MONTHLY ANTHOLOGY. AUGUST, 1806. I GENTLEMEN, NATURAL HISTORY. To the Editors of the Monthly Anthology. you OBSERVED in your publication, some months ago, a description of the falls of Niagara. Of the view of that wonderful cataract, more justly than of a perusal of Homer or of Milton, may it be said, decies repetita placebit. If therefore think a second picture worth look ing at, you may publish the following. But that you might not turn with disgust, as from an old subject, I have transcribed from my journal an account of two other curiosities in the remote part of New-York. Aug. 25. We had from our host at Onondaga a very copious description of the salt springs, distant only six miles from the Western turnpike, and, altho' the road was unpleasant, we did not regret following his advice to visit them. These springs are on the border of Onondaga lake, and at present above its level; but they are some times covered with the fresh water of the lake. Yet the works are not often retarded by the freshes, as the specifick gravity and strong saline virtue is not diminished, unless the wind blows very hard, We know, that in rivers, as the tide rises, the fresh water often floats above. These springs may perhaps be found in any part of Vol. III. No. 8. 3B the marsh, but there are only six pits sunk. From these are made ninety-two thousand bushels of salt yearly, that pay a duty of four cents per bushel, as the propriety of the soil is claimed by the state; but we may suppose, that no small quantity is carried off, without satisfying that trifling requisition. ducted without system; for the Almost every thing here is congovernment of the state will dispose of the soil only in leases, never exceeding seven years. This may indeed prevent monopoly ; but it also restrains the employment of capital, and diminishes the utility of the gift of nature. The water is raised from the pits by pumps, which have heretofore been worked by men; but this year has so far enlightened the overseers, as to induce them to construct machinery for raising the water to be moved by a horse. From these pumps spouts run to the boiling houses on the bank, about seven or eight feet above the marsh; but as the wood in the im mediate vicinity is nearly exhausted, an aqueduct carries this precious fluid two miles along the bor ders of this fresh water lake. We were told that no Glauber salts could be obtained from the water; but this is the fault of the workmen, rather than the unkindness of nature. They neglect too the manufacture of pot and pearl ashes, carelessly mixing the worth less substance, which first settles in the operation of boiling, with the valuable contents of their ovens. This sediment is collected in a ladle put into the bottom of the kettle, or adheres to the sides, from which it must be removed by an axe before it acquire the thickness of three inches, or it will burst the stoutest of them. The workmen here are miserably poor, commonly selling their salt on the spot at not more than one fourth of a dollar per bushel; and they say ardent liquors are absolutely requisite for their support, for the subterranean blowers at the forges of Vulcan never sweat more. Aug. 27. We turned once more from the great road to visit the sulphur springs, distant about fourteen miles from Geneva. This spot in a Popish country would be called the outlet of hell. These springs are discoverable by the nose, at some seasons, for a mile round; but we were not favoured with the fragrance, more than a quarter of that distance. The road within two or three miles in each direction is as bad, as rocks, stumps, prominent branches and roots of trees, with ruts on the side and holes in the middle, can make. Bridges of large logs, commonly called gridiron bridges, Occasionally intervene to make us regret, that we could no longer be permitted to pass thro' the mud. The springs are very numerous, bursting out in every part of the hill, down which, united, they pour a river of sulphur, running over rocks of sulphur, cloathed with sulphureous moss. This is indeed the appearance, for every thing is soon covered with the slimy matter, deposited by the water; and the virtue, or rather vice of this fluid is so great, as to turn silver black in five minutes. In the bed of the stream are petrefactions, of which the most curious, being leaves and mosses, are torn off with difficulty, and are seldom brought away whole. From one of the springs, nearest the road, the water, which is clear and very cold, is conveyed to the bathing-house. Its taste is disagreeable, but horses drink it with avidity. I think Dr. Morse has said the same for the Ballstown and Saratoga waters; but, though true of the principal spring at the latter place, every body assured me it was incorrect, as to the former. The soil of this hill is very soft,so that one may thrust a stick as far into it, as into the clay pit of a marsh. To the depth of two feet nothing but brimstone is found, partially mixed with fibres of vegetables, and roots of trees," fit to be the mast of some great admiral." Had this place been known to Milton before his blindness, how would his inexhaustible imagination have exulted in the copiousness of description it might have yielded. But the palace of Satan is well situated at present, though it might have found a better scite. There stood a hill not far, whose grisly top Belch'd fire and rolling smoke, the rest entire Shone with a glossy scurf, undoubted sign, The work