The Lithology of Edinburgh ... Edited, with a memoir, by the Rev. J. Duns

Front matter

I THE LITHOLOGY OF EDINBURGH; BY THE LATE REV. JOHN FLEMING, D.D., F.R.S.E., PROFESSOR OF NATURAL SCIENCE, NEW COLLEGE, EDINBURGH. EDITED, WITH A MEMOIR, BY THE REV. JOHN DUNS, TORPHICHEN. EDINBURGH: WILLIAM P. KENNEDY, 15 ST ANDEEW STEEET. GLASGOW : D. BRYCE. LONDON : HAMILTON, ADAMS & CO. DUBLIN : M'GLASHAN & GILL. MDCCCLIX. EDINBURGH : PRINTED BT JOHN GKEIG & SON, OLD PHYSIC GARDENS THE LITHOLOGY OF EDINBURGH. INSCRIBED, WITH KINDEST REGARDS, TO THE REV. PRINCIPAL CUNNINGHAM, D.D. AND TO THE STUDENTS OF THE NEW COLLEGE, EDINBURGH.

Preface

. When Professor Fleming's private papers were entrusted to me, my first design was to incorporate several of them in a review and criticism of the History of Natural Science during the last fifty years. In this case my sketch would have been purely scientific. But, however congenial the task, I felt there would be the risk of giving greater prominence to my own views, than to the works of him whose biography I had undertaken to sketch briefly. This consideration led me to adopt a plan in which, I trust, the lineaments of Dr Fleming have been drawn with a more decided hand, and his scientific attainments set in stronger relief than could otherwise have been done. I have selected such passages for quotation as seemed to me fitted to illustrate Dr Fleming's literary attainments, and to shew, especially, the great influence which he exercised on the progress of the different departments of Natural Science, with which his name will ever be associated.

It was Dr Fleming's intention to have inscribed The Lithology to the Students of the New College. I have carried out his intention in this respect, The name of Principal VI

PREFACE.

. Cunningham has been added, as an expression, on my part, of gratitude for all the kindness and instruction received from him, when, as a student, I enjoyed the privilege of wait ing on his ministry in the College Church. J. D. Fbbe Church Manss, Tobphichbn, 15th December 1858. Page I xi xx vi 1 1 i.vn CONTENTS OF MEMOIR.

Chapter I

1785 to 1810. Birth and Parentage — Mother's Wish — Natural History — College Days — Edinhurgh in 1802 — Revival of Science — Chemistry and Mine ralogy — Flora of Linlithgowshire — Wernerian Society — Eressay — Sir John Sinclair — -Mineralogy of Orkney and Zetland — Ministerial work and Science — The Narwal — Sir Joseph Banks — Contributions to British Fauna, .........

Chapter II

1810 to 1820. Flisk — Lectures on Chemistry — Habit of the Eye — Mineralogy of St Andrews — Marriage — An Help-meet — Honours — Patrick Neill — Mine ralogy ot the Redhead — Mr Sowerby — Ure's History — Cork Institution Lectureship — Trap and Old Red Sandstone — Paper for the Royal So ciety — Work in 1819 — Ichthyology — Dr Barclay,

Chapter III

1820 to 1829. Hydrozoa — Beroe — Hirudines — Scissurella — Insecta — Helniinthology — Voyage in 1821 — Submarine Forests — Philosophy of Zoology — Let ters from Cuvier, Barclay, Turton, &c. — Separate Papers — Distribution of British Animals — Modern Strata — The Deluge — Dr Buckland — Sir William Hooker — Professor Jameson — History of British Animals — Antiquarian Pursuits — Tombden Urns — The Old Red — Hugh Miller — Dr Anderson's Mistakes — Climate of the Arctic Regions — Rev. W. Cony beare — Pig's Foot Controversy — Dr Mantell — The Wheat-Fly,

Chapter IV

1829 to 1834. Dr Harlan of Philadelphia. — Entomology — Rev- F. W. Hope — Chair of Agriculture — Household Afflictions — Friendships — Buckland — Lyell — Mantell — Presentation to Clackmannan — Lord Dundas — Letters to Neill — Retrospect — Professorship of Nat. Phil. King's College, Aber deen — Memorial of his Parishioners — Testimonies to Ministerial Fi delity, . . . . . . CONTENTS.

