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made it your business to become acquainted?

A. Not much of that; they went on generally in the night.

Q. But then you might have afforded them timely notice, by making beacons on shore, or showing your lights?

A. No, no (laughing): we always put them out, for a better chance by night.

Q. But would there not have been more humanity in showing them their danger?

A. I did not go there for humanity: I went racking. (In truth, as strong an apology as any that can be suggested for it.)

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SWEDEN may truly be designated as a mineral country, for the metals actually constitute the principal source of its wealth and prosperity. In this point of view, nature may be said to have treated the inhabitants in the same manner that a sage but economical mother treats her children; for she has granted whatsoever is necessary with profusion, what may be deemed useful with moderation, and what is brilliant, but dangerous, with parsi

mony.

In that country the quantity of the different metals is in the inverse proportion of the price of gold, silver, copper, and iron. The mountains, in addition to these, contain marble and other ornamental stones, which at present are merely objects of curiosity, but will, at some period not far distant, be better known.

Of the precious metals, little more than mere specimens may be said to be obtained.

A few unproductive mines, which private persons had undertaken to work during the last century, have been abandoned, and gold is at present extracted from

but two. At Aldelfars, in the pro-
vince of Smaland, in the course of
twenty-six years, they have only ob-
tained to the amount of 70,000
franks; and, from the produce of
Fahlun, in conjunction with the
above, Sweden cannot be said to
have reaped more than forty-five
marks of gold annually.

The only silver mine worthy of notice is that of Sala, in Westmania. During the reign of Christina it yielded 20,000 marks of silver; but at present it produces no more than from two to three thousand, which scarcely repays the expences.

It is worked by an association of several individuals, who are favoured by means of certain special privileges, burthensome to the whole canton, and is one of those establishments at first projected by a blind cupidity, and afterwards persevered in from mere habit, without being attended either with advantage to the public or to individuals.

Copper is one of the principal productions of Sweden. At the present period, however, they do not extract more than from six to seven thousand ship-pounds* yearly, from all the ten copper mines now worked.

The two principal ones are those of Fahlun, in Dalecarlia, and Atwidaberg, in Ostrogothia, the latter of which alone produces 2000 ship-pounds.

The former of these merits particular attention in every point of view. It is known in that country by the name of the Kopparberg, and situate at about forty leagues to the north of Stockholm. It is visited every year by a multitude of travellers, some of whom are induced to repair thither from an attachment to mineralogical pursuits, and others from motives of mere curiosity. In 1802, I myself happened to be there, and employed nearly four hours in examining the mine.

* A ship-pound, or schip-pund, is the usual measure of minerals in the north of Europe, and nearly equivalent to three French quintals.

You first descend (having been previously provided with a kind of masquerade dress), by means of a staircase, to the bottom of an immense excavation, and afterwards penetrate into its recesses by means of a narrow passage, at the end of which you seem to have arrived at the region of shades. One of the miners precedes, and another follows, each carrying a lighted torch of pine; the column of travellers advances slowly by the light of these, sometimes through galleries cut into the rock, sometimes descending along ladders, and sometimes crossing frail bridges, suspended over terrible abysses.

The mineral, which appertains to a company of two hundred different proprietors, is equally divided among them; sixty only of these, who possess a knowledge of the art, have the privilege of smelting it, and they alone have the privilege of purchasing the other shares. At Fahlun it is only converted into what is termed black copper, by working; after which it is carried to a furnace, for the purpose of being again purified.

The former of these operations is performed by means of wood, with which the mineral is intermixed, and the thick smoke which arises at once darkens and infects the horizon around. We are assured, however, "that neither man nor animals are affected, and that no particular malady is known either in that town or neighbourhood: but the plants as well as the edifices experience the effects of these exhalations, in which vitriol predominates. It is only by means of extraordinary care that the adjacent lands are rendered in any degree fertile. The wood, of which most of the houses are composed, is also corroded by the air impregnated with these vapours, and becomes insensibly converted into a species of charcoal, which yields to the pressure of the fingers. These exhalations," it is added, " even attack metal itself. The inhabitants of Fahlun are particularly desirous to cover their

VOL. V. NO. XXVIII.

churches with plates of a mineral to which they are indebted for their prosperity, but this sheathing of copper is soon attacked by the vitriolic vapours, and stands in need of being frequently repaired.”

About five hundred workmen are constantly employed in the mine of Fahlun. They never sleep, and but seldom eat their meals, in the subterraneous regions; two persons, however, remain constantly below, to prevent any accident by fire. Eight horses are kept in stables cut out of the solid rock; a council room has also been formed in the same manner; the principal persons connected with the works sometimes assemble there," and it was there also that Gustavus III, affecting originality in every thing, without recurring to the forms usually employed in the Swedish chancery, without consulting the ministers whom he had left behind him on the surface of the earth, signed a royal proclamation, by which he granted an exemption from certain duties on gold, silver, and lead."

For the Literary Magazine.

LETTERS OF GRAY.

