Page images
PDF
EPUB

carried on by the fon of Mr. Saunderfon, in the fame fhop, which I had the curiofity to vifit about a year and half ago. In that fituation young Cook did not continue long, before he quitted it in difguft, and, as often happens in the like cafes, betook himself to the fea. Whitby being a neighbouring fea-port, readily offered him an opportunity to pursue his inclination; and there we find he bound him felf apprentice, for nine years, in the coal trade, to one Mr. John Walker, now living in South Whitby. In his employ he after wards became mate of a fhip; in which ftation having continued fome time, he had the offer of being matter, which he refused, as it feems he had at that time turned his thoughts towards the navy. Accordingly, at the breaking out of the war in 1755, he entered on board the Eagle, of fixty-four guns, and in a Short time after Sir Hugh Pallifer was appointed to the command of that ship, a circumftance that must not be paffed unnoticed, as it proved the foundation of the future fame and fortune of Captam Cook. His uncom mon merit did not long escape the obfervation of that difcerning officer, who promoted him to the quarter-deck, and ever after patronized him with fuch zeal and attention, as must refect the highest honour upon his character. To Sir Hugh Pallifer is the world indebted, for having first noticed in an obfcure fituation, and afterwards brought forward in life, the greateft nautical genius that ever any age or country has produced. In the year 1758, we find him mafter of the Northumberland, then in America, under the command of Lord Colville. It was there, he has been heard to fay, that during a hard winter be first read Euclid, and applied himself to the study of aftronomy and the mathematics, in which he made no inconfiderable progrefs, affifted only by his own ingenuity and induftry. At the time he thus found means to cultivate and improve his mind, and to fupply the deficiency of an early education, he was conftantly engaged in the most busy and active fcenes of the war in America. At the fiege of Quebec, Sir Hugh Pallifer made him known to Sir Charles Saun ders, who committed to his charge the condufting of the boats to the attack of mount Morenci, and the embarkation that fcaled the heights of Abraham. He was alfo employed to examine the paffage of the river St. Lau rence, and to lay buoys for the direction of the men of war. In short, in whatever related to the reduction of that place in the naval depart ment, he had a principal fhare, and conducted himself to well throughout the whole, as to recommend himself to the commander in chief. At the conclufion of the war, Sir Hugh Pallifer having the command of the Newfoundland itation, he appointed him to

furvey that Island and the coaft of Labradore, and gave him the Grenville brig for that purpofe. How well he performed that fervice, the charts he has published afford a fufficient teftimony. In that employment he continu ed till the year 1767, when the well known voyage to the South Sea, for obferving the tranfit of Venus, and making discoveries in that vaft ocean, was planned. Lord Hawke, who then prefided at the Admiralty, was ftrongly folicited to give the command of that expedition to Mr. Alexander Dalrymple; but through the sterest of his friend Sir Hugh Pallifer, Captain Cook gained the appointment, together with the rank of lieutenant. It was ftipulated, that on his return he should, if hẹ chofe it, again hold the place of furveyor in Newfoundland, and that his family should be provided for, in cafe of any accident to himfelf.

He failed from England in the Endeavour, in the year 1768, accompanied by Mr. Banks and Dr. Solander, and returned in 1771; after having circumnavigated the globe, made several important difcoveries in the South Sea, and explored the islands of New Zealand, and great part of the coaft of New Holland. The skill and ability with which he conducted this expedition, ranked his name high as a navigator, and could not fail of recommending him to that great patron of naval merit, the Earl of Sandwich, who then prefided at the board of Admiralty. He was promoted to the rank of matter and commander, and a fhort time afterwards, appointed to conduct another expedition to the Pacific Ocean, in fearch of the fuppofed fouthern continent. In this fecond voyage he circumnavigated the globe, determined the non-existence of a fouthern continent, and added many valuable difcoveries to thofe he had before made in the South Sea. His own account of it is before the public, and he is no lefs admired for the accuracy and extensive knowledge which he has difplayed in that work, than for his skill and intrepidity in conducting the expedition. On his return, he was promoted to the rank of post-captain, and appointed one of the captains of Greenwich Hospital. In that retirement he did not continue long: for an active life beft fuiting his difpofition, he offered his fervices to conduct a third expedition to the South Sea, which was then in agitation, in or der to explore a northern paffage from Europe to Afia: in this he unfortunately lost his life, but not till he had fully accomplished the ob ject of his voyage.

