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Here two questions naturally arise, which the examinators ought not to have confounded, because they do not fall equally within their cognizance.

could be neither contusion, extrava- case in question is less common and more sation, nor alteration in the œsopha- embarrassing: there is found on a bed gus, without some traces appearing the body of a man, with a silk handkerin the soft parts by which it is co- chief tightly tied round the neck, in vered. The ligature which is said which some one had fastened a staff, to have effected strangulation, must and of which some one had made a have been placed below the larynx; sort of tourniquet, with which the but these so important objects are en- handkerchief had been drawn tighter tirely forgotten or neglected in the and tighter, till the said strangulation report; could they have escaped the was effected; but who had fastened attention of the six medical observers? this staff into the handkerchief? who However this be, after enumerating had made it a tourniquet for the above their different observations, the six ex- purpose? what motives could decide aminators hesitate not to conclude, in the medical men to assert that the inditheir first report, "that the individual, vidual had committed suicide? Doubtwhose body they had examined, had less it is possible that, by the process strangled himself," and they repeat in mentioned, a man who is firmly detheir second report, that the said in- termined upon it may strangle himdividual "had committed suicide by self; yet we may observe, that, in this the means pointed out in the report case, the impression made by the of yesterday." handkerchief, ought to be very little observable in the muscles of the neck, and still less on the oesophagus; for the stoppage of circulation in the veins of the neck immediately takes away sensibility, and with it the strength to turn the tourniquet; but it is likewise possible that the crime may have been committed by another; and as in both cases the effects are almost absolutely the same, the reporters might assert, indeed, that the death was produced by strangulation, since they found certain proofs of it on the body; but they ought not to have pronounced that there was suicide; because of this the mere examination of the body could not furnish them with any certainty; they should, at most, have added, that, from particular circumstances communicated to or learnt by them, it appeared to them very probable that the individual had caused his own death, It belongs to the magistrate, in this case, to make the inquiries necessary to ascertain, whether any foreign hand may have co-operated in the death of the body examined.

1. Was the individual in question strangled? The solution of this question belonged entirely to the medical men; they alone could and ought to have proved from the phenomena observed by them, that strangulation was the real and only cause of death; but it may be seen from the remarks now made, that the account of their observations was inaccurate, incomplete, erroneous in several points, obscure in others; and if there existed not in the combination of circumstances other particular motives, we might, and with reason, doubt if strangulation took place, because the report does not specify all the symptoms characteristic of this species of death.

2. Did the individual strangle himself? This question, in the present instance, is very important, and its solution very delicate, as it requires various circumstances to be considered, some of which do not come within the sphere of the physician. That an individual may strangle himself by putting his head into the noose of a rope which he has fixed to a wall, or to the branch of a tree, is a case too well known to afford any room for doubt, and the physician who examines the body may, from the disposition of the knots, the impression made on the neck, and the absence of all external violence, demonstrate and pronounce in a positive manner, that suicide has been committed. But the

MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES IN NATU-
RAL HISTORY.-No. II.

1.-Conchology.

CONCHOLOGY was formerly little more than a mere catalogue of names, and possessed very few attractions for those who cultivated natural history. Now it is otherwise; and at present few branches of zoology are more ge nerally studied. The reasons of this change are obvious. In early times,

the forms and colours of shells were the only features of those beautiful productions that engaged the attention of observers, but naturalists do not now rest satisfied with these characters alone, but study them in connection with the external appearance, and internal structure and economy of the remarkable molluscous animals which they contain. Bare and crude lists of localities of genera and species are no longer valued; the place of these is now taken by interesting details of the various circumstances observable in the physical and geographical distribution of the species over the globe. Even within a few years, a new branch of conchology has arisen amongst us, named Mineral Conchology, or the Natural History of the Fossil Species of Shells found in the bowels of the earth.

