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who, in 1727, communicated his observations respecting them to the Royal Academy of Sciences at Paris. This accurate observer, not only shewed that corals yielded, on the application of heat, such products as peculiarly belonged to animal substances; but also pointed out several particulars respecting the coral polype, which could not fail of determining, that corals belonged entirely to the animal kingdom. The observations of Jussieu, Reaumur, Donati, and others, confirmed this fact; which, however, was not so generally received, but that several learned men still hesitated in adinitting, that the forms which corals bear could be derived from the powers of animal life alone. All doubts were, however, removed by the observations of Mr. Ellis, in his essay on the Natural History of Corallines, and of many curious and uncommon Zoophytes.

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this circumstance direct our contemplation ! A body, difiering from any animal substance now known, has been formed, by the ener gies of animal life, in the depths of the ocean of a former world; and is now found imbedded in a rock, many miles inland, and at a considerable height above the sea: and these, wonderful as they are, are not the only circumstances of this case, which, in the present state of our knowledge, may be considered as inexplicable. The substance, of which this body is composed, has undergone a most extraordinary change: originally formed chiefly of carbonic acid and lime, with a small portion of animal matter, it has now become a mass, in which, except a portion of animal matter, these substances are no longer to be found: the space which was formerly allotted to them being now filled almost entirely with the earth of Aint: and to add to the wonder, the silicified mass is found imbedded in lime.

By the experiments of Mr. Hatchett, instituted for the purpose of ascertaining the component parts, as well as the mode of for> Under the division Madrepores, our aunation, of different zoophytes, our know- thor alludes to the impositions which ledge respecting these animals has been very cunning has practised on credulity: wo considerably increased. He was enabled by may ask whether it be not a great benethese experiments to ascertain, that corals, fit to be relieved from the effects of such and the numerous tribe of zoophytes, with which they are connected, differ in artifice, by better knowledge and whe sition, from the varieties of bone and shell, ther science can be more honourably enonly by the nature and quantity of the hard-gaged than in conferring such benefits? ening principle, and by the state of the sub- One of the fossil corals which has been stance with which it is mixed or connected. considered as belonging to this family, is the The porcellaneous shells, such as cyprea, lapis arachnolith, or spider-stone, respect&e. were found to be composed of animal ing which the celebrated Bruckman wrote an gluten and carbonate of lime; and to resem- ingenious disquisition in a letter to his friend ble, in their mode of formation, the enamel the learned Ritter. From this it appears of teeth the earthy matter being blended that stones, which from their marks and with the animal gluten. The pearly shells, form, bore a resemblance to the body of or those composed of nacre or mother-o'-pearl, a spider, from which te head and legs such as patella, &c. he found to be com- had been removed, were frequently em posed of carbonate of lime, and a gelatinous,ployed in some parts of Germany as a powercartilaginous, or membranaceous substance;ful charm for the cure of all kinds of hæmorrand that they resembled bone, in their hard-hages. These stones, according to the reening matter being secreted and deposited ceived vulgar opinion in those parts, were upon the membranaceous substance.

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supposed to have been generated and voided We find these remains imbedded in our by a spider. It was also, imagined by the hardest marbles, in which situation they country people, that every spider, remarkhave undergone changes that have left able for its magnitude, contained one of these stones: to obtain the expulsion of which, bot a small portion of their original matthe spider was to be enclosed in a glass vessel ter; (one of Mr. P's most interesting in which was also placed valerian or finely experiments, is the discovery of the re-powdered sugar. Bruckman, however, shews mains of animal matter, in some of these that the spider stone is nothing else but a flinty bodies, page 166), but have sub-pertrified antediluvian coral, such as has been stituted matters so entirely different, yet preserving the primitive form, as may well excite the astonishment of the beholder. Mr. P. expresses this astonishment in the following language..

To what a remote period of past time, and to what astonishing changes in the structure of the surface, at least, of this globe, does

named the Indian astroites, and that the fabulous account of it has most probably teen derived from its spots, which are not unlike those which are discoverable on the belly of the spider, and from its form, which frequently agrees with that of the body of a spider. This latter circumstance be however attributed to the cunning employment of art; and adds, that these stones generally far exceed

in weight and size that of any spider or tarantula that is known, not excepting the cele brated enormous Brasilian spider named hamdu-guaca.

Mr. P. is very learned on the subject of fossil Alcyonia; they were long considered as fruits, of which they have indeed the general appearance. They resemble figs, pears, oranges, &c. and have the air of having fallen from trees, and undergone petrification in the earth. This par anticularly meets the writer's attention, and together with his remarks on the nature of sponges is worthy of notice.

