Miscellaneous Intelligence. 22J5 



Journal, escaped my observation, until pointed out to me by a 

 friend. That I found the chromate of iron, in the island of 

 Unst, in the year 1803, as stated in your Journal, is true; but, 

 having mistaken it for another mineral, and not having published 

 any subsequent notice of it when I ascertained its nature, the 

 honour of that discovery is justly due to Dr. Hibbert. As far 

 as I recollect, there has appeared no notice of rny visit to Shet- 

 land, except what is contained in my hasty letter to Mr. Neill; 

 and I owe it to the public, to explain how my name has been 

 connected with the discovery. 



During my only visit to Unst, I found a substance which, at 

 first, I conjectured to be horn-blende ; but its great specific 

 gravity induced me to consider it as an ore of iron. It is thus 

 noticed in my original notes, taken on the spot, and still in my 

 possession : " In the serpentine, find some veins of micaceous 

 iron-ore?" On comparing it with mineralogical descriptions, I 

 was unable to assign it a place in my collection, until several 

 years afterwards, when the sight of some specimens of chromate 

 of iron, from America, led me to examine the mineral from 

 Unst ; and 1 became satisfied of their being of the same nature. 

 Since that time, it has been arranged in my collection (now depo- 

 sited in our Royal Institution), as a specimen of chromate of 

 iron from Shetland ; and as such it has been shewn in my 

 lectures. But as I consider priority of publication the fairest 

 claim to the merit of discovery, I regard Dr. Hibbert as entitled 

 to the honour of having added an article of considerable import- 

 ance in the arts to the native productions of our common 

 country. I have the honour to be, Sir, 



Your most obedient Servant, 



THOMAS STEWART TRAILL. 



Liverpool, March 14, 1821. 



IV. GENERAL LITERATURE, fyc. 



1 . Recent Discovery of a Fragment of Art in Newfoundland. 

 A discovery has been made in Newfoundland, during the last 

 summer, which, trifling as the object is, has not a little exer- 

 cised the conjectures of the antiquarians of that island. About 

 half a mile from the shores of Gander Bay, there was found a 

 fragment of a small pillar of white marble. This fragment is 

 octangular; about 18 inches long, and 10 inches in diameter. 

 Its surface is as much corroded by the effects of the weather, 

 as those parts of the statues of the Parthenon which have suf- 

 fered most. It is probable, consequently, that it has lain there 

 for a considerable time. 



It cannot have been left in ballast, because it is half a mile 

 inland, and because no ships can come within three-quarters of 

 a mile of the shore of this place. This part of the country 