The study of these petrifactions has made us acquainted with numerous new genera and species of shells, which sometimes nearly approach in form to the present existing species, or entirely differ from them; and, in most cases, appear to belong to an older and different series of organic formations. The investigation of the physical and geographical distribution of these fossil species in the crust of the earth, has also disclosed numerous highly important facts and views regarding its structure and formation; and in this manner the study of shells is shewn to be intimately connected with geology, and it is thus raised to a much higher rank than it formerly possessed. In England, many naturalists are actively employed in the study of conchology and mineral conchology; and we understand that a valuable work on this subject is about to be published in Paris by M. de Ferussac. It is entitled Histoire Naturelle des Mollusques Terrestres et Fluviatiles, and will contain accounts both of the living and fossil species met with by the author in Spain, Germany, and France. It will be published in quarto numbers, with beautiful plates, and a number will appear every two months. The first number was promised last January.

2.-Mammoth.

Ir is well known that numerous remains of quadrupeds occur in alluvial and even in some of the solid straw

ta of the globe. Most of these appear to belong to species that no longer live on the face of the earth. Of these extinct quadrupeds, the most remarkable is the Mammoth, which in general structure resembles the elephant. It appears formerly to have dwelt in northern regions, and at a period when organic beings, very different from the present tribes, occupied the land and waters of our planet. Fischer, the celebrated Professor of Natural History at Moscow, has lately discovered near that capital, the skull of a mammoth of extraordinary magnitude, measuring in length upwards of five feet.

3.-Models of Calton Hill, Arthur

Seat, and Salisbury Craigs.

WELL executed models of tracts of country, exhibiting their forms, connections, and geognostical structure, afford much information to the geologist, and are also highly useful to the geographer and the military engineer. Hence, artists, particularly in mountainous regions, such as Swit zerland, have been long in the prac tice of modelling, not only ranges and groupes of mountains, but even single mountains and plains. These representations are in great request, and their sale affords an abundant remuneration to those who devote their time to this species of work. We are surprised no one in Great Britain has hitherto proposed to execute models of our mountainous regions, and now, in particular, when geology and geography are so generally studied.

We have pointed out the importance of these models to an ingenious artist of this city, and we believe it is his intention to attend to our sugges tions, and to begin with modelling the Calton Hill, Arthur Seat, and Salisbury Craigs.

4.-Pearls in the Regalia of Scotland.*

We understand the Scottish Crown, lately discovered in the Castle of Edin burgh, is particularly remarkable on account of the number and beauty of the pearls with which it is ornamented. Some are of opinion, that these

* Some account of the recent successful search for these interesting reliques will be found in the Chronicle for this month.

are foreign, but we are rather inclined to consider most of them as productions of this country. This we infer from their general appearance, as described to us by those who had a glance of them, and from the circumstance of the pearls of Scotland having been formerly in much repute, and of considerable size. The river Ythan in Aberdeenshire was long celebrated for the size and the beauty of the pearls it afforded. Even so late as the last century, a pearl was taken in that river, for which thirty-five guineas was given by a travelling Jew, and it was afterwards understood he sold it for three times that price. We may add, that pearls have been got in the rivers in Ireland for which L. 80 have been refused.

We have, for several years past, urged the prosecution of this most delightful branch of botanical science, and we believe our representations have not been altogether without effect. In order still more to excite and encourage the prosecution of the study of the geography of the plants of this country, we would propose the publi cation of a translation of a series of the best treatises that have been written on this subject. We are convinced that such a selection, if well arranged, would form a most acceptable and useful addition to the botanical literature of Great Britain. We would advise some such selection and arrangement as the following: The editor or editors to premise the whole with a general introductory treatise on climate, in which

5.—Dr Walker's Mineralogical Collec- both the physical and mathematical

tion.

WE understand that the late Dr Walker of the University of Edinburgh left a valuable cabinet of minerals, which, it was understood, was to be sold. We have inquired about this collection, with the view of ascertaining whether or not it is likely to be brought before the public, but have been unsuccessful in our inquiries. This notice may probably induce the present possessor of the collection to state what has been determined in regard to it. It may be added, that we have seen the collection, and know that it was rich in many of the rarer mineral productions of this country, and also that it contained substances which have not been met with in Scotland since the time of Dr Walker.

