Gold is obtained in a pure or native state more frequently than any other metal-and, on account of its amazing ductility—malleability—and not being liable to rust, would acquire a value and importance of itself not easily to be estimated, even had it not become, as it has, by the consent of civilized nations, the principal representative of wealth and riches.* Very different in point of tenacity, is that wonderful in great abundance; and, in modern times, the New World is the richest in, and furnishes the greatest supplies of, this potent metal. To come nearer home, gold has been found at different periods in several parts of Ireland, particularly among the mountains of Wicklow. Gold is occasionally found in Cornwall, and other places of England. Some fine specimens of native English gold have been very recently presented to the Royal Institution by Sir Christopher Hawkins. They were found while streaming for tin, at Ladock, in Cornwall; some of the pieces weigh sixty grains. Native English gold has also been found lately in Devonshire, by Mr Flexman of South Moulton. And it is asserted, that, at the marriage of James V. there were covered dishes filled with coins made of Scottish gold, and that a portion of these was presented to each of the guests by way of dessert !—It would seem that this valuable metal was collected, at a very early period, in the mining-field at Leadhills, where the trenches and heaps of soil that were then turned up, and other indications, still point out the spot where the operations were carried on. • So exceedingly ductile and tenacious is this metal, that an ounce of gold upon silver wire, is capable of being extended without break or fissure, to more than 1,500 miles in length; and a piece of gold weighing not more than 16 ounces, which in the form of a cube, would not measure more than one and one-fourth inch on each side, it is asserted, would completely gild a silver wire in length sufficient to encircle the earth! Leaves of gold may be beaten so thin, that a single grain may be beaten into 56 leaves, each an inch square; and it is possible to conceive, that it may be beaten or extended so as to cover a greater space, as the gold leaf which is used to cover silver wire, is but a twelfth part of that thickness! ly subtile and insinuating metallic fluid, which separates under the slightest degree of pressure, and flies before the touch-Mercury, or quicksilver; whose accidental discovery in the cooper's tub at Idria, in Carniola, gave rise to the celebrated mines of that name. . The principal mines of Mercury, are said to be those, of Deux-ponts on the Rhine-of Almaden in Spainof Idria in Carniola-and, in the New World, of Guanca Velica in Peru. The most valuable of which are, however, supposed to be those of Idria, celebrated for the accidental discovery by which they came to light,' as above noticed-celebrated for their great depth and subterraneous passages-celebrated as the occasional prison of state criminals under the Austrian government, but no less celebrated, nay immortalized, by that beautiful display of conjugal affection, exhibited to the world as a never fading and endearing trophy to the honour of her sex, in the conduct of the Countess Alberti, who, when every effort to procure her hus band's pardon had failed, chose rather to accompany him to those hopeless regions of premature interment, ** The discovery of this mine, which took place somewhat more than 300 years ago, arose from the following accidental circumstance. This part of the country, was at that time much inhabited by coopers; and: one of them, on retiring from work in the evening, placed a new tub at which he had been working, under a dropping spring, to try if it would hold water; and, when he came in the morning, he found it so heavy, that he could scarcely move it. Examining into the cause, he found that it was owing to a shining and ponderous fluid which was at the bottom. The affair was noised abroad, and a society of persons was formed to search farther, who discovered the mine from which the quicksilver had flowed. and to share his miseries in a living tomb, than to be separated from him.* Next to platina and gold, mercury is the heaviest of all known metals; but it has these singular properties, by which it differs from every other metallic body, that, in our climate, it always, unless frozen by artificial means, appears in a fluid state, and to be capable of division, What say ye to this, ye heartless libellers of the sex-and to the heroic conduct of Madame Lavalette, who submitted to the horrors of a criminal prison, that her husband might escape the fate which awaited him. Ay! what say ye to these, ye callous and unprincipled wit lings of the age—who, because a few of the more inconsiderate of that class, which, an Apostle has thought proper to designate as the weaker, (and which has, therefore, a superior claim on your sympathy and protection from insult,) have fallen a too easy prey to your seductive wiles, and, in consequence, must submit to a state of degradation, which excludes them from the society of the virtuous part of the community of both sexes, deal indiscriminately, and unblushingly, your general invec tives against that, so very interesting portion of our species, whose endearing qualities in domestic life, whether in society or