
          I was lately reading the Edinburg [Edinburgh] Review when I met with an
 article respecting a work of Mrs. Somerville and here I found an
 excellent explanation of the total eclipse of the light of a candle
 before 2 plates of Tourmaline with that apparatus you shewed [showed] me
 obtained at Glasgow. you will find the explination [explanation] of this phenomenon
 Ed Rev No 119 p 165 [Edinburgh review number 119, page 165]. If you have not already seen it I think you
 will be pleased with the perusal


 In my Scriptural reading I have been struck to find a reference
 to the process of Cupellition [Cupellation] by the Prophet Jeremiah Ch vi 29 [Chapter 6, verse 29]
 I am not aware that any notion has been taken of this by any
 chemist but this may be owing to their not troubling themselves
 with reading the Hebrew carefully. In [overwritten: one] the common version the true
 meaning is not given It should read thus. going back to verse
 27 which is "I have set thee for a tower" instead of this it should
 read according to Dr [Benjamin] Blayney I have appointed thee to make
 an assay among my people" the word בָּח֛וֹן# meaning "one
 who examines metals, an assayer. Such an explanation makes
 the passage intelligible the Septuagints also favour the same reading
 Since the above was written I have examined several translations of the
 Bible in different languages and was very much surprized to find in the
 German of Luther the following "Ich habe dich zum geseszt
 Schmeitzers" That is a smelter and our English word
 smelt comes from the same source. on looking further
 I see in a new book the Cottage Bible the passage is
 put right. The Father of Martin Luther was a miner
 and perhaps from early studies and a knowledge of metallurgy the son might
 have [help?] understood the passage referred to. 


 Sept 29 Your kind letter of the 11th I intended to answer
 immediately but [crossed out: delayed?] [added: delayed] so doing owing to the press of
 other affairs. I had hoped to be able to see you before
 this but could not get all my things ready but
 hope be on the way soon on looking over all my
 stock of Willows I found I had to dry more leaves to
 make my sets complete. besides having to
 gather some [Hydroglossum] &c &c on Saturday
 I had a good time and procured some [crossed out: illegible]
 I would say most excellent specimens of this most
 beautiful fern I also brought some roots of the same
 I have added another willow to my list of this place
 it is Salix fragilis Lin [Linné] I have now gathered here
 of species and varities [varieties] 32! I have completed also
 a new arrangement of the North American willows
 in IX sections [added: or] or groups that works well, and will
 greatly facilitate the study of this difficult genus.
 the arrangement of Pursh now appears to me very
 faulty. I am quite anxious to visit you


 Yours Truly
 Joseph Barratt.


 To Prof John Torrey, MD &c &c


 [in left margin]
 #pronounced Bachon (the a in fall) or bawchone


  
        