The character of Captain Cook will be best exemplified by the fervices he has performed, which are univerfally known, and have ranked his name above that of any navigator of ancient or of modern tinies, Nature had en

dowed

him with a mind vigorous and comprehensive, which in his riper years he had cultivated with care and industry. His general knowledge was extenfive and various: in that of his own profeffion he was unequalled. With a clear judgment, ftrong mafculine fenfe, and the most determined refolution; with a genius peculiarly turned for enterprize, he purfued his object with unfhaken perfeverance: -vigilant and active in an eminent degree; cool and intrepid among dangers; patient and firm under difficulties and diftrefs; fertile in expedients; great and original in all his defigus; active and refolved in carrying them into execution; these qualities rendered him the animating fpirit of the expedition: in every fituation, he flood unrivalled and alone; on him all eyes were turned; he was our leading ftar, which at its fetting left us involved in darkness and defpair.

His conftitution was ftrong, his mode of living temperate why Captain King should not fuppofe temperance as great a virtue in him as in any other man, I am unable to guess. He had no repugnance to good living; he always kept a good table, though he could bear the reverse without murmuring. He was a modest man, and rather bashful; of an agreeable lively converfation, fenfible and intelligent. In his temper he was fomewhat hafty, but of a difpofition the moft friendly, benevolent, and humane. His perfon was above fix feet high, and though a good-looking man, he was plain both in addrefs and appearance. His head was fmall; his hair, which was of a dark brown, he wore tied behind. His face was full of expreffion; his nofe exceedingly well fhaped; his eyes, which were small and of a brown caft, were quick and piercing; his eye-brows prominent, which gave his countenance all together an air of aufterity.

He was beloved by his people, who looked up to him as to a father, and obeyed his commands with alacrity. The confidence

we placed in him was unremitting; our admiration of his great talents unbounded; our esteem for his good qualities affectionate and fincere.

In exploring unknown countries, the dangers he had to encounter were various and uncommon. On fuch occafions, he always difplayed great prefence of mind, and a steady perfeverance in purfuit of his object. The acquifition he has made to our knowledge of the globe is immenfe, befides improving the art of navigation, and enriching the science of natural philosophy.

He was remarkably distinguished for the activity of his mind: it was that which enabled him to pay an unwearied attention to every object of the fervice. The strict ceconomy he observed in the expenditure of the fhip's stores, and the unremitting care he employed for the prefervation of the health of his people, were the causes that enabled him to profecute difcoveries in remote parts of the globe, for fuch a length of time as had been deemed impracticable by former navigators. The method he discovered for preferving the health of feamen in long voyages, will tranf-mit his name to pofterity as the friend and he nefactor of mankind: the fuccefs which attended it, afforded this truly great man more fatisfaction, than the diftinguished fame that attended his difcoveries.

England has been unanimous in her tribute of applaufe to his virtues, and all Europe has borne teftimony to his merit. There is hardly a corner of the earth, however remote and favage, that will not long remember his be nevolence and humanity. The grateful Indian, in time to come, pointing to the herds grazing his fertile plains, will relate to his children how the firft tock of them was introduced into the country; and the name of Cock will be remembered among those benign fpirits, whom they worship as the fource of every good, and the fountain of every bletfing.

ESSAY on the RISE and PROGRESS of CHEMISTRY. [From Dr. WATSON'S "CHEMICAL ESSAYS."] THE HE beginnings of every art which tend

ed either to supply the neceffities, or to alleviate the more prefling inconveniences of human life, were probably coeval with the first establishment of civil focieties, and preceded by many ages the invention of letters, of hieroglyphics, and of every other mode of tranfmitting to pofterity the memory of paft transactions. In vain should we enquire who invented the first plough, baked the first bread, shaped the first pot, wove the first garment, or hollowed out the first canoe. Whether men were originally left, as they are at pre

fent, to pick up cafual information concern. ing the properties of bodies, and to investigate by the strength of natural genius the various relations of the objects furrounding them; or were, in the very infancy of the world, fupernaturally affifted in the difcovery of matters effential, as it should feem, to their existence and well-being, must ever remain unknown

to us.

