most zealous observer, and will in time enable us to form a just theory of me teors, to prognosticate with considerable accuracy the nature of the coming weather, and enable us to ascertain the climate of different countries, with the view of determining the influence it exerts on organic bodies. He next described an Anemometer which, by a very simple and ingenious arrangement of parts, will enable the most common observer to ascertain the velocity of the wind with perfect accuracy. At the same meeting, the Rev. Mr Fleming of Bressay in Shetland, (who has, for some time past, been engaged in examining the mineralogy of those remote islands,) communicated to the Society an interesting account of the geognostic relations of the rocks in the islands of Unst and Papa Stour, in the course of which he answered the queries formerly published in regard to the serpentine and sandstone of Shetland. After a general account of the position, extent and external appearance of the island of Unst, he next described the different rocks of which it is composed, in the order of their relative antiquity, and remarked that their general direction is from S. W. to N. E. The rocks are gneiss, micaslate, clay-slate, limestone, hornblenderock, potstone, and serpentine. The gneiss, in some places, appeared to alternate with the oldest mica-slate, and in others, to contains beds of hornblende-rock. The mica-slate, which is the most abundant rock in the island, is traversed by numerous cotemporaneous veins of quartz, and also of felspar, and passes distinctly into clay-slate. It contains beds of hornblende-rock and of limestone. The clay-slate occurs but sparingly in this island. The potstone usually accompanies the serpentine. The serpentine occurs in great abundance, in beds, in the oldest clay-slate and mica-clate, and hence must be referred to the oldest or first serpentiue formation of Werner. Mr Fleming is also inclined to believe that the serpentine of the neighbouring island of Fetlar belongs to the same formation.-The island of Papa Stour, situated on the west coast of the Mainland (the name by which the largest of the Shetland islands is known,) contains no primitive rocks; on the contrary, it appears to be entirely composed of floetz-rocks. These are conglomerate, greenstone, claystone, porphyritic - stone, hornstone? and sandstone. The sandstone, as appears from observations made in this island and other parts of Shetland, would seem to belong to the oldest coal formation. The claystone, conglomerate, porphyritic - stone, greenstone, and hornstone (probably clinkstone,) rest on the sandstone. In some places, Mr Fleming observed the greenstone alternating with the sandstone: hence he properly concludes that they belong to the same formation. In no place, however, did he observe any of the other rocks alternating with the sandstone: and therefore the formation to which they belong is still somewhat problematical. We recommend the re-examination of this interesting island to the zealous and indefatigable author of this paper; and as he announced to the Society his intention of again examining the whole of the Shetland isles, and of constructing a mineralogical map, in which the rocks should be laid down according to their relative antiquity and their extent, we anticipate much valuable information. At the meeting of the Society on the 19th November, Mr Mackenzie, younger of Applecross, read a short account of the coal formation in the vicinity of Durham. From the precise and accurate description communicated by this gentleman, the rocks appear to belong to the oldest coalformation of Werner. In the course of his observations he explained what is called the creep by miners, and exhibited specimens of the different rocks, and This sea-snake was measured by Mr Shearer, a tenant of Mr Laing's, and found to be 55 feet long. The thickest part of the body was equal to the girth of an Orkney poney. The head was not larger than that of a seal, and was furnished with two spiracles, or blow-holes. Along the back was a row of filaments, hanging down like a mane. The animal had three pairs of large fins, resembling paws. Before men, with ropes, &c. could be assembled in order to secure this truly wonderful creature for the inspection of naturalists, a tempest occurred, and unfortunately beat the carcase to pieces. Some of the remains, however, have been picked up by Mr Laing, and are to be transmitted to the Museum of the University of Edinburgh. and a plan or section of the coal-mine of Kipia, in which both the miners' appellations and the scientific names of the different strata and beds were inserted. At the same meeting, Dr Ogilby, of Dublin, read a continuation of his mineralogical description of East Lothian, under the title of Observations on the Veins of the Newest Floetz-trap of East Lothian. After some preliminary observations on the general geognostic relations of the rocks of East Lothian, and of the precipitation of felspar in its different states of fineness, from earthy to glassy felspar, he proceeded to describe the different veins he had an opportunity of examining in this tract of country. These veins he considered as of three different periods of formation, viz. 1. Veins derived from partial formations subsequent to the floetz-trap, which however are of unfrequent occurrence; 2. Veins of the different rocks of the formation Monthly Memoranda in Natural Hispenetrating the older beds; and, 3. Those of cotemporaneous origin. He next enumerated and described, after the manner of Werner, the following veins,greenstone, jasper, quartz, heavy-spar, and calcspar; and concluded with several interesting general remarks. At this meeting, also, Mr P. Neill read Observations on the Great Sea Snake of the Northern Ocean. He first enumerated and read extracts from the