round about truth, if his mind were not exercifed by much study, fupported by the imagination, and directed by judg ment. If we would judge SPALLANZANI by the objects which have occupied him, that would be the most important, and at the fame time the most difficult ways the generation of animals and of plants, the circulation of the blood, the digeftion, the reipiration; the fpermatic animalculæ, thofe of infufions; mineralogy, volcanoes, combuftion, the defcription of many unknown animals, fhoals of cruftaceous and teftaceous fishes; the solution of feveral phyfical and chemical problems,all defiderata till his time. A man may in the course of some years form a history of any particular object without poffeffing very diftinguifhed talents; but to treat on fo many obfcure fubjects in an original manner, to tear off fo many veils, to discover fo many truths, is to announce an extraordinary energy, and the employment of means which are by no means common. Great men produce fuch numerous and fine works, because all their hours are marked by great ideas, and because all their thoughts are emiffions of light which throw a brightnels over every part of the objects they contemplate, and because all their thoughts are rays which penetrate them. If we pronounce on SPALLANZANI by his method; it is uniformly the most ingenious, the most easy, and the moft fcrutinizing; he never leaves any doubt, he cannot be contented under any; and he always fhews as much in the nature, and in the folidity of his explanations. His difcoveries have defied the fagacity of the keeneft obfervers, and the perfpicacity of the most envious. It is in the whole of his labours, that his vaft conceptions are to be understood, they are always the happy expofition of a grand idea, which attaches itfelf to the great principles of natural history; and, as he takes great pains to remark this precife union, one would imagine he poffeffed the plan of the universe. Such is that of Haller*, Trembley, Bonnet; it has been repeated by the illuftri ous profeffors of Pavia, by all the cele brated men of Italy and of Europe, with whom he was in correfpondence. France, Germany, England, all were eager to avail themselves of his works by means of tranflations. He was admitted into the academies and learned focieties of London, Stockholm, Göttingen, Holland, Lyons, Bologna, Turin, Padua, Mantua, and Geneva. He was a correfpondent of the academy of fciences of Paris and of Montpelier: and received from the great Frederic himfelf the diploma of member of the academy of Berlin, holding even often a direct correspondence with him. It is two years fince C. Salicetti, commiffary of the Directory of the Republic to the army of Italy, offered him a chair of natural history at Paris, which he refufed on account of his advanced age. The laft year, the college of medicine at Madrid received him as one of its body. The ftature of SPALLANZANI was tall rather than fhort; he had a high forehead, lively and dark eyes, a brown complexion, a robuft frame, and had never felt during the whole of his life but one fit of a fever, and that he caught in coming out of the mines of Schemnitz, in very cold weather. In the 3d year of the Republic, he was attacked with a flight retention of urine, and fome fymptoms of the gout, which however did not in the leaft fufpend his ftudies. SPALLANZANI Customarily worked every day, following a methodical order which he had prefcribed himself: he then preferred retired fituations: but he loved hunting and fithing, in which sports he was very expert; he played well at ballon and at chefs; his converfation was always filled with energetic expreffions, with original ideas and happy references. A ftrong and rich memory enabled him to embrace and retain, in an inftant, allthat was known upon the subjects which occupied him; an infallible judgment kept out every thing like confufion; his ardour for acquiring the fciences equalled his patience for entering profoundly into them. His extenfive and enterprizing view inftantly mastered the matter he treated, but In fhort, if we decide on SPALLANZANI by his ftyle, which is a characteristic trait of genius, when it is pure, clear, polifhed, and melodious; we know that the countrymen of this naturalift place his works by the fide of those which are the beft written, But I ought to ftop here it was my wish to make known the merits of this rare man, by recounting that which he has done, and in fumming up the judg ment of all thofe who read him, or who Lave had an opportunity of knowing him, TA, D. HALLERUS." *Haller dedicated to him the 4th volume of the last edition of his grand Phyfiology, "LAZARO SPALLANZANI, SUMMO NATURÆ IN MINIMIS INDAGATORI, OB EJUS IN VERI FINIBUS EXTENDENDIS MERI he he was circumfpect even to timidity in forming his opinion; he was never long in feizing the whole of a queftion, and in