There can be little doubt that in the space of, at least, 1656 years, from the creation of the world to the deluge, a great variety of œconomical arts must have been carried to a Very

[ocr errors]

very confiderable degree of perfection. The knowledge of many of these perished, in all likelihood, with the then inhabitants of the earth; it being fcarcely poffible for that fingle family which efcaped the general ruin to have either practifed, or been even fuperficially acquainted with them all. When men have been long united in civil focieties, and human nature has been exalted by a reciprocal communication of knowledge, it does not often happen, that any useful invention is intirely loit: but were all the prefent inhabitants of the earth, except eight perfons, to be deftroyed by one fudden calamity, who fees not that most of thofe ferviceable and elegant arts, which at prefent conftitute the employment, and contribute to the happiness of the greatest part of the human race, would probably be buried in long oblivion? Many centuries might flip away before the new inhabitants of the globe would again become acquainted with the nature of the compafs, with the arts of painting, printing, or dying, of making porcelain, gun-powder, fteel, or brafs.

the antediluvians. It is faid, indeed, that fome tribes of Hottentots (who can have no pretenfions to be ranked amongst the cultivators of the arts) know how to melt both iron and copper †; but this knowledge of theirs, if they have not derived it from an intercourfe with the Europeans, is a very extraordinary circumstance, fince the melting and manufacturing of metals are justly confidered, in general, as indications of a more advanced state of civilization than the Hottentots have yet arrived at. But not to dwell upon this; Cain we know built a city, and fome would thence infer, that metals were in ufe before the time of Tubal Cain, and that he is celebrated principally for his ingenuity in fabricating them for domeftic purpofes. Hiftory feems to fupport our pretenfions thus far. As to the opinion of those who, too zealously contending for the dignity of chemistry, make the dif. covery of its myfteries to have been the pretium amoris which angels paid to the fair daughters of men, we in this age are more difpofed to apologize for it than to adopt it. We may fay of arts what Livy the Roman historian has faid of states-datur hæc venia antiquitati, ut, mifcendo humana divinis, primordia artin ʼn auguftiora faciat.

For many ages after the flood we have no certain accounts of the ftate of chemistry. The art of making wine indeed was known, if not before foon after the deluge: this may be collected from the intoxication of Noab, there being no inebriating quality in the unfermented juice of the grape. The Egyptians were skilled in the manufacturing of me

The interval of time which elapfed from the beginning of the world to the first deluge, is reckoned by profane hiftorians to be wholly uncertain as to the events which happened in it it was antecedent, by many centuries, not only to the era when they supposed hiftory to commence, but to the most diftant ages of heroifm and fable. The only account relative to it, which we can rely on, is contained in the firft tix chapters of the book of Genefis; three of which being employed in the hiftory of the creation, and of the fall of man ; ́and a fourth containing nothing buttals, in medicinal chemistry, and in the art of a genealogical narration of the Patriarchs from Adam to Noah; it cannot reasonably be expected, that the other two should enable us to trace the various fteps by which the human intellect advanced in the cultivation of arts and sciences, or to afcertain, with mach precition, the time when any of them was first introduced into the world. It was fomewhat remarkable, that from this account, thort as it is, the chemifts fhould be authorized, with fome propriety, to exalt the anti-, quity of their art to the earliest times. Tubal-car is there mentioned as an instructor of every artificer in copper and iron. This ⚫ circumstance proves beyond difpute, that one part of metallurgic chemistry was well known at that time; for copper and iron are, of all the metals, moftdifficult to be extracted from their ores, and cannot, even in our days, be rendered malleable without much fkill or trouble; and it proves alfo, that the arts in general were in an improved state amongst

Gen. iv. 22.

embalming dead bodies, long before the time of Mofes, as appears from the mention made of Jofeph's cup §, and from the physicians being ordered to embalm the body of Jacob ||. They practised alfo the arts of dying and of making coloured glafs at a very early period, as has been gathered not only from the testimeny of Strabo, but from the relics found with their mummies, and from the glass beads with which their mummies are fometimes ftudded. But we cannot from thefe inftances conclude that chemistry was then cultivated as a feparate branch of science, or diftinguished in its application, from a variety of other arts which must have been exercised for the fupport and convenience of human life. All of thefe had probably fome dependence on chemical principles, but they were then, as they are at prefent, practifed by the several artifts without their having any theoretical knowledge of their respective employments. Nor can we pay much attention in this inquiry to the ob

*Forster's Voy. vol. i. p. 81.

Gen. xliy. 2.2

Gen. 1. 2.

Gen. ix. 21.

fcure

fcure accounts which are given of the two great Egyptian philofophers, Hermes the elder, fuppofed to be the fame with Mizraim, grandfon of Noah; and Hermes, furnamed Trifme. giftus the younger, from whom chemistry has by fome been affectedly called the Hermetic

art.

