ually developed and extended all previous parative comfort we can derive from the views, and especially systematized the doc- thought that future times may be better to trine of Rückert, in regard to the ash of our names than the present has been to plants and the constitution of soils-and ourselves! how in our day the works of Mulder in Holland, of Liebig in Germany, of Dumas and Boussingault in France, and of Johnston at home, are everywhere diffusing this knowledge-and by later discoveries and researches widening and correcting it.

But why should any one wish to deprive his fellow-laborer of his present reward? Berzelius and Mitscherlich, Liebig and Dumas, Boussingault and Sprengel, have each in their own walks labored long for the extension of human knowledge; why not permit each while he lives to enjoy the respect he has merited? Why should any one chemist-undervaluing all others-attempt to monopolize to himself the entire respect of all? In the public esteem there is space enough for all good men. The respect given to Berzelius, or Sprengel, or Johnston, is not deducted from that which

alike, and in a few years, more or less, the reputation of each will scarcely even be a matter of history. Why should the harmony and peace of life be sacrificed for any thing so ephemeral?

But our space forbids us to enter upon this topic. Neither can we spare a single paragraph to those important and warmly conducted controversies,* which still divide chemists and physiologists in regard to some of the principles we have attempted to popularize in the present article. One reflection, however, occurs to us which is not unworthy the attention of these opposing is due to Liebig or Dumas. All will die parties. Chemistry is an eminently progressive science. The new knowledge of last year has already become old, and has been succeeded by further acquisitions and experimental results. Facts, as they are successively discovered and confirmed, be- Of the men of our time, who will ever come parts of our positive and permanent attain the living eminence of Paracelsus— knowledge. They are, therefore, recorded of their writings, which can hope to surand remembered, while the names of their vive a tithe of the time of those of Avicendiscoverers are first omitted and then for-na? And yet in what estimation do we gotten. Few men are fortunate enough to throw so sudden and broad a gleam across the dark parts of nature, as necessarily to connect their names with the history of natural science. The mass, even of zealous investigators, must be content to die and be forgotten. Their reward is to be found in the respect of their contemporaries among whom they have lived and labored for the common good-and without this respect and sympathy, how small the com

other pam

1. Beleuchtung der Organischen Chemie des Herrn Doctor J. Liebig, &c. Von Dr. F. X.

Hlubek. Grütz, 1842.

now hold either these men or their works? Is it worth a good man's while to heave a single sigh for all the fame they now enjoy? Present happiness is above all fame-and he will both be happiest himself, and will least interfere with the happiness of others, who while he commends himself to the public esteem, by laboring for the common good, is ready to allow their due share of merit to others also, who devote their time and talents to the same end

*The reader who wishes to study the contro- In conclusion, if this new knowledge be versy in regard to Liebig's peculiar views, may so very important to agriculture-how imhave recourse to the following among phlets. We have not adverted to any of these portant is it also that it should be diffused views in the text, because we wished to avoid all among the agricultural classes-that what occasion of controversy. is so likely to benefit all should be brought within the reach, and, if possible, be made the property of all! How important, likewise, that encouragement should be given for the further development of this kind of knowledge-for clearing up many dark and misty spots which still present themselves, and for cultivating with assiduity those new fields of research which are daily opening up in connection with scientific agricul

2. Ueber, Liebig's Theorie der Pflanzenernahr

ung. Cassel, 1842.

3. Offenes Sendschreiben an Herrn Dr. Justus Liebig. Von M. J. Schleiden, &c. Leipzig,

1842.

4. Dr. Justus Liebig's Verhältniss zur Pflanzenphysiologie. Von Dr. Hugo Mohl. Tabin

gen, 1843.

It is to be regretted that one so talented as Liebig, and so deservedly eminent as an organic chemist, should have done so little justice either to himself or to others, when he ventured upon the field of physiology.

ture.