the twinkling of an eye diftinguished all its parts with their relations, pointing out with equal promptitude that which'fhould neceffarily connect the others; paflionately fond of truth, he was unwearied in his purfuit of it, and spoke it unceasingly. It feems as if nature inspires thofe who know her, with her character of fimplicity and grandeur, nearly the moft ftriking trait of moral perfection. SPALLANZANI was univerfally esteemed; his virtues, without any aufterity, were difplayed on all occafions: he knew how to make facrifices to friendship; and, in particular, rendered himself amiable to his family it is there, however, that the man is feen in the utmost difhabille, and where his defects put off the mafk which covers them in the world. He was adored by his relations, whofe delight he always was; he never quitted them but with regret, and he ever returned to them with eagernefs. He had inspired them with fimilar taftes to his own: his brother Nicolas, a doctor of laws, affifted him when he returned to Pavia. His fifter is a diftinguished naturalit, fhe is perfectly acquainted with her brother's cabinet of natural history, and knows the properties of each piece it D contains, being moreover able to reafon upon them Her mind is modelled upon that of this great, man, whom it was a pleasure to her to ftudy and imitate. SPALLANZANI carefully directed the education of his nephews, and he has had the pleasure to see the eldeft, an honorary profeffor of medicine at Padua. On the 15th Pluvioje (Feb. 4.) 1799, SPALLANZANI had fresh attacks of a letention of urine, the fame night was unquiet, and in the morning he lost all powers of reafon, which he never recovered but during very fhort intervals. His intimate friends, citizen Tourdes, a French phyfician,and the celebrated profeffor Scarpa, did every thing which could be expected from genius, experience, and friendship, to fave him; but he died the 17th, after having edified thofe around him by his piety. This lamentable event overwhelmed all his family in forrow, occafioned the tears to flow from all his friends, filled his difciples with a deep affliction, and excited the regret of a nation proud of having given him birth. The 25th, his colleague, the profeffor Gregorio Fontano, made an eloquent motion in the council of juniors at Milan, for erecting a monument to the memory of his departed friend, to be placed by the fide of thofe of Frifi, Beccaria, and Verri, who had given luftre to the Cifalpine Republic VARIETIES, LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL. R. BARRETT, fenior fellow and librarian in the Univerfity of Dublin, is employed on a Hiftory of Ancient Aftro nomy, in which that gentleman's univerfal and profound learning will be fully difplayed. ARTHUR BROWNE, efq. L.L.D. and Member of Parliament for the fame Univerfity, has applied, for fome time, with confiderable fuccefs, to the ftudy of Oriental literature, and is faid to be now engaged in the tranflation of a curious Perfian Manufcript. The example of this gentleman has, we are informed, induced fome others, in the fifter kingdom, to devote their attention to Eastern literature; and the cftimation in which that study is held there, may be understood from the unanimous vote of a degree of Doctor of Laws, lately conferred on the learned Sir Wм. OUSELEY, by the University of Dublin, an academic honour well deferved, but peculiarly flattering, as Sir William is the first literary character fince Dr. Samuel Johnson, who has been thus highly diftinguished. By order of the provoft, alfo, a complete font of Arabic and Perfias types is to be fent over for the University Press. By the Rev. Dr. RENDER, teacher of the German Language in the University of Cambridge, and well known as the elegant tranflator of feveral claffical German works into the English language, has made a new Tranflation of the admired ftory of the Sorrows of Werter. There has never yet appeared in England a genuine tranflation of this celebrated piece. That which was published fome years fince, was merely a tranf a tranflation from a tranflation; a French tranflation being the bafis upon which the author of it founded his fuperftructure. The scene of the event was but a few German miles from the place of Mr. Render's education; one of Charlotte's brothers was his fellow-ftudent; and he lived on the moft intimate footing with the family; he therefore proposes to prefent to the world, not only the real names of the perfons and places, but likewife the profiles of Charlotte and Werter, and the mufic and words of several favourite fongs of Charlotte's, to which he has many times liftened with admiration as the fung them, accompanied by her harpfichord. This new tranflation will be printed in an elegant manner, and decorated with fome beautiful engravings. PETER PINDAR, with whofe inimitable productions in verfe the