This Gentleman publifhed in 1774, a small tract of his father's, entitled "A FATHER'S LEGACY TO HIS DAUGHTERS: " which was written folely for their use (about eight years before the author died) with the tendereft affection, and deepest concern for their happiness. This work is a moft amiable display of the piety and goodness of his heart, and his confummate knowledge of human nature, and of the world. It manifefts fuch folicitude for their welfare, as ftrongly recommends the advice which he gives. He speaks of the female fex in the most honourable terms, and labours to increase its eftimation, whilft he plainly, yet genteely and tenderly, points out the errors into which young ladies are prone to fall. It is particularly obfervable, in what high and honourable terms he speaks of the Holy Scriptures, of chriftian worship, and faithful minifters; how warmly he recommends to his daughters the ferious and devout worship of GOD, in public and private. He dwells largely on that temper and behaviour, which were particularly fuited to their education, rank, and circumstances; and recommends that gentleness, benevolence, and modefty, which adorn the character of the ladies, and do particular honour to their fex. His advices, with regard to love, courtship, and marriage, are peculiarly wife, and interefting to them. They fhew what careful obfervation he had made on female do mestic conduct, and on the different effects of poffeffing or wanting the virtues and qualities which he recommends. There is fomething peculiarly curious, animated, and useful, in his directions to them, how to judge of, and manifeft an honourable paffion in, and towards the other fex, and in the very accurate and useful diftinction which he makes, between true and false delicacy. Nothing can be more ftriking and affecting, nothing more likely to give his paternal advices their defired effect, than the respectful and affectionate manner in which he mentions his lady their mother, and the irreparable lofs which he and they fuftained by her early death. In fhort, in this tract, the Profeffor fhines with peculiar luftre, as a husband and father, and it is admirably adapted to promote domeftic happinefs. It is much to be wifhed, that this tract was re-printed in a cheaper form, that it might be more generally read and regarded. And alfo, that the Doctor's works were re-printed together. "Adieu, ye lays, that fancy's flowers adorn, My theme! To heart-confuming grief refigned, And pour my bitter tears-Ye flowery lays adieu! Art Art thou, my Gregory, for ever fled ! And am I left to unavailing woe! When fortune's ftorms affail this weary head, my tears!"✶ Flow forth afresh Beattie's Minstrel, fecond Book, oncluding ftanzas. REMARKS on the KNOWLEDGE of the ANCIENTS refpecting GLASS. By Dr. FALCONER. December 17, 1783. Read HE moft ancient of the Greek writers, THE that takes notice of glafs, I believe, is thought to be Ariftophanes, who, in his comedy of the clouds, introduces Socrates as inftructed by Strepfiades, how to pay his debts, by placing a transparent substance between the fun and the writings, that served as a fecurity for the fums borrowed, and thus confuming them. But it is not abfolutely certain, that artificial glafs was here meant, as the word Taxos fignifies cryftal, and, as fome fay, tranfparent amber likewife. If If glass, however, be here meant, it fhews that it must have been brought to confiderable perfection, both in point of clearnefs, and the art of grinding it into a convex form, so to transmit and collect the fun's rays, as to produce this effect.-Ariftotle* has two problems relative to glafs the first endeavouring to explain its tranfparency, and the other, its want of malleability. But the learned think them both to be fpurious. Alexander Aphrodifæus, another ancient Greek writer, fpeaks particularly of glafs, and of its transparency. Galen makes mention of glass in several places. He appears to have been well acquainted with it, and the method of making it. He tells us, that it was made from fand melted in furnaces, which was required to be pure, fince, if any metallic fubftance was mixed therewith, the glafs was fpoiled. Those concerned in the manufacture knew, by looking at it, if it would serve their purpose. In other places, he advices medicines of a corrofive nature to be kept in glafs veffels, as fuch are not liable to be affected, or to impart any bad qualities. Glafs was alfo ufed for cupping veffels, in the time of Galen, much in the fame way as at prefent. De Simpl. Medic. facultate, L. IX. De terra Samia. +De Antidotis, L. VIII. C. 8. De Comp. Pharmac. fecund loc. L. VIII. C. 5. Dion Dion Caffius* relates, that a man, in the time of the Emperor Tiberius, brought a glafs cup into the presence of the latter, which he threw with great force upon the ground without breaking it, and immediately repaired the bruise it had received, by hammering it out. before all the spectators with his own hands. He adds, however, that he loft his life for his difcovery. Plutarch alfo appears to have been acquainted with glafs, fince he informs us, that the wood. of the Tamarifk, was the best to use for fuel in the melting of it. The Latin writers are more particular. Lucretius was, undoubtedly, acquainted with glafs, and its qualities. In his fourth book, he reremarks the difference between founds and the images of objects: the former paffing through any openings, however curved or winding,† but the latter, being broken and confufed, if the paffages through which they come, are not ftraight or direct. As an inftance, he adduces glafs, the pores of which he supposes to be direct or rectilinear. This, though only true with some limitations, fhews him to have had * L. LVIII. Vox per flexa foramina rerum incolumis tranfire poteft, fimulacra renutant. Profcinduntur enim, nifi recta foramina tranant, qualia funt vitri fpecies quæ transvolat omnis. Lucret. L. IV. 598. VOL. II. H no |