The little conformity between such corals as are now fished up from the sea, and these which are discovered in a fossil state, is converted by our author into argument which contributes support to opinions we have already expressed.

I find myself under the necessity of acknowledging, that I am not certain of the existence of the recent analogue of any really

mineralized coral.

The alevonium is an animal which asof a fleshy, gelatinous, spongy, or leathery sumes a vegetable form, and which is either substance, having an outward skin full of tentaculated hydra: the whole substance cells, with openings possessed by oviparous being fixed to some other body by a seeming

trunk or root.

Count Marsilli, who carefully examined not only the physical, but the chemical properties of these bodies, observes that they are all surrounded by a porous leather-like bark; and that the interior substance, is, in some, a jelly-like and in others, a mass of light ash coloured acicular spines, which prick the hands on being handled, in the same mannet as do the spines of the plant called the Indian fig.

This dissimilarity between the creatures of this and the creatures of the former world, is a circumstance which appears to be so inexplicable, that I can only admit it, without attempting to account for it. It however furnishes us, I think, with a strong argument against that theory, which supposes the changes which this planet has undergone are all attributable to the constant, regular, and gradual processes of nature, which have been acting from an indefinite period of time, aided by the occasioned heavings of strata, effected by subterraneous heat. By this system -by the gradual interchange of situation between land and water, we might account for the mountains of fossil coral which are From the different colours as well as forms found at considerable distances from the sea, which some of the species of these substanwere it not that so little agreement is observ- ces possess, they have obtained names expresable between the fossil and the recent coral. sive of their resemblance to certain fruits. Had the coral of the mountain and the coral Thus the alcyonium lyncurium, being of a of the sea been constantly the same, it globose form, of a fibrous internal structure, would, indeed, have furnished a powerful of a tubercular surface, and of a yellow evidence of the gradual change of relative colour, has been termed the sea orange: the place in the strata, which were once covered a. bursa being of a sub globose form, of a by the ocean, but which are now thousands pulpy substance, and of a green colour, has of feet above its surface: the gradual reced- been termed the green sea-orange or sea ing of the sea would have sufficed for the ex-apple: the a. cydonium, which is of a roundplanation.

ish form, and of a yellow colour, has been distinguished as the sea quince and the a ficus, from a very close resemblance to the fig in its form, has been called the sea-fig.

The sponge is a fixed, flexible animal, very torpid, varying in its figure, and composed either of reticulated fibres, or masses of small spicule interwoven together, which are clothed with a living gelatinous flesh full of small mouths or holes on its surface, by which it sucks in and throws out the water.

But how, according to this theory, shall we explain the disagreement between the coral of the mountain and the coral of the sca? I see no explanation which can be thus obtained every thing being supposed to have proceeded in its regular course, the animals of the first creation must then have exactly resembled those of the present hour. Some vast change, of powerful and even universal influence, must be sought for, to explain this wonderful circumstance: and The vitality of sponges had been suspected such, doubtless, can only be found in the de- by the ancients, even in the time of Aristostruction of a former world. Thus, indeed,tle; they having perceived a particular mo we shall be enabled to account for the existence of various animals, in a mineral state, whose analogues are unknown; but it must be, admitted, that even this circunstance is not sufficient to account for the existence of animals at the present period, of which no traces can be found in the ruins of that for mer world.

tion in their substance, as if from shrinking, when they tore them off the rocks. This opinion of their possessing a degree of animal life was also entertained in the time of Pliny. Count Marsilli confirmed this opinion by observing, on their being taken out of the sea, a systolic and diastolic motion, in certai little round holes, which lasted until the

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water they had contained was quite dissipated. Mons. Peysonell supposed sponges to have been formed by certain worms, which inhabited the labyrinthean windings of the sponge; and believed, that whatever life was found in these substances, existed in these worms, and not in the substance of the sponge, which he was convinced, was an inanimate body. This point was, however, determined by Mr. Ellis, who in a letter to Dr. Solander, relates the observations which he had made; by which he ascertained, that these worms, which he found in the sponge in great numbers, were a very small kind of nereis, or sea scolopendra; and that they were not the fabricators of the sponge, but had pierced their way into its soft substance, and made it only their place of retreat and security. Upon examining, in sea water, a variety of the crumb of bread sponge, the tops of which were full of tubular cavities or papillæ, he could plainly observe these little tubes to receive and pass the water to and fro; so that he inferred, that the sponge is an animal sui generis, whose mouths are so many holes or ends of branched tubes, opening on its surface; with these, he supposes, it receives its nourishment, and discharges, like the polypes, its excrements.