Chapter V

1834 to 1843. Pap-e First Session at Aberdeen — A Degree for Neill — Phrenology—Dilu vian Hypothesis — Justice to Scotland — Scales in the Old Red — Super position of Strata — Dichotomy — Deal Fish — Ichthyolithus Clackmana nensis — Visit of Agassiz and Buckland — Old Red — Ecclesiastical Con troversies — Non-intrusion — Letters to Neill on Church Principles — Aberdeen Phil. Soe and Contributions — A New Skate — Yarrel — Selby — Dr Johnstone cf Berwick, ...... I.XX 1 1

Chapter VI

1843 to 1845. East Coast Harbours of Refuge — The Disruption — Threatened Ex pulsion from the Nat Phil. Chair — Letter to Dr Chalmers — Prospects — Scheme of a New Chair for Natural Science — Chalmers' Views on the New Chair — Letters of Chalmers — Dr Welsh — Inverness Assembly — Appointment to New College Chair of Natural Science — Anxiety about the future — Movement among the Laity — Letter from James Cunning ham, Esq. — Resolutions — J. Bonar, Esq. — Dr Duff, . . i.xxxn CHAPTER VU. 1843 to 1857. Correspondents— Edward Forbes— Dr Buckland— Sir Roderick Impey Murchison— Sir Charles Lyell— Lord Cockburn— Dr Welsh— North Bri tish Review— Contributions— British Association— Royal Physical So ciety — Conclusion, ...... xcin Page 1 18 28 42 50 66 85 CONTENTS OF LITHOLOGY OF EDINBURGH.

Chapter I

Histohv of Edinburgh Litholoot — Bulmer and Atkinson — Sibbald — Sinclair — Hutton — Pla) fair — Hall — Allan — Greenock — Walker — Thomson — Williams — Townson — Jameson — Hibbert — Patterson — W. Nicol — Rhind — Milne— Maclaren — Museum and Scientific Societies,

Chapter II

Origin of the Picturesque Sceneryaround Edinburgh — Valleys, Ridges, Bays, and Nesses — Valleys of Abrasion and their Bifurcation — Rivers, Beaches, Craig and Tail, ......

Chapter III

Remains of Abrasion — Effects of Floods — Examples of Rubbed and Scratched Surfaces — Deceptive Appearances — Crumpled Surfaces — Fissures and Flaws, .......

Chapter IV

Reluctance of Observers to study the recent Deposits — Classification ofthe matter resting on the Dressed Surfaces — The Staple of Walker — Diluvium and Alluvium of Phillips and Conybeare — Diluvial, Anti diluvial, and Post-diluvial of Buckland, Eocene, Miocene, Older Plio cene, and Newer Pliocene of Lyell — Superficial deposits of Mr Home,

Chapter I

1785 to 1810. Birth and Parentage — Mother's Wish — Natural History — College Days — Edinburgh in 1802 — Revival of Science — Chemistry and Mineralogy — Flora of Linlithgowshire — Wernerian Society — Bressay — Sir John Sinclair — Mineralogy of Orkney and Zetland — Ministerial work and Science — The Narwal — Sir Joseph Banks — Contributions to British Fauna. The chief events in the life of the scholar and the man of science are found in the publication of works, through which they either guide the thinkers of their age to fresh objects of knowledge, or explain to the world discoveries by which the manifold wisdom of God in creation is set in new lights, and the social comfort of mankind increased. In the following out line-sketch of Dr Fleming's life, I wish mainly to indicate the character and value of his labours in the several departments of natural science to which the energies of his best years were de voted.

As these were closely associated with the events of his domestic circle, and with the friendships of social life — as they were influenced by these, and, in their turn, influenced them at one point and another — it has seemed expedient to look at them together. Such incidents will thus serve as links by which to connect his various and influential labours as a student, as an author, and as a teacher of science. John Fleming was born in 1785 at Kirkroads, a small farm near Bathgate, Linlithgowshire. He was the son of Mr a memoir. II Alexander Fleming and of Catherine Nimmo. Both parents were noted in the neighbourhood for industry, intelligence, and Christian worth. The elder Fleming was one of a class not so numerous now in Scotland as it was forty years ago. The gradual introduction of the large farm system has greatly altered the social condition of rural districts.