of sulphur. The accommodations (we must use that word) are not worth the name. A log house is the chief, which contains two rooms; but the owner is building another house Translated for the Anthology from the Cours de Literature of La Harpe. RACINE'S BRITANNICUS. BOILEAU, and that small number of men of taste, who judge and are silent, while the multitude is clamorous and deceived, perceived in this new work an improvement in diction. In that of Andromache, admirable as it is, there was still some traces of youth, some verses which were feeble,incorrect,or neglected. Here every thing carries the impression of maturity. Every thing is masterly, every thing is finished. The conception is vigorous, and the execution without a blemish. Agrippina is represented, as in Tacitus, greedy of power, intriguing, imperious, caring litle to live but to reign, employing equally for her purposes the vices, the virtues, and the weaknesses of all who surround her; flattering Pallas to get possession of Claudius; protecting Britannicus as a check upon Nero; making use of Burrhus and of Seneca to soften the ferocious nature which she dreads in her son, and to conciliate popularity to his government which she shares with him. If she interests Continued from page 348. herself for the consort of Nero, it is from fear that a mistress would have too much influence over him. She even employs the simulation of a maternal tenderness, which she feels not, to recover Nero,who endeavours to escape from her snares. I have but one fon. Oh Heaven, who now hears me! Have I ever made any vows but for him? Remorse, fear, danger, nothing has restrain'd me. I have conquer'd his contempt; I turn'd away my eyes From misfortunes which at that time were an nounc'd to me. I have done all in my power: you reign, that is enough. with my liberty, which you have ravished from me, Provided that by my death this exafperated people Take alfo my life, if you wish it, Would not ravish from you, what has coft me fo dear. This plain and literal translation in prose gives no idea of the original. Je n'ai qu'un fils: O Ciel, qui m'entends aujourd'hui ! T'ai-je fait quelques væus qui ne fussent Remords, craintes, périls, rien, m'a retenue pour lui ? J'ai vaineu ses mépris ; j'ai detournê là que Ne vous ravisse pas ce qui m'a tant couté. What address in these two last lines ! She dares not directly threaten Nero he has already arrested her; he may proceed farther he had before explained himself in such a manner, as to make her understand that he was determined to shake off the yoke ; she dreads to excite the tyger to fury. It was to Burrhus that she said a little before: Let him consider, That by reducing me to the neceffity Of exerting against him my feeble authority, He hazards his own, and that, in the balance, It is enough, I have spoken to him, and every thing is changed. Doutez vous d'une paie dont je fais mon ouvrage ? Il suffit, j'ai parlé, tout a changé de face. Is not this the ordinary policy of all those, who enjoy a borrowed My name perhaps will have more weight than he power? One of the means of pre fufpects. Qu'en me reduisant a la necessité D'essayer contre lui ma faible autorité, Il hazard la sienne, et que dans la balance Mon nom peut-etre aura plus de poils qu'il ne pense. But it is not to Nero that she dare to say, if you attempt my destruction, have a care of yourself. She contents herself with giving him to understand it, in a manner that cannot offend him, and gives to her menaces the tone of interest and friendship. But scarcely has Nero, who dissembles better than his mother, said to her, Very well, speak then: what would you have me do? Eh bien, donc prononcez que voulez vous qu'on fasse ? she reassumes all her pride; as soon as she thinks herself sure of her power, she dictates the law. Punith the prefumption of my accufers; serving it, is to make others believe it. The detail, into which she enters with Junia afterwards, has a double effect; it shews to the specAgrippina abandons herself in the tator the intoxicated pride, to which joy of her new favour, and the profound dissimulation, of which Nero has been capable. I say nothing of the style: it is above all praise. Ah! if you had feen with how many caresses from me ; Non, il le faut ici confesser à sa gloire, Rome encore une fois, va reconnâitre Agrip. Deja de ma faveur on adore le bruit. "They adore the report of my favour"! What happy boldness in the choice of words! And this boldness is so exactly measured, that it appears perfectly simple; reflection alone perceives it: the poet conceals himself under the personage. Finally, when Britannicus, mortally poisoned, has shewn all that might be expected from Nero, Agrippina, who has no resource remaining, thinks only of terrifying him by her fury, Go on, Nero: with such ministers Go on: after this step,you cannot return. I foresee that your strokes will at last reach your mother. From the bottom of your heart I know that you hate me. You wish to throw off the yoke of my benefactions. But I hope that my death will be of no use to you; Think not, that, in dying, I shall leave Rome, these heavens, this light, which sent me before you. You will think to compose them, by other barbarities. Your rage, increasing in its course, Will pollute all your days with fresh streams of blood. But I hope that heaven, at last weary your crimes, of Will add your perdition to so many oth er victims; That, after having defiled yourself with |