different authors who have mentioned the existence of such an animal, or described its appearance, particularly Ramus, Egede, and Pontoppidan. He then gave an account of a vast animal, shaped like a snake, which had recently been cast ashore in Orkney. Malcolm Laing, Esq. M.P. happening to be in Orkney at the time, communicated the circumstance to his brother Gilbert Laing, Esq. advocate, Edinburgh, on whose property, at Rothesholm Bay in Stronsa, the animal had been stranded. Through this authentic channel, Mr Neill stated, he had received his information, tory. Oct. 28. WE mentioned in our last 1808. Monthly Memoranda, that the herring-fishery_had commenced in the Frith of Forth, near to Queensferry. In one of the herringnets, shot nearly opposite to Hopeton House, a Shark was entangled, which measured, from the snout to the tail, 8 feet 3 inches. It was a female, of the kind denominated Beaumaris or Porbeagle Shark (Squalus Cornubicus.) Nov. 1. A large Whale having within these few days, been stranded near Alloa, we resolved to view the animal on the spot. Before we could reach it, however, the body was already very much disfigured by the opera. tion of flenching or flaying off the fat, (which was only about one-third of the thickness of the blubber on the common Greenland whale.) Still, thro' the kindness of Mr R. Bald of Alloa, we learned all the particulars relative to its external appearance, necessary to determine the species. It was the Balæna rostrata of Gmelin's edition of the the Systema Naturæ,--the Pike-headed Whale of English authors,-Baleinoptère museau pointu of La Cepède.The total length of the animal was 43 feet, and, where thickest, it was nearly 20 feet in circumference. Dr Walker, late Professor of Natural History, has left a description of a whale of the same species which was cast ashore at Burntisland in 161. It was 46 feet in length. From the numercus plaits or grooves in the skin along the thorax, he called it Balæna sulcata. Sibbald, in his Phalainologia, mentions another, precisely of the same kind and of the same dimensions, as having been cast ashore at the same place in 1690. This species seems, therefore, pretty frequently to leave the remoter parts of the northern ocean, and to visit the Scottish seas. The whale in question had probably been induced to run so far up the river in order to find shelter from the effects of the very tempestuous weather, which, for several days before its appearance, had kept the frith and the German ocean in furious agitation. It seems unaccountable that none of the neighbouring farmers should have availed themselves of the trang, or carcase, to form manure. Along with peat-moss, it would, on Lord Meadowbank's principle, have produced a very rich compost: it would, indeed, have formed a dunghil equal, if not superior, in money-value, to the blubber which was so carefully flayed off, and which, we believe, was sold for about L.15 sterling. Nov. 4.-A fine specimen of the Toothed Gilt-head (Spárus dentatus) was found cast ashore near Newhaven. It has been beautifully preserved by Mr John Wilson, janitor to the Uni,versity of Edinburgh, whose excellence in preparing specimens of birds, quadrupeds, and fishes, is unrivalled in this country. 17,-20. The tides at Leith have, during these days, been remarkably high. Tides equally great, or perhaps even greater, are remembered; but four successive tides, of such height and impetus, no one recollects to have observed. The same observation has been made at other ports on the Forth. Nov. 25. The Snow-bunting (Emberiza nivális) has appeared in this neighbourhood. One was shot about a week ago near Alloa. P. S. SEA-SNAKE. In our last, we announced the Rev. Mr Fleming's discovery of the Small-headed Narwhal, or Sea-Unicorn, at the Sound of Weisdale in Shetland. This was an excellent and rare addition to the Fauna of Scotland. But we have, this month, to congratulate zoologists on the appearance, in Orkney, of a still greater rarity;-an animal, nearly 60 feet long, yet a non-descript, or unknown to the writings of Linnæus and other systematic naturalists. It is the Great Sea-snake, described and figured by Pontoppidan in his History of Norway, and which has very generally been considered as a fabulous monster at least, it evidently appears to be the animal which has served as the prototype of the Serpens marinus magnus of the Bishop of Bergen. For particulars, we refer our readers to the report of the proceedings of the Wernerian Natural History Society, (p. 805). The destruction of this wonderful specimen by the fury of the waves is much to be regretted. It will not, in consequence, be possible to form, with precision, a generic character on Linnæan principles; and centuries may revolve, before another animal of the same sort shall again be wafted to our shores. Edinburgh, Nov 25th 1808. } Query respecting Dr NISBET. To the Editor. N. SIR, TOO often do the names and actions of those who justly merit to be be called great men pass into oblivion. Too often is the memory of men of real learning, talent, and worth, allowed to fade. True it is, that Full many a gem of purest ray serene, "The dark unfathom'd caves of ocean bear: I have it in my power to furnish a few Your most humble servant, "Full many a flower is born to blush Particulars respecting MUNGO PARKE, air." But it is as true, that many who have distinguished themselves as men of the most elevated minds are often forgot ten by their contemporaries and suc-, cessors, as the morning dew by the passing traveller. Some, no doubt, share a better fate. Some kind friend carries his friendship beyond the grave, and records the life of the departed. It was thus that Gray, Smith, Reid, Cowper, Beattie, found biographers in Mason, Stewart, Hayley, Forbes. It is now nearly four years since the death