In the house of a working farmer, like that in which Professor Fleming passed his youth, there was much to call forth the energies of the younger members of the household. Master and servant stood much nearer each other in kindly sympathies than they do now. They sat by the same hearth, partook together of the same fare, and in field labour worked earnestly together for the common good. While this sphere had its drawbacks to a child smitten with a love of learning, it was yet well fitted to develop energy and self-reliance. Young Fleming's disposition was marked by the outstanding moral features of both parents. Like his father he was active, painstaking, persevering, industrious, and, it must be added, a good deal given to sarcastic remark in his intercourse with his fellows. Like his mother he had strong religious sentiments, much decision of character, and a faithfulness to religious convictions which, as shall be seen, circumstances could not even modify.

Mrs Fleming had early desired that John should be led to look forward to the Christian ministry as a profession ; and as he grew up she carefully sought to give direction to his young mind. With this view he was sent to College. But even after he had spent several years in academical studies, his strong love for natural history seemed about to blight the hopes of his earnesthearted mother. He was offered work, believed to be more in harmony than the Christian ministry with his love for science. Straitened circumstances also, brought about by his father's loss of means from the failure of a local private bank, made him anxious to engage at once in remunerative labour. His mother inter fered. When alone with him one day, she handed to him her pocket bible, told him to go out to the hill side and read the verses she had marked.

The Word which was her counsellor and guide became his. The passages pointed out to him had MEMOIR. III answered his thoughts, and their careful perusal decided his choice of a profession. But her joy was not unmixed, for in choosing, he resolved to leave the Dissenting denomination to which she was zealously attached, and to enter the Divinity Hall of the Established Church. She accepted the choice, however, but long continued to hope that John might be won back again to "The Testifying Body," as the Old Light Dis senters loved to be characterised. At the age of seventeen, Mr Fleming attended, as an enthusiastic student, the class of chemistry and pharmacy in the Edinburgh University. At that time Professor Hope was in the prime of life. Gracefully, yet vigorously, as a lecturer able to keep alive that intense interest with which his greatly distinguished and original-minded predecessor, Dr Black, had invested his favourite science.

A year before, Dr Chalmers had attended the same class, for the gratification of those strong scientific tastes which attracted him to Fleming in after years, and led to a life-long friendship. To a mind like Mr Fleming's, Edinburgh at that time presented peculiar attrac tions. Black's discoveries and his methods of chemical research were fresh in the minds of students. Robison taught with pro found ability and with great success the class of natural philo sophy. The two Thomsons were throwing into their lectures on chemistry the fascinations of the new method. Hope was attracting hundreds of young men to his class-room. Huston's " Theory of the Earth " * had been seventeen years before the public, and was becoming more fruitful than it had yet been in interesting the minds of geologists, and in leading to discus sions, every one of which forwarded physical truth.

And Stewart, who was very much to moral philosophy what Hope was to chemistry, both being the graceful interpreters of the profound systems of their great masters, was with easy grace beguiling many thoughtful young minds over to a thorough affection for the Scottish philosophy. * The first part of the "Theory" was read to the Royal Society by Dr Black, on the year of Fleming's birth, 1785 ; and from F. it received its ear liest and hardest hits in "The Wernerian." MEMOIR The studies and associations of 1802 influenced him through life. A careful perusal of the sections* in " The Philosophy of Zoology," devoted to " Elementary Substances," and to " Com pounds of Organization," or of the chapters in which he treats of " Organs of Perception," and " Faculties of the Mind," will shew the impressions which the pursuits of this period, and the professors under whom he studied, had made upon him.

As many, likewise, as waited on his lectures when he became a teacher of natural science, will remember how much importance he attached to a knowledge of chemistry, as a basis for the successful study of mineralogy, and how skilful he was in its application, when dealing with chemical mineralogy, and when discussing the characteristics of organic masses, and of mineral species.-f Those who are rightly in the habit of tracing the partial alienation of Scottish thinkers from the field of metaphysical speculation, and their direction into that of physical research, to the influence of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, at the time to which we now refer, will not fail to notice the benefit which resulted to Christian thought, and generally to the interests of the church, that men like Chalmers, and Fleming, and Brew ster were raised up to stand in the midst of those whose discoveries led to speculations of a peculiarly delicate and difficult kind.

