found likewise in the Brasils, and in the East Indies. We are told of several varieties of this stone, "viz. the white, known so long to naturalists and jewellers under the name of the soft diamond. A second from Ceylon, in prisms, of the two forms mentioned above. A third from Bombay, of a dark grey colour, resembling the metallic splendor of pinchbeck. A fourth from Bengal, of a greenish colour, imitating the splendor of silver. We wish to see a full account of this gem from India, or Britain, where alone the proper intelligence is received.

Russia produces no true diamond yet discovered, although a remarkably hard topaz, found in the mountain Adunfhollo, in Dauria, goes by the name of Siberian diamond. None have yet been found in Scotland. That called the Benachie diamond, is only the water sapphire, which is indeed a beautiful gem. Value, Rarity, and Use.

The value of the rough diamond is equal to the square of their weight in carats multiplied by two guineas. The value of cut diamonds is equal to the square of double their weight multiplied by two guineas; and those of an extraordinary lustre, by three. Cutting costs L. 3, 15 s. per carat; and they lose at least one half of their weight especially if small. Diamonds with a blemish of any kind, lose often half their value. This gem is not worth cutting under one pound the carat.

N. B. A carat is four grains, jewellers weight; but five such grains only make four Troy; so that an ounce Troy, which is only of 480 grains tains 159 carats.

To be continued.

Troy, con

A CHARACTER.

HOWEVER much prudence may be despised by those whose feelings are of a warm nature, yet I must say it becomes one of the most necefsary principles of conduct in a world where fraud and deceit too often afsume the appearance of innocence and simplicity. Flippant is allowed to pofsefs good nature, and in some cases he may be called generous; yet with these two good qualities he is so destitute of prudence, that he falls into numberlefs mistakes, for which every one must blame him.

His profefsion led him into genteel company, and his fondness for such society made him too often join in parties of pleasure which materially hurt his interest and reputation. He had few resolutions of his own, and whenever any entertainment was proposed, however inconvenient for him to attend, his good nature always nodded afsent.

He may be pronounced selfish, I believe, in the whole of his propensities to benevolence; for he never afsisted an object without they pofsefsed some attractions to engage his fancy. Those who were allowed by all to be worthy of commiseration, hardly could obtain an audience of him if they had not that power.

But his fanciful objects could carry him any length. His purse and credit were always open to them; and he has now reduced himself to be the laughing-stock of those whom he afsisted.

He scarcely can be called an amiable character who involves an aged father in difficulties, and hurts the interest of industrious tradesmen to support his extravagance.

POETRY.

ODE FOR THE NEW YEAR, 1793.

BY HENRY JAMES PYE, ESQ. POET LAUREAT,

I.

NOT with more joy from desert fhades,
Where prowl untam'd the savage train,
From pathlefs muirs and barren glades,
Sad desolation's gloomy reign,
Averted, bends the weary eye
To seats of rural industry,

Where harvests wave in yellow pride,
Where spreads the fertile champain wide,
The lucid stream, while commerce leads
Through peopled towns and laughing meads,
Than turns the mind from scenes of woe,
Where ceaseless tears of anguish flow;
Where anarchy's insatiate brood
Their horrid footsteps mark with blood.
To fhores where temp'raté freedom reigns,
Where peace and order bless the plains;
Where men the sov'reign of their choice obey,
Where Britain's grateful sons exult in George's sway.

11.

Yet Albion ne'er with selfish aim
To her own race her care confines,
On all, the sacred gift who claim,
The golden beam of freedom shines.
Sad out-cast from his native shore,
The wretched exile wafted o'er,
Feels pity's lenient hand afsuage
The wounds of faction's cruel rage;
Her laws, to all protective, yield

Security's impartial shield;

Who breathes her air, breathes purest liberty,

Gaunt slavery flies the coast, who treads her soil is free.

Ambition's clarion has not charm'd
Her dauntless legions to the war;
Nor have her sons by fury arm'd,
Follow'd oppression's iron car ;
Though prompt at honour's call to brave
The hostile chime, the adverse wave,
Their thunder 'neath the burning zone,
Shook the proud despot on his throne ;
Yet while aloft in orient fkies,
Conquest's triumphant banner flies;

The generous victor bids the conflict cease,

And 'midst his laurels twines the noble wreaths of peace. VOL. Xiii.

VI.

Blest peace! O may thy radiance mild
Beam kindly on the op'ning year!
Yet should with frantic vengeance wild,

The fiends of discord urge their rash career,
Nor cold in freedom's sacred cause,

Nor slow to guard her holy laws,

Faithful to him their hearts approve,

The monarch they revere, the man they love; Britannia's sons fhall arm with patriot zeal,

Their prince's cause their own, his rights the general weal.

LITERARY INTELLIGENCE FROM RUSSIA BY ARCTICUS.

For the Bee.

Purifying water.

MR LOVITZ, an able chemist, has found, that, by the sim-ple admixture of a tenth part of pounded charcoal, to the most putrid water, it becomes instantly sweet and potable, as if just taken from the river. The same simple process likewise sweetens, and even renders white and clear, foul and rancid oil; and removes the burnt difsagreeable taste to which corn spirits are subject, when not distilled with care, as is often the case in Russia, where it is only made for the boors.

These experiments we have seen made by Mr Lovitz at the Economical Society of St Petersburgh.

I am of opinion that the ingenious author is mistaken in his expectation of his discovery being a great object for navigators; as, from the extreme lightness of charcoal, the quantity necessary for sweetening a given quantity of water, will occupy nearly as much room as that fluid itself; at the same time that the quality of water is seldom a serious complaint on board a fhip, whatever it may appear to people on fhore, providing they have abundance of it; as exposing it to the air, for sometime, lets escape the fetid inflammable gas, generated whilst fhut up in the hold, and renders it ve ry drinkable to seafaring men accustomed to its taste..

However, the discovery opens a large field, and promises to be useful in many respects; at the same time that it may furnish matter of speculation to. natural philosophers, who suppose phlogiston, of which charcoal contains so large a portion, is a principal agent of putridity, whilst here it acts as an antiseptic; pofsibly from its affinity to