public have been delighted many years, is preparing a fatirical work in profe, in the manner of a novel, of which report fpeaks highly. Mr. RENWICK, so long known to the public for his profeffional attention to the welfare of the British navy, is about to publish Memorials tranfmitted to the Lords Commiffioners of the Admiralty, on the fubject of Medical Service, together with an Addrefs to Parliament on the Scarcity of Corn. The gacious oxid of azote, carefully prepared from the nitrate of ammoniac, was inhaled at the houfe of the ROYAL INSTITUTION, in Albemarle-street, in the prefence of fome hundreds of fpectators. The first gentleman who made the experiment, inhaled it without any perceptible effects: he had inhaled this gas before, both in large and small quantities, without its producing any fenfible effects. On another gentleman it produced a strong difpofi. tion to involuntary laughter, which cantinued about ten minutes; he afterwards felt his fpirits uncommonly lively for the remainder of the day, took his dinner with a better appetite than usual, and faid that he felt a particular activity and sense of lightness, as if he could have mounted into the air. The pulfe of the third gentleman gradually diminished in ftrength, and increafed in frequency during the inhalation; at last his vision and hear ing became indiftinct and confufed, and a fyncope was with difficulty prevented. No other effect than flight head-ach and confiderable languor fucceeded. The quantity of gas inhaled by each gentleman was about two gallons. Mr. LUNN, Bookseller, of Oxford-freet, bas recently imported some very rare clafMONTHLY MAg, No. 57. fical books, from the Continent': amongst them are a few EDITIONES PRINCIPES. Mr. CHARLES LLOYD'S Edmund Oliver has been published in French at Geneva. The first volume of the abridged edition of Dr. DODDRIDGE's Family Expofitor will be ready for delivery in a few days, to fuch fubfcribers as fend for it to the publishers. Mr. E. PALMER, Stationer, in Cheapfide, has invented a method of binding large account-books, which open so as to admit of being written in close to the back, and are even stronger than thofe bound in the common method. They are found to anfwer the purpose better than any that have been made upon other principles. Plan and conditions of the New Greek and English Lexicon, propofed to be publifhed by Mr. Gilbert Wakefield. 1. This Lexicon will be a thick volume in quarto; and is propofed to be published by fubfcription: the price 21. 2s. one half to be paid at the time of fubfcribing, and the remainder on the delivery of the book. 2. It will be ready for the prefs soon after the editor's release from Dorchester Gaol, on May 30th, 1801, as the principal mate rials have been long fince provided; and will be printed off with all poffible expedition. the plan of Hederic, as enlarged and cor 3. The execution will be conducted on rected by Morell, (from the commodiou facfs of that plan for common ufe); but with great and very important improvements in many refpect on that lexicon. The compilation and compofition of a complete lexicon for the Greek language would be an enterprife of tar greater labour, and ampler compafs, fo as to require a much more liberal fubfcription and general patronage, than is expected for the prefent undertaking. 4. The interpretation of the Greek words bly preferable in every refpect for domeftic will be univerfally in English, as incompara variation will render, it is prefumed, this ufe, to a Latin interpretation; and this fingle projected lexicon a moft eligible acquifition to fchools, and all private ftudents in the Greek language. A Latin interpretation must generally appear inadequate to an English ftudent, is frequently no lefs obfcure and unintelligible than the original, and often ferves only to conceal the doubts and ignorance of the lexicographer. On the contrary, the true power and nice peculiarities of the Greek idiom may be communicated more fully and clearly in the English language, which is, for the most part, extreme ly well calculated to represent the elegances and proprieties of the Greek tongue. 5. An addition will be made of many words, not fewer than from 15,000 to 20,009, or upwards, almeft entirely accumulated by the editor, in a course of years during the profecution profecution of his ftudies, with an immediate view to his own private ufe, but with fome profpect of the prefent undertaking: words not inferted in Hederic, nor, as the editor believes, in any extant lexicon whatever. 6. A retrenchment of fuperfluities will take place, and a correction of errors and abfurdities without number. 7. Greater accuracy and fimplicity will be obferved, in ftating the primary, and the derivative, or inferible fenfe of words, in -conformity to the original principles, and fubfequent proceffes, of all learned and long prevailing languages. 