to be ranfacked for the improvement of our race of horses, why may not fimilar means be used for improving our breed of theep? Many animals in different parts of the world produce various kinds of fine wool or fur, which, in confequence of the extended commerce and navigation of Great Britain, might be procured with little difficulty. These animals would probably thrive here, and furnish materials of the utmost confequence to our most valuable manufactures. "To conclude this branch of the fubject, I have no doubt, that by pursuing a regular fyftem of experiments, it will foon be in our power to afcertain what kinds of sheep are the best calculated for the foil, the pasture, and the climate of this country, and the most likely to prove profitable to in dividuals, and ufeful to the ftate."

no

Under the fecond head, management, the refpectable baro, net brings under the view of the fociety, a great many important particulars, that have never yet been elucidated by experiment; and therefore recommends them as proper objects of attention. Among thefe he fucceffively takes tice of fhelter, falt Smearing or falving. He then enters into various interefting calculations, which our limited bounds alone, prevent us from specifying; we fhall barely mention, that he estimates the value of wool manufactured in Britain, and the labour employed on it, to make a total of about twenty millions.

"Is it then to be wondered at, that this manufacture fhould be confidered as, in a special manner, entitled to the public attention? But, great as it is, I have no hesitation in fay, ing, that I wish to fee it ftill greater in itself, and more ufe, ful to the country. I fhall, therefore, now proceed to trouble you with fome obfervations, tending to point out the ad vantages which the public at large, and the woollen manu. facture in particular, may expect to derive from an affociation, whofe object is to bring the natural ftaple of these kingdoms to the greateft perfection of which it is fufceptible.

"There are certainly no means by which the fituation and circumstances of any country can be fo eafily and fo rapid ly improved, us by the union of a number of individuals for the attainment of particular objects. If government engages in any fcheme of national improvement, the money allotted for the purpose, is in general improvidently expend

ed; the experiments neceffary to be made, are either care lefsly tried, or wholly omitted; and when the affiftance of the public is withdrawn, the fcheme perishes at once. Single individuals are equally incapable of carrying fuch plans into effect. Few people can afford the expence which thefe projects require, and there are fill fewer who have knowledge, judgment, perfeverance, and health, fuflicient to bring them to perfection. Whereas a body of men, united for any particular object, can raife fuch fums of money, as may be neceffary for the purpofe, without any injury to their private fortunes; they can mutually aflift each other in procuring all the lights and information, that is requifite for attaining the object in view; they can profecute the scheme, without encroaching on the time which ought to be dedicated to their perfonal concerns; they can perfevere in any fyftem which it is proper to purfue, much longer than would be in the power of any individual; they can procure the affiftance of other refpectable bodies of men to aid them in their undertaking; and can apply, if neceffary, with a ras tional prospect of fuccefs. for the fupport of the public, and the protection of their fovereign. Thefe are advantages which affociations poffefs, for the acquifition of various ob jects of great public importance; but, above all, they are well calculated for bringing to perfection, a production natural to this country, and for which in former times, it was defervedly famous. From various circumftances already hinted at, this production has unfortunately degenerated. To clear up the doubts refpecting that degeneracy, which fome intelligent and patriotic individuals may entertain, and to trace the nature and caufes of it, would of itfelf be an important object of inquiry..

.." Many peculiar advantages may alfo be derived from this inftitution. Through the medium of the friends and connections of the members, who would naturally become interefted in the fuccefs of the measure; by publishing their proceedings, a general knowledge on the fubject of wool, and a fpirit of enterprise and exertion, would be circulated over the whole kingdom. By means of the useful books published by the Society, the mode of managing fheep to the utmost advantage, and the best practices, both foreign and domeftic, would foon become generally known. Under the

patronage of fuch a Society, fkilful individuals might be eftablished in different parts of the kingdom, where the practice of stapling is unknown, by whofe directions, the wool we have, might be greatly improved in value, merely by forting the fleece according to the various qualities of which it is poffeffed. There are many intelligent and enterprifing farmers, who, were they appointed correfponding members of fuch a Society, might easily be prevailed on to try many useful experiments, and to make the refult of them public; by means of which, it might be proved, that fineness of wool was by no means incompatible with the other excellencies by which particular breeds of theep are diflinguished. The premiums diftributed by the Society must have the happy effect of rouzing a spirit of emulation and rivalship among those who may be benefited by them. Nor ought it to be ommitted, that when such a Society has fucceeded in one point, they may gradually extend their views to others of perhaps equal public importance; and that, when once the benefits of industry and exertion are clearly exemplified by the fuccefs of any number of individuals in a particular line, it is a circumstance which has a very important influence on the views and on the conduct of the rest of the community.

