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Butler is deaf to the governor's entreaties, and the foul deed is accomplished.

From an attentive examination of thefe dramas with the original, we have no hesitation in affirming that Mr Coleridge's tranflation happily unites, for the most part, the qualities of fidelity and elegance. In many pages, however, he exhibits a furprifing debility, becomes extremely profaic, and degenerates into the most culpable careleffnefs. Amidft a variety of faulty paffages, we will content ourselves with felecting the following.

This walk which you have ta'en me thro' the camp
Strikes my hopes proftrate.' P. 15.

What! and not warn him either what bad hands
His lot has plac'd him in?' P. 18.

• They know about the emperor's requifitions,
And are tumultuous.' P. 45.

How intend you

To manage with the generals at the banquet? P. 66.

Mr. Coleridge is the founder of a distinct school in poetry. He is defervedly regarded with much deference by many of his difciples: but the elevation he has attained on the Aönian mount imposes on him an obligation to study the art of correctness ;

Decipit exemplar vitiis imitabile:

and it were well if Mr. Coleridge would teach his pupils, both by precept and example, the art of blotting-would instruct them that hafty effafions require the file, that careleffness is not eafe, and that obfcurity in no inftance conftitutes the true fublime.

Prize Elays and Tranfactions of the Highland Society of Scotland. To which is prefixed, an Account of the Institution and principal Proceedings of the Society. By Henry Mackenzie, Efq. Vol. I. 8vo. 7s. Boards. Cadell and Davies.

THE great object of the fociety is to inquire into the prefent ftate of the Highlands and iflands of Scotland, the condition of their inhabitants, and the various means of their improvement. A fubordinate object is the prefervation of the language, poetry, and mufic of the Highlands.

From the very great merit of this inftitution, we cannot but exprefs our furprife that the idea of fuch an eftablishment was not fuggefted till the year 1784; and that only in 1799 the CRIT. REV. VOL. XXX. October, 1800.

1799

labours of the fociety were first published. In various works which have occurred in our literary engagements, topics of this kind have often attracted our notice, and, in fome measure, anticipated the fubjects of thefe volumes, for we fhall find the moft interefting materials not brought fufficiently near the prefent period to be very attractive. If they do not accumulate. faft, a portion of a volume fhould occafionally appear, which would join the charms of novelty to the advantages of early information.

The hiftory of the fociety need not detain us. We fhall. felect only the report on the Shetland wool, which deferves to be more generally known.

From the information of the gentlemen abovementioned, it would appcar, that the permanent fineness of the wool depends entirely apon the breed of fheep; for on the fame pasture, and under the very fame climate, fheep, with the finest, and with the coarfest wool, are maintained; in fo much, that from the wool of the fame flock, fome ftockings worth two guineas per pair, and others worth lefs than four-pence, are produced.

1. It would appear that there are two kinds of fheep producing fine wool to be found in these islands; one known by the name of the kindly fheep, whofe whole body almoft is covered with it; another whofe wool is fine about the neck only, and other particular parts of the body. The colour of the fine wool alfo varies, fome times being, in a great measure, of a pure white, at other times of a light grey, which is fuppofed to be the fofteft and moft filky; fome times of a black, and fometimes of a ruffet colour.

2. The sheep producing this wool are of a breed, which, for the fake of diftinction, might be called the beaver fleep; for, like that animal, many of them have long hairs growing amongst the wool, which cover and shelter it, and the wool is a fpecies of fine fur of down, which grows, in fome measure, under their protection.

6 3. Your committee understand that the sheep producing this fine wool are of the hardreft nature, are never houfed nor kept in any particular pafture; and that in the winter feafon they are often fo pinched for food, that many of them are obliged to feed upon the fea-ware, or weed, driven to the flore. It is observed, however, that the healthiest heep are thofe which live conftantly upon the hills, and never touch the fea-ware.