The chemical skill of Mofes difplayed in his burning, reducing to an impalpable powder, and rendering potable the golden calf in the wilderness, has been generally extolled by writers on this fubject; and constantly adduced as a proof of the then flourishing state of chemistry amongst the Egyptians, in whofe learning he is faid to have been well verfed. If Mofes had really reduced the gold of which the calf confifted, into afhes, by calcining it in the fire, or made it in any other way foluble in water, this inftance would have been greatly in point; but neither in Exodus nor in Deuteronomy, where the fact is mentioned, is there any thing faid of its being diffolved in water. The enemies of revelation on the other hand, conceiving it to be poffible to calcine gold, or to render it potable, have produced this account as containing a proof of the want of veracity in the facred historian. Both fides feem to be in an error; Stahl and other chemifts have shewn, that it is poffible to make gold potable; but we have no reafon to conclude that Mofes either ufed the procefs. of Stahl, or any other chemical means for effecting the purpose intended-be took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and firewed it upon the water, and made the children of Ifrael to drink of it. Here is not the leaft intimation given of the gold having been diffolved, chemically speaking, in water; it was stamped and ground; or, as the Arabic and Syriac verfions have it, filed into a fine duft, and thrown into the river of which the children of Ifrael ufed to drink: part of the gold would remain, notwithstanding its greater fpecific gravity, fufpended for a time, (as bappens in the washing of copper and lead ores) and might be fwallowed in drinking the water; the reft would fink to the bottom, or he carried away by the flux of the stream.

Nevertheless, though nothing fatisfactory can be concluded concerning the Egyptian chemistry from what is faid of Mofes in this inftance, yet the structure of the ark, and the fashion of Aaron's garments, clearly indicates to us that the arts of manufacturing metals, of dying leather red and linen blue, purple, and karlet; of diftinguifhing precious ftones, and engraving upon them, were at that time practifed in a very eminent degree †. The Ifraelites

* Exod. xxxii. 20,

had unquestionably learned these arts in Egypt, and there is great reason to suppose, not only that learning of every kind first flourished in Egypt, but that chemistry, in particular, was much cultivated in that country when other fciences had paffed into other parts of the world. Pliny, in speaking of the four periods of learning which had preceded the times in which he lived, reckons the Egyptian the first and Suidas, who is thought to have lived in the tenth century, informs us, that the Emperor Diocletian ordered all the books of chemistry to be burned, left the Egyptians, learning from them the art of preparing gold and filver, fhould thence derive refources to oppofe the Romans. It is worthy of notice, that Suidas ufes the word chemistry in a very reftricted fenfe, when he interprets it by -the preparation of gold and filver;-but all the chemifts in the time of Suidas, and for many ages before and after him, were alchemifts. The edict of Diocletian in the third century, had little effect in repreffing the ardour for this study in any part of the world, fince we are told that not lefs than five thoufand books, to fay nothing of manuscripts, have been published upon the subject of alchemy fince his time .

At what particular period this branch of chemistry, refpecting the tranfmutation of the bafer metals into gold, began to be distinguished by the name of alchemy, cannot be determined, An author of the fourth century, in an aftrological work, fpeaks of the fcience of alchemy as well understood at that time; and this is faid to be the first place in which the word alchemy is ufed. But Voffius afferts, that we ought, in the place here referred to, inftead of alchemia to read chemia. Be this as it may, we can have no doubt of alchemia being compounded of the Arabic al (the) and chemia, to denote excellence and fuperiority, as in al-manack, al-koran, and other words. Whether the Greeks invented, or received from the Egyptians, the doctrine concerning the tranfmutation of metals, or whether the Arabians were the first who profeffed it, is uncertain. To change iron, lead, tin, copper, quickfilver, into gold, feems to be a problem more likely to animate mankind to attempt its folution, than either that of fquaring the circle, or of finding out a perpetual motion; and as it has never yet been proved, perhaps never can be proved, to be an impoffible problem, it ought not to be efteemed a matter of wonder, that the first chemical books we meet with, are almost intirely employed in alchemical inquia ries.

