in vain. At length Mr. Humbold resolved to go himself to the places which those eels inhabit. Mr. Humbold and his companions witnessed, amidst the abodes of the eels, a sight altogether new and extraordinary. About thirty mules and horses had been hastily brought together from the neighbouring savannahs, where they live in a wild state in so great numbers, that the proprietor, when he is known, parts with them for about seven shillings each. The Indians, surrounding the mules and horses, drove them into the water, and prevented them from returning to land by means of harpoons affixed to the end of long bamboos, which they pushed forward towards the animals with loud vociferation. The electrical eels, or gymnoti, roused by the noise and tumult, come up to the surface of the waters, and swimming like so many livid serpents, glide under the bellies of the mules and horses, to whom they communicate commotions the most sudden and vioJent. The quadrupeds, in great agony, their hair standing on end, and their eyes rolling wildly with pain, make efforts for their escape in vain. In less than five minutes two of the horses were drawn under the water and drowned. Victory seemed to be declared on the side of the electrical eels. But their activity began to relax and languish. Fatigued by the repeated efforts of their nervous energy, they launched the electric fluid less frequently and with less effect. The horses that had escaped destruction, gradually recovered their strength; and in about a quarter of an hour the eels retired from the combat in such a state of languor and exhaustion, that they were easily drawn to land by means of small harpoons attached to cords. [There be many things in the book of nature, as Shakspeare observes, that our philosophy dreams not of. But, whatever may be thought of the accuracy of the following report, it is curious, as it respects the human mind, the power of imagination, or the strong desire to appear interesting objects in the sight of mankind.] The Mermaid seen on the coast of Caithness. [Letter from Miss Mackay, daughter of the Rev. David Mackay, Minister of Reay, to Miss Innes Dowager, of Sandside.] Reay, Manse, May 25th, 1809. MADAM ; To establish the truth of what has hitherto been considered improbable and fabulous, must be at all times a difficult task, and I have not the vanity to think that my testimony alone would be sufficient for this purpose; but when to this is added that of four others, I hope it will have some effect in removing the doubts of those, who may suppose that the wonderful appearance I reported having seen in the sea on the 12th of January, was not a mermaid, but some other uncommon, though less remarkable, inhabitant of the deep. As I would willingly contribute to remove the doubt of the sceptical on this subject, I beg leave to state to you the the following accounts, after premising that my cousin, whose name is affixed along with mine, was one of the four witnesses who beheld with me this uncommon spectacle. While she and I were walking by the sea-shore, on the 12th of January, about noon, our attention was attracted by seeing three people who were on a rock at some distance, showing signs of terror and astonishment at something they saw in the water; on approaching them, we distinguished that the object of their wonder was a face resembling the human countenance, which appeared floating on the waves at that time nothing but the face was visible; it may not be improper to observe, before I proceed farther, that the face, throat, and arms, are all I can attempt to describe, all our endeavours to discover the appearance and position of the body being unavailing. The sea at that time run very high, and as the waves advanced, the mermaid gently sunk under them, and afterwards re-appeared. were The face seemed plump and round, the eyes and nose small, the former were of a light grey colour, and the mouth was large, and from the shape of the jaw-bone, which seemed straight, the face looked short; as to the inside of the mouth I can say nothing, not having attended to it, though sometimes open. The head was exceedingly round, the hair thick and long, of a green oily cast, and appeared troublesome to it, the waves generally throwing it down over the face, it seemed to feel the annoyance, and as the waves retreated, with both its hands frequently threw back the hair, and rubbed its throat, as if to remove any soiling it might have received from it. The throat was slender, smooth, and white; we did not think to observe whether it had elbows, but, from the manner in which it used its arms, I must conclude that it had. The arms weie very long and slender, as were the hands and fingers, the latter were not webbed. them at least, were frequently extended over its head, as if to frighten a bird that hovered over it, and seemed to distress it much; when that had no effect, it sometimes turned quite round several times successively. At a little distance we observed a seal. It some times laid its right hand under its check, and in this position floated for some time. We saw nothing like hair or scales on any part of it, indeed the smoothness of the skin particularly caught our attention. The time it was discernible to us was about an hour. The sun was shining clearly at the time; it was distant from us a few yards only. These are the few observations made by us during the appearance of this strange pheno The arms, one of menon. If they afford you any satisfaction, I shall be particularly happy: I have stated nothing but what I clearly recollect! as my cousin and I had frequently, previous to this period, combated an assertion, which is very common among the lower class here, that mermaids had been frequently seen on this coast, our evidence cannot be thought biassed by any former prejudice in favour of the exist ence On the banks of the