you are not "bronzed," and take care you have reasonable proofs, that what you publish is authentic.

Now, in point, Mr Editor, I will tell you a story,-a story well-known, though, of course, not to nine-tenths of your readers.

A venerable, learned, and worthy country gentleman, who, had he been in life, would have found a pleasure in contributing to your Repertory," happened, in the course of a forenoon walk, to come upon some industrious people who were engaged in clearing away the extensive moss of In the course of their operations, one of them met with a substance which resisted his spade. The spade was thrown aside, and the pick-axe grasped to " split in flinders" this resisting substance. 66 Softly, my friend," said the antiquary; continue with your spade, and trench round; perhaps you may raise, entire, a Roman urn. For I have always been of opinion,' said he to himself, " that this was the line of march of the Romans." The illiterate peasant knew as much about an 66 urn," as, mayhap, he did about "Roman." But his respect for the "venerable" was too great not to obey his orders. Well, then, he trenched, till at last IT made its appearance. "A Roman camp-kettle," with enthusiastic pleasure, said the antiquary to himself. "Carry it to the HOUSE, Duncan, and I shall amply reward you." He did so, and was amply rewarded, befitting so inestimable a treasure. For in all his actings he dealt justly,-succoured the needy ―was a repressor of vice-a promoter of industrious virtue. Such was our venerable antiquary.

It was placed on a table in his study. He viewed it with admiration and delight,-it confirmed him in his opinion,-its goblet form,-its moveable semi-circular handle;-all conspired. Unquestionably," said he, "the

Romans must have made this their line of march, and not that, as some ignorant writers have asserted.

Pursuing these ideas, it has been insinuated that he wrote a learned dissertation about this kettle, preparatory to its being presented elsewhere. It is further said, that it was presented and received with equal veneration

and thanks.

However, to make " a long tale short," Mr Editor, I shall not at full VOL. I.

length detail the amusing colloquy which took place, upon an after occasion, between the venerable and the real owner of the kettle. Suffice it to say, he was no Roman,—but a sturdy Highlander, who would have given hard blows to any Roman who dared to invade his kettle, or any thing else belonging to him. In a word, then, his story was this ;-that his wife "Shanet" had, twelve months ago, bought this identical kettle in the town of and in her way home, having indulged too freely to cure a cholic, mistook her path through the moss, plumped into what is called a peat-bog, and was glad to quit her kettle and save herself; that Duncan's description of the size, shape, &c. of the kettle, and Janet's, exactly agreed; and that there was no doubt but it was their “nown”. kettle. "If your honour will only gie me back the kettle, I'll hing it in the very middle kaiber o' the pothie, to be a warning to Shanet to get trunk no more. "That is impossible Donald," said the venerable; "but there is as much money for you as will buy two such kettles; and in order to correct Janet's colics, there is, beside, a copy of Macniel's History of Will and Jean, which you may cause your son, Peter, read to his mother again and again, and you yourself will not be the worse for listening to the moral tale." Donald accepted of the boon, and, having repeatedly said "Got pless and thank your honour," withdrew.

Now, Mr Editor, this is not a "bronze"- -no story of fancy ;- -some of your readers will at once recognize it, and will blame me for telling it so clumsily.

Well-I have just another story to tell you, by way of introduction to our future acquaintance, and then, for the present, I have done.

A select knot of antiquaries set out to explore classic ground. "Here, here!" exclaimed one." Now we have it-look here! look at this stone; perfectly distinct and plain !mark the letters! R. I. L.-as, clear as day, although our researches may sometimes be covered in obscurity. Quite plain and intelligible-R. I. L. Thus far, and no farther," he exultingly exclaimed; "Romani Imperii Limes!" The antiquaries gathered around, and were struck with wonder: "We shall,” said one of them, “find, to a certainty, an urn, containing the bones