Mr. Ellis also discovered, that the texture is very different in different species of sponge : some being composed wholly of interwoven reticulated fibres, whilst others are composed of little masses of straight fibres of different sizes, from the most minute spicule to strong elastic shining spines, like small needles of one-third of an inch long; besides these, he ́ : observes, there is an intermediate sort, between the reticulated and the finer fascicu

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Our readers will readily suppose that a composition comprising so many thousands of feeble joints, most of them but slightly connected with their supports, That fossil which is usually called the of an inch in substantial diameter, must and those supports not above a tenth part stone lilly, but which is in truth an ani- needs be liable to fracture and dislocation mal, has undergone an extremely close from causes of daily occurrence, and only examination by our author: and as it af-moderate activity. What then may we fords an instance of the wonderful exer

tions of creative wisdom, we shall transcribe Mr. P's calculation of the number of members contained in its head and arms. The number of joints comprised in its stalk is unknown; as no complete specimen has been found. Of course the length of this stalk is uncertain.

A careful examination ascertains the curious fact, that, independant of the number of pieces which may be contained in the vertebral column, and which, from its probable great length, may be very numerous, the fosil skeleton of the superior part of this animal consists of at least twenty-six thousand pieces. To shew this, the following statement is annexed:

suppose would be the destruction occasioned by such a convulsion as the deluge?

and that we find any specimen sufficientstructure is much more wonderful, than ly preserved to give us an insight into their their rarity. Not more than two or three recent specimens allied in nature to this Zoophyte are known to the curious.

The quantities of this kind of animal found in the same quarries are very great; and the varieties of structure are so considerable as to justify the idea of many different species. The cap encrinites is found throughout a circuit of several miles in extent; and what Mr. P. observes on that subject, is true of many others.

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We at present know little more of it than, cerely regret if the author were to muthat the pertrified remains of its vertebral tilate the communication of his senticolumn, either in detached pieces, or agglu-ments, yet we hope to see the ensuing votinated together in masses of limestone or lumes completed with as little delay, and marble, have long been found in quarries of at no greater expense, than is necessary to As the order an immense extent in some of the northern do justice to their subject.

counties of this island.

Mr. Da Costa remarks, that the whole metallic tract of the county of Derby is, as it were, one continued quarry of this marble; most of the strata of limestone are of this kind, it being the cominon stone which is burnt for lime. The upper parts of these strata, he observes, are always filled with amazing quantities of these bodies and other marine remains, which seem to have been lodged there by subsidence; and to have formed a crust over the limestone, This crust is generally of a very great thickness, and when they have passed it, they find the limestone to contain fewer marine remains and at greater depths it even becomes quite pure and free from them. The marble does not always display the forms of these remains with equal fineness and perfection: Rickledale, Monyash, and Breks, he mentions as afford ing the most beautiful. At present, none perhaps, exceeds that which is obtained in the neighbourhood of Ashford in the Waters. Da Costa remarked, fifty years since, of the Derbyshire marble, that it is degraded by the common name of limestone; and the country people, ignorant of its value only burn it for lime, although for hardness, beauty, and susceptibility of polish, it may with the most esteemed foreign marbles.

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adopted by Mr. P. advances towards classes of animal life with which the public is more familiar, they will present important advantages above what is already published, in respect to illustration by comparison; and of these we shall not fail to take all due advantages.

Midas; or, a Serious Inquiry concerning Taste and Genius; including a Proposal for the certain Advancement of the Elegant Arts, &c. By Anthony Fisgrave, LL.D. crown 8vo. pp. 224. Price 75. Murray, London 1808.

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We certainly have read this volume, and can safely commend the execution of it so far as concerns the paper and print; there are passages in it, too, that we understand, and the tenor of which we approve. But, considered as a whole it is injudicious, for the author gives his readers too much trouble to find out a meaning; and after they have so done, they are not certain that the author's meanvieing is the same as that which they have discovered. Whether this book may not contain mysterious allusions to certain parts of the conduct of a certain body of artists, on certain occasions, we are at a loss to determine. It may be very severe on Messrs. Pallette, Pencil and Co.; nay, we apprehend that the patrons of art, not excluding the sacred character of Majesty itself, are glanced at in it but, the author to secure himself from prose cution for a libel, and to puzzle the attor ney-general who would never be able to make out his inuendoes, has also puzzled his readers. Had Dr. Fisgrave taken advice of Justice Shallow, who sagaciously observes, there are but two ways either to reveal a thing, or to conceal it;" it might have proved to his advantage; while the public would have concluded that

Mr. Mawes, in his Instructive Mineralogy of Derbyshire, observes, that the limestone, the whole of which stratum is composed of marine exuviæ, is of various thickness, from four fathoms to more than two hundred; beneath which, separated from the former by a stratum of toadstone, it is ascertained that there is another stratum of limestone, beyond which no mine in Derbyshire has penetrated.