of Doctor Charles Nisbet, who, for many years, was first minister of Montrose, and afterwards president of the College of Carlisle, in Pennsylvania; yet nothing but a monody to his memory, written by Doctor Keith, and published anonymously, has appeared in this island, to acquaint us with the particulars of his life or character. Willingly would I endeaYour to supply this defect through the medium of your valuable magazine, did I not feel myself both destitute of the necessary materials, and every way equal to the task. The author of the above-mentioned elegant monody has, in his preface, given us a few of the characteristic traits of Dr Nisbet, but he has withheld every circumstance respecting his birth, education, fe, and death. Some of your correspondents may probably be able to obge your readers with some circumstances respecting these. I am happy to add, Mr Editor, that if any attempt was to be made to publish the letters of Doctor Nisbet, (From the Glasgow Courier.) Scarborough, Oct. 27. 1808. HAVING seen, in many of the late newspapers, paragraphs respecting the uncertainty of the fate of that enterprising traveller Mungo Park, and particularly one in your paper of Tuesday, the 18th instant, wherein his death is very much doubted, I beg leave to communicate to you circumstances which have come to my knowledge, during a residence of 20 months at and about Goree. The last letters that were received from Mr Parke and his companions, were dated the 10th of November 1805, if I recol. lect right, from some place in the neighbourhood of Sego; one was from Mr Parke to Dr Heddle, the Garrison Surgeon at Goree, in which he states being kindly received by the natives, who recognised him: the diseases that had swept off almost all his followers; and concludes with stating the number left alive, I think six or eight, out of forty-five that started, and saying, "From the inquiries I have been enabled to make, I think you may expect me on the coast in about three months :" the other is dated the next day, and is from Lieut. Martin, of the Royal African Corps (who commanded the detachment accompanying Mr Parke) to Mr MacGaw, Assistant Surgeon of the Corps, also at Goree. The letter is written in a strain of great spirit, ridiculing the dangers and privations to which they have been exposed, mentions the names of the survivors, and concludes thus: "From what Mr Parke has been enabled to learn, he is convinced that the long-sought Niger is the Congo, Congo, and he says, you may expect us on the coast in three months."The survivors, then, were the gentlemen who composed the heads of the Expedition, and one or two of the African Corps; not one of whom had reached the coast when I left it in October, 1806; although Mr Parke, whenever he left any sick man at a native house, promised them two slaves value on their delivering such man to a white factory. Shortly after these letters were received, an account came down the Gambia, by a Slatee, or travelling slave-dealer, of Mr Parke and his companions being put to death at Sego, by Mansong the King; a similar account was also brought down the Rio Pougons (a river three days journey from Sierra Leone) and both accounts agreed with regard to circumstances, and the cause, which was stated to be, the intrigues of the Moorish traders, jealous of their mercantile interests, if the whites should find a passage to the interior. Your paper stated that a fort on the Niger had been stormed, and all Christians found in it were put to death. As to a fort on the Niger, I do not imagine sucha, thing to he iu existence; and, you may depend upon it, that Parke and his companions were the only Christians who have reached that river for many years. Had I not at present trespassed so far on your time and patience, I would endeavour to offer such remarks on the subject as many enquiries and local advantages gave me an opportunity of making, which might tend to throw the least light on so interesting a subject. I am, Sir, your obedient servant. Memorial for Mr ROBERT DONALD IEUT.-COLONEL John Forbes, of the Portuguese service, is desirous, and finds it necessary in his present situation, to have his pedigree on the father and mother's side properly attested from the Lyon Office; and as he is just now in a foreign country, where it may be of consequence, it is hoped that Mr Donaldson will make out such certificate in the usual form with all possible dispatch, and deliver the same to Colonel John M'Donald, who will talk to him upon the subject, and pay the ordinary fees, being at present in Edinburgh. The above-mentioned Col. Forbes is second son of George Forbes of Skellater, whose predecessor was son to Forbes of Towie, and Forbes of Towie was a son of Lord Forbes's.— The family of Skellater have flourished in Aberdeenshire, and have been very respectable for three centuries past; and their genealogy, as above mentioned, can be instructed, by charters and infeftments, and by an authentick manuscript history of the family of Forbes, to be found in the hands of Sir Robert Douglas, who will be a proper person to give assistance in making out the certificate necessary. Col. Forbes's mother is Christian Gordon, daughter to the late John Gordon of Glenbucket, whose genca logy can be had from the history the family of Gordon, wrote by Wil liam Gordon; and assistance therein may also be had from Sir Robert Douglas. It is believed, that tho' Skellater is an old family, their coat of arms was never matriculate; but it is supposed that the armorial bearing should be the arms of the family of Forbes, with a mallet, as the distinction of a fourth son; and a crescent, as a mark of ca dency from him, with a proper crest and such motto as the present Skella ter uses, and will be hereto subjoined Motto-SOLUS INTER PLURIMOS William Forbe Journey |