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terms and operations of chemistry; including also a description of the principal instruments employed in experiments, and a classification of natural bodies, and their phenomena. He then treats, in twelve sections or chapters, the subjects of his work in the following order:-1 The action of light.—2 Action of Caloric.-3. Action of air.-4. Nature and properties of combustible bodies.-5. Nature and action of water.-6. Formation, decomposition, and classification of acids.-7. Nature and properties of salifiable bases, or of earths and alkalies.-8. Union of acids with these bases, and the salts thus produced.

9. Oxydation and dissolution of metals.-10. Nature and formation of vegetal substances.-11. Transition of these to the state of animal matter, and the nature of the latter.-12. Spontaneous decomposition of vegetal and animal substances. At the end of each section is subjoined an enumeration of the principal applications which may be made of it to the practice and improvement of the arts.

The general design of the author, in this treatise, and the views by which he was actuated, will appear from the following quotations.

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In order to collect together and to reduce into one body, all the leading truths [of Chemistry,] uncommon discernment is necessary in selecting the most general and comprehensive, so as to include all the facts of the science, and whence they might be deduced as corollaries or immediate consequences. It is also necessary that these rules be expressed clearly, without ambiguity, doubt, or equivocation. Their number must not be too great, yet nothing essential should be omitted; they must, in short, be so ordered with respect to each other, and in a series so natural, as to form an elementary view of the science. Such were the objects which guided me in my researches after these rules. I intended they should serve as a groundwork for a complete system of Chemistry, which, abounding with applications as well as principles, might recal to the memory of the learned all the facts which constitute the immense empire of chemical science, and afford to those who seek for information, a sufficient knowledge of the career they have to perform. I considered a string of propositions, thrown together without order or connection, as insufficient for the end I had in view I have therefore linked them together by their general relations, by arranging them in such a manner as to point out their reciprocal connection, if I may so express myself, and their dependance upon each other: this is what I have entitled, Chemical Philosophy.' Pref. p. xi.

By comprehending distinctly the different relations which connect so intimately the Chemical Philosophy, on the one hand, with the classifi cation which I have introduced amongst bodies, on the other, with the applications of chemistry to all the phenomena of Nature and to all the processes of the Arts, it will be found that, notwithstanding the shortness of the work, it really embraces the whole extent of the science; it makes known all its branches, presents all its principles, and conveys, at the same time, the most general and most accurate notions of it,' Introduction. p. 65.

Should the reader imagine that any part of these passages savours too much of that ostentatious and disgusting vanity, which some of the French chemists, with all their talents and attainments, are known to indulge, we may remove the unwelcome impression by assuring him that the value of the work is scarcely over-rated, either by the author himself, or by his translator, who speaks of it in terms of yet more exalted commendation.

The preceding remarks are intended to apply more especially to the Chemical Philosophy as written by Foureroy; a few sentences will suffice to characterize it as translated by Mr. Desmond.

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In distinguishing the present work from that translation of a former edition to which we have already alluded, Mr. D. unjustly depreciates his predecessor, and has made some not very correct statements in favour of his own publication. He asserts that it contains "upwards of a hundred pages of introduction not contained in the other;" whereas, on examination, we found only sixty six. He affirms also that the "twelve titles, composing the old edition, have been totally altered." Now, if Mi. D. means the titles, nothing can be more untrue; for most of them are in substance exactly the same in both editions, and it is only the order of three or four of them that can be said to be changed. But, if he allude to the contents of the chapters themselves, they have certainly been in many instances new-modelled, corrected, and enlarged,' and the principal discoveries and improvements are inserted, which have been made in the science until the present time;' in this point of view, the great superiority of the present edition is too obvious to be disputed. With respect to the translation itself, we are sorry to notice frequent defects and inaccuracies. The meaning of the author is generally preserved, but his mamer is sometimes disguised, and his perspicuity and brilliances diminished; the substantial matter is the same in English as in French, but much of its water of crystallization is evaporated in the passage. Some contradictions occur, of which we shall specify a few. In p. 9. the name of product is more particularly given to whatever is obtained by analysis, and that of result to the combinations formed by synthesis; and yet in p. 12, we read of the results of analysis: the same is observable also in p. 19, and in p. 16, we find the products of analysis, agreeably to the definition. Our translator chooses to discard the word vegetable, and to adopt in its place vegetal, both in the substantive and adjective form, thus preserving its analogy to animal, mineral, &c.; this is sacrificing the analogy of derivation to the analogy of meaning. On what principle of analogy does Mr. D. write sulphur, sulfuric, sulfat, and sulfit, while, in the terms derived

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from phosphorus, he retains the old spelling, phosphoric, phosphat, &c. We do not recollect having ever before seen the word produces used as a plural noun. The following sentence we do not precisely understand.- Chemists, founded upon the exact results of analyses, as numerous as they are accurate, know,' &c. Some of these are minute faults, and would not have been noticed, but with the hope that Mr. Desmond, who appears to be a young man, will be disposed to profit by our suggestions, and revise with the utmost care his translation of a work, which needs only to be known as much as it deserves, to attain its proper rank among the philosophical treatises of the age. Art. IX. A general, historical, and topographical Description of Mount Caucasus. With a Catalogue of Plants indigenous to the Courtry. Translated from the Works of Dr. Reineggs and Marshal Bieberstein, by Charles Wilkinson. With a Map and Plates. 2 vols. 8vo. pp. 658. Price 15s. bds. C. Taylor. 1807.

