$4 The Tides. — Death. 



THE TIDES. 



A correspondent remarks, that from the peculiar poHition 

 of the two grand luminaries, the sun and the moon, on the 

 10th dav ot August next, a great increase of tide maybe 

 expected on tlie three following days; and that a very good 

 opportunitv will then olfcr to ascertain the moon's influ- 

 ence over the ocean, by observing the height of the tide at 

 the principal maritime ports, particularly at Chepstow, the 

 Bristol channel, and at London bridge. 



DKATir. 



On the Oth of March last, at the age of about 7^, the 

 celebrated Felix Fontana, director of the Royal jNIuseum at 

 Florence. " He died," says Fabbroni, " i'ull of glory.'* 

 Being attacked twenty-seven days before by an apoplexy, 

 he was assisted during the fit by the duke De Bonelli, who 

 was accidentally passing at the time. After this accident 

 iiis mental facalties y/ere so weakened that he was scarcely 

 able to make the necessarv disposition of his property in 

 favour of his relations, friends, and domestics. 



The physical sciences have lost in Fontana a man by 

 whom they were cultivated with unrcuiitting ardour. Italy, 

 in particular, regrets in him one of its brightest ornaments. 

 He possessed the rare talent of an observer. He had great 

 boldness of conception, unconnnon strength of judgment, 

 and an obstinate perseverance in every thuig he undertook. 

 The numerous and laborious experiments he made on the 

 poison of the viper are a proof of it, as well as those by 

 uhich he threw great light on the animal cecono/riy. The 

 cabinet of Florence is indebted to his persevering courage, 

 thwarted bv d.tHculties and obstacles, for the immense and 

 valuable collection, to which there is nothing equal in Eu- 

 nvpe, of wax models of every kind executed under his assi- 

 duous and minute direction. It is also indebted to him tor 

 two wooden statues which can be taken to pieces : one of 

 them could not be finished in his life-time, and perhaps 

 will never be completed after his death. Hie reader will 

 be astonished to learn that it consists of six thousand dlf- 

 fert-nt pieces, and is destined to show in its deconlpositioji 

 the whole system, tiie bowels and membranes of the human 

 body. 



These labours, though assiduous, left liim sufficient time 

 t«) cultivate the other branches of the physical sciences, on 

 which he has left works written both in Italian and iii 

 French. His .style is perspicuous and elegant, valuable 



qualities. 



