John Butler, a native of the town of Hamburgh, was next appointed to this sec. In his early days he acted as private tutor in the family of Mr. Child, the banker; he was then a popular preacher in London, and possessed of sound parts, indefatigable industry, a good figure, and agreeable manners. Being introduced to Mr. Bilson Legge, he assisted that gentleman in a political controversy with Lord Bute, and rendered him further service in calculations on public finance. It was probably through this connection that Dr. Hayter, Bishop of London, appointed Mr. Butler his first chaplain; he obtained also the living of Everley, in Wiltshire, about the same time. On the recommendation of Lord Onslow he was constituted one of the king's chaplains, and obtained a prebend in Winchester cathedral. Commencing a political writer, he espoused Lord North in all the measures of his administration, and particularly in that of the American war which he endeavoured to justify in several pamphlets. In reward of these services he was made Archeacon of Surrey, and procured, what is termed, a Lambeth degree of Doctor in Divinity from the Archbishop of Canterbury. His next promotion was the see of Oxford, which was given to him by the minister in the year 1777, on the advancement of Dr Lowth to the bishoprick of London; the living of Cuddesden was held by him at the same time, being annexed to the see; but this preferment was rendered locally unpleasant from the circumstance of his not having regularly graduated at either of the universities; he, however, retained it until the year 1788, when he was advanced to the bishoprick of Hereford, over which he presided until his death. He was twice married; his second wife was the eldest daughter of Sir Charles Vernon, of Farnham, in Surrey, knt. with whose family he became acquainted during the residence of Mr. Legge, at the Holt, near that town. He was charitable, without ostentation, his manners were extremely courteous, and his conversation agrecable to the last period of his life. He retained many of the political opinions which he had imbibed in early years; speak ing of the Americans, he constantly stigmatized them as relels, and treated their resistance to this country with much asperity. He published a small volume of sermons, a few years before his death, and was interred in his cathedral, A. D. 1802.' We have met with persons who considered this reverend prelate as the author of Junius's letters.-The lovers of sacred architecture will be interested by the elaborate account which is here given of the venerable cathedral: but we can only transcribe the author's relation of the unhappy catastrophe which befel it within our own memory. The height of the tower, from the base to the battlements, was one hundred and thirty-eight feet; the spire rose ninety-two feet above the battlements, and the weathercock was ten feet higher; making in the whole an elevation of two hundred and forty feet. From the style of this tower it may perhaps be dated about the beginning of the reign of Edward III. On Easter Monday, A. D. 1786, this part of the cathedral gave way, and by its fall crushed a con a considerable part of the adjoining nave, as well as that immediately under it. An expenditure of nearly £20,000 (including 2000 for the purposes of a general repair of the tower and of the whole fabric) has since proved very inadequate to its restoration in a style equal to its former appearance; it has not only lost the tower, but part of the site which it occupied, thereby considerably diminishing the length of the nave; and the whole is plainly finished with stone from the quarries of Lugwardine and Capeller hill. Of the sum expended £5000 was voluntarily subscribed by the laity, 2000 by the bishop and members of the cathedral, and the remainder was charged on the estates belonging to the church. The architect, Mr. Wyatt, has perhaps never been under the necessity of completing so extensive an undertaking at so limited an expence.' If this work arrogates no pre-eminence over other county. histories, and if the author is not profound in all the subjects of which he treats, nor brings various learning to bear on the several parts of his narrative, still it must be owned that fairness characterizes his pages throughout; that he every where manifests a laudable desire to be full and accurate; and that his labours are those of an intelligent, sensible, and candid man. We shall be glad to see the undertaking completed, and be happy duly to pay our respects to the remainder of it, when it shall have made its appearance. The form of this publication is suitable to the subject, and worthy of the patron; the paper is fine; and the typography is highly creditable to the Hereford Press. The text is illus trated by convenient maps, and neat engravings. ART. II. Tracts relative to Botany, translated from different Languages. Illustrated by nine Copper Plates, and occasional Remarks. 8vo. pp. 285. 5. Boards. Phillips and Fardon. 1805. FEW EW students of botany, we believe, will hesitate to acknowlege themselves indebted to the present translator, for bringing within their reach several important and curious treatises; which were, in a great measure, locked up from the generality of readers. We shall briefly notice each article in the order of publication. On the Organs of Perspiration of Plants. By J. Hedwig. Translated from the German.-The discovery of the perspirative ducts and pores of plants, which form the subject of this paper, is erroneously ascribed to Von Gleichen, whereas it is properly due to M. de Saussure.-Among the additions supplied by the translator, we have to notice the substance of M. Decandolle's curious observations on the cortical pores of leaves. These pores have not been observed on the stalks, except on such There are none such as in their texture approach to leaves. to be seen upon the leaves of Cuscuta Europea, which singular plant, when immersed in water, affords no gas, whether exposed to light or darkness.' Fungi, Lichens, Hepaticæ, and Fuci, are also destitute of cortical pores. These last, it should seem, are found only on those parts of vegetables which are exposed to light and air. None of the immersed parts of aquatic plants are furnished with the pores in question: "but plants entirely destitute of pores, while living in water, regain them when growing out of it, and vice versa.-The blanched plants are also without them.'