[blocks in formation]

Chemistry, with the rest of the fciences, being banished from the other parts of the world, took refuge among the Arabians. Geber in the feventh, or as fome will have it in the eighth, and others in the ninth century, wrote feveral chemical, or rather alchemical, books in the Arabic. In these works of Geber are contained such useful directions concerning the manner of conducting diftillation, calcination, fublimation, and other chemical operations, and fuch pertinent obfervations refpecting various minerals, as juftly seem to entitle him to the character, which fome have given him, of being the father of chemistry; though, in one of the most celebrated of his works, he modeftly acknowledges himself to have done little elfe than abridge the doctrines of the ancients concerning the tranfmutation of metals. Whether he was preceded by Mefue and Rhazes, or followed by them, is not in the prefent inquiry a matter of much importance to determine, fince the fore-mentioned phyficians, as well as Avicenna, who, from all accounts, was pofterior to Geber, fpeak of many chemical preparations, and thus thoroughly establish the opinion, that medi. cal chemistry, as well as alchemy, was in thofe dark ages well understood by the Ara

bians.

Towards the beginning of the thirteenth century, Albert the Great in Germany, and Roger Bacon in England, began to cultivate chemistry with fuccefs, excited thereto, pro. bably, by the perufal of fome Arabic books, which about that time were tranflated into Latin. These two monks, especially the lat ter, feem to have as far exceeded the common ftandard of learning in the age in which they lived, as any philofophers who have ap peared in any country either before their time or fince. They were fucceeded in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, by a great many eminent men, both of our own country and foreigners, who, in applying themselves to alchemy, made, incidentally, many uteful difcoveries in various parts of chemistry. Such were Arnoldus de Villa Nova in France; our countryman George Ripley; Raymond Lully of Majorca, who first introduced, or at leaft more largely explained, the notion of an univerfal medicine; and Bafile Valentine, whofe excellent book, inti uled, Carrus Antimonii triumphalis, has contributed more than any thing elle to the introduction of that useful mineral into the regular practice of most phyficians in Europe it has given occafion alfo to a variety of beneficial, as well as (a circumftance which might be expected, when fo ticklish a

* Opera Mineralia explicata, p. 10.

[ocr errors]

mineral fell into the hands of interested empirics) to many pernicious noftrams. To this, rather than to the arrogant feverity with which Bafile Valentine treats the phyficians his cotemporaries, may we attribute the cenfure of Boerhaave, who, in fpeaking of him, fays, "he erred chiefly in this, that he commend"ed every antimonial preparation, than which "nothing can be more foolish, fallacious, and "dangerous; but this fatal error has infected every medical fchool from that time to "this."

66

[ocr errors]

The attempting to make gold or filver by alchemical processes had been prohibited by a conftitution of Pope John XXII, who was ele vated to the pontificate in the year 1316; and, within about one hundred and twenty years from the death of Friar Bacon, the nobility and gentry of England had become so infatuated with the notions of alchemy, and wafted fo much of their fubftance in fearch of the philofopher's ftone, as to render ti interpofition of guvernment necessary to reftrain their folly. The following act of parliament, which Lord Cake calls the fhorteft he ever met with, was pafled Hen. IV. None from henceforth fhall 5 "fue to multiply gold or filver, or use the craft "of multiplication; and if any the fame do, he "shall incur the pain of felony.” It has been suggested, that the reason of paffing this act was not an apprehenfion left men should ruin their fortunes by endeavouring to make gold, but a jealousy left government should be above afking aid of the fubject. "After Ra mond Lully and Sir George Ripley had to largely multiplied gold, the Lords and Com. mons, conceiving fome danger that the Regency, having fuch immenfe treafure at command, would be above afking aid of the fubject, might become too arbitrary and tyrannical, made an act against multiplying gold and filver." This act, whatever might be the oc cafion of paffing it, though it gave fome ob ftruction to the public exercite of alchemy, yet it did not cure the difpofition for it in individuals, nor remove the general credulity; for, in the 35 Hen. VI. letters patent were granted to feveral people, by which they were permitted to inveftigate an univerûl medicine, and to perform the tranfmutation of metals into real gold and filver, with a non-obstante of the fore-mentioned statute, which remained in full force till the year 168.. when, being conceived to operate to the d.zcouragement of the melting and refining of metals, it was formally repealed †. [To be continued.]

+ Mr. Boyle is taid by his int reft to have procured the repeal of this fingular statute, and to have been probably induced thereto, in confequence of his having been perfuaded of the poffibility of the tranfmutation of metals into gold. See his life prefixed to the follo edit, në his works, p. 83.

An

« PreviousContinue »