The agricultural community, especially in the north of our island, appear to be in some degree alive to all this. Their de

EL DORADO.-No popular illusion ever occa sioned such a waste of human life as the expedichivalric and unfortunate Raleigh is closely connected with it; and as the locality of the fable was shifted to Guiana, he either undertook himself or caused four expeditions to be undertaken, which had for their object to achieve the discovery of the capital of El Dorado, called Manoa, and paid the failure with his life. After generations of fable, Humboldt, partly by personal investigation, partly by deep reasoning, proved that such Mr. Van Heuvel has lately attempted to restore an inland lake could not exist. Nevertheless, a it, and a map of Guiana which accompanies his work on El Dorado exhibits again the Laguna de Parima. Sir R. Schomburgk demonstrated from his map (which covers a hundred square feet, cal observations during his exploring tours in and which was constructed upon his astronomiGuiana from 1835 to 1843) that such a lake could not exist, and that M. de Humboldt, with his general sagacity, had likewise in this regard arrived at correct conclusions. He dwelt afterthe geography of Guiana, referred to its fertility, wards upon some of the most striking points in and regretted that he did not consider the climate favorable to a European constitution; and he wished that it should go forth as his opinion that an inhabitant from the northern parts of Europe was not able to labor in the open air under the tropics. His assertion is borne out by all attempts which have been made hitherto to settle European laborers in Guiana, St. Lucia, Guatamala, Jamaica, &c.

tions in search of El Dorado. The name of our

sire for knowledge is proved by the number of small periodicals exclusively devoted to agricultural subjects, which have lately arisen in different parts of Scotland, and by the kind of matter with which these periodicals are filled. The Committee for Agricultural Education, formed a year ago for the purpose of promoting the introduction of agricultural education into all our elementary schools, in the rural districts, has already effected much, and we hope will speedily see its object fully at tained. But the boldest and most successful movement in behalf of Scottish agriculture in our day, has been the establishment of the Agricultural Chemistry Association of Scotland. In founding this institution, tenants and proprietors have both concurred. Indeed, we believe it originated with the tenantry themselves-a circumstance at once honorable to Scottish farmers, and illustrative of the amount of knowledge they already possessed. For a man must already know a good deal not only of the general nature, but of the special bearings of chemical science, before he can understand how it can be made of actual pecuniary value to the practical farmer. The objects of this Association are to diffuse knowledge by lectures and other-Britain and the other European powers, contains Guiana, comprising the possessions of Great wise among the agricultural body-to pro- 690,000 square miles, and is bounded by the tect the farmer by means of chemical Amazon and the Orinoco. By means of that reanalyses from the frauds of the dealers and markable canal, the Casiquiare, which connects the Orinoco with the Rio Negro and the Amazon, manufacturers of manure-to guide his it may be circumnavigated. With the assistance practice and use of manures by the analysis of short portages over land, starting in a canoe of soils, limestones, and vegetable products from Demerara, the mouth of the Rio Plata, and to make original researches with Cuzco, Lima, Santa Fé de Bogota, may be reached the view of enlarging our actual knowledge. by inland navigation. The highest mountains in Guiana are, the Maravacca, which is about These objects are worthy of the character 11,000 feet, and Roraima, about 8000 feet above of the Scottish agricultural body, and are the sea. The largest river in British Guiana is in accordance with the requirements of our the Essequibo; its length is computed at 650 time. The example set by Scotland has miles, and it drains an area of 42,800 square already been imitated in other countries. We heartily wish success, therefore, to this new institution, and we trust it will meet with that support which the national importance of its objects deserves.

METEOROLOGY.-Throughout France, as in various parts of England, severe storms have raged within the last fortnight, and heavy floods and much destruction have been the consequence. Among the curious effects, we may notice, that a lightning flash from heaven struck a small church in the street called "d'Enfer."-Lit. Gaz.

miles. Lit. Gaz.

Luther's original letter to the Archbishop of
Magdeburgh, protesting against the sale of indul-
gences; it bears the date of Oct. 31st, 1547—
Lit. Gaz.

LUTHER. At Stockholm has been discovered

POTATO PAPER.-A manufacturer of Vire, after six years' labor, has succeeded in producing excellent paper and pasteboard from a substance separated from the potato.-Lit. Gaz.

FRENCH SCIENTIFIC EXPEDITION.-The gunbrig Boulonnaise has arrived at Brest, after an absence of above three years, during which period, she has made a hydrographic survey of immense extent within the tropics, including more than 250 leagues of the river Amazon and its principal tributaries.-Lit. Gaz.

