penury and want, which is the lot of its inhabitants. We could not, however, help admiring the efforts of a Highland Society; an institution which seems to deserve our highest eulogium, though, from various causes, which probably may subside in the course of a few years, their endeavours do not seem to have been crowned with that success which they so greatly merit. A new road from the town to the interior parts of the island was forming, and the advantages arising from it will doubtless soon be felt. It is the first and greatest step towards the improvement of a country: the intercourse of the inhabitants is promoted thereby; the superfluities become objects of barter, and the first rude limits of commerce are drawn. The Romans were well acquainted with the advan- | tages of a ready communication; and their first care, in a newly-acquired country, was directed to the formation of roads. Nor do we want a proof of their great utility in modern times; since the military roads, through the Highlands of Scotland, may be considered as the primary cause of that degree of order and civilization which now generally prevails. Thursday, 7th. The wind still continuing strong and contrary, induced us to land in the morning, with a view of examining a cascade, which fell into the upper part of the bay. After a walk of some miles, we at length, with great difficulty, arrived at it; passing, for a considerable time, through a trackless underwood, over rocks and swampy ground. The upper fall, however, repaid us for the trouble we had taken. Though small in comparison with others in the Highlands, it was yet sufficient to form a grand scene; tumbling, at one noble gush, upon a broken rocky mass of fragments, which had been torn from the heights above; and finely adorned with the trees and shrubs which clothed the base, and fringed the sides and summit of the precipitous rock. At a little distance further, we found a small lake; seeming, from the difficulty of the approach, to be entirely sequestered: the surrounding sides were thickly covered with wood, and the upper end was terminated by an abrupt mass of rocks, something similar to those at the fall. In the afternoon, we made a visit to Mr. M'Lean, on the opposite side of the Morvern, and experienced all that kindness and attention which so peculiarly distinguishes the inhabitants of the Highlands. Friday, 8th.-In the morning, the weather being still unfavourable, we went to see the remains of another of those numerous forts, which tradition has attributed to the Danes. It is situated on a rocky eminence, partly precipitous, and partly approachable by a peat moss, over which a causeway of oak had formerly been made: the remains of it were discovered a few years since, buried about six feet beneath the present surface. The contrary winds had formed a little fleet in the harbour, which, like ourselves, were awaiting their change. On board one of these, we had the pleasure of meeting with Mr. Cameron, of Fassefern, and his family, whose society did away with every particle of regret for our detention. Captain Campbell, late of the 42d Regiment, accompanied them; and from this gentleman I learned several particulars relative to the authenticity of the Poems of Ossian. His thorough knowledge of the Gaelic, not only gave him frequent opportunities of hearing them in their native purity, but also of judging of the comparative merit of the translation. He informed us, that in his youth he had frequently attended at a kind of assembly, which met regularly for the purpose of reciting these poems. I understand that this gentleman has himself published something on this head, in a work entitled "Travels in America, in the year 1791." Saturday, 9th.-A favourable wind coming on in the morning, our little fleet was soon dispersed. Most of the vessels sailed carly, but it was ten o'clock when we weighed anchor. After beating round the point of Ardnamurchan, we stood away for the sound of Hyle Rhea, between Isle of Skye and the main. As we proceed, the back of Ardnamurchan opens upon us, agreeably varied in its outline, but composed entirely of a mass of rugged and wild rocks, on which the sea, even in the too calm state in which we saw it, breaks with considerable violence. In a hard gale from the westward, a dreadful surf breaks on these craggy precipices, (from whence it derives its name); and the dangers of the rocks of Ardnamurchan, are ranked by mariners with the turbulent seas of the Mulls of Galloway and Cantyre. Further on, we open the entrance of Loch Moydart, the place where the Pretender landed: a scene equally barren with those in its neighbourhood, and such as seemed calculated to inspire only ideas of disappointment and despair, and to have prepared him for the catastrophe that awaited him. By the evening, we were opposite to the southern point of Egg; in that most disagreeable state at sea, a perfect calm, and a long swell. The mountains of Cullen, or Cuchullin, in Skye, now appeared extremely beautiful, and were finely illuminated by the splendour of the setting sun, which blended with a sweet delicacy its roseate hues with the purple tints of the hills, while a rich gleam rested on the rocks of Moydart, and some cultivated land in the vicinity, and was forcibly contrasted by the dark grey | summits of the mountains above, which were never wholly enveloped in the shade of mists and clouds. The romantic isles of Rum and Egg, and the more distant and comparatively low island of Canna, completed a scene uncommonly magnificent. Sunday, 10th.