Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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[Vol. 1.] COLUMBIA, (8. C.) TUESDAY. SEPTEMBER 3, IB16. [no. mgmm . , ? ruiiLUiicp wr.r.Kir 11Y THOMAS W. LOUIIAIN. 7VI-W of .Subtcription.?'ChKO tfcillura jht annum, pay able in iulv.\ncc....K<> paper to l>c il.scontauif<t, but at the option of the Ktlltnr, until all arc paid. not itcccdin^ fourteen lines, inserted tin? llrst timo for wvenly<6vo ccnta, uiul forty centa for ?\wt? *ul>*C!jaont iniartion. Ixtter* to the Alitor must Im.'i>i*I|mU),or \he pottage will ho charged to the writer. SCIENTIFIC. rilOM TtIB ANALSCm M All A XIN K. The rapidly improving taste for literature antl science, oml the consequent efforts to cultivate them in our country, arc among tho most grati fying indications of ilk general advancement in whatever e&n give strength, felicity, nntl true glory to a lotion. An evidence of that taftfo am) those eflbrtft U aftbrded by tho increase of our literary and philosophical societies. These establishments, arising irom the love of learn ing become themselves a new cause for promot ing it, and Increase the source from which they spring. They answer besides te\era! other use-, (ul uuda^reeajdo imrnosee. /.They ofler rwfWWtf r?1nxrtndnni professional men; they provide congenial company and iiftcresting conversa tion for persons wlio arc devoted to study j and they enable those who aspire to advance tho pcicnccs and extend the hounds of human know* ledge, to conduct their enquiries with greater facility and make their experiments upon n lar ger scale. The National Institute of France and the London Institution, arc illustrious ex amples of what may he accomplished by means of such establishments. From the rich materi als for observation which those societies provid ed, aiul thb clusters of genius they collected to gether, have emanated some of the noblest in ventions snd discoveries which have ever bene fited or delig! ted the world; inventions which enable man to subdue, restrain, or render sub-! servient to bis own tine, tho most dangerous and apparently the most uncontrollable powers ofi nature ; discoveries which dc\eloc and explain ' the wonderful mechanism of the movements of 9he celestial bodies ; discoveries at which even their authors look back with astonishment, and the contemplation of which almost induces or dinary men to doubt of their own mortality, and claim kindrfd with a divine nature. >Ve xhouhl not be surprised that, such institutions have boon made the object of fooIi?h ridicule ; nor should we be deterred from the attempt to emulate them because their proceedings are sometimes aped and burlesqued by ignorant and j presuming people, who having nothing else to do, give themselves some scientific nickname, and meet to talk of the weather, and make lu dicrously solemn fuces at each other. ! We hsvw been led to those reflections Uy tho re-perusal of Mr. Klliott's ndmi.ahto address to the Philosophical Society of South-Carolina.? It was briefly noticed in our number for Februa ry last, but we are persuaded that most of our roadcr* will bo gratified to have it entire; for although it was delivered so long ago as'the rnoiUh of \ngust, IBM, we apprchouu it is yet but little Kiiovyit beyond the statu in which' ii was first published. The correct, enlarged ami liberal scientific views ) the practical good sense, the unaffected modesty, (not always cha racteristic of philosophy] antl the excellent style of writing which it exfiioitft, do honor not oiily to the author, but to the society in which he pre sides, and the community by which ft is pa tronised. It would, we think, be desirable that all the addresses and other communications made to such societies should be first trinted in separate pamphletsj from which selections should lie made in due time of such as were worthy of be ing; preserved in their proceedings. A printed paper is more easily examined, and more justly appreciated than tbr best written manuscript. Public opinion would aid those who were ell trusted to make selections, and friendly criti cism might enable the authors of the chosen production to correct anil improve them. The records of these societies might thus be kept clear from the rubbish j an nrticlc. of which a very large proportion has b#en sometimes ad mitted into the works of very learned bodies. We should regret exceedingly to find anv thing like this kind hound up along with Mr. Elliott's discourse. If the Society of South-Carolina will exclude from their philosophical compila tions whatever is not worthy of being placed beside that production, they may not indeed publish often, but their volume*) will rank a mongthc mo-rt distinguished