071 the Introduction of Granite into Scotland. 341 



its seat by the expansive force generated, ■which, ho-wever vast, proved 

 incapable (as, indeed, it was expressly provided it should be) to commu- 

 nicate to its enormous load an^- greater velocity than barely sufficient to 

 rift and bulge it outwards, lca\ing gravity to do the rest. Nothing can 

 place in a more signal light the exactness of calculation which (basing it- 

 self on a remarkably simple rule, the result of long practical experience) 

 could enable the eminent engineer (Mr Cubitt), by whom the whole ar- 

 rangements are understood to have been made, so completely to task to 

 its utmost every pound of powder employed, as to exhaust its whole effort 

 in useful work — leaving no superfluous power to be wasted in the produc- 

 tion of useless uproar or mischievous dispersion, and thus saving at a blow 

 not less than L,7,000 to the railway company. — I have the honour to be, 

 &c. J, F. W. Herschel. 



Collingwood, Jan. 31, 1843. 



On the Introduction into Scotland of Granite, for Ornamental 

 Purposes, by Messrs Macdonald and Leslie of Aberdeen. 

 By Professor Traill, F.R.S.E., M.W.S., &c.* Communi- 

 cated by the Author. 



The first idea of employing the refractory, but enduring, 

 material, granite, in sculptiu'e appears to be due to the ancient 

 Egyptians. Those M'ho have enjoyed opportunities of exa- 

 mining their colossal buildings have acknowledged the preci- 

 sion, and even delicacy, of the figures and ornaments, with 

 which that ingenious people contrived to enrich their archi- 

 tecture. Specimens of their sculpture in granite, which have 

 for 3000 years resisted the action of the elements, and the 

 yet more destructive influence of barbarous invaders, still 

 astonish us by the high polish of their surfaces, and the deli- 

 cate finish of their details. Even a visit to the Egyptian Sa- 

 loon of the British Museum, will prove that in accuracy of mus- 

 cular delineation, and in the communication of absolute fleshi- 

 ness to the lips and features of some of the figures there pre- 

 served, the ancient Egyptians evinced a high perfection in 

 the art of sculpture, in a material of the most imperishable 

 kind, on which few succeeding artists have ventured to em- 

 ploy the chisel. 



* Bead to the Wemerian Society 18th March 1842. 

 VOL. XXXIV. NO. LXVIII. — APRIL 1843. z 



