these sounds. In such cases, I think it will not be denied, that when we discover our mistake, the sounds are no longer fublime.

There is nothing more common than for people who are afraid of thunder, to mistake some very common and indifferent found for it; as the rumbling of a cart, or the rattling of a carriage. While their miftake continues, they feel the found as fublime: the moment they are undeceived, they are the first to laugh at their error, and to ridicule the found which occafioned it. Children at first are as much alarmed at the thunder of the stage, as at real thunder. Whenever they find that it is only a deception, they amuse themselves with mimicking it. It may be observed also, that very young children show no symptoms of fear or admiration at thunder, unless perhaps when it is painfully loud, or when they fee other people alarmed about them, obviously from their not having yet affociated with it the idea of danger; and perhaps also from this cause, that our imagination assists the report, and makes it appear much louder than it really is; a circumstance which seems to be confirmed by the common mistake we make of very inconfiderable noises for it. Miftakes in the same manner are often made in those countries where earthquakes are common, between very inconfiderable founds, and that low rumbling found which is faid to precede such an event. There' cannot be a doubt, that the moment the miftake is discovered, the noise ceases to be sublime. In all other cafes of the fame kind, where mistakes of this nature happen, or where we are deceived by imitation, I believe it is agreeable to every person's experience, that while the mistake continues, the sounds affect us as fublime; but that as soon as we are undeceived, and that the fign is found not to be accompanied with the qualities usually

signified, it ceases immediately to affect us with any emotion. If any founds were in themselves fublime, or fitted by the constitution of our nature to produce this emotion, independently of all association, it would seem that there could be no change of our emotion, and that these sounds would as permanently produce their correspondent emotion, as the objects of every other sense produce their correspondent ideas.

In all cafes, however, where these associations are either accidental or temporary, and not as in the former cafe, permanent in their nature, it will be found that sounds are fublime only, when they are expressive of qualities capable of producing fome powerful emotion, and that in all other cafes the same sounds are simply indifferent. In fome of the inftances formerly mentioned, where common or vulgar founds are rendered fublime by association, it is obvious that the same sounds in general, when they have no fuch expression to us, are very different from fublimity. The buzz of flies, the dropping of water, the found of a hammer, the dashing of an oar, and many others which might eafily be mentioned, are in general sounds absolutely indifferent, and fo far from possessing any fublimity in themselves, that it might be difficult at first to perfuade any man that they could be made so. Their fublimity therefore can only be attributed to the qualities which they fignify.

There are few founds, in the fame manner, much more fublime, than the striking of a clock at midnight. In other fituations the very fame found is altogether different in its expreffion. In the morning it is cheerful,

at noon indifferent, or at least unnoticed; in the evening plaintive,at night only fublime. In the tolling of a bell, the found is uniformly the fame; yet fuch a found has very different expressions, from the peculiar purpofes

purposes to which it is applied. The passing bell, and the funeral bell, alone are fublime. The whistling of the wind in an autumnal, or in a wintry night, is often felt as fublime, and has accordingly been frequently introduced into poetical descriptions of a similar character. The nicest ear, however, is unable to diftinguish any difference betwixt this found, in the feasons before-mentioned, and in spring or fummer, when, if it has any character at all, it has a character very different from fublimity. The trumpet is very generally employed in scenes of magnificence or folemnity. The found of the trumpet in such situations is accordingly very fublime, and seems to us to be expressive of that folemnity or magnificence. This instrument, however, as every one knows, is very often degraded to mean offices. In such cases, the found is altogether indifferent, if not contemptible. The bagpipe has, to a Scotch Highlander, no inconfiderable degree of fublimity, from its being the martial instrument of the country, and of confequence afsociated with many spirited and many magnificent images. To the rest of the world, the found of this instrument is at best but barely tolerable. They who are acquainted with the history of superstition, will recollect many instances where founds have become fublime from this association, which to the rest of mankind were very infignificant, and which have become also in

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fignificant both to individuals and to nations, when the superstitions upon which their expression was founded had ceafed.