records of science. .7*1 Jthltr ti /o the Library ami Vhllomniltieal Hue M it ?f South-Carat hut, hu Stephen lAlintt. /isi/. I'rini'lent of the Society. j Oentlemcn?In obedicncc to (ho appointment ?if flu1 xoriety, I rise to address yon ? ami little us I may have merited the honor you have con toiroil upon inn, I should feel Htill mere unwor thy if 1 permitted the calls irf huniness. or pri \nto avocation#, to excuno. me from the perform ance of any duty you may impose upon me, however imperfectly the execution may answer vour expectations or my own wiahes. In associating to prosecute and encourage li toiary and philosophical ptirniiit^, you have ni ton a testimony ol your reaped for urionre, and of your desire to render an important norvicc to your country t of your wish to promote re searches whicli give'dignity to individual repu tation, aud are eminently calculated to advance public welfare, to multiply national resources, ai d to elevate national character. In the pros edition of thin Jesign let ??* add /.eal to know ledge, autl perseverance to enterpii/.e. * In the early dawn of science in modern Ku rope, literary and scientific societies began to Hvuri+h, anif with tho in*:roa*fin^ d ?y they have continued to multiply. Men of science have been every whero eager to encourage their for mation } nations have sometime* considered them an ornament and a benefit. Their uses are important and diversified. Not designed to form theories, to establish or support particular I systems, either in science or in art; it has be?n their more humble pfovince to collect the soat tercdand faded rays of philosophic light, to re cord detached and isolated facts, to encourage the pursuit and investigation of truth, to givo*o science popularity, to uraw the human mind, if possible, from the trivial and often unworthy tnf quirks of momentary interest'or passion, and to afford the friends of cultivators of literatufe and philosophy some point of union and of cori cert. It Is not easy, now, to determine how much these lASOciations have aided the improve men of civilized society, or added by their la bors and research** to the mass of human know* ledge. Their task has been to collect tlic stone, tlio mortar, and the block. with which the fu ture architect may rear his edifice, and likejito wftrkmen of. the quarry, although their ituwT* kMHlabtfrctmQ^jp unnoticed or hidden iu- the linished structure, yet, have they, nevertheless, essentiully contributed to its sofidity or magni ficence. in Europe, where the pursuit of science has long been n cherished anu a fashionable occupa tion, and where the number of literary and sci entific men hns become so great as almost crowd nnd jostle on the road, societies have been form ed to promote the study of each distill'' ?aneh of knowledge ; but with us it has been ..omed advisable to unite in one society all who should be willing to associate in our labors ; while by arranging onr memlters into different Iclasses, and assigning to each clans distinct and deter minate object*, each ititlividunl will find hiHwelf co-operating with associates, having common views and occupations. On this occasion, it will not, perhaps, he an in appropriate theme to rccal to your remembrance, and to present to public view, the threat objects of our association, und after parsing briefly in review the arrangements of the. society, alter faintly delineating their uxtcnt and magnitude, to offer some general observations on their olti-| inate importance and value. I feel that this sketch will be drawn w ith a weak and nn*tcad\ hand. To lew ha* it been given to view the ex tended field of science w ith strong and distinct' vision, to portray each M>parate compartment in' colors at once luminous and true i nor w ill time permit me to do more than merely to point out the extent ami im|M>rtaucc of our pursuits, their influence on individual character, and on na tional prosperity. The objects to which the society hn? deemed it advisable to diroct the nttontioii iif lu mem bers. Imve been distributed into the following classes : 1. Mai he matics and Mechanical Philosophy. The mathematics lurm one of (tie groat foun <)atioii!i of science ; ill their tirHt elements an attainment of indispeufcilde necessity to society, in their higher branches* distinguished lor the sublimity ol' their views, ami the extent ami ? tility of their application. This Bciencc is pe culiarly the science of truth, no doubt lianas upon its nroccjffleg, no uncertainty attends its result. Whatever relates to number* to pro |tuition, to magnitude, it exclusively compre hends. All the branchca of mechaiuca! plillo sophy, mechanic*, optics, hydrodynamics, astro numy, arc hut illustrations