Lyons, &c.: one, I am told, every week; and people stand to offer tickets and shares at the corner of every street. I have shifted my lodgings, and am now in the Hôtel de Nice, No. 21, Rue Jacob, where Sterne was: I had also the fortune to have his apartment at Dessin's at Calais. My French master's name is Deville : he was twelve years in Edinburgh: he takes great pains with me, particularly to prevent me from learning too much; for I sometimes attempt to learn a dozen pages at once, instead of confining myself to learn an article from a pronoun, a verb from a preposition, &c. &c. I am sorry to state it takes a considerable time to learn to know one's own ignorance: to splutter a few French words, so as to be understood by an Englishman, is very different to speaking French. I am glad to assure you I begin to read it tolerably, and will unremit-tingly study it during my stay here. Who knows but I may know how to write a French sentence by the time I may have the pleasure of seeing you? Yesterday we had a lecture on mechanics. I wonder the French do not cultivate the potato more they have here only one sort, and that indifferent.

Thursday. I wish much to send you some account of M. Patrin, and what he says of your

book and mine. I have called twice at his house since I presented them to him, and was not fortunate enough to find him at home. To-day I have been to the museum at the Jardin des Plantes. There is a suite of rooms for natural history in every department, where they are arranged in the

best manner, after (or rather by) Buffon. Birds of every variety, finely preserved; beasts, fish, serpents, insects, &c. : in rooms below are minerals, woods, seeds, &c., open to the public. The Ménagerie, at the other end of the garden, contains the finest specimens in Europe. The tigers sent by Tippoo are uncommonly large: the lion is full four feet two inches high, a superb beast. Here is a great opportunity to reap information.

My minerals are at last arrived, and now I hope to begin to do something in that line: at present I am hardly known. Faujas being in the country is a loss to me: the others do not speak English. A work on chemistry is expected from Berthollet. We have immensities of whitings here. I wish you could see the poultry-market. To-day I saw for the first time pigeons in droves: three or four hundred in a drove (young ones) are inclosed in a small space in the markets, where they run about without attempting to get away; and people go and buy as many as they want: they see them killed, &c. We pay just two-pence for a dish, not large, of most excellent coffee: the four or five lumps of sugar sent with it is, in England, certainly worth a penny: therefore the coffee only costs a penny. In the museum of the Louvre are several porphyry vases, and granite columns sixteen feet high by sixteen or eighteen inches diameter, all in one piece. The paintings, &c. are the most valuable that were in Holland, Italy, &c. &c., and are inexpressibly fine, as are the

statues.

I hope in my next to give you some account of

minerals, and hope to meet with new substances. I have a bit of chromate of iron for you. Specie is not scarce by any means, in proportion to the riches of the people.

Friday, 26th.-I have been with the Abbé Haüy all day and M. Vauquelin: with them I am considered a bon ami. This afternoon at five o'clock the guns fired, on the receipt of the news of the definitive treaty being signed. The Louvre and a few houses are illuminated this night; but it is very few-the streets are, as usual, perfectly tranquil we have no mob breaking the windows of houses that are not instantly subservient to their commands: probably a more general illumination may take place in a few days. The most active scenes here are the coffee-houses: every body there is employed as actively as possible in playing little games, and up to the ears in nothing.

The shops are mere holes in general. Excuse this medley: I hope my next will be more interesting. My book is in great fame,* and it will be advertised as soon as Detterville can obtain a few copies. I shall present the Abbé Haüy, Le Levre, and Patrin, one each.

The Mineralogy of Derbyshire, with a description of the most interesting Mines in the North of England, in Scotland, and in Wales; and an Analysis of Mr. Williams's work, entitled, "The Mineral Kingdom, with a Glossary of Terms used by Miners." London, 1802, 8vo.

MR. C. BUTLER TO MR. PINKERTON.

Lincoln's Inn, March 21st, 1802.

By an application to the Court of Chancery you might procure an order of the court, enjoining them not to proceed to sell the copies; * and, in consequence of this, they would lie dead on their hands. I know of no other redress; but it would have the effect of blasting their characters. I should think a fair way of settling the matter amicably will be dividing the profits between you, after allowing them the price of the paper and the printer's bill. I have been told that Boswell stood at the press, counted the sheets, and then saw the press broke up. I have very long wished to see you; but, fortunately or unfortunately, my time is so much engrossed by my profession that I have not been able to reach you.

I have finished my Account of the Koran and the Zendavesta: if you would like to see my manuscript, I shall have great pleasure in sending it to you.

*The large-paper copies of the Modern Geography, respecting which there seems to have arisen, immediately upon the appearance of the book, a difference between Mr. Pinkerton and his publishers, Messrs. Cadell and Davies. On this Mr. Pinkerton consulted Mr. Butler; and it was agreed that the point in dispute should be referred to the decision of him and Alderman Cadell; but the latter soon after died, and the matter long remained unsettled.-See Cadell and Davies' Letter of April 27th, 1803.

The Edda and the Vedams remain. I doubt whether I shall attempt either: all our knowledge of the latter we owe to Sir William Jones's Discourses, which rather excite than satisfy our curiosity. Mr. Herbert Marsh's Account of the Origin of the Gospels is the most extraordinary work which has made its appearance for some years; but it must be read with great attention. If you wish to see it, I will send you a copy of it: be has given me half-a-dozen for my friends. Dr. Geddes has not left behind him a single sheet for the continuation of his work.

MR. MAWE TO MR. PINKERTON.

Paris, April 18th, 1802.

I have called on M. De Bure, but was not fortunate enough to find him at home. M. Van Praet I saw yesterday: he made many inquiries after you, and desired his best compliments. I begged the favor of him to give me his opinion of the books you inquire after, to which he readily consented. Finding him desirous to serve me, I left your letter with him; and he promised to send me written particulars to-morrow. I waited on Mr. Beckford; but, finding I could not see him, I left a note, stating you requested me to call, &c., also my address.

I fear not but I shall be soon able to pick you up a good collection of rock specimens. De La