228 
the voyage, in fpite of the dangers of every 
a are infeparable from fuch an un- 
dertaking. General Bougainville has had 
the courage to embark one of his fons, Hia- 
cinte, born the 26th of December, 1781, 
who thus begins in an honorable manner to 
walk in the -teps of his illuftrious father. 
We did hope that C. C. Maingon and Quenot, 
well known navigators and aftronomers, would 
have been partakers in the voyage, but fick- 
nefs prevented the firft, and the fecond would 
not depart without bim, 
Naturalifts fay that the flax of New Zea- 
land will be fuificient to defray the expences 
of this expedition, andthe aftronomers would 
be repaid by taking fome pofitions fouthward of 
New Holland, or on the Coafts of Africa. 
But a two or three years voyage cannot fail 
to furnifh many new refults with regard to 
{cience, 
The moft fingular meteorologica] phenome- 
non wasthe hurricane of the gth of Novem- 
ber, which caufed devaftation from Brittany 
to Holland, and from Burgundy to England, 
and deitroyed.a great number of veffels in the 
Channel. But our circumnavigators had failed 
a confiderable time prior to that event. 
The lofs I experienced by the departure of 
C. Bernier has been replaced by Michel Cha- 
brol, native of Riom, the 18th of Novem- 
ber, 1777. He came to Paris in the month 
of May to afiiftaftronomy ; he has already 
caleulated many eclipfes, and the pofitions, 
longitudes, latitudes, and angles of pofition 
of 600 principal ftars, which is the funda- 
mental catalogue inierted in the Connoiffance 
des Temps, and which C. Francais Lalande 
has further perfected this year, by obferving 
the right afcenfions and declinations of thofe. 
not perfeGily known, 
kn obferving the fearcity of aftronomers, 
C. Lancelin, profeffor at Breft, demands 
our applaufe ; he propagates nautical aftro- 
nonty with the greateft zeal, and already has 
ftudents who will prove of infinite fervice 
when the aGtivity of government has given 
that firength to our navy, which it ‘is now 
about to receive. 
C. Henri has left Peterfburg, on his return 
to France. The decree of the gth of O&o- 
ber, fo favourable to the French who, under 
the name of emigrants were expelled their 
‘country, has procured the return of this 
able aftronomer 3 and already has the minifter 
granted me a reception for him. 
Slop, the celebrated aftronomer of Pifa, 
has been arrefted during the train of trouble- 
fome eventsin Tufcany. But the French, 
who have penetrated there, will, it isthought, 
yeftore that aftrenomer to his obfervatory 
On the 14th of July, fome fire works being 
placed on the fummit of the obfervatory at 
Dijon, the building caught fire, which did 
much damage to the inftruments, and parti- 
cularly to the mirror of one of Herfchel’s 
elefcopes which was there; but Profefior 
2 
Tranflation of the Triads of the Ancient Britons. ‘ April r, 
Jacotot has ftill apparatus enough remaining 
to make ufeful obfervaticns. 
Such have been the improvements of a 
year, and it is with infinite pleafure we 
obferve fu many lovers of the fcience fill 
employed, who poffefs the highef degree of 
merit, and from whofe indefatigable zeal we 
may entertain the faireft hopes of new fuc- 
ceffes. In refpeét to other fciences, Aftronomy 
may be faid tobe complete: comets excepted ; 
every other celeftial body is fubjeted to calcu- 
lation; and it feems that little more can be 
expected. | But as Seneca wifely faid, fome- 
thing always remains to’be done. ‘* Et poff 
mille fecula, non decrit occafio aliquid adbuc ad= 
jiciendi.” 
ee 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
BEG leave to lay before you two or 
three {pecimens of the traditional 
Triads of the ancient Britons, with refpeét 
to hiftory, and the bardic fyitem 3 which 
I deem fome of the moft curious and ex- 
traordinary memorials, that are to be 
found, perhaps, in any language in the 
world. 
But, before I proceed, it is very necef- 
fary to fay a tew words of that tradi- 
tionary infituticn of the bards, becaufe 
men in general confider every thing pre- 
ferved orally as extremely uncertain and 
futile. Thefe traditions, however, were 
of very different complexion ; therefore I” 
would prefent tothe reader, for confidera- 
tion, a fhort account of thefe things, re- 
duced to a fyftem, as it were, recorded in, 
and promulgated by, the public memory. 
The methods purfued by the bards, for 
preferving memorials of importanée, con- 
. nected with their order, were thefe: Ac- 
cording to the analogy they difcovered in 
the various matters to be recorded, a claf- 
fification was made; every clafs was then 
digefted into fententious triads, vertes, 
apophthesms, or aphorifms, with the’ 
ftri€teft attention to phrafeology and cha- 
racter in every refpect. 
There were held public conventions, at 
ftated pericds. Of thefe there were four 
principal ones, onfo many grand divifions of 
the year: and, they were called the ALBan 
ARTHAN, the winter’ folftice, or their new 
year’s day ; the ALBan E1.ir, the ver- 
nal equinox; the ALBAN HEvVIN, the 
fummer folftice ; andthe ALBAN ELvep, 
or autumnal-equinox. The moft con{pi- 
cuous [pots were fixed upon for thele great 
afiemblies; or, as the phrafe is, iz the eye 
of the light and in the face of the fun; and 
always within circles of ftones, upon. 
which not any work of art was admitted.* 
~ 
The 
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