118 On the Old Silver-Mine in Linlithgowshire. [Feb. 



rot then consider me at all ignorant of any thing respecting M. 

 Sage's experiment, or that 1 did not know in 1792 what I pub- 

 lished in 1802 respecting barytes. 



The two physicians to vvhom Mr. R. Phillips alludes cannot be 

 more respected by him than by me ; their reputations stand very 

 high, and most deservedly so; they need no panegyric from either of 

 iiSj and can fight their own battle; therefore any allusion to them 

 on the jiresent occasion is both irrelevant and intrusive. Such an 

 interposition is more befitting an hireling than one in pursuit of 

 the truth, and there are various ways of engaging such charac- 

 ters ; for even flattery, ambition, malevolence or jealousy, is often 

 as effectual a stimulus as any thing of a pecuniary nature. Who 

 Mr. R. Phillips is, whether the initial be meant for Robert, Richard, 

 Ralph, or Roger, 1 have yet to learn. I am totally unconscious of 

 having offended any Gentleman of the name of Pliillips, much 

 Jess any one of whom I can boast a personal knowledge.* 



I shall now expect to be told that I have also been forestalled 

 respecting my test for arsenic ; that the arseniate of silver, the 

 trick-red coloured compound, had been prepared by others; that it 

 had been formed before 1 vvas born, having been found in the labo- 

 ratory of that busy old being, Dame Nature ; that Henckel, Berg- 

 man, and others can bear testimony to the fact; and that M. 

 Klaproth had frequently got hold of it, analyzed it, regenerated the 

 same compound by means of nitrate of silver; but vvas so cruel 

 and unlucky as to disregard the silver as a test, always preferring 

 the acetate of lead, even to the end of the second volume of his 

 valuable Analytical Researches ; thus depriving Mr. R. Phillips of 

 another theme for his peevish effusions. 



Upon the whole. Sir, and from the last paragraph of the letter, 

 J. think your Correspondent writes more from principles of enmity 

 and revenge than from a desire to improve science : and, as he 

 seems to hold out a threat, I must be prepared to repel such attacks 

 as I may now expect from one who is capable of treating me with 

 so much malice and so little candour. 



I remain. Sir, your obedient servant, 



liong Acre, Dec. 12, 1814. Jos. HuME. 



Article IX. 



Notices respecting the Old Silver Mine in Linlithgowshire. 

 By John Fleming, D.D. F.R.S.E. 



In the centre of the county of Linlithgow theie is a small moun- 

 tain group, the most elevated portion of which is known by the 



» 



Mr. RicliiuH Phillips of (lie Poultry has been an acquaintance of mine these 

 dozen year*, aid 1 have always considered him as one of the acvitest chemists in 

 London. He is well known lo the public by various ini|)orUiiit paper; in tha 

 ^hilosophipal M;igazine, and by his strictures on Dr. Powell's translation of the 

 last editi in of tlie London Pharmacopceia, one of tiic acutest pieces of criticisu* 

 in the linglish language. — T. 



