1813] Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society. 55 



1 . Hard Rotten Stone, of a Irown colour. 



Alumina 80 



„ . . . o 



Silica - 



Carbonate of lime 1° 



Oxide of iron 1 



Inflammable matter 5*5 



Loss * '5 



i 



100 



2. Soft Rotten Stone. 



Alumina 87 



Silica 4 



Inflammable matter 7*5 



Loss 15 



100 



10. On National Character. By Thomas Jarrold, M. D.] 

 The object of this ingenious essay seems to be chiefly to refute 

 some of the notions entertained by Mr. Malthus of the effect of 

 an increase of population beyond a certain limit. Dr. Jarrold 

 affirms that the character of a nation neither depends upon 

 their customs, their religion, nor the state of their industry, and 

 that it can only be learned from history alone. His opinion 

 seems to be that it depends upon the original character stamped 

 upon the nation by its founder, and that this character never 

 afterwards changes. Nothing can be more ingenious than the 

 arguments brought forward in support of these opinions ; but 

 my old friend Dr. Jarrold must excuse me for thinking that in 

 several particulars he has carried his consequences rather too far. 

 Let him consider the character of the Lacedemonians, and see 

 whether it was not entirely modelled by the customs and laws 

 introduced by Lycurgus. Let him consider the manners and 

 religion of the Mexicans and Peruvians and consider whether 

 these manners were not prodigiously influenced by their religious 

 opinions. Let him read the history of the Dutch, and see 

 whether that extraordinary nation has not possessed at different 

 times three very different characters, brought on by causes that 

 can l>e explained. Neither can 1 subscribe to the distinction of 

 nations into honest and imwailike, and dishonest and warlike. 

 No nation under the sun is more dishonest than the Chinese. 

 ult Anson on the subject, or any person who has visited 

 China. Vet no nation is more unwarlike. Though the specu- 

 lation respecting the natural progress towards civilization is very 

 beautiful, and highly ingenious, it will not stand the test of a 