-M. Decandolle supposes that these organs are subservient to the process of insensible perspiration. Some Materials for the Illustration of the Botanical Geography of the South-western Parts of Europe. By Professor Link. From the German. These hints are extremely judicious, and may prepare the way for a more intimate acquaintance with a much neglected subject. The learned Professor embraces rather a wider range of inquiry than his title imports: but his statements would require more developement and illustration. In the mean time, however, they may suffice to warrant several important conclusions. Thus, we may infer that swamps and stagnant waters produce the same plants under different latitudes; that many plants grow in all parts in great abundance; that the Musci Frondosi are far from being frequent in the south of Europe; that various plants are larger in all their parts in southern than in northern Europe; that many species, which are smooth in the north, are hairy in the south; and that many, which are perennial in northern, are annual in southern regions. It likewise appears that the Flora of Por tugal has much less affinity than might have been expected with those of Spain and the south of France, and hardly any with that of the Levant; while, on the other hand, it has a marked relation to those of the north coast of Africa, and of the southwestern districts of England. The lists of localities, with which we are here presented, appear, in general, to correspond with fact: but we know not why Clinopodium Vulgare, a native of our own island, should be banished to the south of Europe; and we can scarcely believe that Centaurea Cyanus occurs only in a cultivated state in southern latitudes. On the Nature and Mode of Production of Agallochum or AlvesWood. By J. de Loureiro. From the Portuguese.-According to this writer, the plant in question is the Agallochon, and more recently, the Xylaloe of the Greeks; Agallochum, Tarum, and Lignum Aloes of the Romans; and Agalugin of the Arabs. It is a native of that part of India which lies beyond the Ganges, and and is chiefly confined to the kingdoms of Cochin China, Laos, Siam, and Tonquin. From the ignorance of travellers and the avarice of druggists, the same appellation has been long bestowed on some sorts of sweet-scented wood of very inferior quality. The tree which furnishes the true aloes-wood is of considerable size, with ascending branches, and a smooth fibrous bark. From its botanical characters, M. de Loureiro classes it under Decandria Monogynia, and has named it Aloexylum Verum. The manner in which Agallochum is formed within its mother tree, is analogous to that by which scirrhous tumours, consequent gangrene, and mortification, are produced in animal bodies'— As the Agallochum-trade is very lucrative in the East, the natives of those regions go every year in search of it, at the expence of much hazard and labour, among the mountains; for which purpose they keep together in bodies of ten, twenty, or more, with provisions for a month, and with arms for defence against the wild beasts; such as tigers, rhinoceroses, elephants, and snakes, which abound in those parts; and with implements requisite for cutting the wood. They traverse the distant parts of forests, and examine every aloexylum tree they find. Such as are very healthy and have green leaves they pass by those, on the other hand, which are either already dead, or have their leaves of a pale yellow hue, (a symptom of approaching dissolution) they immediately fell, cut them open in a longitudinal direc tion with their hatchets, and discover the object of their pursuit.' The traders distinguish three sorts of the true Agallochum ; of which the first, called Calambá by Europeans, and Ki-nam by the natives, is the most valuable and rare. It is peculiar to the mountains which lie to the west of the province of BinhKhang, in the latitude of 30". north On the Genera of Orchidea, and their systematical Arrangement. By Prof. O. Swarz. From the Swedish.This is a long and elaborate paper: but we cannot abridge its technical details. The author, who has had the opportunity of examining two hundred species of this singular family, very ably exposes the inaccuracies of former botanists, and assumes more precise definitions. In extent of observation, however, he is greatly surpassed by the authors of the Flora Peruviana et Chilensis; who regard the region of the Cordilleras as the native country of the Orchidee, and assert that upwards of one thousand distinct species of them may there be found within a very small tract of country. Some Botanical Observations, by Dr. M. B. Borkhausen. From the German.In consequence of repeated and personal observation, Dr. B. is enabled to state that Orobus tenuifoliis is only a variety of O. tuberosus; that Polygala amara and Monspeliaca are specifically the same with P. vulgaris; that Scabiosa ochroleuca does not essentially differ from S. Columbaria; that Violatricolor and arvensis are only varieties of the same species; that Pimpinella dissecta of Retzius and Roth is often identified with P. saxifraga; that Hieracium murorum includes H. pilosissimum; and H. sylvaticum the maculatum of Schrank. Account of the Ule-Tree, (Castilla elastica,) and of other Trees producing the elastic Gum. By Don Vincente de Cervantes, Prof. of Botany in Mexico. From the Spanish.-After having indicated some exotic trees, which produce an elastic gum, this Spanish botanist gives the characters and description of the Ule, or, as he terms it, Castilla, in honour of the late indefatigable Don Juan del Castillo. His account is illustrated by a very distinct engraving of the plant. Observations on the Genera Juglans, Fraxinus, and Quercus, in the Neighbourhood of Lancaster, in North America. By the Rev. H. E. Mühlenberg, with the Remarks of Prof. C. L. Wildenow. From the German.-Not fewer than fourteen species of oak are here particularized: but want of room prevents us from entering into minutiæ. Observations on the Plant called Erica Dabaecia, shewing the Necessity of referring it to a different Genus and Order. By Prof. Jussieu. From the French.-The circumstance of four retroflected valves, in the structure of the capsule, induced M. de Jussieu to class the fluctuating genus in question, among the Rhododendra; while the inspection of its other characters, derived from the form and number of its several parts, also, limits it to Menziesia. Hence it is now designated Menziesia polifolia. Botanical Observations. By Frederick Ehrhart. From the German. This article consists of too many petty and detached remarks to allow of analysis. It only remains for us to observe that the translator, in so far as we have been able to judge, has executed his part with fidelity and distinctness. Although his annotations are neither numerous nor extended, they are strictly applicable to the text, and manifest a laudable acquaintance with botanical science. ART. III. Memoirs of Marmontel, written by himself. WE E now arrive at a part of the work which is truly interesting, a view of the society at the residence of Madame Geoffrin; from which we shall make several extracts. We begin, as we ought, with the lady of the house: Hers was a singular character, and difficult to seize and to paint, because it was all in demi tints and shades; and, though very decided, it had not one of those distinguishing traits by which disposition is REV. DEC. 1805. usually A a |