassieu is coming in
to fjvor, and has already attained a pro
minent place in the elementary works.
Mr. Brown and Dr. Hooker, are our
most eminent botanists, and non pttssibus
aauis. Sir J.E. Smith; but utility is the ve
ry last object which these gentlemen seem
inclined to pursue. The forming ol di
visions and sub-divisions, and Ihe idle
practice of making names, and drawing
op useless and minute descriptions ol
(lowers, leaves, kc. form the sole pur
suit all eminent botanists. Sometimes,
indeed, they find a spare corner in a
page, for a note on the utility of a plant,
or on the peculiarities of its growth anil
physiology, but this is very rare.
Physiological, or rather useful botany,
.» rapidly advancing under the care ol
the Horticultural Society, and by (he ta
unts of Mr. Knight, who deserves the
richest credit for his experiments on the
food of plants, and on the ripening and
propagation of fruits. Mr. Drummond
also has made the interesting discovery
that the green mosses known by the com
mon name of cm;» silk, so frequent!;
seen on moist walls, decayed trees, bare
patches of ground, and stagnant water
arc uot, as supposed bv Linnatus, lied
wic, anil others a particular sort of moss
called by them, conserva:, but are mere
lv the youg plants of the pine moss, and
others of a similar kind. This is intel
ligible enough, and is amply proved by
art we now to make of the numerous
species of conserves rainuteljr described
and figured incur books ?
ZOOLOGY.
We have to record, under thix depart
meat, the same decline of the system ol
Linnatus as we have just mentioned res
pecting botany. Lamare, a t renr.h na
turalists, discovered that insects, and se
veral others of the less perfect animals,
differ Irom quadrupeds, birds, and fishes,
in being destitute of a spine or hack hone;
and Cuvier, another French savant, of
great industry and talent, took up the
hmt, and made it the basis of a new ar
rangement, we think, to supercede the
precise and uninteresting system ol Ltn-
iiBus. And, if we must have a learned
array of barqarously compounded names
for animals, that ol Cuvier is rather
more natural than the “ tooth and nail
work of the Swede, which makes the
a quadruped, and ranks the bat next to
man in the order ol tilings, because ol
the way in which it suckles the young
bats.
Undcrtheliead ofGeology we have seen
Somtnering’s woderlul discovery ofthe
ancient dragon. The discovery of the
unicorn of our royal arms, which is said
to have been recently made in 1 hibet,
by Major Latter, and in Southern Africa
by Mr. Campbell, will tend much to
weaken our faith in the dogmatism ol na
turals, and to put more credit in history,
though it should be contemptuously
called fabulous. Tlie newly discovered
animal is described by Major Latter, ex
actly as we have so often seen it figured,
with ihe body of a line formed horse, k
a single boro in his forehead. We
shall examine the evidence of this dis
covery more scrupulously, as toon as it
comes before us more in detail. M. La-
tnelle, a French naturalist of some emi
nence, hits, in imitation as we suppose,
of Humboldt’* geography of plants, giv
en a very brief sketch ofthe geographi
cal distribution of insects. This is a
subject of great curiosity, but there are
few facts yet ascertained respecting it,
from the want of general observations
by collectors, those personages being
usually much more anxious to add a
specimen to their box, than to record
any thing concerning its habits or its his
tory. M. Latrielle, however, thinks he
can prove that warm and cold countries
hare scarcely any insects in common,
a'’ also mat under th* «ama parallels
in countries which are distant, the spe-
I cies are entirely different. Hits con
clusion does not at all correspond ' t
what Humboldt found to hold in the ve
getable kingdom, namely, that nearly
the same species flourish in the most
listant countries, when the climate and
temperature are the same.
MSTIOROLOaV.