The revival of science in Scotland acted in two ways. On the one hand, it laid a grasp like that of a giant on the thoughtful youth of the period, and at one point and another suggested the possibility of the inauguration of scientific, as opposed to revealed, truth. On the other hand, it begot in the minds of many good, but not very well informed, churchmen, the notion, that science was antagonistic to Christianity, and should be discouraged as leading to scepticism. What was needed in order to check the tendency which had already set in, to separate the highest minds of the country from the church, was the presence in her membership of men of thorough * Vol. I. pp. 54-80 and 164-307. t See *' Institutes of Natural Science," for the outline of his lectures on Siintholcgy and Mineralogy. MEMOIR.

V scientific attainments — men of whose true Christian principle she did not stand in doubt. These acted as links of sympathy between her and the students of nature. Thus suspicion of science was kept under, and the notion, that its successful pro secution implied the drifting away from a child-like accept ance of the doctrines of the cross of Christ, was effectually checked. This was the position which Chalmers assumed with such important results. It was this, too, which Fleming occupied with marked success ; and it is not too much to aver that this has been the attitude of Brewster for nearly half a cen turj**.* Endowed with a taste for natural history, Mr Fleming's native district supplied opportunities specially favourable to its exercise and gratification. From early youth he studied Zoology, Botany, and Geology, after a fashion which always leads to success.

Having acquired the general nomenclature of a science, he applied it in the field, in the identification of the objects around him. Thus we find him, when almost a boy, marking the geological features of the district, both from sur face characteristics and from sections of strata made in mining or in quarrying operations. He carefully catalogued every native plant, and, with rod or gun, brought many of its rarer animals under examination. Taking the Kirkroads cottages as a centre, and limiting the view to the radius of a mile, at least three varieties of fossiliferous limestone occur, and, associated with them, phenomena of trap action peculiarly interest ing. The botanical riches of the neighbourhood were pointed out by Mr Fleming himself in the " Outline of the Flora of Linlithgowshire, "*fand several important additions can now be made to that list.

The frequent references in the " British Animals," to localities in his native county, shew that it had supplied him with many specimens in his zoological studies. He had hoped to do for the place of his birth what White has done for Selborne, but was hindered. In the conclusion of the * See Chalmers' Life, vol. i. p. 386: British Animals, p. xviii ; and North British Review, vol. iv. p. 386. f Read to the Wernerian Society, 1809. VI MEMOIR. MSS. Botany of Linlithgowshire, he writes, " During the time I resided in West Lothian I endeavoured to collect all the in formation regarding its natural history in my power. If I had resided longer within its bounds, I intended to have written a complete description of that county. Being now re moved to a distance, all hope of accomplishing this is at an end.

I shall, therefore, at a future period, communicate to the Society such observations on its zoology and mineralogy as appear calculated to elucidate, in any degree, the natural history of Scotland." The proceedings of " The Wernerian " shew that he fully kept his promise. Having been licensed as a preacher in connection with the Church of Scotland, he was soon after ordained over the congregation at Bressay, in Shetland. The circumstances connected with his presentation to Bressay, are worthy of notice. So early as 1 807, his accomplishments as a mineralogist had attracted the attention of Sir John Sinclair, well known from the enthusiastic interest he took in the progress of Scottish agriculture towards the close of the last, and at the beginning of the present, century. Sir John asked Mr Fleming to undertake a survey of the economical mineralogy of the northern isles.

In the spring of 1808, Mr Fleming wrote to Sir John from his brother's farm, Capithall, near Bathgate, and asked introductions to the parish ministers and others. " I must," he said, " traverse the unfrequented glens, coasts, and islands, where I can receive no assistance from the inhabitants. I would esteem your private letters, together with others from my friends, as perfectly sufficient to procure me attention and hospitality." While engaged in this work, it fell to the Presbytery of Lerwick to present to the parish of Bressay, Lord Dundas, the patron, having failed to do so within the time allowed by law. Mr Fleming had so won the regards of the members of Presbytery, that they unanimously resolved to offer the living to him. He accepted the presentation only on condition that the people would call him after they had heard him preach.

Meanwhile Lord Dundas had promised the living to another man, and now he asked Mr Fleming to resign in his MEMOIR. VII favour. This he refused to do, on the ground that it would be uncourteous both to the Presbytery and the people. The patron seemed to be won by the manly frankness and decision of the young minister. He became his firm friend, and was ever afterwards ready to promote his interests. The fruit of the appointment by the Scottish Board of Agri culture, at the instance of Sir John Sinclair, was the very able report which Mr Fleming drew up, on " The Economical Mi neralogy of the Orkney and Zetland Islands." When this report was published, the author was only in the twenty-third year of his age ; yet there are evidences in it of great descriptive power, readiness in the application of the nomenclature of the science, correctness of eye, and such a quick apprecia tion of the economical value of the rocks described, as would not discredit the ablest mineralogist at the present time.