S

66

of some valorous Roman general." Let us to work, said they, with one concurring voice, and with their mattocks they set furiously to the business. Before they had proceeded far, their attention was attracted by the hallooing and bellowing of a sturdy peasant, who was hastening towards the spot. When he had approached them, and stopping till he had gathered wind, he exclaimed, Hoot, hoot, lads! what's that you're about? mind what the Bible says,-Cursed be he who removes a landmark."- "Peace, clown," said the junior antiquary,you are ignorant of the matter; R. I. L. that is, Romani Imperii Limes." "Hoot, toot, lads!" said the countryman, "I ken Latin as weel as you do yoursel❜-Do ye think I was na bred wi' Mr Doig, at Falklan school, wha could hae learned the very kaes that biggit in the auld palace to speak Latin, as my auld granny said, gin they had only leeted till him. And you say, too, I am ignorant o' the matter. But faith, birky, let me tell you, I should ken mair the matter than you,-for was na I present whan auld Rab Roughcast, the mason, hewed and pat in that very stane, in my gutcher Robin Rantletree's time. Romani Imperii Limes, wi' a ban to ye! I believe ye are nae better than a band o' tinklers, wha wad claim Rab Innes' Lands as the property of ony Roman. But there's auld Rab Innes himsel', poor feckless body, coming-we're no owre thrang neebours, yet I wadna like to see him wranged for a' that. But I'se gae my ways, and gif he lets you remove the landmark, I say again, accursed be he wha does sae."

This onset gave the antiquaries no stomach to encounter Rab Innes, and they precipitately took a direction which separated them equally from Rab Innes and young Rantletrees, leaving the R. I. L. in quiet possession of the field,

Now, Mr Editor, you must not suppose that I intend to throw any discredit upon your Antiquarian Repertory. Quite the reverse. All that I mean to deduce from what I have said is, a caution to you against being taken in by a gudewife's "kail pat" for a "Roman camp-kettle," or by the landmark betwixt two decent cock lairds for a Romani Imperii Limes.

In proof of my sincerity, I shall, D. V., before your June Number goes

to press, furnish you with some very curious matter connected with the ancient manners and history of our country; and I think, that out of the great materials I am possessed of, the article will be upon "Border Bonds of Manrent."-I am, &c. STRILA. Edinburgh, 23d April 1817.

CHEMICAL PROCESS OF COMBUSTION.

IT appears, from the notices inserted in the scientific journals, that the attention of Sir Humphry Davy is at present particularly directed to the consideration of the chemical process of combustion; and though we do not consider ourselves entitled to suppose that all our readers can possess that minute acquaintance with this subject, which might justify us in presenting it to them in considerable detail, we yet think, that on so very interesting a topic it is possible to convey such general information as may be sufficiently understood by every description of readers. No phenomenon, it is evident, presents a subject of more interesting speculation to a mind of just philosophical taste. The instantaneous transition from a state of darkness to that of clear and useful illumination, which is produced by the presence of a lighted taper-the beautiful form which the flame itself is disposed to assume-the varied tints which characterize this appearance from the mild blue of its base to the white or orange of its waving summit-and the unfailing steadiness with which it maintains its place, so long as the materials of its nourishment are afforded, present an assemblage of striking appearances, which, but for the inattention induced by its almost-habitual presence, is better fitted, perhaps, to awaken the interest of a thinking mind than any other phenomenon of daily occurrence. It is a fact, however, that the researches and theories of modern chemistry have as yet been able to advance but a very little way towards a satisfactory explanation of these appearances.-The most obvious supposition unquestionably is, that the light and heat which are essential to the phenomenon, are derived from the burning body itself and this, accordingly, it is universally known, was the opinion entertained by the followers of Stahl, whose doctrines exercised an unlimited influence before the introduction of

the present views, over the philosophers and chemists of modern Europe. According to this philosopher, then, combustion was merely the evolution from the burning body, when placed in circumstances adapted to this effect, of a peculiarly subtile and active principle, to which, from the ordinary appearance which its evolution assumes, he gave the name of Phlogiston-light and heat being those properties of this body by which it adapts itself to the observation of our powers of perception. This theory, we have said, from the high reputation which its author had obtained, was long unanimously adopted by philosophers-and being in perfect agreement with the most natural and obvious judgment of mankind, scarcely a suspicion was allowed to intervene, that there could be any thing imperfect or inaccurate in the theory. The progress of philosophical opinion upon this subject, however, presents, we think, a very instructive instance of a disposition which seems universally characteristic of mankind, that, we mean, of employing any favourite principle to account for every appearance which presents itself, however little warranted such an application may be by the circumstances most characteristic of the phenomenon in question. It is accordingly very generally known, that about the latter part of the last century, and while the doctrines of Stahl were in all their vigour, the existence and properties of oxygen were discovered, and immediately excited the utmost attention in all who were devoted to philosophical pursuits. The discovery was, in reality, both beautiful and instructive in a very uncommon degree. The increased illumination communicated by this gas to any ignited body which the operator immersed in it-the pure and apparently ethereal nature of the gas itself-the very energetic properties it was found to possess-and the vast variety of bodies into whose composition it was discovered to enter all contributed to point out this substance as one of the most important instruments in the economy of nature, and insensibly produced a very general disposition to receive its operation as a complete account of any former unexplained phenomena, with whose existence and properties it might have any connexion. While the minds of