THE mountains to which the name of Caucasus has been

given, are of great extent: reaching probably from the Hindoo Co, the original Caucasus, beyond the Indus on the East, to the Caspian and Black Seas on the West. But the Western branch of this immense range is best known to us under this appellation, and chiefly those mountains which form the boundary between the Persian territories and those of Russia from N. lat. 40 to 45. These are situated on the neck of land which separates the Black Sea from the Caspian; and they are peopled by tribes of mankind, very different in origin, appearance, and manners. They combine the most dreary peaks with the most fertile plains, and regions of perpetual snow with-valleys suffocating by heat; they comprize among their inhabitants the Idolater and the Pagan, the Christian and the Mahometan; tribes which have sought refuge from their oppressors amidst the fastnesses of almost barren rocks, and races descending from conquerors, who were allured at the same time by the expectation of acquiring wealth, and the desire of propagating "the true faith" by the sword. Such a district cannot but be interesting: yet from the difficulty of access to it, and the hazards which attend the most cautious observer amid such barbarous tribes, we have but few descriptions of it, by writers intitled to confidence. We are chiefly indebted for what we know of the modern state of these countries, to German travellers under the patronage of Russia, a country which has derived considerable advantages from the information they communicated, and has found her account, as well political as commercial, in extending her influence and protection over this formidable barrier to her dominions. We are, therefore, obliged to Mr. Wilkinson for placing the information, contained in these volumes, within

the acquisition of the British public. He has executed his undertaking apparently with strict fidelity, and has added to the original of M. Reineges, which forms the first volume, not only the Memoranda of Marshal Bieberstein, but notes and illustrations, in the second volume, that prove him to be well acquainted with geographical writers of repute, and considerably augment the general value of the work.

Dr. Reineggs appears to have been of a roving disposition, and an eccentric turn of mind. He was educated as a medical man; he rambled into the East, to Constantinople and to Smyrna, from whence he visited Georgia, where a happy cure of the son of Czar Heracleus gave him an importance, which enabled him to assume the character of a politi cian at Petersburgh, as well as that of a physician at Teflis. We have no reason to doubt his opportunity of remarking, or his fidelity in recording his remarks. And as, after his decease, his papers were inspected by the superior Powers, and forwarded to his Editor in a deranged state, they are intitled to much allowance for certain deficiencies which the critical eye will not fail to discern.

The difficulty of describing regions so extensive, their inhabitants, and their productions, within moderate limits, is not small; nor has it been diminished, as we conceive, by that strong attachment to system, which distinguishes German writers. The book, we confess, is somewhat dull; but those who seek for information, must sometimes be content to forego entertainment.

Dr. R. treats, in the first place, on the geographical distinctions of the countries comprized under the name of the Caucasean region, their mountains and rivers. He is altogether of opinion, that the two seas, the Caspian and the Black Sea, formerly joined. The rivers run among these mountains with great rapidity. The mean height of the range is about 631 toises; that of the Kschoes mountain is 894 toises: others are still higher. These mountains are rich in ores, but the mines are not worked, lest the no ion of their riches should subject the inhabitants to oppression: they are fertile, and adorned with pleasant forests and nourishing pastures; yet the peasant willingly suffers indigence in the midst of fertility, as the price at which he maintains his independence.

These mountains have, in truth, been the refuge of liberty; yet the settlers have been exposed to the hostile inroads of others, perhaps fugitives like themselves, who in their turn have been driven by fresh encroachers to the interior recesses, where the rocks proved their most effectual defence. Hence has arisen a perplexing variety of tribes and languages, derived, no doubt, from so many original families, whose descent is at present unknown.

The provinces into which Caucasus is divided, are the Kuban, Circassia, Daghestan, Lesguisthan, Shirvan, Georgia, Immeritia, &c. The government, in some of these provinces, is more regular than in others, and some tribes are less barbarous; but throughout the whole country, the want of some civilizing medicine is extremely obvious. Mahometanism, the established religion, performs its rites openly; Paganisın, though prohibited, performs its rites secretly; Christianity, though tolerated, scarcely performs its rites at all. Baptism is omitted, because the priest is too distant; and the doors and windows of what should be Christian churches, are marked by piles of stones, which deny access to worshippers, were any inclined to worship. Such is the state of the mind in these Countries. Yet the body grows to maturity, assumes the most harmonious proportions of beauty, and frequently exhibits, according to Dr. R., the most striking features of manly vigour and activity. He does not speak with equal satisfaction of the graces of the women; and the celebrated beauties of Circassia, if his judgement did not deceive him, are far from justifying that reputation which they have long possessed in Europe.

Dr. R. gives, generally, a description of each tribe, its situation, customs, and peculiarities. He notes where it was possible the articles of their traffic, and he enters into the his tory of the people, whenever supported by documents. A prominent incident is the conquest of a great part of this country by the Mahometans, at no distant period after the death of Mahomet; who, by his prophetic spirit, said his officers, while ying, foretold an insult to which his messengers had been subjected among this people, and charged his faithful followers to avenge it. Defeat did not dishearten the Arabs, and at length, after bloody battles, with the assistance of treachery they succeeded in establishing themselves. They preached Mahommedanism with the naked sword; murdered the refractory, and circumcised the submissive." Several armies of 40,000 men each were engaged in this warfare, and colonists to the amount of 17,000 families settled on their conquests. It must be acknowledged, however, that the Arabs brought with them arts and letters. "They improved their possessions by good order and the introduction of rigid justice: schools for instruction were open to every one:" And they used their utmost endeavours to render the possession of these conquests as durable as possible, by the happy tranquillity of their subjects. But only a part of these nations submitted to the fierce propagators of their faith: "the most considerable nations of Caucasus are yet free, though, in regard to their political constitution, united in mutual, determined, clear, unchangeable, and well known bands: which are maintained inviolable, without a prince ever having desired to act contrary them or to annihilate any single tribe."

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