The report is dated from the Manse of Bressay. He had thus taken the scientific tastes and studies of his youth with him into his island manse, and had laid them along side of his de sires and labours for the spiritual good of the people over whom he had been set. Was this union right or even expedient ? Had he, or has any minister, time for both sorts of work ? Is it possible that they can meet in harmony in any one man ? Fleming, like Chalmers, often found many ready to return a decided negative to such queries. It would be beside my purpose in this sketch to enter fully into this matter, but, as the report now referred to raises the question, it claims attention for a little. There is no need here of falling back on the small ness of his congregation as an excuse for devotion to scientific pursuits, because when his congregation was greatly larger, he was equally earnest in his favourite studies.

Beyond doubt it is the duty of the New Testament minister to be equal to his day, and intelligently able to watch over phases of thought characteristic of his generation, in order to direct these for the glory of Him whom he is specially set to serve. And if God shall give him talents and opportunities to lead rather than to follow, in such circumstances his duty is equally clear. The iv rob-in; 'l«6t of the Apostle was never intended to limit the MEMOIR. minister's study to theology. It has a broader and nobler meaning. " Identify your life with them," — bring, then, all your gifts, all your attainments into His service : you will not less earnestly seek the good of souls, in meeting much with the thoughts of the Creator in his works, because He who created all things is the Redeemer himself.

" Grace," says Vinet finely, " has not made nature an outcast." Yea, rightly received, it teaches man that the Saviour and the Creator are one. Sym pathy with this view will fit for tracing and exhibiting the thoughts of Christ in His works, not less than rejoicing in His affections revealed in His word. And the Christian student will find fully as many occasions in scientific pursuits, for the cry " domine da lucem," as he will do in exegetical studies. It is no doubt true, that much time must be spent in order to excel lence in any one department of science, and especially in order to such a knowledge of several branches as Mr Fleming possessed, — a knowledge by which the student can point out where branch meets branch, while the boundary line continues, and thus is able to enunciate those grand generalizations which become in fluential, not on the multitude only, but on great thinkers also.

Few clergymen work as hard as fully employed lawyers, phy sicians, or merchants. There is among them a great deal of trifling at study, — a great deal of reading which takes up much time and bears little fruit, — not a little time spent in mere coterie talk. If any man be willing to eschew this, and to parcel out his day according to the claims of his position, he may manage a congregation of a thousand people, visit them once a year, attend assiduously to the sick and sorrowful, and yet find time for working in some branch of literature or science. But Scotland is so well supplied with churches that John Knox's average of a thousand peqple, for the care of one man, is very seldom possible except in large towns. If a man give, generally, his forenoons to theological study and preparation for Sabbath, his afternoons to visitation, and one eveninsr, or even two, in the week to a meeting for congregational prayer, or for a Bible class, he would yet have, at the very least, four evenings, from six to eleven, for non-theological study.

Who MEMOIR. IX has tried to devote these twenty hours weekly to work, towards which natural tastes have drawn him, without finding that he could overtake much ? The fact is, that men who cry out about neglect of duty in such cases, are either too ignorant to be able to sympathise with higher studies than catering for a Sabbath sermon, or too lazy to keep abreast of the intelligence of their day. They shelter their ignorance, their indolence, or their envy under a loud profession of zeal for what they call " a minister's proper work." Mr Fleming's " banishment to Shetland," as he called his settlement in Bressay, was not without its advantages. Fresh opportunities frequently occurred for the application of his talents as a naturalist ; and these were readily embraced. On the same month on which the mineralogical report was pub lished he communicated a paper to the Wernerian Society, " On the Narwal or Sea Unicorn."

