embraces the whole province of natural 
history, which alone comprehends three 
distinguished sciences, under, the names 
of Zoolegy, Botany, and Mineralogy. — 
. But, m reality,’ adds he, “ all the 
sciences dependent on or connected 
with nature, compose only one and the 
same science, which we have: merely 
subdivided in such a manner, that -diffe- 
rent persons may attach themselves to 
different bratiches of it, and thus apply 
themselves specifically to those in which 
they may happen to take most delight. 
The experiments made in our modern 
cabinets and laboratories, tend only to 
make the works of nature familiar tous, 
and are but so many imitators of her 
phenomena. The pneumatic machine 
instructs us concerning the properties of 
the fluid which we breathe; while the 
electrical machine serves to assist us in 
determining the laws. which govern the 
accumulated fluid often contained ina. 
stormy cloud. The celoured image of 
the sun, presented by the light which 
passes through a prism, affords us an 
idea of the decomposition of this fluid, 
which, at some particular periods, dis- 
plays the magnificent spectacle of the 
rainbow. All these different instruments, 
however diversified, are but so many 
interpreters of the visible language in 
which nature unceasingly speaks to us.” 
Vol. [. contains : 
1. A Dissertation on the general pro- 
perties of Bodies ; 
2. On Attraction ; 
8. On Caloric; 
4. On Water; s 
5. On Air; 
_ And 6. On Electricity. 
We perceive but little that is new: 
the abbé, however, does not confine his 
compilation to» the works ef his own 
countrymen, but borrows freely from 
foreigners. He expects great future ad- 
vantages from the discovery of the bal- 
loon. On this occasion it is remarked, 
that Gay Lussac, in the course of his last 
voyage, attained a greater degree of ele- 
vation than any of his predecessors, hav- 
ing actually ascended 6977 metres, or 
3579 toises above Paris, and 7016 me- 
tres, or 3600 toises above the level of 
the sea. At 6636 metres he cpened a 
glass globe, and having emptied it, he 
filled it with air, and shut it close up 
again. On his return to the capital, an 
‘analysis took place, and on comparing 
it with the air at the entrance to the Po- 
jytechnieal school, he found beth to he 
662 Retrospect of French, &c. Literature— Miscellaneous. 
composed alike, each containing 0.2149 
of oxygen*. . 
In his description of paratonneres, or 
conductors, M. Hauy fails, as he might 
have given a far better account of this 
invention. .- 
“ Naturwunder des . ésterreithischen, 
&¢c.” The Wonders of Nature in the Aus- 
trian States: by Doctor Francis Sartori, 
4 vols. 8vo. Vienna. The same author 
is about to give a continuation of the 
present work, by meansof a supplement, 
containing observations on the country 
and the people, throughout the Austrian 
monarchy. In the mean time, he pre- 
sents us with a statement of whatever is 
wonderful, and accordingly we here have, 
1. A description of the mountain 
Octscher, in Lower Austria. 
2. Adescription of the Lake of Traun, 
or der Gemund. ip 
3. Anaccount of a Glaciers on Mount 
Brandstein. 1 
4. A description of the Carinthian 
Alps. she RLS 
5. An account of a singular animal 
in Carniola, called Proteus Anguineus. 
6. On Mount Bienneberg, and the 
wine of. Oedenburg. 
7. The Sulphur cavern in Mount Bon- 
daesch, in Transylvania. . 
8. The Wild Goats of the country of 
Salzburg. 
9. The Lake Barthelemi, in the coun- 
try of Berchtesgaden ; . 
10. The Valley of Buchberg, in the 
Lower Austria; 
11. The Hole of Hell, on the Ens, in 
Austria; 
12. The Mountain of Herisson, in 
Styria ; yore 
13. The Saline of Sovar in Hungary; 
14. The Royal Mountain in Hungary; 
_ 15. The Sources of the Lebelang in 
Transylvania; — 
16. The tame bears in Poiand ; 
17. The River of St. John, in Styria; 
18. The Cataract of Mina, in Lower 
Austria ; 4 . 
19. The Mines of Quicksilver at Idria, 
in Cariola; 
20. The Ice-cavern in the country of 
Berchtesgaden; 
21. The industry and sociability of 
the mountain-rats of Styria and Carin- 
thia, of Salzburg, and in the Carpathian 
Mountains. _ | | 
“ Almanach fur Scheidekunstler, &c.” 
* Journal de Physique, Frimaire, An 
AAI. p. 454, et suiv. 
Almanack 
