calcareous ftreaks, and calcedonious droppings, which have in fome places penetrated the fubftance of the zeolites.

• One of the canfeways to the northward of the grand cave merits the attention of the naturalift by the difpofition, the number, the purity, and elevation of the prifms, which are more than fortyeight feet high, and placed perpendicularly like the pipes of an organ. This magnificent colonade is fpread over with a current of compact lava, more than fifty feet thick, and compofed of innume rable fmall prifms which diverge in all directions. It is fupported by a current of black gravelly lava, nine feet thick, the paste of which is an intermixture of different other lavas divided into fmall irregular fragments, and united by a natural cement, composed of calcareous earth, zeolites, and a calcedonious fubftance. Every thing leads me to regard this current as the refult of a volcanic eruption, in which the water entering into concourfe with fire, has mixed all these matters in one pafte. A part of this current of lava extends under the fea.' Vol. ii. P. 54.

The defcription of the mineralogical productions of Staffa is interefting only to the philofophical inquirer, and must be examined in the work itfeif. The author returned to Mr. M'Lean's houfe, at Torloifk, and met with a pleafing fociety. In the remoteft corners of Scotland, perfons of talents and information may be found who have paffed their time in better climates and often in high ftations; fo void of truth is the farcafm, that the Scot never returns to his country. Scarcely lefs national than the Swifs, he again fecks the humble cottage that gave him birth, or, when he rifes above it, like McLean, regards it with refpectful reverence. From Mifs M'Lean and others, M. St. Fond learned to give credit to the existence of Offian and his works. On this point we shall only remark, that his gallantry perhaps rendered him an eafy victim, and that his heart affented without confulting his reafon.

The volcanic obfervations afford us an opportunity of obferving that the apparently regular conftruction of the circus, at Anacregs, muft not a little contribute to destroy the fuppofed design of the rude infulated rocks of Britain. This circus, in the western part of England, would have been deemed a druidical temple; and it deferves that appellation better than Stonehenge, or Crockern torr; but M. St. Fond explains the conformation very naturally; and, though the English maffes of ftone are not volcanic, they probably admit an explanation equally fimple and certain.

The mineralogical hiftory of the ifle of Mull, the island of Kerrera, and the furrounding fpots, afford obfervations of importance. We wish that travellers always had equally benecial or at least innocent objects of refearch; but M. Bom

belles, whom our author met at Killin, had, by the confeffion of M. St. Fond, a number of military and other charts, which led him to think that his countryman had other objects in view, befides natural fciences. In this neighbourhood our traveller examined the pearl fithery; and he gives an accurate account of the formation of the pearl. The pearly concretion arifes from wounding the fhell; and he explains this principle in its varied modes of operation.

In treating of Loch Tay, M. St. Fond particularly describes its remarkable flux and reflux. In the latter, the water receded one hundred and fifty two French feet. Perth is noticed, with its manufactories, in his ufual lively manner. The volcanic mountain of Kinnoul, in the vicinity of that town, is a great object of his attention; and he carefully points out the different kinds of lava of which it confifts.

The town and university of St. Andrew are next defcribed at fome length; but, though our author's naïveté gives another colour to objects well known, he does not, in this inftance, add materially to our information. The natural hiftory of the country around is not particularly interefting. The ftagnation of trade, of manufactures, and of every active exertion, renders the environs of St. Andrews gloomy and unpleafing. The coal which rifes at their feet, the inhabitants do not attempt to work. Near Kinghorn, on the fhore of Fife, oppofite to Leith, are three rude upright flones which are occafionally referred to Romans and Druids. They are certainly the fepulchral monuments of an uncivilifed race; and fimilar ftones occur alfo in Bretagne, where the language is faid to refemble the Erfe.

