Sicilian, and put to him in succession a number of questions, beginning with multiplying several simple numbers, and then more difficult questions in cubic equations, to all which he gave ready and correct answers. Mr Peacock then proposed how many seconds of time are there in 5 years of 365 days; in answer he said in French, (for he does not speak English) 157, 768, 000. It was then proposed, what is the amount of £3000 at 5 per cent compound interest, for 5 years? Answer £9637. Os. 3d, 7-100. After several other questions of a similar nature, the audience began to get impatient for the appearance of the chairman." Proceed. of British Association of Science, at Newcastle, Morn. Chron. Aug. 27, 1838.

CCCVIJI. ON ARBORESCENT FIGURES, AN ORIGINAL PAPER BY SIR A. CARLILE.

A series of facts and observations respecting the Natural Causes of Arborescent or Dendritic Figures in the two divisions of Animal and Vegetable Structures, and in mineral formations, by Sir Anthony Carlisle, F. R. S.

These ramifying figures are not the special productions of living bodies, because they also occur in mineral formations, and when they are not the impressions of organized structures.

In some instances of organic nature, arborescent figures depend on tubular vessels, as in animals; but in vegetable structures these figures are composed of solid woody fibres, while the frame-work of the wings of insects consists of a solid horny substance.

For the advancement of natural knowledge, and for the improvement of organic physiology, it may be useful to collect and to collate various evidences, in order to establish the laws which direct the formation of similar figures in different bodies.

In many cases the progressive steps of physical causation are more apparent in mineral bodies than in the complicated and living structures of animals and vegetables; and these examples of resembling figures will, therefore, commence with minerals which present dendritic figures, uninfluenced by the distributing actions of vitality.

The most simple, and one of the most common examples of dendritic figures, occurs in the manufacture of the cheapest sort of ornamental pottery ware termed the "Mocha pattern." These picturesque figures are made by children who are entirely ignorant of the art of design. While the vessel is in the unglazed state termed Biscuit, it is dabbed in given places with a liquid pigment, which runs by descent, as the surface of the vessel is inclined, and thus it instantly spreads from trunks into regular subdividing branches; the rough surface of the biscuit, and the gradual thickening of the liquid pigment, producing these appearances.

Streamlets similarly divaricating appear on the sea-shore where little pools of water remain embanked by sand. The water oozing through the sand issues in streams, and these subdivide, according to the declivity, into arborescing streamlets, which sometimes again reunite into larger branches, as in anastomoses, between arteries and veins of animal structures. The same appearances often occur upon clayey or muddy declivities over which streamlets of water flow.

Dendritic figures are also common in many stones which were formerly regarded as petrifactions of previously organized structures. In the compact marly limestone, called Lithographic stone, these figures often occur, and generally on the surfaces of laminæ, by which it would seem that the ochry pigment had percolated and spread in the same manner as that described respecting pottery. The moss-agate, certain marbles, and mocha-stone, exhibit similar dendritic figures. The entire bodies of certain corallines assume an arborescent character, as in the CORALLINA MUSCOSA of Ellis. (See Plate 2 of his work).

The next examples of arborescent evolutions occur in the solid woody frame-work of the leaves of trees, as displayed after the membranous or parenchymatous substance has been removed by maceration; and a remarkable example of an accommodated structure of leaves happens in the Ranunculus aquatilis, in which the floating leaves possess an entire covering of skin, while the submersed leaves are subdivided like those of fennel, as if the water had stopped the evolution of the skin, rendering the organ more like the gills of fishes.

For the better understanding of physiological, and consequently of pathological phænomena, it is very important to distinguish between physical causes of general influence, and the especial or peculiar causes termed vital, which belong conjointly to organized living bodies; and the facts now submitted must, I believe, lead to more exact and practical discriminations as to the causes of embrystic evolution, the growth of organized parts, the reparation of læsions, and morbid deviations from natural structure.

If it be granted that arborescing vessels are only gross accommodations or appliances of convenience in animal function, and that they always originate under physical direction, and not from a vital or mysterious necessity, we may assume to have made one step further in natural knowledge.

These assumptions may, however, be justly supported by the unquestionable existence of entire living distinct animals and vegetables, devoid of arborescing vessels or ramifying fibres. The former occur in dropsical fluids and in uncysted tumours, which are termed globular hydatids; the latter, in the "Tremella nostoc." The hydatids are so far parasitical that they exist only in the natural fluids of living animals. The 'tremella nostoc' has probably a parasitical origin, since it always appears upon moist and decayed wood, or on dead leaves in the spring season.

London, Langham Place, Oct. 1, 1838.

CCCIX. Nelson, Huskisson, Rothschild.

LONDON, Oct. 7, 1838. Saw Major Revell, who says that, when he was a young man, he conversed for two hours with Lord Nelson at the shop of White the bookseller. His Lordship was very fond of scarce and curious books, and said that he would purchase all which were in the shop, if he could afford it. The Major says that he had a large library. It was just before the battle of Copenhagen. The Major alluded to the expected event, and said that his Lordship was the right man for the enemy. The latter anticipated the certainty of his success, and clapping his hand to his side said significantly, 'I have got the peace in my pocket.' Nelson told to Mr Tuffin, as the Major says, that he was uncommonly anxious to be appointed Ambassador, considering that he had talents for diplomacy.

Major Revell thought that in my book on Junius, where I notice a fine passage from Tom Paine, I ought to have noticed what he says about Burke 'that he rose like the sky-rocket, and fell like the stick.'

He says that Huskisson's rise was extraordinary. He was apprenticed to a druggist near Charing-Cross, robbed the till, and ran off to France, which gave to him the opportunity of witnessing the early scenes of the French Revolution. He found out that the Jacobins had resolved to strike terror into European Powers by taking off the head of the English Ambassador, Lord Gower. He saw how he could turn the fact to his own advantage, went to the Ambassador, urged him to withdraw immediately, and he did so. When his Lordship arrived in England, he recommended Huskisson to the notice of the Minister, and he became a rising man.

The Major told a remarkable story about young Bolton of

Birmingham, who was at Paris on the famous 10th of August, and present at the attack on the Swiss guards.

There is particular mention of Dr Parr in a Letter of Dr Lettsom, which is inserted in Dr Baron's Life of Dr Jenner.

Richard Sharp's business was that of a wholesale hatter.

When the late Mr Rothschild lived at Manchester, he had a certain credit at his Banker's, and wished to have the credit increased. The junior partner was well inclined to give the additional credit, but the other partners were averse to it; at length it was given. Rothschild in the course of time removed to London and in the course of time too this junior partner had experienced such a reverse of fortune, that he came to London, called on Mr Rothschild, and solicited a clerkship from him, if it were only £150 a year. Mr R. said that he had no clerkship to dispose of, but begged him to call the next day. When he called, Mr R. told to him that he had no occasion for any clerkship, as he had placed stock in the funds in his name, which would yield £200 a year.

CCCX. ST JOHN'S HEAD.

A young man seeing the Master of St John's College on horse-back, said it was "St John's head on a charger."

CCCXI. WAITERS.

A gentleman, who could get no food brought him at a public dinner, called out, "Zounds, there is no waiter to be found." "Nay" said another, "we are all waiters."