7

men, accordingly, were in this state, it was opportunely discovered, that when a burning body is introduced into a jar of common air, the mouth of the jar being at the same time inverted over water, the oxygenous portion of the air is altogether consumed, and the burning body is found to have acquired an additional weight, precisely corresponding with that of the oxygen which had disappeared. From this discovery it was immediately concluded, that combustion is in fact nothing else than the combination of oxygen with the combustible body-that the light and heat are the consequences of this combination, being necessarily given out by the combining oxygenand that the whole process of combustion is explained, when it is stat◄ ed to be the consequence of the separation of oxygen,-first, from the other constituent of the air, and next, from the light and heat which it contained before it began to experience this separation, and also, of the combination of this gas with the body whose combustion was actually observed. A few of the more intelligent and cautious of the learned might still entertain a very invincible opinion, that the phenomenon in question had not really been accounted for-but the great multitude of the studious, who seldom condescend to a very careful examination of any particular subject, received the doctrine as impregnably established-while, in the public demonstrations of professed teachers, the difficulties that remained were either entirely unnoticed, or were hastily concealed from the view of the curious, by ambiguous language, or unsatisfac tory conjecture.

Sir

From the application of this statement, however, we conceive ourselves bound to exempt all the more enlightened and illustrious chemists. Humphry Davy, we believe, in his public lectures, always expressed himself upon this subject with much be coming freedom of opinion—and Dr Thomson has repeatedly stated, in his excellent system, that he still considered the explanation of the phenomena of combustion as in a very imperfect state. The opinion of this latter philosopher, indeed, if we are not much mistaken, has always coincided exactly with that which we are anxious at present to submit to the

spark

While new thoughts boil'd in his enraged breast,

His gloomy bosom's darkest character
Was in his shady forehead seen exprest.
The forehead's shade in grief's expression
there,

Is what in sign of joy among the blest
The face's lightning, or a smile, is here.
These stings of care that his strong heart
opprest,

A desperate "Oh me!" drew from his deep breast.

"Oh me!" thus bellowed he; "oh me! what great

Portents before mine eyes their powers ad

vance ?

And serves my purer sight only to beat Down my proud thought, and leave it in a trance?

saw

To a poor Galilean virgin sent:

How low the bright youth bowed, and with

what awe

Immortal flowers to her fair hand present. He saw, how in that blest day-bearing night

The Heaven-rebuked shades made haste away;

How bright a dawn of angels with new light Amaz'd the midnight world, and made a day Of which the morning knew not.

He saw a three-fold sun, with rich increase Make proud the ruby portals of the East. He saw the temple sacred to sweet Peace Adore her Prince's birth

He saw the falling Idols all confess
The coming Deity.-

He saw Heaven blossom with a new-born
light,

On which, as on a glorious stranger, gaz'd The golden eyes of Night, whose beam made bright

The
way to Bethlem, and as boldly blazed
(Nor asked leave of the sun) by day as night.
Struck with these great concurrences of
things,

Symptoms so deadly unto Death and him,
Fain would he have forgot what fatal strings
Eternally bind each rebellious limb.
He shook himself, and spread his spacious
wings,

Frown I, and can great Nature keep her seat, And the gay stars lead on their golden dance?

Auspicious still, in spite of Hell and Me? "He has my Heaven, (what would he more?) whose bright

And radiant sceptre this bold hand should bear;

And, for the never-fading fields of light, My fair inheritance, he confines me here To this dark house of shades, horror and night,

To draw a long-liv'd death, where all my cheer

Is the solemnity my sorrow wears, That mankind's torment waits upon my tears. "Dark dusky man, he needs would single

forth,

To make the partner of his own pure ray: And should we Powers of Heaven, spirits of worth,

Bow our bright heads before a king of clay? It shall not be ! said I; and clomb the north, Where never wing of Angel yet made way. What though I mist my blow ?-yet? struck high,

And to dare something, is some victory.

"Is He not satisfied? means He to wrest Hell from me too, and sack my territories? Vile human nature, means he not t' invest (0 my despite !) with his divinest glories? And rising with rich spoils upon his breast, With his fair triumphs fill all future stories! Must the bright arms of Heaven rebuke these eyes,