rated hydrogen gas. The author then relates some experi ments which he made on this salt, and which prove it to be an hydro-sulphuret of soda. Extract of a Letter from Mr. CHENEVIX, of London, to M. Vauquelin. Mr. C. here acquaints M. Vauquelin that Mr. Hatchett has discovered a new metal, in a mineral from Massachusetts, to which he has given the name of Columbium. This metal is acidifiable, and may be converted into a white oxide and acid. With tincture of galls, it forms a beautiful orangecoloured precipitate; and, with the prussiates, it produces one of a green colour. It likewise combines with the alkalis, and expels the carbonic acid. Mr. C. also mentions that he has obtained nickel and cobalt which were not attracted by the magnet. A new Mode of forming Ammonia.-M. Lampadius, of Freyberg, has observed that, when crude tartar, or cream of Tartar, has been heated until the flame and smoke disappear, ammonia may be obtained by the addition of water. Observations on some Effects of the Electric Fluid, when put in motion by the Pile of M. Volta. By M. RITTER.-The most remarkable of these effects is the following: M. RITTER exposed himself, during one hour, to the action of a pile composed of 100 pieces of copper and zinc; and he felt more pain when he touched the copper than when he touched the side at which the zinc was placed. The arm which had touched the copper experienced a sensation of cold for some time afterward, but the other, on the contrary, felt hot. The arm on the copper side of the pile lost its power of motion, while that on the zinc side seemed to have its strength increased. At the end of an hour he was seized with a diarrhea, and became much enfeebled; he even felt the effects of this galvanism so much as to be incapable of doing any thing for ten days, and he experienced a remarkable disgust whenever he approached the pile, or any electrical machine. M. Darnim, and some other persons, submitted to the same experiment, and were affected nearly in a similar manner. Memoir on a native Phosphate of Iron mixed with Manganese. By M. VAUQUELIN.-This mineral, found in the neighbourhood of Limoges, was at first supposed to be an ore of tin; it is of a reddish brown colour, and, when divided into small thin pieces, has a brilliant lustre, and is semi-transparent. It slightly scratches glass; it affords a yellowish grey powder; and its specific gravity is 3655. APP. REV. VOL. XXXVII. M m By By the blow-pipe, it melts into a black enamel, and does not exhale any odour during the fusion. It is composed as follows: Oxide of iron Phosphoric acid 31 27 42 100 The author observes that this substance may be very useful for porcelain, &c., since it is easily fused, and produces black, brown, and violet enamels. Observations on the Acetic and Acetous Acids. By M. Darracq. In the commencement of this paper, the author concisely notices the experiments and opinions of M.M. Adet and Chaptal; and, having afterward related the experiments made by himself, he concludes that there is not any difference in the constituent principles of these acids;-that water and mucilaginous matter, or extract, are the sole causes of the apparent difference in their properties;-and, consequently, that there exists only one acid of vinegar, which, being at the maximum of oxygenation, ought to be denominated acetic acid. Observations on the Sap of Asparagus and of Cabbage. By M. DELAVILLE. This paper does not appear to require any par ticular notice. Letter of M. DESCROIZILLES.-A bottle, in which was some phosphorus covered with water, was burst by the freezing of the latter; in consequence, some books and papers were set on fire by the phosphorus, and the author nearly lost his life. He therefore writes this letter as a caution to those who keep phosphorus in the manner above mentioned, and recommends that the bottles should always be placed in copper cases lined with bran and paper. Memoir on Vegetable Gluten. By M. CADET.-The experiments made by this gentleman induce him to conclude, 1st. That fresh gluten is insoluble in alcohol. 2dly. That it becomes soluble by the acid fermentation. 3dly. That this solution is precipitated by water. 4thly. That the same, when evaporated to the consistency of a syrup, may be employed as a varnish. 5thly. That colours may be mixed with this varnish. 6thly. That vegetable colours combine preferably with gluten. 7thly. 7thly. That paint prepared with the gluten becomes quickly dry, has not any pernicious odour, and may be washed. 8thly. That a very tenacious and solid lute may be formed with gluten and lime. Experiments on the Tanning Principle, and Reflections on the Art of Tanning. By M. MERAT GUILLOT.-We do not perceive any thing very remarkable in this paper. These numbers contain some other articles, which, not being original, we do not particularize. There has been published, and imported by M. de Boffe, a Table générale raisonnée des matieres contenues dans les 30 premiers volumes des Annales de Chimie; suivie d'une table alphabetique des auteurs qui y sont cités. 8vo. pp. 430. ART. XVI. Tableaux de Famille, &c. i. e. Family Pictures, or the Journal of Charles Engleman. Translated from the German of AUGUSTUS DE LA FONTAINE, by the Author of Caroline of Litchfield (Madame de Crousaz). 12mo. 2 Vols. Paris. 