There are several other confiderations, from which the principle I here endeavour to illustrate might be confirmed, -the uniform connection between fublime founds, and fome quality capable of producing emotion, and the impoffibility of finding an instance where found is fublime, independently of all association, - the great difference in the number of sounds that are sublime to the common people, and men of cultivated or poetical imagination, and the difference which every man feels in the effect of fuch sounds in producing this emotion, according to the particular state of his own mind, or according to the particular strength or weakness of his sensibility to the qualities which fuch sounds express. But I am unwilling to anticipate the reader in speculations which he can so eafily prosecute for himself. If the illustrations I have already offered are just; if founds of all kinds are fublime, when they are expressive of any qualities capable of producing strong emotions; and if no sounds continue to be fublime, when they cease to be expressive of such qualities, it is, I think reasonable to conclude, that the fublimity of fuch founds is to be afcribed, not to the mere quality of found, but to those associated qualities of which it is significant.

acid, and a phlogiston, or inflammable principle. The peculiar odour of this water is somewhat nauseous and empyreumatic, but is not fo fetid as to cause reaching, even in the most delicate. This odour proceeds from the essential qualities of a native fulphur, but sointimately united with the elementary principle of the wa

ter

ter, that no fulphur, in a material and substantial form, can be obtained from it by human skill. Some attempts have been made to imitate these waters, and to substitute an artificial composition in their place. I will venture to affure them they will have their labour for their pains, as Boerhaave says on a like occafion, Amici, oleum et otium perdidimus. Wherein foever the medical energy and virtue of this water consists, it cannot be imitated by any fophisticated compofitions whatever. This aetherial volatile spirit, on which the fuperior excellence of the water depends, is of a fugitive nature, and quick ly evaporates when exposed to the air: But the fountain being now inclosed, this aetherial gas is confined, and the water raised, by means of a pump, in its greatest purity and perfection, and is no small improvement of the water to what it was when exposed to the open air. It ought likewise to be observed, that here are no mercenary ends nor exactions; no allurements to expence, vice, or diffipation; and no more than just accommodations for the patients and invalids who come for the benefit of the water.

A pellicle, which appears like a black scum on the furface of the water, is a fort of hepar, the heaviest part of which, by its gravity, precipitates to the bottom, and is washed away with the common fludge; the lighter particles are diffolved, and mix with the mineral water, which is fomewhat lighter than common water, and does not mix with it with out shaking. Now that the water is inclosed, and under cover, it is not exposed to fuffer by evaporation. Those who drink the water in a morning find it stronger and more poignant to the taste. Beside the above ingredients, there is likewise found, by evaporation, a small portion of an earthy refiduum, which is not pecu

liar to these waters, as fome earthy particles are to be found in all waters, even the meteoric, and much more the terrestrial. This is no where more evident than in the common water about London, which abounds in a calcareous earthy matter; by which their tea-kettles, and other kitchen utenfils used in boiling and dressing victuals, are coated with a white thick crust. A white saline efflorescence may be seen upon the grass, like a hoar frost in the meadows, when dry after the autumnal rains, where the waters have stagnated. By fome this is accounted nits rous; but, being quite infipid, it feems to be a mere earthy calx. When employed in analysing St Bernard's Well, I received the following report:

Dear Sir,

Agreeable to your request, I have analysed the water of St Bernard's Well, and find it very little different from what you mentioned. My observations are as follows: The water is something lighter than common water; by being exposed to the air, it loses its empyreumatic fmell, and, I believe, a good deal of its virtue. After evaporation, a small quantity of oily and faline particles remains behind, and tastes like bittern: There is likewife a small portion of an earthy substance. A blackish hepatic scum fwims on the furface; but, after stirring, it vanishes. All these impurities, in my opinion, seem to affect the water very little, and give it no purging quality. This water, when exposed a short space in the fun, loses all its mineral qualities, and becomes soft and tasteless, like common water. When mixed with nitre, it becomes sensibly colder; but, after standing, and the nitre subsiding, it recovers the atmospheric temperature. As to the other properties of the water, my opinion coincides with

with our food, and affimulated in our stomachs, they exert their efficacy in the prima via, stimulating the digeftive powers, when too flow and ianguid; and checking the natural functions, when too quick and precipitate; diluting the juices, and relaxing the solids, when too rigid. They strengthen the whole system, gradually promoting the action and reaction of the solids and fluids upon each other, upon which the health depends; and

tice, by which, during their operation, at least the insensible perspiration is lessened, if not fufpended, and leaves a sense of laffitude and dejection; but these waters, on the contrary, being flow and gradual in their operation, infinuate into the most remote stages of circulation, break and attenuate all viscid and preternatural cohesions; and by their fubtilty penetrate through the whole system, not only removing crudity, and affifting digestion in the stomach and first passages, but cleansing the glandular system, and carrying their noxious contents by their respective emunctories out of the habit, without pain or fatigue; on the contrary, the patient feels himself lightsome and chearful, and by degrees, an increase to his general health, strength, and spirits.