8. This lexicon will be enriched alfo by a .very confiderable addition of legitimate conftructions, elegant phrafes, and varieties of formation in verbs and nouns, from the moft approved writers of antiquity; all highly neceffary to a juft perception of the beautics and proprieties of the languge. 9. Laftly, numberlefs words will be afcertained and confirmed by the moft claffic authors, which now appear in the best editions of Hederic, with exceptionable, or no authority at all. As the execution of this work, both in point of labour and expence, appears very formidable to the editor, and is indeed a most arduous enterprife for an individual; and as the public literature of the country is materially interested in a work of this nature, he fhall not feel himfelf induced to proceed in the printing of it with a lefs encouragement than a fubfcription for 2000 copies. Subfcriptions are received, and propofals may be had at Mr. J.T. Rutt's, No. 139, Upper Thames-ftreet; and at Mr. Phillips's, No. 71, St. Paul's Church-yard. Dr. OGILVIE has iffued propofals for publishing by fubfcription an epic poem, entitled Britannia, the fubject of which is the landing of Brutus on the ifland, his wars with the Aborigines or natives, and the fubfequent fettlement and civilization of the country by him and his followers. This well known legend or fable has engaged the attention of various poets, but particularly of Pope, the plan of whole projected performance has long been before the public. If we except the Æneid of Virgil perhaps no poem, ancient or modern, has fo juft a title to the appellation of a National Epic as the prefent, whether we confider the general subject, which respects the origin of the nation, or particular parts, which embrace a fuccinct view of the most interefting periods of the English history. The price to be one guinea. The Third and Laft Volume of that truly fplendid, and valuable work, Mr. BEAUMONTS's Travels through the Lepontine Alps, illuftrated with 26 large Views, beautifully engraved, and a Chart of Places connected with the Rout from Lyons in France to Turin and Lombardy, including the principal peaks of that chain of the Alps from the Bochetta to Mount St.Gothardjin the Lepontine Alps, which has been lately delayed on account of the advanced and extravagant price of paper, will speedily be finished. There is now among the French prifoners at Liverpool, a young man of 21, born on the frontiers of Poland, very remarkable for his powers of devouring food, efpecially raw meat, which is his favourite aliment. In one year he devoured 174 cats, many of them while alive; and when The Hoche, on board of which he was taken, ftruck, after a fevere action, his hunger led him to lay hold of a man's leg which had been shot off, and on which he was making a hearty meal when it was taken from him. In an experiment, made at the prifon laft September, before the commiffioner of fick and wounded feamen, and other refpectable witneffes, he devoured in one day, of raw cow's udder, 4lb. raw beef, 10lb. candles, alb. in all 16lb. with five bottles of porter. He is never fick ; is healthy and lively, and not remarkable in any other conftitutional circumftance, except that he is extremely hot in the night, and fweats profufely, by which evacuation nature feems chiefly to get rid of her burden. He is fix feet, three inches, in height, pale, of a pleafant countenance, and goodtempered. His father and eight brothers are all diftinguished for voracity of appetite. Med. and Phyf. Journal. The furgeons of the Manchester Infitmary have advertised a commencement of gratuitous inoculation for the cow-pox on March 10th; at the fame time they mean to continue the ufual inoculation for the fmall-pox. In PALLAS's new Travels is mentioned a method practifed in Ruffia, by which the quantity of fpirits producible from a given quantity of grain, is greatly increased. It confifts in reducing the temperature of the hot water used in the math, by the addition of cold water and ice, whereby the efcape of the fpirituous particles, during fermentation, is prevented. a A long lift has been published of near hundred works, in French and Latin, which were forbidden in April, May, and June laft, at Vienna, to be circulated in Germany. Among these is one, entitled "the Birth of William Pitt, Son of the Earl of Chatham; or, Angelina a true Hiftory;"" the Taking of Paris," a drama in one act; "the Travels of the Duc de la Rochefoucault Liancourt, in the United States of America," M. SONNENLEITHER, of Vienna, who is at this time on his travels in the north, has has published his Profpectus of his Hiftory of Mufic, and the most celebrated Compofers, with their Biography and Portraits. It is to confist of fifty volumes in folio; the price of fubfcription to be 100 ducats of Holland. The text is to be in four languages, viz. German, French, English, and