IN a late work, translated from the German by miss Plumtre, there appears several letters from the poet Gray, to a gentleman of Switzerland, by name Bonstetten.

Bonstetten, in his youth, resided for some time at Cambridge, during which he enjoyed an almost daily intercourse with the poet Gray, who attached himself to him with great ardour, and soon became his warmest and most confidential friend. Every one who is acquainted with Gray's works will doubtless read with the deepest interest the following reliques of his correspondence with his young friend.

"Cambridge, April 12, 1770. "Never did I feel, my dear Bonstetton, to what a tedious length the

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few short moments of our life may
be extended, by impatience and ex-
pectation, till you had left me; nor
ever knew before with so strong a
conviction how much this frail body
sympathizes with the inquietude of
the mind. I am grown old in the
Compass of less than three weeks,
like the sultan in the Turkish tales,
that did but plunge his head into a
vessel of water, and take it out again,
as the standers by affirmed, at the
command of a dervise, and found
he had passed many years in capti-
vity, and begot a large family of
children. The strength and spirits
that now enable me to write to you
are only owing to your last letter: a
temporary gleam of sunshine, hea
ven knows when it may shine again;
I did not conceive till now, I own,
what it was to lose you, nor felt the
solitude and insipidity of my own
condition before I possessed the hap-
piness of your friendship; I must
cite another Greek writer to you,
because it is much to my purpose:
he is describing the character of a
genius truly inclined to philosophy.
6 qualifica-
It includes,' he says,
tions rarely united in one single
mind, quickness of apprehension,
and a retentive memory, vivacity
and application, gentleness and mag-
nanimity; to these he adds an in-
vincible love of truth, and conse-
quently of probity and justice. Such
a soul,' continues he, will be little
inclined to sensual pleasures, and
consequently temperate; a stranger
to illiberality and avarice; being
accustomed to the most extensive
views of things, and sublimest con-
templations, it will contract a habi-
tual greatness, will look down with
a kind of disregard on human life,
and on death, consequently, will
possess the truest fortitude. Such,'
says he, is the mind born to govern
But these
the rest of mankind.'
very endowments, so necessary to a
soul formed for philosophy, are of
ten its ruin, especially when joined
to the external advantages of wealth,
nobility, strength, and beauty; that
is, if it light on a bad soil, and want
its proper nurture, which nothing

but an excellent education can be-
stow. In this case he is depraved
by the public example, the theatres
that inspire it with false opinions,
terrify it with false infamy, or ele.
vate it with false applause; and re-
member that extraordinary vices,
and extraordinary virtues, are
equally the produce of a vigo-
rous mind: little souls are alike
incapable of the one and the other.
If you have ever met with the por-
trait sketched out by Plato, you will
know it again :' for my part, to my
sorrow, I have had that happiness;
I see the principal features, and I
forsee the dangers with a trembling
anxiety. But enough of this; I re-
It proves, at
turn to your letter.
least, that in the midst of your
new gaieties, I still hold some place
in your memory, and, what pleases
me above all, it has an air of undis-
sembled sincerity. Go on, my best
and amiable friend, to show your
heart simply, and without the sha-
dow of disguise, and leave me to
weep over it, as I now do, no mat-
ter whether from joy or sorrow."

"April 19, 1770.

"Alas! how do I every moment feel the truth of what I have somewhere read, Ce n'est pas le voir, que de s'en souvenir ;" and yet that remembrance is the only satisfaction I have left. My life now is but a perpetual conversation with your shadow; the known sound of your voice still rings in my ears; there, on the corner of the fender you are standing, or tinkling on the pianoforte, or stretched at length on the sofa.

Do you reflect, my dearest friend, that it is a week or eight days before I can receive a letter from you, and as much before you can have my answer; that all that time I am employed with more than Herculean toil, in pushing the tedious hours along, and wishing to annihilate them; the more I strive, the heavier they move, and the longer they grow? I cannot bear this place, where I have spent many tedious years within less than a month since you left me. I am go

ing in a few days to see poor Ninvited by a letter, wherein he mentions you in such terms as add to my regard for him, and express my own sentiments better than I can do myself. I am concerned,' says he, 'that I cannot pass half my life with him; I never met with any one who pleased and suited me so well: the miracle to me is, how he comes to be so little spoiled, and the miracle of miracles will be, if he continues so in the midst of every danger of education, and without any advantages but from his own excellent nature and understanding. I own I am very anxious for him on this account, and perhaps your inquietude may have proceeded from the same cause. I hope I am to hear when he has passed that cursed sea, or he will forget me thus in insulam relegatum. If he should, it is out of my power to retaliate.' Surely you have written to him, my dear Bonstetten, or surely you will! He has moved me with these gentle and sensible expressions of his kindness for you; are you untouched by them?