If we were to estimate the advance
ment of a science by the number of its
observers, we should say that meteoro
logy u making progress towards perfec
tion. Except, ho.'ever, the nomencla
ture of the clouds by Mr. Howard, and
the experiments of Dr. Wells on dew.
we recollect nothing which merits Ilf
namo of a great or important discovery
in the science. Mr. karey has lately
proposed a method ol studying the na
ture of the phenomena of falling stars,
which, we doubt not, miglit belp to till
up a column of a meteorological table,
could be persuade any body to pursue
h being slightly struck during a thunder
storm, was, in consequence, completely
cured. A similar cure was effected at
Perth, on n.inan who had been troubled
for many years with a tremulous affec
tion of his whole body, which «vas com
pletely removed by a lrtiork he received
during a thunder storm. These facts are
worthly of record, and should induce the
profession to give electricly, and even
magnetism, a more accurate and fair trial
than perhaps has yet been done.
OPTICS.
The polarization of light, as it is cal
led, hus for several years engaged al
most the undivided attention ofopticians
and Dr. Brewster hus been so industri
ous in experimenting and collecting f icra,
that he has formed an entire system ol
mineralogy on the basis ol polarization,
alone. We wait with some anxiety for
its publication. Mr. J. IV. Herscliel
has distinguished himself in a similar line
of inquiry. The doctrine of Sir 1 New
ton, respecting the preduction of colour*,
by the thickness or thinness of laminae
or plates, has been frequently impugned
ami, we think with success. If the ex
periinents, however, ot Mr. Charlton,
(Ann. Phil. ii. 182, N. S.) be correct,
colours may, in some cases, such as en
amelling, be produced by uiecbaoicul di
vision and communication.
ASTRONOMY.
We may consider this as one of the
perfect sciences, in which we can scarce
ly hope for much that is new. Not that
there is nothing remaining to be discov
ered, but because it lias been so long
systematically cultivated and taught, that
tlie mind of the astronomer is kept very
much in leading strings from his defer
ence to great names, and his implicit
comfidence in matematical results. A
little scepticism respecting receded o-
pintons in science, is often however, ol
much utility in leading to discoveries, or
ia confirming by new and colateral proof
what is already known ; and though it is
rather a dangerous instrument to unskil
ful hands, it is peculiarly adopted to men
of talent. Sir K. Phillips, we perceive
has been wielding this weapon against the
Newtonian system, and has brought some
plausible, though not very novel ob
jections against the supposed infallible
doctrine of gravitation, attraction, cen
trifugal and centripetal force, inertia
and the celestial vacuin on which Ngvr
ton f..innkJ his »>Mim *. »«■
Richard, however, like many other ob
jector* can pull down more MeXteroilsty
than he can re-build ; his proposed sys
tem of motion being in many parts very
extravagant. Colonel Beaufoy, we per
ceive, lias inferred from some observa
tions on the immersion ol the satellites
of Jupiter that the moon has no atmos
phere, or ut least, it i* not like that ot
the earth. This is not a new conjecture.
for we do doubt whether Dr. Foster
himself—Mr. Forey is out ofthe ques
tion—or any other meteorologist, would
sit for two hours every night, with his
eye fixed on a central star, ready the
instant he should see a lolling star to
call out “ mark” to his assistant. It
would, we conceive, he more produc
tive in the way of discovery, to sweep
the sky for comets.
electricity and macnetism.
We class these together, because the
only thing new of any importance re
specting either, is tlie very interesting
discovery of their connexion, by M.
Oersted, of Copenhagen, whose ex
periments have been repeated by Sir I.