"On the whole, this is an enterprise which cannot be in any respect prejudicial; which can have no object in view but public good, and no poffible confequence, but public benefit; and which, if it is properly fupported by patriotic individuals, and by refpectable bodies of men, must prove the fource of fuccessful industry, and of infinite wealth to ourfelves and to our pofterity."

An appendix is added, giving an account of the progrefs already made by this fociety, as formerly ftated in this pa

per.

It must give pleasure to every well-informed member of the community, to fee fuch a refpectable body of men united in a cordial effort to promote an object of such great national importance.-May fuccefs attend their endeavours!

The following Letter will prove interefting to our chemical readers. It will form a fort of Epoch in the hiftory of chemistry. Dr. Black has been one of the firmeft fupporters of the doctrine of Phlogifton, as taught by Stahl and the elder chemists. He now departs from that fyftem, and adopts that of Lavoifier and the French philofophers.-The letter is tranflated from the Journal de Paris, January 19, 1791.

Copy of a Letter from Dr. Jofeph Black, Profeffor of Chemistry in the Univerfity of Edinburgh, to Mr. Lavoifier at Paris.

I AM much obliged to you, Sir, for having made me acquainted with your friend Mr. Terray and his fon, for whom I have conceived the highest esteem. The young man appears to me to poffefs all the good qualities that his friends could wish: He has a distinguished talent for literature, genius and difpofitions that will make him be beloved by others, and happy in himself. I hope he will entertain a good opinion of our univerfity, and that it shall be well founded; and I have the confidence to believe, that it will derive much glory from our pupil.

Your letter, Sir, contains expreffions fo flattering, that there is danger of my becoming vain. I cannot find adequate words to express how much I am indebted to your goodness. Whatever was the merit you fuppofe in me, it has been amply recompenfed by the approbation of your friendship, and that of your illuftrious colleagues of the academy of fciences, who, in admitting me among them, have satisfied my most ambitious defires.

You have beeninformed, that in a courfe of lectures, I endeavour to make my disciples matters of the new chemical system which you have fo happily invented, and that I begin to reccomend it to them as more simple, more connected, and better fupported by facts than the ancient system. How could I do otherwife? The numerous experiments, that you have fo happily devised and executed at large, have been conducted with fo much care, and fuch a scrupolous attention to all circumstances, that nothing could be more fatisfactory, than the proofs you have obtained. The fyftem which you have founded on these facts, is so intimately connected with them, fo fimple, and fo intelligible, that it cannot fail to be more and more approved, as it comes to be better known, and to be finally adopted by a great number of chemifts, who have been long habituated to the ancient fyftem. It must not be expected, that all will be convinced: You know well, that habit enflaves the minds of the most part of mankind, and makes them believe and revere the greatest absurdities. I must ingenuously avow to you, that I myself have experienced

its effects. Having been accufomed, for thirty years, to believe and to teach the phlogistic doctrine, at it was understood before the developement of your fyftem, I, for a long time, experienced an extreme repugnance to the new fyftem, which reprefented, as an abfurdity, that which I had hitherto regarded as found doctrine. Neverthelefs, that repugnance, which proceeded entirely from the force of habit, hath gradually diminished, overcome by the clearness of your demonftrations, and the folidity of your plan. Although there are fome particular facts, the explications of which appears to be difficult; I am convinced, that yours is much better founded than the ancient doctrine.

We

But if the power of habit prevents fome among the older chemists from approving your ideas, the young ftudents, who are not influenced by the fame power, range themfelves univerfally on your fide. have the experience of it in this univerfity, where the students enjoy the most perfect liberty in the choice of their scientific opinions. They embrace, in general, your fyftem, and begin to adopt your new nomenclature. As a proof of this, I fend you two of the inaugural differtations, for which chemical fubjects had been chofen. These differtations are written entirely by the ftudents; the profeffors have no part in them. We read them, before they are printed, to fee that there are no faults in them, and to offer our advice in cafe of finding any. Sometimes, we meet with exaggerated compliments to ourselves, which we have not always the modefty or the difcretion to reject. The profeffors of Edinburgh ought to be pardoned for these precautions refpecting their regulations, feeing it procures for them a recompence more folid than aurels.

Accept a thousand thanks for the different volumes you have published, and with which you have honoured me. I cannot make to you a fimilar return; but I will ufe the freedom to fend to you, fometime hence, a fhort differtation not yet complete, upon the water of certain boiling fprings in Ireland, that contain felicious petrifactions. The hope you give, that I may one day have the pleasure of feeing you here, is very pleafing; but fuch events are too much within the power of fortune to permit one who has had much experience, to reckon upon it as nearly

certain.

I wish a happy conclufion to the revolution in your country, and am, with the highest efteem, &c.