MK WITHERS. 



221 



and subsoil ; and that, generally, the luxuriance of 

 the tree must ultimately depend on the natural 

 depth and quality of the ground itself. 



Mr Withers, with that precise knowledge of the 

 subject, and clear conception of the nature of things, 

 which generally accompanies a partial acquaintance 

 with facts, makes a confident and rather imposing 

 appearance as a wielder of language and a logician. 

 From his assumed superiority, we especially wonder 

 that he should possibly have envy of Scotsmen, which, 

 from the tenor of his letter, we are constrained to 

 believe. Need Caledonia remind her noble sister, 

 England, of their consanguinity, — that they are sis- 

 ters whom natm-e hath twimied together ? Is there 

 another in all the earth, with quadruple the advan- 

 tages of Scotland, who can rank with her in science 

 and literatm*e, arts and arms ? And is England 

 not proud of her poorer sister ? Or can they feel 

 aught but mutual love ? 



Since writing the above, we have looked over some 

 experiments by Messrs Barlow, Beaufoy, Couch, and 

 others, on the strength of timber. These show so 

 much discrepancy of result, as leads us to conclude. 