The defcription of Edinburgh, and of its celebrated inhabitants, offers nothing new. Many of thofe who are celebrated have been long fince numbered with the dead; and we can only recount, with a figh, the names of Cullen, Smith, Robertfon, &c. In the neighbourhood of Edinburgh, our author faw numerous traces of volcanos; but, in this point, he differs from many naturalifts, and we muft greatly regret that the fpecimens collected by him, in the vicinity of the northern me tropolis, were left. Yet the queftion fhould have been long fince decided, for lavas afford little or no air, and there are many chemifts in that city (though from age the venerable Black thould decline the labour) who could afcertain the nature of thefe fuppofed lavas.

From Edinburgh to Buxton, we find nothing which merits particular notice. The buildings and baths of Buxton are properly mentioned; and M. St. Fond examines the toad

one in the neighbourhood, which Mr. Whitehurst confiders as a lava. From a careful examination of the country around, our author determines that his ftone is in reality a

trapp formed by an alluvial rather than a volcanic procefs. The description and arguments are too long for an extract, and too extenfive for an examination. We mean not to decide, but muft obferve, that M. St. Fond's arguments do not carry conviction to our minds: many of them, on the contrary, feem to confirm the oppofite origin. Mr. Kirwan, however, we obferve, joins in the fame opinion with M. St. Fond. Poole's Hole, and the cavern at Castleton, are defcribed at length; but little is added to the accounts of former travellers. Derby, and its manufacture of ornamental vafes from the fluor fpar, are next examined. Birmingham was viewed by St. Fond with an eager and comprehenfive eye; and he speaks of its manufactures with the intelligence and precifion of an extenfive and liberal inquirer. Thence he returned to London, and foon afterwards to France. We have now followed him through his two volumes with fome attention, and we need not add to the length of this article by a general commendation. Those who are induced, by our account, to read the work, will not, we truft, be disappointed. It is generally pleafing and accurate: M. St. Fond's fpirit and good humour seldom forfake him, and few objects appear to have efcaped his attention and research.

Memoirs of the Courts of Berlin, Drefden, Warfaw, and Vienna, in the Years 1777, 1778, and 1779. By N. W. Wraxall, Efq. 2 Vols. 8vo. 145. Boards. Cadcil and Davies. 1799. MEMOIRS of courts are attractive to the generality of readers; but they intereft the frivolous and the vulgar more than philofophers or men of reflexion. A fameness of intrigue, and a fimilarity of corruption, are found to prevail in thofe fcenes; and felf-intereft and ambition are their ordinary features. Mr. Wraxall's work, however, is not confined to the mere memoirs of the courts which he vifited; for it is diverfified with other details.

The prefent volumes would have attracted more attention than they now excite, if they had appeared soon after the memoirs which they contain were written. But the author was influenced by motives of delicacy. His reluctance (he fays) to difclofe [to the disclosure of] anecdotes and facts relative to fo many diftinguished living characters, induced him to postpone the publication for twenty years.' He adds, that, 'however remote the time may appear,' he has ftill chosen to be wholly filent on many points, equally curious and interefling." His reafons for this filence are not fatisfactory. The perfons to whom thofe points relate, are, he fays, either dead or for

gotten; but, as the circumftances are interefting, there is no fufficient inducement to fupprefs them. Death forms no objection to the disclosure; and, as the perfons were distinguished in their time, though now almost forgotten, the mention of curious incidents refpecting them will be an opportune revival of their memory.

The first letter is dated from Hanover, Sept. 9, 1777. It contains a sketch of the character of Frederic II. landgrave of Heffe-Caffel, and, among other particulars, an account of the wife of George I. The writer was eager to ascertain the guilt or the innocence of that princefs; and the refult of his inquiries tended to her exculpation. The following fact seems to favor the opinion of her innocence. George, who, before he afcended the British throne, had made a fruitlefs propofal of reconciliation, was induced to renew the offer.