Meta and Situatiom and Climate of the City the Oronooko live the Ottomaci, a hideous race, inclining to corpulency, with the gross and strongly marked features of the Tartars. For the greater part of the year they live on fish, which they kill, at the surface of the water, in rivers, with arrows. But, during the rainy season, when the rivers, overflowing their banks, inundate the plains, those savages subsist on a fat or unctuous earth, which is a species of clay mixed with oxid of iron. They collect it with great care, trying, as they gather it, what is most palatable. They form it into balls of four or five inches in diameter, and then dress it by slowly boiling or baking it. In their huts you every where see great quantities of this sort of provisions. These balls, when they are going to be used, are steeped in water, and every individual eats about a pound a day. The only thing they add to this strange kind of food, is sometimes, by way of seasoning some small fishes, lizards, or dried roots. The quantities which the Ottomaci * of Marocco. [From Mr. Jackson's Account of the Empire of Marocco.] in a fruitful plain, abounding in The city of Marocco is situated grain, and all the other necessaries of life, and depastured by sheep and cattle and horses of a superior breed, called (sift Ain Toga) the breed of Ain Toga. At a distance, the city has a beautiful and romantic appearance, the adjacent country being interspersed with groves of the lofty palm, and the towering snow-topped mountains of Atlas, in the back-ground, traveller reposing in the plains; seem to cool the parched and weary for although none "Can hold a fire in his hand, 'By thinking on the frosty Caucasus.' SHAKESPEARE. yet, in the sultry season, the traveller, by viewing these mountains, experiences a sensation difficult to be described. The lily of the Compare Professor Davie's discovery that iron enters largely into the basis of the blood. + In the books of the great Lord Bacon, de Augmentis Scientiarum, a variety of subjects are enumerated, the consideration of which might throw some light on the valley, the fleur-de-lis, lupins, roses, jonquils, mignionet, jasmines, violets, the orange and citron flowers, and many others, grow here spontaneously; and in the months of March and April, the air in the morning is strongly perfumed with their grateful and delicious odours. The fruits are, oranges of the finest flavour, figs of various kinds, water and musk melons, apricots, peaches, and various kinds of grapes, pears, dates, plums, and pomegranates. rally calm; the neighbouring mountains of Atlas defend the plain in which it stands from the scorching Shume, or hot wind which blows from Tafilelt and Sahara, by arresting its progress, and the snow with which they are always covered, imparts a coolness to the surrounding atmosphere; in summer, however, the heat is intense, though the nights, during that period, are cool: in winter the cold is very sensibly felt; but the climate is extremely healthy. The inhabitants, particularly the Jews, are, The air about Marocco is gene- however, affected with ophthalmia. on the connection between mind and matter, among which subjects, in all nine, the second is the History of the Power and Influence of Imagination, the sensation felt on viewing the snow-topped mountains of Atlas is curious, and in physiology very important. It is for this reason that we have selected this article. The sensation was no doubt allied, and in some degree participated in, the very nature of that excited by a cooling breeze. Imaginations, or ideas, are re-sensations. Imagination, powerfully excited, runs, in some measure, back into sensation. USEFUL USEFUL PROJECTS. Sketch of a Plan for improving the Royal Institution, and erecting it on a permanent Founda tion. THE HE basis of this plan is to be found in the following sentence, copied from the last report of the managers to the visitors, 20th March, 1809. "If it should be thought advisable to endeavour to attract the interest of scientific men in this country, and to induce them to form an active union for the support of the Royal Institution, something must be done to give it more the form of a public establishment, than of private and hereditary property. It can hardly be expected that a general interest should ever be excited fer the improvement of the inheritance of a few individuals. The managers, however, have no doubt, but that the friends of science will be ready to come forward, and give the institution a powerful and adequate support, whenever it shall obtain such a shape and character, as is calculated to interest the country at large; and while they express their own sentiments and wishes, they have no doubt of anticipating the sentiments of the body of the proprietors, that it will be deserving of any sacrifice which it may be necessary to make of personal interest and advantage, to erect on this basis, a public, national, and permanent establishment, devoted and dedicated to the cultivation of science, and to the promotion of every improvement in agriculture, manufactures, and the useful arts of life, that may be conducive to the happiness and prosperity of the British Empire." The property of the Royal Institution has been gradually improved since its foundation, and a number of sources of scientific and literary interest have been daily adding to it. It has been furnished with a mineral collection and an extensive library, which were not in contemplation when the estab lishment was formed. The scientific lectures have not only exhibited views of the actual state of science, but have likewise assisted in its progression; and investigations connected with improvements in chemical philosophy and the chemical arts, have been continually carried on in the laboratory, The origin of the peculiar difficulties of the Royal Institution, must |