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4. Lastly, It appears that the Shetland sheep are never clipt or horn, but that about the beginning of June the wool is pulled off (which is done without the fimallest pain or injury to the animal). leaving the long hairs already mentioned, which fhelter the young wool, and conuibute to keep the animal warm and comfortable, at a feafon of the year when cold and piercing winds may occafionally be expected in to northern a latitude,

As a proof how little the real value of the Shetland wool ist known in that country, your committee thought it adviseable to

have the following experiment tried. They directed fome of the coarfe Shetland ftockings, fold at Edinburgh for about 51d. per pair, to be purchased and decompofed, or reduced again to wool; the wool, after being carded, was delivered to Mr. Izett the hatter, who very obligingly agreed to try, how far it might answer for the ma nufacture of hats, both by itself and with a mixture of other wool. The ftrength of the wool, it is evident, must have been much in◄ jured by being fpun, knit, and afterwards untwisted and decompofed, yet the wool was found capable of being made into hats, and of confiderably more value than the manufactured stockings.' P. xxxiii.

In a country like the Highlands, bold and abrupt in its outline; often barren without the affiftance of art; broken by various inlets on its western coaft, the chief object of the im prover must be the riches which its fhores afford, and the pros ductions beft fuited to land of this peculiar kind. The fisheries and the manufacture of barilla offer a fource of wealth and population under a well-regulated political fyftem; for there is no reafon why, with proper care, the fea-wrack on the rocky fhores, and the culture of the plants which afford the foffile alkali on the flatter coafts towards the eaft, may not fupply the whole kingdom with that useful article of manufacture. In the inland parts we have recommended fheep-walks in oppofition to the modern system of increafing population, for we have lately feen that population may be increafed too far, and' multiplied in a degree greatly fuperior to its fupply of corn. To depend on other nations for fuch fupply may give activity to commerce, and, from its indifpenfable nature, may prevent long and deftructive wars: but to require affistance in a large degree must contribute to exhauft the riches which an active and fuccefsful commerce in other refpects affords. The immenfe fums paid by this country for corn fhould excite more attention than it seems to have done. With refpect therefore to the Highlands, a quantity of arable land fufficient for its increafe of population thould be preserved; but we fee no reason to with for an increase of inhabitants beyond what its own arable can supply. On this account, fheep-walks and planrations fhould be particularly attended to in the interior, and on the coaft the fisheries and the kelp.

Thefe confiderations feem to have influenced the Highland' fociety, as will appear from the fubjects of their prize effays.

An Essay on Kelp: containing the rife and progrefs of that ma-. nufacture in the north of Scotland; its prefent ftate; and the means, of carrying it to a greater extent. By the Rev. Dr. Walker, Profeffor of Natural Hiftory in the University of Edinburgh.-On the Art of making Kelp, and of increafing the Growth of the Marine Plants from which it is made. By Mr. Angus Beaton, Canongate,

