Gold is obtained in a pure or native state more fre quently than any other metal—and, on account of its amazing ductility-malleability-and not being liable to rust, would acquire a value and importance of itself not easily to be estimated, even had it not become, as it has, by the consent of civilized nations, the principal representative of wealth and riches.*

Very different in point of tenacity, is that wonderful.

in great abundance; and, in modern times, the New World is the richest in, and furnishes the greatest supplies of, this potent metal. To come nearer home, gold has been found at different periods in several parts of Ireland, particularly among the mountains of Wicklow. Gold is occasionally found in Cornwall, and other places of England. Some fine specimens of native English gold have been very recently presented to the Royal Institution by Sir Christopher Hawkins. They were found while streaming for tin, at Ladock, in Cornwall; some of the pieces weigh sixty grains. Native English gold has also been found lately in Devonshire, by Mr Flexman of South Moulton. And it is asserted, that, at the marriage of James V. there were covered dishes filled with coins made of Scottish gold, and that a portion of these was presented to each of the guests by way of dessert!-It would seem that this valuable metal was collected, at a very early period, in the mining-field at Leadhills, where the trenches and heaps of soil that were then turned up, and other indications, still point out the spot where the operations were carried on.

* So exceedingly ductile and tenacious is this metal, that an ounce of gold upon silver wire, is capable of being extended without break or fissure, to more than 1,500 miles in length; and a piece of gold weighing not more than 16 ounces, which in the form of a cube, would not measure more than one and one-fourth inch on each side, it is asserted, would completely gild a silver wire in length sufficient to encircle the earth! Leaves of gold may be beaten so thin, that a single grain may be beaten into 56 leaves, each an inch square; and it is possible to conceive, that it may be beaten or extended so as to cover a greater space, as the gold leaf which is used to cover silver wire, is but a twelfth part of that thickness!

y subtile and insinuating metallic fluid, which separates ander the slightest degree of pressure, and flies before he touch-Mercury, or quicksilver; whose accidental liscovery in the cooper's tub at Idria, in Carniola, jave rise to the celebrated mines of that name.*

The principal mines of Mercury, are said to be those of Deux-ponts on the Rhine-of Almaden in Spainof Idria in Carniola-and, in the New World, of Guana Velica in Peru. The most valuable of which are, Jowever, supposed to be those of Idria, celebrated for he accidental discovery by which they came to light, is above noticed-celebrated for their great depth and subterraneous passages-celebrated as the occasional prison of state criminals under the Austrian govern ment,-but no less celebrated, nay immortalized, by that beautiful display of conjugal affection, exhibited to the world as a never fading and endearing trophy to the honour of her sex, in the conduct of the Countess Alberti, who, when every effort to procure her hus band's pardon had failed, chose rather to accompany him to those hopeless regions of premature interment,

The discovery of this mine, which took place somewhat more than 300 years ago, arose from the following accidental circumstance. This part of the country, was at that time much inhabited by coopers; and: one of them, on retiring from work in the evening, placed a new tub at which he had been working, under a dropping spring, to try if it would hold water; and, when he came in the morning, he found it so Heavy, that he could scarcely move it. Examining into the cause, he found that it was owing to a shining and ponderous fluid whic was at the bottom. The affair was noised abroad, and a soci persons was formed to search farther, who discovered the u which the quicksilver had flowed.

and to share his miseries in a living tomb, than to be separated from him.*

Next to platina and gold, mercury is the heaviest of all known metals; but it has these singular properties, by which it differs from every other metallic body, that, in our climate, it always, unless frozen by artificial means, appears in a fluid state, and to be capable of division,

What say ye to this, ye heartless libellers of the sex-and to the heroic conduct of Madame Lavalette, who submitted to the horrors of a criminal prison, that her husband might escape the fate which awaited him. Ay! what say ye to these, ye callous and unprincipled witlings of the age-who, because a few of the more inconsiderate of that class, which, an Apostle has thought proper to designate as the weaker, (and which has, therefore, a superior claim on your sympathy and protection from insult,) have fallen a too easy prey to your seductive wiles, and, in consequence, must submit to a state of degradation, which excludes them from the society of the virtuous part of the community of both sexes, deal indiscriminately, and unblushingly, your general invectives against that, so very interesting portion of our species, whose endearing qualities in domestic life, whether in society or virtuous seclusion, can never be sufficiently appreciated or estimated by those who have experienced such blessings, and justly entitle them to the noble appellation, of the best boon that Heaven in its mercy has bestowed upon man-to sweeten the toils-lessen the cares-smooth the anxie ties-alleviate the griefs-soothe the anguish, and ease and soften, by their many tender offices in sickness, and on a death-bed-the pains and agonizing sufferings of life!