The notice is illustrated by drawings by himself, and contains a very clear description of its general appearance and structure. It was forwarded in MSS. to Sir Joseph Banks, who favoured him with the follow ing letter : — " I am much obliged to you for the intelligent account of the Narwhale, lately thrown upon your coast, which I have received in due course. I agree with you in thinking it the same species as that described by Le Cepede, whose information was wholly derived from me. WThen he was about to finish his book, he wrote to me for assistance, and I readily fur nished him with such unpublished information as happened to be in my possession ; but he, like a true Frenchman, gave himself little trouble to understand what was written under the drawing of the narwhale, which stated it to have been taken at Frieston, a village near Boston,* in Lin colnshire.

The animal, when found, had buried the whole of its body in the mud of which the beach there is composed, and seemed safely and securely waiting the return of the tide. A fisherman going to his boat saw the horn, which was not covered up, and trying to pull it out of the mud, raised the animal, who stirred himself hastily to secure his horn from the attack. From these circumstances, I am led to believe that he was much at his ease in the place he was in, and well able, though probably a native of more northern regions, to live in our seas. The additional infor- * Le Cepede describes the specimen sent by Sir Joseph Banks as having been taken at Boston, America ! X MEMOIR. niation of your letter enables us to feel safe in concluding the animal as belonging to the British Islands, and entering it in our catalogues accord ingly-" At the close of the same year Mr Fleming sent to the " Wer nerian" several papers entitled " Contributions to the British Fauna."

In these he describes distinctly for the first time, as natives of Britain, the Water Shrew (Sorex fodiens) — the Top-knot Turbot (Pleuronectes punctatus ; Rhombus punc tatus of Cuvier) — the Fascicle Barnacle (Lepus fascicularis) — the Skate Leech (Hirudo verrucosa)* — Echinus (miliaris) — and the Zoophytes — Lucernaria fasexularis — Caryophyllkt Cyathus, Fungia turbinata, and Flustra Ellisii. *** Not, however, as he thought, distinct from Hirudo muricata of Linnæus.

Chapter II

1810 to 1820. Flisk — Lectures on Chemistry — Habit of the Eye — Mineralogy of St Andrews — Marriage — An Help-meet — Honours — Patrick Neill — Mineralogy of the Redhead — Mr Sowerby — Ure's History — Cork Institution Lectureship — Trap and Old Red Sandstone — Paper for the Royal Society — Work in 1819 — Ichthyology — Dr Barclay. In 1810, Mr Fleming exchanged the remote living of Bressay for one nearer the centre of reviving ecclesiastical life, of thought, and of scientific study. On the presentation of Lord Dundas he was translated to Flisk, Fifeshire, a parish border ing on Kilmany, where Dr Chalmers was at that time minister. Under date Sept. 1810, Chalmers wrote in his diary: — "Walked to Monzie. At dinner we had Mr Fleming, presentee to Flisk ; accomplished in some interesting branches of science, and pro mises to be a great acquisition to me, from the congeniality of some of our pursuits."

Again, — " Had a long walk with Mr Fleming, and am happy to find that he expresses a high sense of duty on the subject of the clerical office." He now set himself very earnestly, as occasion offered, to carry out the views which, at an early period, he had formed, of what should be his work in natural science. Like John Ray, he studied the works ofthe Creator to discover "The wisdom of God in Creation." But he knew that, in order to become a successful expounder of the thoughts of God in creation, the highest scientific attainments were needful. Only thus could he speak with authority. What ambition so noble as to seek to illustrate, iu the life and experience of one man, the perfect harmony between profound and original knowledge in science, and simple faith in God as a covenant God — between the highest efforts of reason in the study, classification, and interpretation of nature, and love for the person of Jesus Christ, revealed to us MEMOIR. in the Bible ?

It is not indeed held that no other motives in fluenced him in his work. He sought " In brave poursuitt of honorable deed" to make himself a name among his fellows. He loved science, and was not a little under the power of a lawful ambition to be noted as an eminent and successful student of it. The ways by which these views could then, as now, be realised, were two, namely, the Press, and public Lectures. To both he had recourse when settled in Flisk. His contributions to public journals and to learned societies became frequent ; and, in 181 1, he issued a pamphlet of sixteen pages, containing very full outlines of a course of lectures, to be delivered in Cupar, on Chemistry and Natural History. In a prefatory note he says : — ■ " In this course of Lectures it is proposed to explain the doctrines of Chemistry by a series of experiments, to point out its useful application to the arts, the manufactures, and the purposes of common life ; and to con vey a general knowledge of Natural History, illustrating the doctrines of Mineralogy, Botany, and Zoology by an exhibition of specimens."