-A faint but contrary breeze sprung up on the preceding evening, which compelled us to beat up the channel during the night. In the morning, we found ourselves within sight of our last night's station, abreast of a low flat part of Skye, the district of Slate, which forms the southern extremity of the island. On the shore of Inverness, (the opposite side,) soon appeared the entrance of Loch Nevish, surrounded by a pleasing group of hills, which, from mists and rain, continued but a short time visible. Loch Nevish, signifies the Lake of Heaven; but from what circumstance it has derived so sublime a name is uncertain; probably, as the neighbouring inlet is termed the Lake of Hell, this might, for the sake of opposition, have obtained its present name. When abreast of Armisdale, we left the vessel, to walk along the coast of Skye. The country on this side appeared hilly, though capable of affording pasture. It was in general tame and uniform, and formed a striking contrast with the wild boldness of the opposite shore. Near this place, in the rebellion of 1715, part of the crew of an English frigate landed, with a view of destroying the house of M'Donald, Lord of the Isles. They had accomplished their purpose, and were returning, when a party of the natives, having gained information of the injury done to their chieftain, intercepted their retreat, and slew them all to a man ; their unburied bones were seen, within these few years, near the sea coast. About a mile from Armisdale stands the small kirk of Slate, which contains a mural monument to the memory of the late Sir James Macdonald, who died at Rome in the year 1766. The epitaph, elegantly expressive of the amiable qualities of this excellent young man, was written by Lord Lyttleton. In him, his country lost a warm and an active friend; all his views and schemes were directed to its welfare and prosperity; but death closed his prospects and the hopes of his friends at an early age. His memory is yet cherished, and his loss regretted, with the sincerest affection. Proceeding further, we passed the ruins of the castle of Knock, seated on a rocky knoll, which the sea has nearly undermined; its situation and extent has, no doubt, heretofore rendered it an object of respectability. On the opposite coast, we were much pleased with the view of Loch Hourne, the Lake of Hell, which now became open and beautifully varied, from partial gleams and flying clouds, which sometimes fully illuminated some bold rocky mountain with all the beauty of local colouring, and involved the rest in a fine blue obscurity, with which some light fleecy clouds were delicately blending. The sides of this loch are extremely abrupt, and their appearance wild; small traces of vegetation appear at the bottom, which soon die away into the sterile soil: the grandeur of its parts, however, aided by the perpetually varying light and shade, in some measure compensated for every other deficiency. During our walk, we stopped at the cottage of a Highlander: it was built, like most we saw on this side of the island, of sods, with a small lateral opening, which served the double purpose of admitting light, and giving vent to the smoke. A peat fire blazed in the centre, the condensed vapour of which so completely filled the place, that it was some moments after our entrance ere the pupils of our eyes became sufficiently dilated to penetrate the obscurity. We found the family indolently reclining round the fire; a frugal meal of potatoes was preparing, which, with milk, and sometimes the diversity of limpits, whose shells were heaped round the entrance, seems to form their chief food. In short, every thing bore the aspect of poverty in the extreme, but it was pleasingly blended with looks of cheerfulness, and a disposition to give, even of the little they possessed. At six in the evening we arrived at Loch Indaal, and found our vessel at anchor. This harbour is formed by the isle of Ornsey and the coast of Skye, and is immediately opposite to Loch Hourne. [To be continued.] HISTORY OF ASTRONOMY. [Continued from col. 418.] were instantly in arms against an opinion so hostile to their prejudices; and Philolaus was obliged to fly from Italy for that protection which the laws of his country denied him. The most distinguishing tenet of the Pythagorean school, was the diurnal revolution of the Earth, and its annual motion round the Sun; which they supposed to occupy the centre of the planetary system. Astronomy owes but little to the philosophers of the Academic sect, and yet less to the Peripatetics. Plato, the founder of the former, is said, by Theon, of Smyrna, to have been the inventor of epicycles, and to have embraced that system which is now usually ascribed to Ptolemy. Aris.totle followed him in this respect. Aristotle, possessed of a treasure in practical Astronomy, which was probably inestimable, was neither acquainted with the use of it himself, nor knew so much of its value as to induce him to use the necessary means for its preservation to those who might. How much is it to be lamented, that the Babylonic observations did not fall into the hands of his contemporary Eudoxus, instead of his ! Eudoxus, a Cnidian, was a scholar of Plato, and contemporary with Aristotle, though considerably older: he is called by Cicero, the Prince of AsHe was the first who applied geometry to the heavens. He flourished about 360 years before the birth of Christ. THE brightness of the milky-way. he The true system of the universe, which Pythagoras had taught in private, was publicly maintained by his disciple Philolaus, who flourished about the year 450, A. C. The people In the earlier part of his life he travelled into Egypt, being recommended to Nectanebo, king of Egypt, by Argesilaus, and by him to the priests, with whom he conversed for a considerable time, and learned from them many things relating to Astronomy. After he returned from Egypt, he taught Astronomy in Asia, in Italy, and other parts; and had many scholars. He particularly insisted on the necessity of making astronomical observations; and taught the manner of making them. He corrected the Grecian year, according to the precepts which he had received from the Egyptian priests, adding, as Pliny informs us, six hours to the solar year of 365 days. According to Seneca, he brought the hypotheses of the motions of the five Planets, out of Egypt into Greece. Archimides observes, that Eudoxus believed the Sun's diameter to be nine times as much as the Moon's. Hipparchus, in