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have been proposed: but it is scarcely reconcileable with the received doctrine of the priority of one vein that is crossed by another. The Doctor presumes that the elements of both the primary and secondary rocks were deposited from water, but that the former were consolidated by the powerful aid of chemical affinities, and the latter by slower deposition, a more reduced state of chemical agency, and mechanical pressure yet still the ambiguous nature of basalt, and some of the trapp-rocks and porphyries, remain as stumbling blocks, unless the combined operations of terrestrial and submarine volcanos be supposed adequate to explain the phænomena. From an approximative estimate of the nature and proportions of the chemical ingredients of rocks, in the order of their super-position, he is induced to assign, out of twelve parts, about seven of silex, two and a half carbonate of lime, one and a half alum, one-fourth carbonate of magnesia, onefourth potass, and one-half adventitious and inappreciable matters. In his cursory remarks on the variations of density in the different portions of the crust of the earth, and on the intervals which appear to have taken place between the respective deposits of which it is composed, we discern nothing that has not been already advanced more in detail. Having demonstrated the insufficiency of the Wernerian as-sumptions of universal formations and distributions, he proceeds to consider the partial ranges of different descriptions: of rock, and the want of uniformity which has been observed in the order of their super-position. By supposing, with Professor Jameson, that granite is neither the oldest nor the newest of the primary rocks, but contemporaneous with the strata in which it is imbedded, or with which it is associated, we may get rid of some of the perplexities in which this department of geology is involved: but various enigmatical appearances would still remain to be explained, and particularly that of patches of strata included in widely extended unstratified masses.

The remainder of the Essay contains several pertinent but obvious remarks, which do not require to be specifically stated. We proceed, therefore, to accompany Dr. Hibbert on his first İter, which includes his progress from Leith to Dunrossness, in Shetland, or Hialtlandia, as he more than once denominates that assemblage of islands. An orator, in his exordium, generally contrives to exaggerate the importance of the theme of his declamation: but this learned tourist has perhaps erred in the opposite extreme, and needlessly under-rated the principal object of his mission: at least we feel inclined to place above the rank of a drudge the faithful observer

observer of geological phænomena, who prosecutes his inquiries without reference to theory; and we presume that the petromanians, as he terms them, will not readily concur in the persuasion that a long journey, purely geognostical, and when enlivened by the seductive charms of hypothesis, is a service of insufferable tædium. He informs us that the passage from Leith to Shetland is accomplished, with a fair wind, in fifty hours: but vessels are often compelled by adverse winds to take shelter in some harbour on the coast of Scotland. The numerous small towns, which diversify the shores of Fife, are pleasing additions to the landscape, when viewed from the sea: but they are contemplated to most advantage at a respectful distance.

Fair Island, the largest of the Shetland group, and that which the author first approached, is associated with some interesting traditions relative to the adventures of the Duke de Medina, who commanded the Spanish armada; and who, with two hundred of his men, having escaped from the perils of shipwreck, effected a landing on this island. From the unarmed natives, they might have obtained by force the provisions for which they liberally paid: but this generous conduct was met by the inhabitants with various acts of perfidy and murder. The prospect of immediate famine induced the illustrious stranger to apply for subsistence and protection to Andrew Umphrey, of Berry, who lost no time in repairing to the relief of the unfortunate Spaniards.

The vessel appears to have touched at Quendal Bay, the nearest point in the Mainland of Shetland. This was with a view to the superior accommodation due to the illustrious rank of the Duke, which the house of a worthy Scottish gentleman afforded, of the name of Malcolm Sinclair.

'The Duke de Medina landed in the complete costume of a Spanish nobleman, with a view to impress on the simple islanders some notion of the rank which he held in his own country. On being introduced to his host, he was received with the unfeigned welcome that was due to an illustrious and an unfortunate stranger. This feeling was not, however, wholly unmixed with Malcolm's conscientious disapproval of the cause which led eventually to the Duke's disaster, though he wished, at the same time, that emotions of this nature should intrude themselves as little as possible, so as to interfere with the rites of hospitality. An intention so laudable was soon put to a trial, particularly when the Duke, in order to satisfy himself of the imposing effect which his appearance might have caused in the country, bade his interpreter inquire, if his host had seen before a person of his rank and mien. Malcolm Sinclair, who, in estimating the consequence of his guest, had ever considered him as the redoubted champion of Great Babylon, bluntly replied in broad Scots, "Farcie in that

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face!

face! I have seen many prettier men hanging on the BurrowMuir."* It was well for the feelings of the Spanish commander, that his interpreter's knowledge of the English tongue had not yet extended to its provincialities, and that it was impossible to translate this coarse reply.'

A vessel was at length equipped, to convey the Duke and his reduced party to the Continent; and, in the course of a few days, they were landed at the port of Dunkirk, when the Spanish commander rewarded his deliverer with 3000 marks.

On approaching the shores of Dunrossness, the Mainland, one of the principal islands, gradually unfolds in perspective, and the nakedness and desolation of the scene are poorly relieved by the number and moderate elevation of the hills. In good weather, however, groups of fishing boats impart an appearance of animation to the waters, while the leathern jerkins and boots of the fishermen remind the spectator of the antient garb of the Scandinavians. The first question usually put to a stranger, on landing, is the price of meal at Leith; an important article of information to the poor natives, whose scanty and precarious crops are seldom adequate to their subsistence. In their ordinary discourse, their prevailing accent is more assimilated to that of the English, or the Irish, than to that of the Scots.