of its principles (it the wonderful diversity in which they are appli cable to matter when in motion or at rest. Armed with its intelligence, man reduces to j system the extended movements of the uni verse, reduces to order the crraitic march I es of the planets, brings to measurement their I distances, thci magnitude, their destiny, their velocity ; explains their apparent irregularities and eccentricities, calculates ami determines! the all-pervading power of gravitation, num'? rs the stars in the hrmatneut.aml metes out the li> mits of the constellation*. Tho mathematics give to geography its preci sion, and of course all its value ; they |mint out to the mariner his track on tlie pathless ocean, to the traveller his road through the untrodden w ilderness, to the miner his rout in bin sublet* raneuu journey. Many of the arts of civil, na val and hydraulic, fortification, surveying,navi gation, de'jiend exclusively on their assistance, and most of the machinery tliat gives to man such stupendous power is formed and guided by their principles. Without their aid, society it self, like some neglected column, or tnwor, like Palmyra, or Hubyi on, wuuihl moulder into ruin. In the iuvc ligation of mathematical and geo metrical truths, some of the most profound and sublime efforts of the human intellect have been displayed. Yet, after all tlint has been accom plished, this science is not exhausted ; even in that field which has been explored by the great minds of a Kuclid,an Archimedes, a i'opernicus. a Kepler, a Leibnitz., a Newton, a Killer, a l<a I'lace, there remain many hidden truths. Dis coveries still due to genius, merited rewards for labor. Ami in the application of mathematics to the pursuits and occupations of man, to ma chinery, to the arts, the limits arc perhaps in terminable. i'Itemi.<(rt/f including Elrctricitij} (ialvan hni anil Mineralogy. No science i* an intimately connected with the pursuits of man, or mingles no extensively with Ids occupations, as chemistry. It cmhra ces the whole range of created nature, it coin preheiuls in its researches, all substances aid mate or inanimate j it explore* their elementa ry principles, it unfolds their combinations, i traces their aOinitie*, it ascertains the result of no?v 'ji^ori&tious, new combinations. In every employment wo feci it* influence or want it* aid. Most of our art* and manufacture* have their foundations in the principles of chcumtry, or are guided and enlightened In their progress by chemical researches. In our food, in our medicine, in our clothes, in thp decorations of onf houses, wo trace it* operations. The pro cesses of the dyer, the painter, the gilder, the Slass maker, the potter, the tanner, the distiller, ?e brewer, the baker, arc purely chemical;? and metallurgy, which extracts the metals from their carts and ores, and gives to man theso in ? HtrumcnU of power, exhibit* one of the t?r? uinnhs of chemistry. Gunpowder, which Ims made so great a revolution in military science, and changed the whole artillery of war, is n chemical compound. Tlic power of steam is generated, guided and governed?by chemical {>rocesse?, while the application of its gigantic brco is left to mechanical arrangement. - Chemistry ascertains the nature and proper ties^ those airs or gasses, which exist in the atrajMphere, and perhapui|cradeaU nature| it analyses me comnositioinJ^Rnrtinosphere and endeavors to elucidate its change*. Ilence those modifications of the air, which constitute the science of meteorology, the result of com binations of the gaseous fluids, varied probably by elcrtiic and magnetic influence, become ob ject* of chemical enquiry. Klecti icity, from it* influence on the atinos pliere, from the impossibility of reduring its laws to mathematical calculation, and from it* | (general effect* on chemical analysis and combi | nation ha* been referred to this class. With it [has also necessarily been connccted galvinism. This wonderful modification of electricity, whose very existence is a late discovery, and whose prodigious effects have been bill recently made known, has now become one of the most powerful re-agents of chemixtry. No discovery lit very recent day* has opened so new and ex tensive a fluid of experiment, as the voltaic, or galvanic battery, nor one which hits excited more general or anxious enquiry. It hud long been doubted whether the earths and alkali*, a* known to us, wcro simple elementary substan ces. While some wore thought to have affini ties to.the. acids, others were supposed to con sist either of clement* still more simple and which had not yet been detected, or to be the oxyds of unknown metals. Gulvinism lias part ly'realized these coiijccfeircs. It