May 15, 1873] 
NATURE 
47 
I described it as a “dog” violet simply because it bore leaves | sentative Government.” One feature of Mr. Mill’s cha- 
and flowers on the same stem, which in my simplicity I supposed | racter deserves special notice in this connection. He 
was enough to settle its species. But though the subdivisions of 
V. canina be new to me, a word or two of remark and descrip- 
tion may elucidate the required point to other eyes. I would 
add that the specimen, such as it is, is very much at Mr. 
Babbington’s service should he care to see it. It is still recog- 
nisable, no doubt, though it suffered considerably from having 
no better protection for some hours than a fly-book. 
In the first place it was not growing in a moist situation or 
one to account for luxuriance. Though near the river, it was 
many feet above the water, and was on the further side of a 
small high road. In this position it had, as I before mentioned, 
attained a height of two feet and a half, and the flower which 
first attracted my eye was almost on a level with my waist. The 
plant had climbed through the hedge like a vetch or a fumitory. 
On comparing it with the most robust specimens of /. canina 
which I can find this spring, the following points of resem>lance 
and of divergence present themselves. The stem of mine is 
channelled in the ordinary way, and the leaves tolerably like in 
shape though rather more pointed. On the other hand, the 
leaf-stalks and peduncles are in mine much shorter, the upper 
leaves being almost senile. The position of the bracts is similar, 
but instead of the conspicuous stipules of V. cazina, mine has 
those parts so small as almost to escape notice. Again, while 
the stem of  canina does not in my experience branch, the 
stem of mine has, in two places, thrown off a small branch 
bearing leaves and flowers. Also there was not, as far as I 
remember, any trace of any shoot from the root except the one 
stem, while V. canina, as ordinarily found, sends up a greater 
and a lesser flowering stem and a bunch of leaves besides. 
I hope that these particulars will shed more light on the 
subject than I can myself. _-ss J. G. 
St. Asaph, May 10 
FOHN STUART MILL 
[Born May 20, 1806; Diep May 8, 1873 
mee AGH it has not been the custom among specialists 
to regard Mr. John Stuart Mill as a scientific man, 
yet we venture to say that he has not left behind him in 
this country any man who has done more for the general 
advancement of science. Before Mr. Mill’s time men 
found their way to great discoveries, and succeeded in 
proving to each other that what they had discovered was 
scientific truth, But they could tell each other very little 
about the method of scientific investigation. Indeed 
Whately, the then greatest authority in logic, pronounced a 
theory of induction impossible. Mr. Mill, however, did 
formulate the canons of induction, and in so doing he lit 
a lamp which will for ever burn a steady guiding light in 
the path of the scientific inquirer. And the value of this 
light need be regarded as none the less even if we con- 
sider that its chief service lies in guiding us past the 
snares and pit-falls of error, and the entrances to those 
mazes and endless labyrinths of unreality in which so 
many powerful intellects have toiled and spent their 
strength for nought ; nay, worse than in vain, for their 
brilliant struggles have fascinated thousands and drawn 
them from the sober highway of truth, which alone is the 
road to usefulness—to happiness. The vast and still 
growing influence that Mr. Mill has exerted in this direc- 
tion is fully recognised by those who regret it most, 
because they believe that Truth may be reached by other 
and nobler paths, We are content to note the fact that 
among the great men of our day no one has done so 
much as he, to widen the domain of science and to 
subdue to its methods all subjects of human inte- 
rest. Choosing for the field of his more serious 
labours several of the most difficult subjects of research, 
those that had most eluded the grasp of the understand- 
ing, he has enriched the world with works that will long 
remain monuments of science. His “ Logic” is our text- 
book of the science of evidence. His “ Political Econo- 
had the true scientific temper, a disinterested love of 
truth, in a degree not to be surpassed. If it could be 
shown that in any particular his teaching was unsound, 
and none were ever able to do this so well as his own 
disciples, the men whom he had trained to think, no one 
was more glad that error had been detected than was 
Mr. Mill himself, It will be enough to remind our readers 
of one notable example of this. When Mr. Thornton 
showed that the universally accepted doctrine of the 
wage-fund was a huge fallacy, Mr. Mill came forward 
with alacrity to acknowledge that he in common with all 
other political economists had fallen into a grave error, 
and that Mr. Thornton had made a most valuable con- 
tribution to economic science. If all scientific men 
could as completely subordinate their personal vanity 
to the pursuit of truth, progress would be more rapid 
than at present. The daily papers have already made 
the reader familiar with the many-sided richness and 
beauty of Mr. Mill’s character. He was an object of 
loving admiration to all who had the happiness to enjoy 
his personal acquaintance. The world, while it mourns 
his loss, does not, cannot know how great and how good 
a man has been taken away ; and still less does it know 
how ill it can afford to lose such a man. 
MINERS’ RULES IN THE SEVENTEENTH 
CENTORY 
ON looking over a packet of old papers I have found 
some documents, of which I enclose copies, written 
by a German miner, named Brandshagen, who was 
employed by my ancestor, Sir Philip Egerton, to super- 
intend the attempt to work copper in the New Red 
Sandstone strata of Cheshire in the year 1697. As the 
vudes for miners of that age afford so strong a contrast 
to the w#rudy behaviour of that class at the present day, 
they may perhaps interest some of the readers of 
NATURE. P. DE M. GREY-EGERTON 
Worthy & most honourable Sir,— 
Your worship give most humbly thanks for em- 
ployment meself and my countrymen about your Worship 
mines, which I have enjoyed now above 4 weekes, & not 
to be att all further unacquainted unto your Worship, I 
could not forbeare to give a true & plain account of what 
I have observed in this time about these mines, as good 
as my smal understanding in y® English linguage would 
permit, & if it was in any way acceptable then my wishes 
& desires where fullfilled. I have this time also endea- 
vored to blow up y* rocks by guns powder, as the best 
way to kill them, butt in y* first time I found y* elements 
as aire & water where against my designe, y* last I have 
conquered, & I hope I shall doe so y* other next time 
when I have occasion for it. I found also some other 
smal things which would not so soon agree with my 
hands, for there are many years past, that I did work 
under ground with my owne hinds, butt all these things 
are now disceased, onely that I was lately too covetous 
& would have more rocks blown up then my powder was 
able to; what other blasts for effect have done, your 
Worship can be informed of it by Mr. Smith. I shall 
endeavour all what is in my power to serve your Worship 
with that understanding I have about mines to which I 
have employed meself now above 15 year, in spending a 
great deal of money as well for learning as travelling in 
many places in Europe where good mines where, to come 
to any perfection in this art. I have received now my 
things for examination of y* oare, which I will doe as 
soon as possibly I can come to it in this desolate place, 
where nothing in y* world is to be had for any commodi- 
ties what soever it may be, & whilst we are strangers 
my” is our text-book of the science of wealth. And if | here, & must buy ali things for ready, it is impossible to 
there is a scientific work on politics it is Mr. Mill’s “ Repre- 
life of what your Worship has allowed unto us & there- 