The ores of mercury have been found only in small quantities in France; and never, it is said, has this mineral appeared in this country, except in the instance of what was discovered by the workmen in digging out the clay for the foundation of a house opposite the King's Arms Inn, in Berwick-upon-Tweed, about 40 years ago ;-and mak ing some alterations in the yard of the same house, within these few years, it is said, the workmen, in penetrating to the same clay, found it impregnated with mercury.—Commercial Magazine, Vol. II. P. 204.

par

by the least effort, into an indefinite number of ticles, or rather globules, as each of them, the moment they are separated, assume a spherical form.*

Silver, although less generally diffused, is far more abundant than gold, and possesses, in a considerable degree, many of the properties of that valuable metal, It is met with in many countries of the world; but while gold is to be found in the greatest abundance in the warmer regions, the principal mines of this beautifully white, brilliant, sonorous, and ductile metal, are situated in the colder climates.†

Mercury has also the property of being combined and uniting with other substances. Its combinations with other metals, are called Amalgams. Corrosive sublimate, is an extremely poisonous preparation from mercury; and that beautiful red colour, or pigment, called Vermilion, is formed from a combination of mercury and sulphur.

†The most celebrated silver-mines in Europe and Asia, being plac ed in northern latitudes, while those of Peru and Mexico, though lyly within the tropics, are, by their great elevation in the centre of the Cordilleras, surrounded by regions of eternal snow.

A small quantity of native silver, was lately discovered in the mines of Cornwall; and, some years ago, a vein of silver-ore was wrought for a short time in the parish of Alva, in Stirlingshire, in Scotland, from whence, it is said, 40 to 50,000 pounds worth of silver was extracted before the ores were exhausted. But what is that to the produce of the silver mines of Potosi, which is considered by the Spaniards as the purest that is known. A range of mountains near that place, about twenty miles in circumference, is said to be perforated by more than 300 shafts, or openings of mines, and to produce, in the whole, from 30,000 to 40,000 dollars worth of ore per week. The annual produce of the silver mines in the whole of America, have been estimated at L.2,400,000 Sterling! In the year 1790, we are informed, there were 784 silver mines, and 69 of gold, working in Peru. There were, besides, 4 of quicksilver, as many of copper, and 12 of lead.

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and to share his miseries in a living tomb, than separated from him.*

Next to platina and gold, mercury is the heavi all known metals; but it has these singular propertie which it differs from every other metallic body, th our climate, it always, unless frozen by artificial m appears in a fluid state, and to be capable of div

What say ye to this, ye heartless libellers of the sex-and heroic conduct of Madame Lavalette, who submitted to the ho a criminal prison, that her husband might escape the fate which ed him. Ay! what say ye to these, ye callous and unprincip lings of the age-who, because a few of the more inconsiderate class, which, an Apostle has thought proper to designate as the (and which has, therefore, a superior claim on your sympathy & tection from insult,) have fallen a too easy prey to your seductiv and, in consequence, must submit to a state of degradation, wi cludes them from the society of the virtuous part of the comm both sexes, deal indiscriminately, and unblushingly, your genera tives against that, so very interesting portion of our species endearing qualities in domestic life, whether in society or seclusion, can never be sufficiently appreciated or estimated t who have experienced such blessings, and justly entitle them noble appellation, of the best boon that Heaven in its mercy has i upon man-to sweeten the toils-lessen the cares-smooth the ties-alleviate the griefs soothe the anguish,—and ease and by their many tender offices in sickness, and on a death-b pains and agonizing sufferings of life!

The ores of mercury have been found only in small quant France; and never, it is said, has this mineral appeared in thi try, except in the instance of what was discovered by the work digging out the clay for the foundation of a house opposite the Arms Inn, in Berwick-upon-Tweed, about 40 years ago ;—an ing some alterations in the yard of the same house, within th years, it is said, the workmen, in penetrating to the same clay it impregnated with mercury.—Commercial Magazine, Vol. II. Į