1801. Imported by de Boffe, London. N the preface to this work, Madame Crousaz gives an animated and ingenious description of that difficult though humble province of literature,-translation; and she thus replies to a friend, who compliments her on her peculiar excellence in this line: Yet I know nothing so ungrateful and thankless as the task of the translator. If the version be good, it is the author alone to whom the reader feels himself obliged; if the work be bad, the translator alone is accused: if the version be liberal, it is said to want grace and elegance; if it be diffuse, it is deficient in strength and spirit. The difficulty of exactly catching the genius of one language which is not familiar to me, and which differs so materially from my own, of preserving inviolate the strength of the one and the purity of the other; and the obligation to alter nothing, to rigidly impart an idea in which I do not accord, or to copy an incident which is displeasing, when conscious that it might be improved: all these circumstances induce me to think that it is easier to compose than to translate.' Madame de Crousaz pursues this subject even to the region of Parnassus; and she recounts to her friend the following jeu d'esprit, which was prefixed to one of her former publications: Vain is the effort to engrave So labour'd versions oft efface Which its beauteous form required.' We have before observed, respecting the writings of M. DE LA FONTAINE, that one of his qualities is to rise in the reader's estimation by gradual and progressive advances; and this is surely preferable to the art of sinking, in which so many are equal proficients. The first chapter of the volume before us is intitled, by the journalist, My Commission of Biography, and contains a whimsical relation of the circumstances whence he derived the commission, with the manner of his being invested with it. It is a painting of the Shandean school, and not a bad copy of the mock solemnity of Sterne's affected pathos : This infant (added my father, pointing to me,) shall inherit this Bible after my death; and promise me, my Charles, that you will fill all these blank leaves with the actions and occurrences of your life, be they good or bad: promise me, my child.-My father rose from his seat, his eye was animated, his voice had something of peculiar solemnity,-my uncle rose also, and laid down his pipe, my mother clasped her hands. This scene, and the solemn silence which accompanied it, impressed my mind with awe; I advanced-I gave my hand to my father- he took off his cap-my uncle held out his hand and my mother embraced me with tears in her eyes-while, to my father's benediction, which accompanied the Bible, every one said -AMEN. From the hour of this pathetic ceremony, the young Charles (then twelve years old) determined on being his own biographer; the charms of authorship captivated his youthful imagination, and the first thing which he wished to see wasa printing press. Instead of playing at marbles, like other boys of his age, he was continually ruminating on the task which his father had enjoined to be performed in the Bible; he prepared for it with the same speculation which many authors exercise when they set out on travels, for the purpose of making a book; and he availed himself of every little incident in his own family. Apprehensive, however, that a journal barren of misfortunes would be insipid, he earnestly wished that his life might be in some degree chequered with sorrow, in order to afford just such a number of unhappy adventures, that a spring of tears might not be wanting to water the dry ground of his narrative. See M. R. Vol. xxiv. N. S. p. 565, &c. a love. A love-story soon presents itself; and the journal improves (as Charles very rightly conjectured it would) with the melancholy history of the beautiful Susette; who is dismissed from her father's protection for a fault perhaps unpardonable, but certainly not so unnatural as the conduct of her parent who, in consequence of her frailty, abandons for ever his only child. We must not, however, give too much attention (partial as we are to beauty) to this picture. Le Vaut-rien is another equally interesting; the mournful incidents of his life, it seems, were derived from his parents conceiving an aversion to him because he was born with red hair; and Le Vaut-rien (the good for nothing), owed this disgraceful name, with ten thousand calamities, to the fatal influence of these ruddy locks. The character of the artful Julia is the best sketch of the painter; in which the triumph of vice over virtue, and of virtue over vice, with the struggles between ambition and love, are touches of an animated and ingenious pencil. In the picture of the school, we are amused by the master's whimsical method of classing his scholars according to the impression which his ideas receive from their infantine physiognomy; and we smile at the conceit of aquiline noses being characteristics of distinguished birth, seldom to be found among the vulgar. In taking leave of this journalist, we must acknowlege that we have been much amused with many parts of his narrative: but we cannot close our remaks without a hint of congratulation to our fair countrywomen, that they have not German despots for parents. If the national character of the German father be accurately portrayed in the features of Le grand Bailli, and in those of my Uncle (who is a very bad copy of Uncle Toby), our English wives and daughters may bless those kind stars which were the ascendants at their birth, and commanded it to be on this side of the Northern Ocean. ART. XVII. Mémoires Historiques, &c. i. e. Historical Memoirs of Maria-Theresa- Louisa, Princess of Lamballe, one of the principal Victims sacrificed on the horrible Days of the 2d and 3d of September 1792. Published by Mme GUENARD. Sm. 8vo. 4 Vols. Paris. 1801. Imported by De Boffe, London. THE first and second volumes of this work portray a cha racter which belonged to the first circles, and which for some time enjoyed the highest favour of the late Queen of France, during the most brilliant period of the court of Versailles. The last two are chiefly occupied in repeating the wearisome tale of the revolution; and here its gloomy aspects M m 3 and |