A fact which rests upon the strongest evidence is that after the death of queen Anne, when the elector was called to the throne of Great Britain, he renewed his proposals for the fame purpose. A deputation, compofed of English peers and gentlemen, by the new king's defire, waited on Sophia Dorothea at Ahlden, and acquainted her that they wished to be permitted to approach her as their queen. They reprefented to her the injurious confequences which her feparation, and her state of misintelligence with the king her husband, might produce, peculiarly to her fon. And they reminded her, that for flighter caufes the birth of James the Second's fon had been called in question. Far from yielding to these arguments, or being dazzled by the profpect of a crown, the peremptorily rejected the overture: "If," faid he, "I am guilty of the crime imputed to me, I am unworthy to be your queen. If I am innocent, the king is unworthy to be my husband." A woman capable of such a renunciation, muft either have been animated with implacable refentment, or have been confcious of her own innocence, and of the malignity of her perfecutors.' Vol. i. p. 28.

The next letter chiefly relates to the queen of Denmark, the fifter of our fovereign. The levity and imprudence of her behaviour are noticed, and the proceedings against her are circumftantially recounted. The report of her being poifoned is difproved.

A description of Berlin is followed (in the fourth letter) by an examination of the character and actions of the great Frederic of Pruffia. But we need not dwell on this fubject, as the character of that monarch is well known. A part of the sketch, however, we will prefent to our readers.

Ambition, from the hour of his acceffion to the prefent moment, has been his only real paffion. Neither the faith of treaties, nor the laws of nations, nor the principles of juftice and equity,

have ever fufficiently restrained him from purfuing the aggrandizement of the Pruflian monarchy. The conqueft of Silefia, under all the circumstances, can fcarcely be juftified: the partition of Poland, however its injuftice may feem to be diminished by the concurrence of Auftria and Ruffia, was an act that revolted every mind not infenfible to the diftinétions of right and wrong. His own glory, more than the felicity of his people, has conftituted, at every period of his reign, the rule of his political conduct. Though not cruel, he is nevertheless in fome refpects oppreflive: though he rarely permits capital punishments, he exacts pecuniary contributions from his fubjects, fcarcely lefs fubverfive of their domeftic happinefs, than would be the utmoft feverity of penal laws. His vigilance, it is true, never fleeps; and he is felt on the diftant frontier of Courland, or of Cleves, at the extremities of his dominions, almoft as much as here at Berlin. But fo was Philip the Second, the most odious tyrant of modern times. It is for the preservation of his own greatnefs alone that Frederic wakes. Even his pleasures are gloomy, philofophic, and folitary. Love never invaded the privacy of "Saus Souci," nor foftened the auftere and cheerlefs hours of Frederic's private life. He is great, but not amiable; we render homage to his talents, his reputation, and his victories: but we defire to live under a more benign and unambitious prince.' Vol. i. p. 106.

The chief campaigns of Frederic are afterwards reviewed, at greater length than was neceflary in a work of this kind. We are not furprised at Mr. Wraxall's prolixity in this inftance, when we find him remarking, that the principal fea-. tures of the feven-years' war offer the most animating picture ever prefented to the human mind.' But that mind must be perverted and depraved, which can be animated by fcenes of felefs butchery and horrible carnage.

The two brothers and the nephew of Frederic are characlerifed with fpirited touches; and anecdotes are given of other perfons belonging to, or connected with, the royal fanily.

In the eighth letter is an account of the court of Drefden; but the greater part of it is occupied with a story of raising the apparition of the chevalier de Saxe; an impofture managed by one Schrepfer with confiderable dexterity.

The effect which the death of the Bavarian elector, in 1777, had on the court of Vienna, and the fteps which were taken in confequence of it, for the extenfion of the territories of the houfe of Auftria, are among the topics of the tenth letter. In the twelfth are anecdotes of the generals Lacy and Laudohn; and a comparison is thus drawn between them.

Lacy's talents are more univerfal, Laudohn's more concentrated. One is greater in the theory of war, in the vaft detail re