We believe that we have communicated to our readers as accurate a notion, though a general one, of the nature and contents of these volumes, as our limits admit. The learning and diligence display ed in them, are truly honourable to their author, For the nature of the subject, and its difficulties, he is not responsible: that he has endeavoured to lessen those difficulties, will be gratefully accepted by succeeding naturalists. We repeat our regret that the expense of the coloured plates annexed, which are truly laudable, with other considerations, should place these dissertations beyond the reach of the major part of students. We should sin

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The author had a meaning, and no doubt, The reader had the sense to find it out. But that the author may not suffer under the dulness of our lamp-exhausted faculties, we shall permit him to give an analysis of his book in his own words..

My work, (says Dr. F.) commences with some observations on the opinions maintained by divers learned persons on the continent, that genius being a plant of peculiar delicacy would not thrive on every soil; and consequently art of the best flavour and quality, like good cheese, was the produce only of certain farms or particular districts. To such opinions nevertheless I express my objections; and intimate a firm belief that, under judicious treatment, genius will flourish in every well governed and prosperous state; even in this our native island, in despite of the fogs and philosophers with which foreigners say it

is infested.

to say, that the judges' would be rejudged by their compatriots, be their verdict what it might.

As to the old story of the contention of Apollo and Pan, before Midas, we have seen it better applied, and, as we think, more pleasingly told. Nevertheless, we would not choose to listen to the prattling of the reeds entrusted with our Author's secret, or to repeat after them their monotonous declaration," "Midas, Midas, has asses' ears."

Juvenile Dramas, in three Volumes, by the Author of Summer Rambles, &c. Price 14s. Longman and Co. London, 1808.

I next advert to the favourable disposition which begins to manifest itself for the encouragement of British art, and declare my readiness to become a volunteer in so honourWe have no objection to the dramaable a service; wherein I am the more eager to engage, from an apprehension that the tic form of writing. Dialogue when well meaus resorted to would be found inadequate. conducted has beauties proper to itself. The efficacy of these means are then exaIt has also energies; and these may be mined; and patronage, on which the chief so directed as to render no inconsiderable reliance is commonly placed, is condemned service to virtue. The author of these as an engine particularly destructive to fine dramas has well understood this advantalents; and after expatiating at some length tage. Each of them is calculated to coron the dangerous practice of pampering or rect some vicious inclination of the youthcockering hopeful merit with that false kindful mind: the lessons they read are to the of fondness, which is pardonable only when applied by elderly maidens to their lap dogs, I have endeavoured to show that honour, approbation, and the different modhications of praise, correctly and judiciously conferred, is the true pabulum of genius: its natural and congenial aliment.

But however wholesome this food, the salutary effect thereof altogether depends on the manner in which it is administered. It is not patronage, nor honours, nor praise, that we are in need of: British genius, like the courage of its heroes, requires no stimulants, it demands only to be wisely directed to do whatever is possible for man to perform. I am hence led to consider who are the persops qualified to take the direction of art in so critical a situation; and happily I here find no difficulties: nature having made an express arrangement for this purpose. But being convinced that a matter of such consequence should be conducted with all possible decorum and dignity, I deem this to be the proper moment to introduce my proposal for a high and imperial Court of Connoisseurship, or grand national establishment, for the propagation, dissemination, and preservation of good taste; and consequently the improvement of art: an expedient fully proportioned to the great occasion; natural, efficacious, and practicable.

On this proposal we give no opinion: the British public is little accustomed to renerate without examination the decisions of such institutions; and we venture

purpose, the plots are simple, and the terminations of most of them are sufficiently striking, as well as pleasing. We may even acknowledge that we have derived less graufication from many more laboured dramas intended for men, than from these intended for juvenile readers. Perhaps the good young folks are a little too good, for every-day life, at least; but this fault is no disparagement. The author may have seen more young ladies and gentlemen brought up to the enjoyment and distinction of carriages and servants, whose personal services to the indigent have been exemplary, than we have. Such instances should be commemorated if real, and if too rare, they should so much the rather be held up as objects of emulation. * ́

The first drama is a lesson against thoughtlessness in the laying out of money: the second is against the vanity of attending to fashionable appearance; the third is against dilatoriness and dissipation of time; the fourth is against duplicity, and fibbing; the fifth against peevish discontent and jealousy; the sixth against pride and assumption of merit; the seventh against the affectation of endeavouring to serve every body, thereby serving nobody; the eighth against attaching too much importance to wealth and state; the ninth against envy and disobedience.

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