1800. ] 
the decrements, either between themfelves 
oron the primitive faces; as he had never 
conceived the idea that there-could exilt any 
uncertainty refpeCting a form which fo fen- 
fibly prefented the appearance of a cube, 
aud the more fo as the faces which madify 
it prevented the difference from being ‘per- 
ceived. He difcovered that this form was 
a genuine rhomboid, like that of the vol- 
canic iron. From that moment, this 
law, which had appeared fo fingular on the 
fuppofition of a cube, gave place to a more 
fimple law; and every thing was reduced 
to perfect regularity. With refpect to the 
varieties of the iron from the ifle of Elva, 
he did not find a neceflity for any altera- 
tion in the ancient laws, becaufe the fecon- 
dary incidences which he had determined 
on the fuppofition of the cube, differed 
enly by a half-degree from thofe which re- 
falted from the rhomboid il form. ° 
The refult of thefe refearches is that all 
Thoughts on the prefent high Price of Provilians. 
443 
iron ores which preferve the metallic afpect 
are reducible to two fpecies very diftin& 
from each other; the one including all the 
fubftances which cryftallife into regular 
oftahedrons, fuch as the iron of Corfica ; 
the other comprifing thofe whofe primitive 
form is a fomewhat acute rhombeid, as the 
iron of Elva, that of Framont, and that of 
volcanoes. The former will continue to 
bear the name of oxydulated iron; the lat- 
ter, that of oligiffic iron, that is to fay, 
containing little iron in a metallic ftate. 
Here we fee that a greater quantity of oxy- 
gen imprefles a particular character on the’ 
primitive form, by making it pafs from 
the regular octahedron or rhomboid; a 
circumftance that feems to indicate two 
very diftinét points of equilibrium, which 
chymiftry will no doubt determine when- 
everit undertakes the analyfis of ores with 
that precifion. of which it is now capable 
in the prefent improved ftate of the fcience. 

,CORRESPONDENCE CONTINUED. 

{ The two following papers, from much valued 
correfpondents, on a fubject of the higheft 
importance, reached us too late to appear 
in their proper place. | 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
THOUGHTS on the prefent HiGH PRICE of 
PROVISIONS. 
UCH difference of opinion has 
arifen with refpect to the actual 
exiftence of fcarcity, and the proportionate 
amount of the deficiency in the late crops 
of grain. There are other queftions con- 
neéted with the prefent general diftrefs, of 
much greater moment. It is highly ne- 
ceflary to inquire whence it comes to pals, 
that, admittmg that deficiency according 
to the higheft ftatement of it, the effect 
produced is fo very far beyond all rea- 
fonable proportion and former precedent ? 
Whence it comes to pafs, that, on account 
of any deficiency in the article of grain, 
the price of every other neceflary of life 
is fo enormoufly advanced as to place an 
adequate fupply of them far beyond the 
reach of the lower orders of the commu- 
nity? Some radical change, and fome~- 
thing] radically wrong, muft have taken 
place in our public, or in our domeftic, 
economy ;—in the ftate of the nation at 
large; in our agricultural fyftem and ma- 
nagement ; or, in the conduét and practices 
et thofe, through whofe hands the neceiia- 
ries of life pafs before they reach the con 
fumer. With refpect to the ftate of the 
nation at large, whether we are of opinion 
that the war is-juf and neceflary, or unjut 
and unneceffary, it has undoubtedly con- 
curred, as all wars muft more or lefs, to 
produce a ftate of things very unfavourable 
to the gcneral weal. The vaft increafe of 
the public debt has unavoidably depreci- 
ated the value of {pecie. The wants of 
war have generated a redundancy of pa- 
per-credit, and the immenfe iffues of this 
latter coinage have greatly facilitated the 
practices of thofe who fpeculate in the’ne- 
cefflaries of life. The grower of corn is no 
longer under the neceflity of bringing a 
part of his produce to market at ftated’ pe- 
riods for the payment of his rent. The 
factor is alfo furnifhed upon credit witha 
fum fufficient to anfwer the purpofes of 
monopoly. And the miller is likewife 
enabled to commence coru-merchant, as 
well as corn-manufaciurer, and to avail 
himfelf of the opportunity this affords for 
feeding the markets with fuch a fcanty 
fupply, as greatly contributes to his own 
private emolument ; which advantage is 
obtained at the public expence. The pur- 
chafes made from time to time in our fairs 
and markets, by large contractors, produce 
likewife a moit injurious effet. To all 
this areto be added the wa/fes of war, and 
the immenfe quantities of grain and other 
provifions damaged, {poiled, oy deftroyed. 
ca oye} Surely 
