cyder above-mentioned. That upon his hinting fome doubts as to the extract containing any lead, he was anfwered, that a confiderable quantity had already been obtained from it; and was shewn another paper containing several globules, one of which he tried on an anvil, and found it perfect malleable lead. These the gentleman who gave them faid he picked out of the extract and being asked what degree of heat had been given to the extract, or whether he thought it had been made fo hot as melted lead; he said, he thought it had not. Mr. More adds, that from its appearance, it seemed never to have suffered fuch a degree of heat as that in which lead melts; nor if it had, would any globules have been produced. From hence he concluded, that the globules were no other than the remains of fome shot, which had been carelefly left in the bottles after washing. The remarks of Mr. Alcock contain fome critical ftri&tures, which, as they refer mostly to fome or other of the arguments above-mentioned, it is unnecessary to fubjoin. We have now exhibited the arguments on either fide: and allowing each its full force, we are of opinion, that the colic of Devonshire may be produced from the different causes alledged by the two learned phyficians. That it may be produced by drinking liquors impregnated with a certain quantity of lead, seems evident from the fimilar disorder occafioned by the Rhenish and Mofelle wines, when adulterated with litharge. On the other band, that this colic is produced by cyder, auftere, undepurated, or drank in the state of fermentation, appears certain from the teftimony of Mr. Worth, who declared that he never knew any lead at all used in any of the pounds; and yet his tenants and neighbours are more univerfally afflicted with the colic than thofe in other parts of the country. The question then is, to which of thefe two caufes is it principally owing, that this colic is endemial in Devonshire? From a confideration of all the arguments on each side, we confefs ourselves of opinion, that the diforder proceeds generally from the unwary abuse of cyder not properly fermented; and that the learned phyfician who efpouses the other opinion, has endeavoured too implicitly to defend the character of acids from the injurious effects they produce, when taken in immoderate quantity. The abfolute exiftence of lead, however, in the cyder of Devonshire, if properly ascertained, affords proof that the ingenious author was not biassed without much prefumption on his fide: and with regard to the remarks made by Mr. More on the experiments inftituted for that difcovery, they are certainly too conjectural to be decifive of the re ality of a fact. But it is to be expected that more inconteftiX 4 ble ble trials will be made, in a matter of fo much importance which is become the fubject, not only of a medical, but provincial controverfy; and that the inhabitants of Devonshire in particular, and all the cyder counties, will totally remove lead from the reffels in which they make that liquor, fince, though not the general caufe of the malady here treated of, yet, when taken in folution, it has often been found deleterious. 12. A Difcourfe concerning the Irritability of fome Flowers. A new Difcovery. Tranflated from the Italian. 8vo. Pr. 1s. Dodsley. The curious phenomenon here treated of,is a motion excited in the flofcules of fome plants on their being gently touched.. The plant chiefly ufed by the author for his experiments was the centaurea calcitrapoides calycibus fubduplicato fpinofis, foliis amplexicantibus indivifis ferratis, one of the fyngenefious plants, diftinguished by Linnæus, under the title of polygamiæ fruftraneæ; but he discovered a like fenfitive quality in the genera of the polygamiæ æquales, fuch as the thiftles, cnicus, faw-worts, cinare, bastard saffron, and burdock. For making the experiment, the author advises to cut through the whole mais of the flower, longitudinally, with a fharp knife; by' which means the infide being laid open to view, one of the flofcules may be drawn, with a light hand, out of its natural fituation the flofcule, then, being touched, it immediately dif covers fenfation, and moves itself, bending fometimes on one fide, fometimes on another; fometimes twifting itself at the fame time that it defcends, and that in various ways, according to various accidents, or according to the part touched, for it generally bends itself on that fide. It rises again, but flower, as if a fecond force conftrained it to set itself right; not that it returns exactly to its first high and erect situation, as before the touch. Nay, I have obferved in more than one, and I am fure I do not deceive myself, a fort of beginning undulation, but fo fhort that the whole was finished in the firft effort to defcend, and then in giving some flight signs of rifing. Once touching is fufficient to debilitate the flofcules, and render them unable to move themfelves again, touch as much as you please. This languor lafts three minutes at moft, till the flofcule in this fhort repofe is refreshed, and regains its first vigour. But when the flofcules are more ripe, and near the time of impregnation, an accident ftill more entertaining than that above mentioned happens; for now the farina is mature, and the flofcule, upon being touched, not only moves as before, but the point of the tower, formed of the antheræ, is seen to open open in its five fides, and a great quantity of the farina is driven out, which if it does not fpout out like water from a fountain, it is because its fmall oval balls are moiftened with a glue, which fupports and keeps them