6.-Geography of Plants.

THE particular botany of Scotland has been well investigated, but hitherto none of the botanists of this country have devoted their attention to the physical and geographical distribution of the different tribes of plants. It is a remarkable circumstance, that the only tract on this subject is one which was published at Edinburgh about a year ago, in the form of a thesis, by Dr Boué of Hamburgh. This tract is highly creditable to the industry and perseverance of its author, and, although a mere sketch, deserves to be preserved in our language,

views may be treated separately or conjoined. This treatise will prepare the reader for the views and details contained in the different treatises proposed to be translated. The following, in our opinion, are deserving of translation:

General.

1. Linnè Coloniæ plantarum,-ej. Stationes plantarum. Amœnitatt. Academicis.

2. Stromayer Tentamen historiæ geographicæ vegetabilium. Gött. 1800. 3. Humboldt De distributione Geog. Plant.

et de la distribution de la chaleur sur 4. Humboldt Des lignes isothermes le globe.

the Temperature of Springs. 5. Wahlenberg and Von Buch on

6. Von Buch and Ramond on the limits of perpetual Snow.

7. Wahlenberg on the peculiarities of Maritime and Continental Climates.

Particular.

1. Introduction to the Flora Lapponica, by Wahlenberg; with the map.

2. Introduction to the Flora of the Carpathians, by Wahlenberg; with the map.

3. Introduction of the Flora of Switzerland, by Wahlenberg; with the map.

4. Parrot on the Distribution of Plants in the Caucasus; with the map.

5. Humboldt on the Distribution of Plants in the New World; with the map.

6. Wildenow's Observations on the differences between the vegetation of extratropical regions in the northern and southern hemispheres.

7. Brown's Observations on the Distribution of Plants.

8. Decandolle's Memoir on the Geography of the Plants of France.

9. Boue's Thesis on the Geography of Plants, particularly those of Scotland.

7.-American Natural History.

THE beautiful work on the Ornithology of the American States, projected and partly executed by the late Mr Wilson, originally from Paisley, has been concluded by a Mr Ord. Mr Ord has also published a work on the insects of America. M. Lesueur, now in Philadelphia, made many curious observations on molluscous and zoophytic animals during his passage from Europe to America. He collected and delineated the animals of many different species of Isis, Gorgonia, Alcyonium, Meandrites, &c. and obtained a beautiful series of actinia, shewing the gradual transition into the animal of the madrepore. His attention was also particularly directed to the different vermes that occur, as well in the interior as on the exterior of fishes.

8.-Philosophy of Chemistry.

THE facts in chemistry have become so numerous, that the most perfect arrangements we at present possess enable us to retain but a comparatively small number of them in our memory. Chemists, besides, are now principally intent on adding to this vast stock, and appear, in general, to treat the philosophy of the science or those general views by which these details become interesting and important, as of but little consequence. This erroneous view prevails so generally, that our systems of chemistry are be coming mere dry dictionaries of terms

and of individual experiments. We are confident that a work on the philosophy of chemistry, executed in a popular manner, and with a true philosophical spirit, would contribute, in a very eminent degree, to the advancement of chemical science.

A work of this description, however, would be difficult of execution, and is only to be desired from such masters in the science as Thomson, Leslie, or Murray. Until such a work appears, chemistry must remain destitute of many of those charms and attractions which the other branches of natural science possess. We must submit to be harassed and fatigued with experiments and calculations, without number, and without end; our eyes must be annoyed with unmeaning experiments, and useless apparatus, and our understandings bewildered with contradictory and absurd views.

9.-Egyptian Sphinx.