Italian. The Ukafe, which forbids the fubjects of Ruffia from studying in foreign parts, is exercised in full vigour. In No. 45 of the German Gazette of Petersburg, it is mentioned, that a Ruffian gentleman has been refused permiffion to leave his fons to finish their education in Pruffia. Notwithftanding all this, however, the Imperial Economical Society of Petersburg continues to occupy itself concerning public inftruction. It has just published, in the Ruffian language, the fecond and third number of a book for the ufe of the lower people, under the title of a Guide to the Country People. Various experiments have been tried in the north of Europe, for discovering subftitutes for coffee. In Sweden, a powder has been used, composed of the flour of rye, and yellow English potatoes, which are a fweet fort. The ingredients are first boiled, then made into a fort of cake, which is dried in an oven, and afterwards powdered. In Germany the different kinds of beet have been used; and the hip or fruit of the dog-rose, roasted like coffeeberries, has been employed in union with the real coffee. A series of experiments have been made in France, by VAUQUELIN, to afcertain the important fact of the highest proportion in which tin may be fafely alloyed with lead in the preparation of drinkingveffels, and veffels for measuring vinegar and wine. From thefe it appears, that neither of the above liquors is capable of diffolving lead without the prefence of atmospherical air; but that the edge of the veffel, in contact with the furface of the liquor and air, will in a few hours be fenfibly corroded. That the tin is diffolved firft, and that the precipitation of the colouring matter of red wine is owing to the tin. That veffels for measuring or drinking out of, may fafely be alloyed with a confiderable proportion of lead, provided they are kept clean; but that neither tin norlead fhould enter into the compofition of veffels in which wine or vinegar is to be kept for any length of time. The common wine teft for afcertaining the prefence of lead in wine, cyder, or vinegar, is imperfect, as it precipitates not only lead byt iron. A teft that will indicate lead but not iron, is prepared as follows: To fixteen parts of calcareous liver of fulphur, and twenty parts of cream of tartar, add some diftilled water, and shake the whole in a› phial; pour off the clear liquor, which is the teft. A few drops of this put into any fufpected liquor will precipitate lead of a dark-brown colour, but will not alter a folution of iron. M. JUCH has been making a number of experiments which feem to prove the exiftence of gallic acid in Gum Arabic: if this is really the fact, it accounts fufficiently for another lately difcovered property of this gum, viz. the precipitation of Mercu ry from its folution in nitrous acid. On the last 5th complementary day, the pupils of the National Inftitution of the Colonies (ci-devant College de la Marche) were publicly examined. The numerous affemblage of perfons of both fexes presented a variety of three colours, blacks, mulattoes, and white creoles, united. Upon the walls furrounding the hall, were affixed pieces of writing which attested the progrefs of the fcholars. In the middle was placed the portrait of the black general, Touffaint-Louverture, whose children are among the number of the pupils of this inftitution. Citizen LECHAT, a young negro, opened the examination by a difcourfe, delivered with grace, upon the benefits of a revolution, which had restored the rights of men to fuch a great class of mankind, who had been condemned, by tyranny and avarice, to flavery. In his difcourfe he made an apostrophe to the other colonial pupils; but in turning his eye to his young comrades, restored to liberty, his heart became too full, and the tears flowing from his eyes produced the fame effect on his auditors, whilst reiterated applaufes filled the interval till the refuming his difcourfe. The pupils were interrogated upon the Latin language, mythology and the mathematics, to all which they answered in a manner highly fatisfactory to the audience. At length the minifter of marine diftributed the prizes of talents and wifdom; he embraced all the pupils, fome of whom had obtained three or four prizes. It was remarked of a young black, that, on receiving a crown, agitated by the fentiment of joy, and embarraffed by his modefty, he placed the crown on the head of the minifter, and the minifter repeated his embrace amidst loud applaufes. The National Inftitution for the Colonies is under the fuperintendance of Citizen COISNON. It is proposed to place the pupils, who are expected every day to arrive from Corcyra, in this inftitution, and all thofe of the tranf-marine departments, it having been found much better to unite the means of inftruction, in the fa ne eftablishment, than to create Nn 2 new |