grouped together at top. from whence but few particles fall down through the flofcules, till either all that part of the farina, which cannot support itfelf on the point, falls whilst still fresh in a fort of cloud; or else supports itself only till the wind or the fun's beams parch and diffolve it into a dry duft. If when the flofcules are nearly ripe you open the tower, but fo gently that the contents may not be touched, you will find almost all the farina heaped together in the fharp point, which farina is fupported by the increafing point of the ftigma, and remaining there shut up, takes the conic form of the hollow, But if the flofcules are not fo mature, the farina is found sticking to the infide of the lower part of the tower, the top being quite empty; nay in fome kinds of centaury the hollow is tranfparent, though not in this fpecies under confideration, on account of its deep colour. When the flower is more ripe, or has been often touched, the point itself of the ftigina comes out covered with the farina, which by means of its glue faftens itself all round; and as it advances farther, it takes up still more of the farina with its necklace or garland compofed of very fhort threads. For we may go fo far in teazing, as it were, the flofcules, that not only all the ftigma may come out, but even fome part of the style, if we use our utmost endeavours. This always happens of itself when the flower grows old and it is certain that the flofcules muft, without being touched, go through all thefe changes in the fhort courfe of their lives. But when they are arrived at this period, they are no longer fenfitive; and, as if this was the beginning of death, from henceforward nothing but decay is feen. First, that turret of the antheræ, now faded along with the filaments, grows dry foon after the corolla, and laftly the style and ftigma. When this falis, all the carcafe of the machine falls too, leaving upon the receptacle that germ which is now become ripe fruit, and ripe feed, adorned with that crown of hairs which qualifies it for flying when the wind lays hold of it, after it is once loosened from the dry calyx. Thofe common play-things, which we call shuttlecocks, made with a crown of feathers in order to fupport them in the air, exactly resemble thefe feeds. So that the life of these flowers is nothing but an unfolding of the parts, which is followed by death. It is therefore dif ficult to determine the length of its life. This only I have obferved, that the heats of fummer fhorten it; nay, at that time time the phænomena above mentioned are seen only in the cool of the morning; because all the flofcules are become old and withered, if you put off the examination of them till the great heat comes on.. Again in the fpring, and very near the autumn, their life is longer, and remains whole days.' Concerning this myfterious power of motion, the author is of opinion, that it refides no where but in the five filaments, and that too in their inward structure, independently of their natural fituation; and obferves, as very remarkable, that these filaments, when fhortened, do not feem in the least bigger, either to the naked eye, or by the microscope, as far as can be perceived. He farther obferves, that this contracting power remains longeft in cool air; and thefe experiments are best performed by night: for when the heat is great they scarcely anfwer at all. This curious discovery is an improvement in the theoretical part of Botany, and ascertains beyond any former obfervations, the power of motion feemingly necessary to the impregnation of the germ. 13. An Elegy on the much lamented Death of his Royal Highness Edward, Duke of York, &c. Folio. Pr. 6d. Becket. This author's mufe is dreft in a most fashionable mourning. Her grief does not prevent him from being very poetical; but if he had been more fparing of epithets, his verses would have been much better fuited to his fubject. We learn from them, that he attended the duke in his first tour to Italy; that he hunted, fung, and drank with him. • With him, when better fortune was his guide, Mean follower, I thro' fair Italia stray'd; While each pleas'd city, with a rival pride, To the great stranger feftive honours paid. Or where, to aw'd spectators dazzled eyes, • There numerous wonders ftrike th' astonish'd thought, Then to our fight, where gentle Adria's tide With < With him I fince have urg'd the jovial chace, Taught wintry days in various fports to pass; Heard sportive fongs, and fill'd the temp'rate glafs." Though these lines are rather too flowery for the language of grief, yet several very tender strains of forrow occur in the poem. 14. Kew Garden. A Poem. In two Cantos. By Henry Jones, Author of The Earl of Effex, Isle of Wight, c. 410. Price 25. 6d. Dcdfley. All this author's publications prove (and this among the reft) that he has a vein for poetry. If, like the veins of metals and minerals, it is fometimes incruftated or impregnated with more ignoble contents, he may boldly fay to his brother bards, Who dares throw the first stone at me? If, like his subject, bloom, verdure, and water, are perpetually presenting themselves to our eyes, he is not to blame. His landscape is not diverfified with rapid floods, towering mountains, and venerable oaks it is therefore fufficient if his muse trips along the carpet-ground of his theme, and by the help of a botanic dictionary learns to describe the various products of the happy fpot he celebrates. How great an adept Mr. Jones is in this province of poetry, the following lines fufficiently demonftrate. : • Behold both Indies in their varied pride, |