hasalreadv proved that the alkalis are metallic, oxyds. ft now promises to decompose many of the earths, to render more accurate the knowledge we pos sess of elementary substance*, perhaps to dis cover new elements. Willi every increase of agents, science will possess new powers, and I may .exhibit new combinations, new actions. | new retults. Mineralogy ban also been referred to chemist ry, because, in (lie last ri??or| (he composition and value of all fossils must lie determined by rheisical :inalr?i?. This science, for n long time neglected and abandoned to ignorance and prcjulke, has within a short time obtained the opularilv ami attention it so justly merits. Vbiiul chemistry has been engaged in analysing and tscei taiuinu (he component substances of diftcicut mineral-, men of system have endea vored to nrrange them in natural association*, ami tu discriminate them bv fixed and certain characters, 'l'he systems before the ago uf !?in? uumm scarcely merit attention, and his arrange ment of the mineral kingdom, though exhibit !n? ?f me marks of his profound ami discriminate ing wind, never acquired the celebrity, which his sjfttenif of the vegetable and animal king doms have 80 jiietly ontaiiied. Vet he merits praise for having directed the attention uf mine ralogists to crystallization of minerals. Her man and Wallerius added something to the sci ence | and rousted t had the merit of first ex hibiting a system, formed mi uniform, if not truly correct principles. His classification of minerals is strictly chemical, and although su persede or neglected in tlin extensive discove ries of later year-, is still entiHbd fo attentive consideration. Two more recent systems now occupy and divide public opinion. Undoubtedly one of the most ingenious ami profound systems, which has ever been offered to the attention of the world, is the mineralogy of tlio Abbe llauy. Availing himself of the lights which had been thrown on the science uf crystallography by Linnifus, by Itergman, but principally by Home do Lisle, he has formed a theAry more accurate and more extensively op plicaote to crystallized mineral substances than any of his predecessors. Ascertaining by the mechanical division of different crystals, that each distinct specie.* is cympnsed of homogene ous particles, or.as be terms them, integral mnllecules, he endeavored by a profound com* hiimtiun of mcehuuicul and mathematical skill, to discover the primitive form of each species, whether that form resembled the integral molle cule, or, whether by a combination of those niollerules it assumed a new figure, and then determined by mathematical calculation the ra tio of increment or of decrement, by which these primitive forms could lie made to assume eeah variety of crystalli/.od figure, which in fact it did exhibit, or could po*?ihly exhibit. Adopt ing then the integral mollccute, or primitive form, as the tvpn of each species, he arranged around the primitive species, each modification of the crystal, as distinct varieties. As every I step in tliis process was determined by mathe matical principles, no theory, as far as it ex tends, can be nie'c < oinpletely scientific. It has however some defects j in the first place, of several suedes, uniitiestionably distinct, the integral mollccule, and primitive form* upnear to lie the same, or if nature has really inane a distinction, it is too minute for human invest!*t gation. Thi a."hakes the vary foundation of the! system, which it built on the idea that each dis tinct i|ieciu of mineral haa a primitive form, peculiar to itself. In the second place a great proportion of fossil substances are presented to uh in rude amorphous masses or fragments, ex hibiting; no trace of crystallisation. As it i* im ? possible therefore to"detect the integral molle cuIoh of such substances, they cannot l>o arrang ed under-the system of llnny. It may also Im doubted, singular as the objection hidv appear, whether thin system is not too scicnti)lc to lie come a popular one. For it not only required profound mathematical knowledge, n know ledge very distinct from mineralogy, to discover tlio principles of this theory, but it will require much even to understand it, at least sufficiently I to ascertain new species, or to refer new varie ties to thair proper station around some known primitive form. It has, however, rendered inure extensive and more accurato our knowledge of crystallography, and has enlarged the bounds of science. Widely different Is tlio system of Werner. Founded entirely on external characters, on co lor, figure, lustre, transparency, fracture, weight, and modes of cryKtulli'/.atioii, it in avow edly popular and practical, being established on those qualities most obvious to tlie senses, ami most easily retained by the memory. Its lend * ing principle is to associate in natural croupes, orfumilics, sucti minerals uh ra'ure appears bv their external characters tu lia\e allien, iinmiml fill of their component substances. us determin ed by chemicul analysis. It would indeed ap pear that some of tlio pupils of Werner, with perhaps Werner himself, doubt the accuracy of those analyses which separate substances that seein to In* naturally allied. While this system is liable to the objection of departing widely from ch'.'