"You do me the credit, and false or true it goes to my heart, of ascribing to me your love for many virtues of the highest rank. Would to heaven it were so! But they are indeed the fruits of your own noble and generous understanding, which has hitherto struggled against the stream of custom, passion, and illcompany, even when you were but a child; and will you now give way to that stream when your strength is increased? Shall the jargon of French sophists, the allurements of painted women, comme il faut, or the vulgar caresses of prostitute beauty, the property of all who can afford to purchase it, induce you to give up a mind and body by Nature distinguished from all others, to folly, idleness, disease, and vain remorse? Have a care, my ever amiable friend, of loving what you do not approve. Know me for your most faithful and most humble des pote."

May 9, 1770.

"I am returned, my dear Bonstetten, from the little journey I made into Suffolk, without answering the end proposed. The thought that you might have been with me there has embittered all my hours: your letter has made me happy, as happy as so gloomy, so solitary a being as I am, is capable of being made. I know, and have too often felt, the disadvantages I lay myself under, how much I hurt the little interest I have in you, by this air of sadness so contrary to your nature and present enjoyments: but sure you will forgive, though you cannot sympathise with me. It is impossible for me to dissemble with you; such as I am, I expose my heart to your view, nor wish to conceal a single thought from your penetrating eyes. All that you say to me, especially on the subject of Świtzerland, is infinitely acceptable. feels too pleasing ever to be fulfilled; and, as often as I read over your truly kind letter, written long since from London, I stop at these words, "La mort qui peut glacer nos bras avant qu'ils soient entrelaces."

For the Literary Magazine.

A PORTRAIT OF A PROJECTOR,

It

AN enterprising man in narrow circumstances (for the rich will seldom risk in this kind of adventure until the probability of success is rendered in some measure conside❤ rable); a poor man conceives a project by which he hopes to alter his circumstances, and considers the means, mechanical as well as com mercial, that is to say, how the thing is to be done, and how he shall acquire the means of paying For the the expence of doing it. former he must depend upon his own ingenuity, and for the latter he can seldom, at first, have any greater dependence than the spare time he can afford from those exertions

30

of industry which are necessary to
After much
procure him bread.
incessant labour, too often attended
with severe distress from borrow
ing too much of the indispensible
time required for his subsistence,
the projector either finds himself re-
duced to beggary, or his plan be-
comes so far probable, in respect to
its result, that he can apply to some
other man of greater capital than
himself for assistance.

This second projector is usually
a man of small fortune, and disposed
to adventure from motives some-
what of the same kind as those
which impelled the original con-
triver. He engages part of his lit-
tle property in the scheme, with the
hopes of speedily becoming indepen-
dent. Difficulties still present them-
selves; more money is wanted;
and as long as the monied man can
supply the necessities of the inven-
tion and of the inventor, he is in all
probability tempted by the sanguine
expectations of the latter to go on.
Embarrassment, contention, legal
processes, ruin to the man who
risked his property, and a prison to
the inventor, are too frequently the
result of this first combination, even
in cases where the invention may
itself have been of value; and still
more frequently, when, as it com-
monly happens, the invention is the
mere speculation of an uninformed,
and, perhaps, unprincipled man.
For it is the nature of these under-
takings, as soon as the mind becomes
habituated to them, that they mis-
lead the operator into a notion of
their probable success in spite of
every intervening impediment; and
the inventor must possess more for-
titude than usually falls to the lot of
a poor man, if he does not go on to
flatter himself and his partner as
long as any money is to be by such
means obtained.

When the inventor has acted uprightly, or the first supporter proves a candid man, and not of a vindictive disposition, it commonly happens that he withdraws out of the concern with the loss of a whole or a part of his capital, and retains no

a

share whatever in it, lest the legal
consequences of a partnership should,
at some future period, deprive him
of the remainder of his property.
The inventor must then apply to
some other capitalist, himself pos-
sessing tools and machinery, and his
former friend being left to the
chance of that remuneration which
the gratitude or the justice of the
speculator may afford him;
chance which, upon the whole, as
the future labours of the inventor
will probably be considerable, is not
likely to realize itself in any benefi-
A second and a third
cial form.
supporter may in this way be tired
or exhausted. The inventor neces-
sarily learns much at their expence,
and either becomes an unprincipled
speculator, or contriver of schemes
to raise money in this express way;
or else he goes on to perfect his in-
vention, and the last partner either
shares it with him, purchases it of
him, or by some quirk of law de-
prives him of the whole.

From this crude outline of a pro-
cess which is every day going for-
ward, especially in Great Britain;
a process which, like the lottery,
enriches a few, while multitudes be-
come the losers, it may be seen how
little upon the whole it is likely that
inventors should pass through all
the difficulties of their progress from
poverty to opulence, by the extreme
labour of bringing a new scheme to
perfection, subject to an endless
struggle with partners, whose natu-
ral interest and prudential motives
ought to lead them to proceed with
slowness and caution.

For the Literary Magazine.

WELD'S TRAVELS.

I HAVE made some extracts from this work, in order to show those who have no opportunity of judging for themselves, how little credit is due to the remarks of this mistaken and prejudiced writer.

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