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The sand-drifts about Sumburgh Head recall the sugges tions of former travellers relative to fixing the moving sur face by the binding roots of plants: but the author, as if freshly imported from Erin's green isle, observes that the seeds which grew among the sands were, for the laudable purpose of making besoms, still dug up by the roots?

On the mention of a copper medal of Vespasian found in the parish of Dunrossness, Dr. H. introduces some remarks on the dark and early period of the history of Shetland and Orkney. These northern islands were but imperfectly known to the Romans till the year 84 of the Christian æra, when Agricola reduced the Orkneys, and descried Foula, or Thule,

dispecta est et Thule. The subdued Orcadians are supposed to have been of Celtic origin, and to have deserted their settlement about a century and a half after Agricola's expedition. In a subsequent period, Orkney, and probably Shetland, suffered under a Gothic tribe of Saxon rovers, who were discomfited by Theodosius in the year 368: to whom "Farcie in

* Sir Robert Sibbald's Account of Shetland. that face," i. e. " unsightliness is in that face, or it is an illfavoured face," an uncouth term of opprobrium, very properly obsolete."Burrow-Muir," the ancient Tyburn of Edinburgh.

succeeded,

succeeded, in or before the sixth century, a Scandinavian horde, the progenitors of the present inhabitants. Although some of these historical topics are little susceptible of clear and satisfactory elucidation, they are treated by Dr. Hibbert with no mean display of antiquarian research. From the records of the olden time, his progress to Quendal again summons us to the ravages of sand-showers, and to the contrast of a spot of gay fertility and verdure, enlivened by numerous cottages and a white house, occupied by the intelligent and hospitable Mr. Ogilvie, who has the merit of having introduced an improved style of agriculture. Most of the Shetland cottages are covered with turf and straw, and have the fire-place in the middle of the floor, with a large opening for the egress of the smoke and the admission of light: but windows begin to be more generally used than in former years, and some of the houses were very early provided with chimneys. The cow-house frequently adjoins and leads to the dwelling place, while a turf-partition sometimes distinguishes the latter from the dormitory: but a few coarse blankets or straw, for bedding, are occasionally placed in any convenient corner. A cumbrous wooden chair, or two, designed for the heads of the family, and a few bare benches, form the heavy furniture. The natives, especially the males, are middle-sized, light, nimble, and well proportioned, with small smooth features, a florid complexion, brown, white, or auburn hair, indicative of their Scandinavian origin, and blue, black, or hazel, but by no means sea-green eyes; though, according to the grave testimony of the late Principal Gordon, such were prevalent in Orkney, but which other observers have not been able to discover. The men manifest activity in few pursuits but fishing, devolving most occupations of drudgery on the women; who, accordingly, bear impressed on their features the symptoms of this rude treatment. In the fine evenings of summer, the old men and youths are chiefly busied in catching sillocks, (the fry of the coal-fish,) which swarm all round the shores, and which they allure either with limpets or an artificial fly, coarsely prepared.

Iter II. commences with a sketch of the prevailing rocks, from the most southerly shores of Dunrossness to Lunna Ness. This district includes a considerable portion of syenite, in which mica is very sparingly diffused, and which is characterized by the presence of epidote, that supplies the place of hornblend, and in some cases graduates into it; thus affording confirmation of the intimate connection which subsists between these substances, if they are not specifically identical. At Little Holm, in Quendal Bay, this epidotic

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syenite

syenite is found in junction with sand-stone and conglomerate rocks. Other primitive members of the range comprized in this section are quartzose gneiss, mica-slate, and clay-slate, variously modified; with interposed layers of hornblend, a bed of iron pyrites, a thin mass of lime-stone, and a vein of micaceous iron ore, about twelve feet thick, and consequently intitled to attention, since it may possibly yield from 70 to 80 per cent. of metal. Mention occurs of an uncommon variety of lime-stone, which appears to have received, from a contiguous mass of hornblende, such a slight, yet equal diffusion of its ingredients, as to have acquired the same darkbottle-green colour that distinguishes the character of the rock with which it is associated.' The rocks decidedly secondary are sand-stones of a loose texture, containing attrited fragments of other rocks and masses of conglomerate, composed of fragments of granite, quartz, and felspar. These very cursory statements, however, can convey to our readers no adequate idea of the extent and minuteness of the local details; our sole aim being to notice, in passing, some of the more prominent or unusual circumstances.

As the principles of the decomposition of rocky masses are but imperfectly understood, and the tendency to disintegration has been often observed to alter very considerably in different parts of the same mass, we may, without much violation of the rules of logic, suppose that solitary and detached blocks owe their more protracted existence to some intimate chemical affinity, or combination, which has afforded it more permanent protection against the wasting influence of ages.

We have now to advert to the history of Udal tenures in Shetland, which the author rather tediously deduces from the days of Harold Harfagre. To secure the allegiance of the islands which he had subdued, Harold is supposed to have partitioned the vanquished territory among his military and civil servants, according to their rank, or deserts; regulating the allotments by the familiar standard of the price of wadmel, a sort of coarse woollen cloth then in general use, and eight pieces of which, each measuring six ells, were reckoned equivalent to a mark. The merk-stones, or meithes, many of which still exist, originally indicated the boundaries of the respective shares; which varied in dimensions according to the quality of the soil, extent of surface compensating for poverty of production. Smaller subdivisions were subsequently adjusted by the ure, or eighth part of a mark. When the scat, or land-tax, was imposed on the several quotas of property, it was levied only on the grazing portions; while the arable patches, being of comparative insignificance, were

exempted,

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