TITUS.

ADVANCE the eagles, Caius Placidus,
Even to the walls of this rebellious city!
What shall our bird of conquest, that hath flown
Over the world, and built her nest of glory
High in the palace-tops of proudest kings,

My soul's forbidden luxury, I abjure thee!
Thou much-abused attribute of gods
And godlike men. 'Twas nature's final struggle;
And now, whate'er thou art, thou unseen prompt-

er!

That in the secret chambers of my soul
Darkly abidest, and hast still rebuked
The soft compunctious weakness of mine heart,
I here surrender thee myself. Now wield me
Thine instrument of havoc and of horror,
Thine to the extremest limits of revenge;

What shall she check and pause here in her Till not a single stone of yon proud city

circle,

Her centre of dominion? By the gods,
It is a treason to all-conquering Rome,
That thus our baffled legions stand at bay
Before this hemm'd and famishing Jerusalem.
It must be-

And yet it moves me, Romans! it confounds
The counsels of my firm philosophy,
That Ruin's merciless ploughshare must pass o'er,
And barren salt be sown on yon proud city.
As on our olive-crowned hill we stand,
Where Kedron at our feet its scanty waters
Distils from stone to stone with gentle motion,
As through a valley sacred to sweet peace,
How boldly doth it front us! how majestically!
Like a luxurious vineyard, the hill-side
Is hung with marble fabrics, line o'er line,
Terrace o'er terrace, nearer still, and nearer
To the blue heavens. Here bright and sumptuous
palaces,

With cool and verdant gardens interspers'd;
Here towers of war that frown in massy strength,
While over all hangs the rich purple eve,
As conscious of its being her last farewell
Of light and glory to that fated city.
And, as our clouds of battle dust and smoke
Are melted into air, behold the Temple,
In undisturb'd and lone serenity,
Finding itself a solemn sanctuary

In the profound of heaven! It stands before us
A mount of snow, fretted with golden pinnacles!
The very sun, as though he worshipp'd there,
Lingers upon the gilded cedar roofs;
And down the long and branching porticoes,
On every flowery-sculptured capital,
Glitters the homage of his parting beams.
By Hercules! the sight might almost win
The offended majesty of Rome to mercy.
Yon lofty city, and yon gorgeous Temple,
Are consecrate to ruin. Earth is weary
Of the wild factions of this jealous people,

Remain; and even the vestiges of ruin
Be utterly blotted from the face of earth!

JAVAN.

I feel it now, the sad, the coming hour;
The signs are full, and never shall the sun
Shine on the cedar roofs of Salem more;

Her tale of splendor now is told and done;
Her wine-cup of festivity is spilt,

And all is o'er, her grandeur and her guilt.

MIRIAM.

Ah me! how strange!
This moment, and the burrying streets were full
As at a festival; now all's so silent
That I might hear the footsteps of a child.
The sound of dissolute mirth hath ceased, the
lamps

Are spent, the voice of music broken off.
No watchman's tread comes from the silent wall,
There are no lights nor voices in the towers.
I do mistake! this is the Wilderness,
The Desert, where winds pass and make no
sound,

And not the populous city, the besieged
And overhung with tempest. Why, my voice,
My motion, breaks upon the oppressive stillness
Like a forbidden and disturbing sound.
The very air's asleep, my feeblest breathing
Is audible-I'll think my prayers-and then-

-Ha! 'tis the thunder of the Living God!
It peals! it crashes! it comes down in fire!
Again! it is the engine of the foe,

Our walls are dust before it-Wake-oh wake-
Oh Israel!-Oh Jerusalem, awake!

Why shouldst thou wake? thy foe is in the
heavens.

Yea, thy judicial slumber weighs thee down,
And gives thee, oh! lost city, to the Gentile,

And they must feel our wrath, the wrath of Defenceless, unresisting.
Rome,

Even so that the rapt stranger shall admire

Where that proud city stood, which was Jerusalem.

Now, Mercy, to the winds! I cast thee off

Hark! now in impious rivalry

Man thunders. In the centre of our streets
The Gentile trumpet, the triumphant shouts
Of onset; and I-I, a trembling girl,
Alone, awake, abroad.