1792. letter from Arcticus. 3n 
interesting and tremenduous objects of philosophic con- 
templation. s 
Of all the modifications of matter by subterraneous fire, 
one of the most curious in my opinion has been lately disco- 
vered by a son of profefsor Laxman, inspector of our Si- 
berian: fofsils. 
The younger Laxman discoverd on the coast_ of the 
sea of Ochotz, about twenty verst from the city of that 
name, a sort of conic hill, composed of a species of brittle 
calcined like substance, of a pale ath colour; one side of it is 
stuck full, like pudding stone, of roundith semitranspa- 
rent peebles of a whitifh colour, and size of nuts; the other 
side is studded inthe same manner with opague reddith 
Stones, affecting a similar form and magnitude. A more 
particular account of these will be found in my second 
table of stones which I mean also to send to you as a sup- 
plement to the first (when I can get it copied ) and which 
will complete that branch of mineralogy as far as the 
confined bounds of such a plan will permit *. There you 
will find some experiments made on this curious matter by 
profefsor Lovitz, son of the academician, flayed alive by 
the barbarian Pugatchef, for being a scholar, and above 
the degree of a peasant, the rank to which the levellers 
of that day meant to reduce the whole human species,— 
‘eruelly mafsacring every man, woman, and child, who fell 
‘in their way, supposed to contain a drop of superior blood 
in their veins, according to their view of the rights of man. 
So that neither a certain nation, nor a certain stay maker, 
have any title to plume themselves on a priority of disco- 
* Along with many other valuable communications from this ingeni-« 
ous writer, the Editor has been favoured with a tull and accurate table of 
gems, of the first and second orders, which will be prestated to his readers 
as 800n as the proper arcargements for printing it can be made; the con- 
tinuation of this table is anxious'y looked for every day, which will coms 
plete a very important subject. 