Davy and several o'thcr British philoso
phers of distinction. The subject may
he considered as still in its infancy, hut
we sanguinely anticipate that it will ter
minate in some great practical result.—
We are very much iu the dark respecti
ng the agents by which electric, ga-
anic, and magnetic cflects arc produc
ed. Of one thing we are very certain
that these agents aro not fluids as they
are often foolishly denominated ; or 11,
forsooth, they must he called so, we
must call upon those who thus use the
term for a new definition. At tlie baz
urd of being thought credulous, w<
ould infer from M. Oersted s discove
ry, that there may he something real in
animal magnetism, for believing in which
we have not spared to ridicule tlie cre
dulity of the Germans. The efficacy of
electricity ilsell, in curing disease, has
lately fallen into disrepute, though the
(arts of it* pnner are strongly establish
ed on the evidence of some ol the mos
distinguished names in the professiou.*
Two very singular cases occurred re
cently. One i* given on the authority
of Brofessnr Olmsted, of a mim who had
mechanics.
A Mr. Herapath has come ambitiously
toward with some baseless mathematical
dreams, by which he pretends to give a
more satisfactory, that is, a more me
chanical account of attraction, gravitu-
non, heat, kc. than has hitherto been
published. Hi* problems, we doubt not
are executed with accuracy, and the re
suits, being mathematical, may bring ir-
resistable conviction to his inind; hut we
are accustomed, in all case* of pretended
proof, to begin with an examination of
the premises ; and the premises ol Mr
Herapath we find to be wild, visionary
and, withal, very clumsy. His leading
principle* is “ Let it be granted, that
matter is composed ot inert, massy, per
fectly hard, indestructible atoms, incapa
ble of receiving uny change,” and ad
mitting “ of no breaking, spiffing, shat
tering, or any impression whatever.”—
This extraordinary demand on our cre
dulity is followed by numerous others of
the same stamp, which lie says he has
put iu the form of postulates, “ to avoid
being obliged to establish them by direct
demonstration.” In the world-making
days of Thales and Anaximander, all this
might, perhaps, have sounded very grand
and imposing, but Mr. Herapath must be
very sanguine, it he hopes to make such
antique dreams as these, be now listened
u with any patience. We know nothin -
far as our own experience goes,
gas hi general nor atoms of matter in
general which are not oxygen, iron, flint
lime, soda, or something similar ; and
we have been too often bewildered by
metaphysicians to trust to their uouseti-
secnl definitions of matter to general,
which is not, as they suggest, to be found
in any particular body, but ill all the
substances around us. Mr. Herapath
a for making us retrograde with himself
to the times of old, when *‘ the sublime
speculations” of Epicurus, kc. who de
dared all things from one Lind of matter
were the only science recognised. We
think the Royal Society shewed llieir
good sense in rejecting these baseless
problems, aud wo would advise Mr.
Herapath, if he should ugaiu feel inclined
to exercise himself in system-building,
to lay first a sore foundation, without
which even mathematics are false and
SSSsS’ eipcrimonts i but v.ha-J a paralytic aff.ction of th. face and eye
numerous. Among these, wo may menw
hoti the great improvements miking ici
the construction af chain bridges, in
which Capt. Brown, the inventor ol thn
cable, has been so successful. On®
great advantage of sueli hi ige* is tbe.ii*
cheapness : and another, that they can
lie constructed over n width of water
where bridges of masonry could not be at
tempted.
CHEMISTRY.
' Since the discovery of iodine, there
has been nothing deserving ol much no
tice in this science. Our eipet-inieiilJ
are, indeed, suflieeintly oumeroii*. anti
many oftliem bin oformerly obtained iiigh
distinctions fo* discovery ; h<Aj their ..ej
hum neetn to be #oj*c tnfli«|f^a*f
tfiey were a few years ago. The rage
for minute and unimportant distinctions,
and for new terms to designate these, has
widely infected those who are desirous
of fame ; the contugeon having most
proha'dy passed to them from our n.i*
InraI historian*. We have in this spirit,
analyses of the excrement < f u serpent,
by Mr. Edmund Davy ; and of the u*
rine of a Ceylon frog, by Dr. J. Divy ;
we have the French chemists analysing
opium, and henbane, and belladonna, and
hemlock, k discovering nta substances,
which were for the moat part, fortm rly
known under different aspects, and dif
ferent names. A metaphysical system —
a little more intellgihle than Mr Hera*
path’s obscured by symbols, has long
been forming by Dalluu, BeiZ'-li
Thomson an I others ; but though it is
supported by the greatest names, wo
think its utility very questionable, even
f it were demonstrated to be accurately
true. The new discovery of the con
nection between electricity k magneli-ua
has induced some chemists to apply iho
reagent to analysis, and we anxinn-ty
wait the result. Will it have any ef
fect in altering the present view of the
decomposition of water, which was the
original basis of our established system l
METAPHYSICS AND ETHICS.