his writings upon Aratus, often quotes Eudoxus, with great praise for his knowledge in, and great attention to, Astronomy. Vitruvius ascribes to him the invention of drawing a sun-dial upon a plane; from whence it may be inferred, that he was tolerably well acquainted with the doctrine of the sphere, and the method of projecting its circles on a plane; which cannot be done without a considerable knowledge in geometry: and, indeed, there are many who think that the greater part of what now bears the name of "Euclid's Elements of Geometry," ought to be attributed to Eudoxus. The following inscription is copied from a portrait of the Admiral Crichton, in the old house of Frendraught, in Aberdeenshire. It is written on the back ground, half on each side of the head. Jacobus Critonius Clunius Occisus est, anno Christi 1581. Et genus et censum dat Scotia, Gallia pectus, Mantua habet cineres scelus execratanefandum, * Sir James Crichton was, by Charles I. August 20, 1642, created Viscount Frendraught, and the title expired in Lewis, the fifth Viscount, who was attainted in July, 1690, temp. Will. III. The world's a book, writ by the eternal art Of the great Maker; printed in man's heart: 'Tis falsely printed, though divinely penn'd; Th' errata will appear all at the end. ON PRAYING TO SAINTS. "Not pray to Saints!-Is not the warrant ample, If back'd with Scripture, strengthened by example! Did not that swelt'ring Dives make complaint For water? Was not Abraham a Saint? Why should reformed churches, then, forbid it?”— ""Tis true; but where, and what was he that did it!" Observations on an Article inserted in the Monthly Magazine, for May, 1819, entitled, "Hecate, Luna, Diana, who met in a fork-way." From the German of Wieland. ALTHOUGH there may be nothing ominous in the characters introduced to our notice in this doubtful dialogue, yet we can scarcely suppose, that the writer had no object in view; even though he has had either the ingenuity or misfortune to express his sentiments in language, that is far from being distinctly intelligible. To a merely superficial reader, nothing is visible but an unmeaning jargon; while to those who reflect on what they peruse, certain prognostics appear of some design which the Author has partially concealed. The region into which we are introduced, seems to abound with absurdities, which bewilder the understanding; and with forms, that are frightful and confounding to the senses. These bear a strange but striking resemblance to each other; but when we attempt to seize the former, and to ascertain the tangibility of the latter, the phantoms elude our grasp, the fabric dissolves, and we are compelled to infer, from those fleeting images which indistinctly hover round us, that application of the dialogue which the the place, that it was some moments after our entrance ere the pupils of our eyes became sufficiently dilated to penetrate the obscurity. We found the family indolently reclining round the fire; a frugal meal of potatoes was preparing, which, with milk, and sometimes the diversity of limpits, whose shells were heaped round the entrance, seems to form their chief food. In short, every thing borc the aspect of poverty in the extreme, but it was pleasingly blended with looks of cheerfulness, and a disposition to give, even of the little they possessed. At six in the evening we arrived at Loch Indaal, and found our vessel at anchor. This harbour is formed by the isle of Ornsey and the coast of Skye, and is immediately opposite to Loch Hourne. [To be continued.] HISTORY OF ASTRONOMY. [Continued from col. 418.] were instantly in arms against an opinion so hostile to their prejudices; and Philolaus was obliged to fly from Italy for that protection which the laws of his country denied him. The most distinguishing tenet of the Pythagorean school, was the diurnal revolution of the Earth, and its annual motion round the Sun; which they supposed to occupy the centre of the planetary system. Astronomy owes but little to the philosophers of the Academic sect, and yet less to the Peripatetics. Plato, the founder of the former, is said, by Theon, of Smyrna, to have been the inventor of epicycles, and to have embraced that system which is now usually ascribed to Ptolemy. Aris.totle followed him in this respect. Aristotle, possessed of a treasure in practical Astronomy, which was probably inestimable, was neither acquainted with the use of it himself, nor knew so much of its value as to induce him to use the necessary means for its preservation to those who might. How much is it to be lamented, that the Babylonic observations did not fall into the hands of his contemporary Eudoxus, instead of his! Eudoxus, a Cnidian, was a scholar of Plato, and contemporary with Aristotle, though considerably older: he is called by Cicero, "the Prince of As He was the first who applied geometry to the heavens. He flourished about 360 years before the birth of Christ. THE brightness of the milky-way. he The true system of the universe, which Pythagoras had taught in private, was publicly maintained by his disciple Philolaus, who flourished about the year 450, A. C. The people In the earlier part of his life he travelled into Egypt, being recommended to Nectanebo, king of Egypt, by Argesilaus, and by him to the priests, with whom he conversed for a considerable time, and learned from them many things relating to Astronomy. After he returned from Egypt, he taught Astronomy in Asia, in Italy, and other parts; and had many scholars. He particularly insisted on the necessity of making astronomical observations; and taught the manner of making them. He corrected the Grecian year, according to the precepts which he had received from the Egyptian priests, adding, as Pliny informs us, six hours to the solar year of 365 days. According to Seneca, he brought the hypotheses of the motions of the five Planets, out of Egypt into Greece. Archimides observes, that Eudoxus believed the Sun's diameter to be nine times as much as the Moon's. Hipparchus, in |