virtuous seclusion, can never be sufficiently appreciated or estimated by those who have experienced such blessings, and justly entitle them to the noble appellation, of the best boon that Heaven in its mercy has bestowed upon man-to sweeten the toils-lessen the cares-smooth the anxie ties-alleviate the griefs-soothe the anguish, and ease and soften, by their many tender offices in sickness, and on a death-bed-the pains and agonizing sufferings of life! The ores of mercury have been found only in small quantities in France; and never, it is said, has this mineral appeared in this country, except in the instance of what was discovered by the workmen in digging out the clay for the foundation of a house opposite the King's Arms Inn, in Berwick-upon-Tweed, about 40 years ago;—and mak ing some alterations in the yard of the same house, within these few years, it is said, the workmen, in penetrating to the same clay, found it impregnated with mercury.—Commercial Magazine, Vol. II. p. 204. by the least effort, into an indefinite number of particles, or rather globules, as each of them, the moment they are separated, assume a spherical form.* Silver, although less generally diffused, is far more abundant than gold, and possesses, in a considerable degree, many of the properties of that valuable metal, It is met with in many countries of the world; but while gold is to be found in the greatest abundance in the warmer regions, the principal mines of this beautifully white, brilliant, sonorous, and ductile metal, are situated in the colder climates.† * Mercury has also the property of being combined and uniting with other substances. Its combinations with other metals, are called Amalgams. Corrosive sublimate, is an extremely poisonous preparation from mercury; and that beautiful red colour, or pigment, called Ver milion, is formed from a combination of mercury and sulphur. †The most celebrated silver-mines in Europe and Asia, being placed in northern latitudes, while those of Peru and Mexico, though lyly within the tropics, are, by their great elevation in the centre of the Cordilleras, surrounded by regions of eternal snow. A small quantity of native silver, was lately discovered in the mines of Cornwall; and, some years ago, a vein of silver-ore was wrought for a short time in the parish of Alva, in Stirlingshire, in Scotland, from whence, it is said, 40 to 50,000 pounds worth of silver was ex tracted before the ores were exhausted. But what is that to the produce of the silver mines of Potosi, which is considered by the Spaniards as the purest that is known. A range of mountains near that place, about twenty miles in circumference, is said to be perforated by more than 300 shafts, or openings of mines, and to produce, in the whole, from 30,000 to 40,000 dollars worth of ore per week. The annual produce of the silver mines in the whole of America, have been estimated at L.2,400,000 Sterling! In the year 1790, we are informed, there were 784 silver mines, and 69 of gold, working in Peru. There were, besides, 4 of quicksilver, as many of copper, and 12 of lead. Next to platina and gold, silver is accounted the most unchangeable of all metals. It is nearly as malleable and ductile as the latter, and more so than the former.* Copper, you will observe, is one of the metallic substances which are distributed most widely over the globe, and in many places it is found in great abundance. It exists in all the different states of metallic ores, in va rious other shapes, and in the state of native copper. Copper is distinguished as the most sonorous of all me tals; and, except iron, the most elastic.f Silver may be beaten into leaves so thin, that a single grain of it in weight, may be made to cover more than 51 inches, and may be drawn into wire much finer than a human hair, without breaking! The ar ticle called Lunar Caustic, is a preparation of silver-and what is called indelible, or permanent marking-ink, is a preparation from the latter. + There are valuable mines of this invaluable mineral in every quar ter of the globe; but the purest to be obtained in Europe, is said to be the produce of the celebrated mines of Dalecarlia, a province of Swe den. One of which, said to be among the number of the most extedsive, and productive in the world, that at Fahlun, with the terrible combustion that had taken place in the mine, at the time he visited it, is well described by our countryman Dr Clarke. In Siberia, in Asia, there are two principal copper-mines, both si tuated in the extensive chain of the Uralian mountains, and from one of them, the splendid specimens of malachite, one of the varieties of copper ore, which adorn the cabinets of the mineralogist, are obtained. Mines of copper have been discovered in various parts of Africa. In North America, masses of native copper are frequently met with near Hudson's Bay; and although the United States are, as yet, supplied with copper chiefly from foreign countries, "ores of this metal exist in most of the States ; and, in the north-west territory, are said to be int great abundance, in situations of easy access." In South America, the copper-mines are uncommonly rich, and, it is supposed, far exceed those of Europe. Even in the inhospitable regions of Greenland, and in that country of ice, as its name implies, Iceland, this mineral is to |