Edinburgh. Obfervations on Kelp. By Mr. Robert Jameson, of Leith. On the means of introducing the Linen Manufacture into the Highlands of Scotland. By Neil M'Vicar, Efq. Merchant, Edinburgh. On the Spinning of Linen Yarn in Rofs, Caithness, &c. By Mr. James Mill, Perthill Factory, Aberdeen.-On Inclosing. By Mr. John Wilfon, of Hurlet, Factor to the Earl of Glasgow.On Green Crops. By Mr. Patrick Brodie, Tenant in Garvald near Haddington.On the peculiar circumftances which tend to. make the ufe of Horses almost universal, in Agricultural Operations, in the Highland districts of Scotland; with an Inquiry how far, and with what effects, Oxen might be substituted in their room. By Mr! T. Jolly, Minifter, Dunnet, near Thurfo, Caithness.-On the advantages of watering Pafture and Meadow Grounds in the Highlands. By John Smith, D.D. Minister of Campbeltown. On the advantages of Planting, and raising Timber, in the Hebrides, and other parts of the west and north-weft coafts of the Highlands. By the fame. On the fpecies of Crops best adapted for the Highlands. By the fame.-Letter to the Secretary of the Highland Society, on the foregoing fubject. By Mr. George Robertfon, of Granton, near Edinburgh. On the propriety of burning Heath Grounds for the Improvement of Pafture. By Capt. Donald Smith, of the 84th Regiment.-Suggestions for promoting and improving the Fisheries upon the Coasts of the Highlands and Ifles. By Mr. John Williams, of Gilmerton.-On the state of the Fisheries in the Islands of Zetland, 1786. By a Native of Zetland.-On the Fisheries. By Mr. William Ferguson, Shipmaster, Peterhead.-On the Fisheries, &c. By the Rev. Mr. Bradfute, Minifter of Dunfhire, Prefbytery of Biggar. An improved mode of preparing Peat-Fuel. Communicated by George Dempfter, Efq. of Dunichen.-On the means, of fupplying the want of Coal, and providing Fuel on a Highland Eftate, with the smallest loss of time and trouble to the Tenants. Author unknown.-Excerpts from "An Effay on the means of fupplying the want of Coals, and of providing Fuel on a Highland Eftate, with the fmalleft lofs of time and trouble." By Mr. John Williams, of Gilmerton.-Remarks on föme Corruptions which have been introduced into the Orthography and Pronunciation of the Gaelic; with propofals for removing them, and restoring the purity of the Language. By Capt. Donald Smith, of the 84th Regiment. Letter from a Freeholder of Inverness shire to Lord Adam Gordon, dated 15th March, 1792:-On cutting a Canal between Inverness and Fort-William.-On the Practicability and advantages of opening a Navigation between the Murray Frith, at Inverness, and Loch Eil, at Fort-William. By the Rev. James Headrick.' P. cxxiii.

The local importance of many of thefe fubjects renders it. unneceffary for us to enlarge on each effay. We fhall only therefore add a few remarks on feveral of them, as they occur in their own order.

The manufacture of kelp was practifed firft in Scotland. about the year 1720, and is now very confiderable; the islands having afforded, from the year 1764 to 1772, almoft 5000 tons. The ftate of the manufacture at prefent ought undoubtedly to have been mentioned; but, in general, it is admitted that the kelp on the fhores is much more valuable than all the other productions of the islands conjointly. It is generally obtained from four fpecies of fucus; viz. F. nodofus, veficulofus, ferratus, and digitatus. By examining the nature of the thore which thefe plants chiefly inhabit, artificial beds of them may be procured, and the kelp may be advantageously cut every fourth year. The Highland Society attends only to the kelp produced from the fuci, but we fufpect that plantations of the falfola, and fimilar marine plants may be attended with advantage. At prefent, the British kelp can only enter into competition with the foreign in confequence of the latter being loaded with a duty.

The effay on introducing the linen manufacture into the Highlands is truly patriotic; yet we fear there are many impediments to overcome before it can fucceed. The cultivation of flax is a neceffary preliminary; and the choice of fituation can only be ascertained by careful experience. The effay on fpinning enters into minute details, which are not interesting to the general reader. The effays on inclofing and green crops contain fome very excellent remarks, but they are of local importance only.

From the effay on the use of horfes we fhall felect fome curious information.

In procefs of time, however, when they came to pay more at tention to tillage, the horse naturally appeared the propereft animal to be employed; not only as being the moft tractable, but as leaft valuable for other purposes; and, it may be added, the moft eafily fupported. For, little provender was laid up for winter; and only given to the cows and youngest cattle in the feverest weather. The horfes were allowed to take their chance among the hills; nor were they ever brought near a house but when needed for any particular purpose. The perfon who could procure a few breeding mares, foon came, without much trouble, and with no expence, to havė fuch a stock of horses as was fufficient to anfwer all the purposes of agriculture on that confined scale.

Certainty is not pretended in this matter. It is fufficient for the prefent purpose that the reafons adduced be probable; and, what muft add confiderably to the probability of them, is, that the fame practice prevails, to this day, in fome parts of the Shetland Ifles; prefumed to be in a fituation, in refpect of agriculture, nearly fimilar to what fome of the Highland diftricts of Scotland were at the period referred to. There, a man is often poffeffed of twenty or

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