.micul arrangement, of associating in mime instances fossils whose component par to are materially dissimilar, and id' fccpuruting others that appear in the hand of the chemist to be nearly allied, it has the merit of being strict ly miueralogical. Its descriptions and charac ters are draw n from the obvious features of mi nerals themselves, and not from the collateral lights of chemistry and the mathematics. It Uf.es these sciences, but they do not constitute its foundation : ami it is but justice to remark, that the school of Werner is sirid to have produ ced the best practical mineralogists in Kurope. After all,however, these systems are hut con jectural and tentative : and as we are still obli ged to refer every new substuncc to the labora tory of the chemist, before we can know its con stituent parts, or its value in the arts, or in commerce, mineralogy, however we may ar range our cabinets, or marshal our specimens, must remain a branch of this 44 universal sci i ence." 0. Zoology a ml lintantf. Zoology, oven if you except from it man, the ft rut link mi the chain of terrestrial beings, find tiie most worthy of our investigation, hn? still many claims to our attention. The relation which the more |ierlVct suedes of animals hear in their structure and pnveiology to man, lui? thrown light upon many ofthe obscure functioiiA of the human frame, anil remlent comparative a natomy an object of interesting research, while the imperceptible grade* by which animals de scend on the scale of being: the variations iit their organisation ; the loss of some function* and |Hwers, the acquisition of others t their pe culiar conformation, whether adopted to fly, to run, to *wim, to creep ? their increasing simpli city of structure, and gradual diminution of vi taf power, until the animal, bv insensible tran sition, appears to Ims lost in the vegetable, open a field and afford objects for observation no les* amunini; than instructive : neither in an econo mical view is this study less important. The multiplied relation* rrf rtnaiianimal king dom, his extensive dependence on it fur food, for clothing, for service, for health, ami even for amusement, would seem to require from him a wel| directed attention to their or^ani/.a* lion, their habits, ami economy. Ilow valuable to man would be the domestication of other ani mal*, that in new capacities, or with different powers, should render him as much service a* the horse, the ox, or the sheep. From the other orders of the animal kingdom (besides the main | malia) we derive now many articles that supply the wants and add to the conveniences of civil i/.ed life, and an increased knoy b*d<;e of their history and habit a would enlarge the ammut of their present services, and diminish many of tho evils we suller from them: even Kutou.o'o KY* the most neglected and depreciated branch ol natural history, presents many views of pe culiar intercut to man. To hay nothing of the Milk worm, an inftert so important to luxury* and such a source of wealth to many coin.tries ; of the various) species of |)tla, so valuable a* v^sicatories to medicine ) of the cochineal and fac insect*, (coccus cacti et lucce) so pri/.ed for their costly and brilliant dyen | of the bee, ho interesting from its industry and wonderful eco nomy, as well as from its production*. Insect', from" their numbers, their diversity of habits and of food, their size, are utmost perpetual objects of amusement or annoyance, of profit or of inju ry. Their annoyance and their injuries we feel more sensibly than their benefits i perhaps they are more real t they are certainly more awvious. For, although wo ate fortunately exempt from the desolating march of the locust; we suffer from the ravages of other insects. The injury l which the cotton has sustained from tho larva of a moth, is vull known) the tobacco requires much care to protect it from the larva of a ! sphinx i and every species of grain is liable to attacks from insects at some periods of it<a growth. In our gardens they are more deirtruc? |tiVe than in our fields, and ??> our orchards still more pe^nieiou* th-w in our } '**??! per*