These studies are now become exceed
ingly unfashionable, and it would conse
quently be contrary to all we know of
human nature to expect much progress
to be made in them. The publication,
however, of the lectures ofthe Iat* Dr.
Brown, has surprised us most unexpec
tedly with not only great originality, but,
what is of much greatei* liionient; «•' th
SMr» rt-vriie-N ef HvitTing, a*r;
Utility ol application, than we had ever
iTnteuipl.iled. Dr. Brown has fear
lessly pulled down former systems, but
he has no less dexterioutiy rebuilt a
simple und (wonderful to ia)) an tu.'-in-
gible and practical system of . letap’iy-
sics. He has shown most cleat -Sat
the dreams ol Dr. Reid, though i. oca-
led by the super!’*. ial eloquence Oi Dr
Stewart’s are baseless and tain ; and, of
ourse, that Mr. Stewart’s elements,
however, extravagantly praised by the
friendly critics ol the north, contain no-
Hung which was not borrowed from Dr.
Reid, though Dr. Held had nosoiuu ty
nothing worth borrow mg ; his chief work
being lull of gross mistakes and miscon
ceptions. Yet what is more common
than to hear Mr. Stewart called the
greatest metaphysiciori k moralist of the
age ? The theory ol Mr. Alison, con
cerning beauty and sublimity, lias also
I'allcu before the sweeping pen of Dr.
Brown, though, he has uot design, d to
luot even at the existence of this “ pro
found und original thinker,” as he has
been most ludicrously called by bis friend
Mr. Jeffrey. Our readers may recollect,
that Dr. Brown first obtained distinction,
by his masterly remarks on the Zoono-
tnia of Darwin, und in this inuturer work
we can still easily trace hi* o'diaa'i.ms
to that original but fanciful theory.
We have before us the second part of
the Dissertation on the History ut aie-
apliysics, by Mr. Stewart, published iu
the Supplement to the Encyclopaedia
Bntannica. It is, like the other part,
rather tedious and prosing, and loaded
with notes, the sweeping* of his com
mon-place book, which be found it was
beyoud Ins ingenuity to interweave with
his text, lie has cautiou-ly abstained
from giving any sketch of the improve
ments introduced by Dr. Reid,—for
these, as well as his own labors, would
have dwindled into insigntlince, after the
complete exposure of his pretension* by
Dr. Brown. He lias reluctant!: admit*
ted, however, that Dr. lieid was very
imperfectly acquainted with the meta
physics of hi* oivn ago. We may R|o>
puar to sooae to have dono injustice to
Mr. Stewart. We retort the accusation
ou hi* friends, who have lauded him as
a profound philosopher, to which char
acter be ha* evidently no claim. Wo
cheerfully accord to Itun, however, thi>
merit ofbciog a pleu*in? writer.
it is refreshing to the mind to turn
from Herapath’s useless reverie* to the
practical ir vontioas which ore ao?/ so
EOUCATIOST.
The new sjbi. iu education intro.,
duad by Bell and Lancaster, is said to be
rapidly extending iu almost every part
of the civilized woilJ. We have to re
cord one most maikcd exception to this,
— it: complete failure in Scotland. Tina
very striking fact ha*, * e have reason iw
believe, been indusliionslv enure did
from llio English public by the friaud* of
tho syslcai ; hat io pl.dgu out-cl..s