WE are informed, through the public journals, that Dr Boog of Paisley has ascertained that the sphinx is cut out of the solid rock, on which it was supposed merely to rest. We understand this statement to intimate, that the syenite of the sphinx is a fixed rock. Now, if this be Dr Boog's meaning, we must differ from him; and our dissent is grounded on the known geognostical structure of that portion of Egypt in which the sphinx is situated. The whole of the country is of a grey-coloured compact splintery limestone, and contains neither imbedded masses, beds, nor veins of any granitic, syenitic, or porphyritic rock. But loose blocks of syenite, and often of great magnitude, occur resting upon this limestone. These loose blocks appear to have been brought into their present situation from the syenite mountains on the west coast of the Red Sea, at some former period; not by the power of man, but by the action of those currents that formerly swept the face of the earth. The sphinx, then, is to be considered as cut in one of these loose rolled blocks, or boulder stones, of syenite.

REVIEW OF NEW PUBLICATIONS.

Anecdotes of the Life of Richard Watson, Bishop of Llandaff; written by himself at different intervals, and revised in 1814. Published by his Son, RICHARD WATSON, LL. B. Prebendary of Llandaff and Wells. London. Cadell and Davies. 1817. 4to. pp. 551.

THE name of Bishop Watson has long deservedly stood high among the eminent writers and statesmen of the last century. With a strong and excursive mind, he had early the ambition to distinguish himself in more than one department of intellectual exertion; and there is no subject to which he turned his attention which has not derived illustration from his quick and penetrating genius. In chemistry, in theology, and in politics, he successively acquired an extensive reputation; and although it would probably have been of a more solid description if he had stuck more exclusively to any one object, yet there is something animating and instructive in the spectacle of that fearlessness and intrepidity with which he could bring himself to grapple with every branch alike of science and inquiry. This confidence in his own powers was indeed both his strength and his weakness. It both made him reach the height to which he attained, and prevented him from attaining any higher; and in the interesting picture of his own mind, which he has here left behind him, we are alternately called to admire his acquirements, and to wonder at his deficiencies. The great charm of this book is its evident truth and sincerity. There is no attempt made, on the part of the author, to gloss over any weakness in his cha racter or conduct; for the fact is, that the Bishop is quite satisfied with himself throughout, and never for a moment seems to suspect, whatever his readers may do, that any share of his disappointments in life can justly be imputed to himself. There is a buoyant spirit of infallibility about him, which somewhat takes away, indeed, from the dignity and weight of his character, but rather makes us like

him the better from its naiveté and simplicity; and we rise from this sketch of his life with strong impres sions of his talents, his activity, and his honesty; but, at the same time, persuaded that his wisdom was not equal to his abilities, and that his judgment was not much to be depended upon, either in matters of comprehensive speculation, or in the practical business of life.

Richard Watson was born at He versham, in the county of Westmoreland, in August 1737. His father was master for many years of Heversham school, and was highly respected in that capacity; and it is a natural satisfaction, which the Bishop states that he feels," in knowing that his ancestors, as far as he could trace them, had neither been hewers of wood, or drawers of water,' but, ut prisca gens mortalium, tillers of their own ground, in the idiom of the country Statesmen." After receiving but an imperfect classical education, in which he acknowledges a defect which will probably appear more tremendous to many an Englishman of the old school, than even his latitudinarian principles in religion, or the freedom of his politics, we mean his ignorance of scanning, he was sent to the University, and admitted a sizar of Trinity College in Cambridge, on the 3d of November 1754. The portion which his father had left hin was but L. 300, a sum barely sufficient to carry him through his education. He had no expectations from relations, so that he formed a determined purpose, to which he resolutely adhered, to make his Alma Mater the mother of his fortunes. "That, (he says,) I well remember, was the expression I used to myself (speaking of his return from a visit to his native county) as soon as I saw the turrets of King's College Chapel, as I was jogging on a jaded nag between Huntingdon and Cambridge." He accordingly studied, with intense assiduity, though he was not insensible, he admits, to social pleasures.

"Whilst I was an undergraduate, I kept a great deal of what is called the best com

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