The water of St Bernard's Well operates for the most part as a strong diuretic. If drunk in a large quantity, it becomes gently laxative, and powerfully promotes infenfible perspiration. It likewife has a wonderfully exhilarating influence on the faculties of the mind,

General Efficacy of the Mineral Water. THE usefulness and efficacy of these waters will be best ascertained by the attestation of those who have actually received benefit by using them. If used to our meals, at first they are unpalatable; but from use become pleasant and agreeable. enough. By this means, mingling

cacy upon different persons in a different manner; in some acting as a diuretic, in others as a laxative, in many as a diaphoretic, but beneficial in all, when properly administered. If at first drinking they create a naufea, it is not owing to any emetic quality in the waters, but to a crudity or foulness of the stomach; sometimes a looseness will ensue; this proceeds from a colluvies of indigefted food in the alimentary canal, which is hereby expelled and evacuated. Sometimes the more delicate may feel an head-ach after drinking, and a giddiness, which is but of short continuance, and goes off by moderate exercife. This sensation is owing to the volatile and spirituous parts of the water, which naturally afcend and affect the sensorium, but soon alter their direction, and open the whole glandular system to perform its natural functions. They chiefly take to the skin, which they render foft and smooth by promoting perspiration, and rendering the body light and active, and the mental faculties chearful and gay. By a copious and continued use of these waters, the skin, from being dry and scurfy, becomes moist and smooth. It smells of a fulphureous odour; and the linen becomes dingy and yellow; the filver in ones pocket tarnishes, turns yellow and afterwards blackish. Once more I will repeat its beneficial qualities upon the first passages; blunting all acidities in the stomach and inteftines, expelling flatulency and eructation, which arifes from indigested food. In a word, the water of St Bernard's Well seems to be poffefsed of all the good qualities, of which the most celebrated medicinal waters, foreign or domestic, can boast of, with this fingular advantage of being of our own growth, and free from trouble and expence. It ought likewife to be observed, that the falutary effects of these waters are not local, but diffufive through the whole system, and exert their efficacy on the nervous power or animal spirits, being rarified by the action of the stomach, they expand themselves usque quaque to all the outlets of the skin.

The Water made into Coffee. THE water of St Bernard's Well is very pleasant when made into coffee. This peculiar excellency arises from a congenial quality in the mineral water and coffee, both of them being of a fulphureous, dry, and warm nature. When affimulated by the boiling, they exalt and improve each other. Great care ought to be taken to keep the boilers closely stopped, and not to be kept too long upon the fire, otherwise the fine volatile steam will evaporate, and weaken the coffee. A moderate quantity of this coffee, drunken after dinner, is an excellent digeftor. The animal spirits are thereby exhilarated, and we become debonair and gay. The French are well acquainted with the good effects of coffee; and perhaps to it they owe much of their vivacity; but when the coffee is united to the fulphureous mineral water, it acquires an additional strength and efficacy, and imparts a surprising vigour to the mental powers; from being morose and sulky, we are all at once metamorphosed into a gay and chearful mood. The late Sir John Pringle, from long and repeated experience, found strong coffee a most powerful medicine in the asthma, having an extraordinary VOL. XI. No. 63.

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sedative quality. How much more powerful would its action be when united to this mineral water ?

The Excellency of these Mineral Waters. Amidft the endless variety of boafted medicines for scrophulous diseases, which is a fure proof of their being inadequate to a cure of the complaints for which they were administered, it ought to be matter of great fatisfaction, that, from the aftonishing power of thefe mineral waters, we may, without flattery, entertain the strongest hopes of success: And, although we may boaft of the benigninfluences of a genial sky, healthy atmosphere, and all the blessings that naturally flow from these advantages, yet many are the diseases which naturally arife in all countries, from climate, air, and foil; for which Nature, ever bountiful, has produced most abundantly great store of indigenous plants and medicinal springs, whose virtues are specifically adapted to remove these diseases. When the pours from her exuberant bosom the never-failing sources of life, health, and joy, and calls, with a parental voice, • Drink, wash, and be clean,' ought we not to liften and obey?

The reflorative quality of these waters is obvious and undeniable, where universal debility, weakness of fight, defect of hearing, or when any of the fenfes are impaired through a valetudinary state of health, or the infirmities of age, as in the Cafe of a Marion Hunter, who, after her dropfical complaints were totally removed, by continuing the use of the water, she recovered her eye-fight; that the could read the smallest print at the advanced age of fixty-fix, after being almost blind. A gentleman, who for many years had lost the fense of hearing on the right fide, after ufing this medicinal water his hearing was restored, and a fecretion of cerumen returned to the ear affected; the mental powers are fo much improved,

that

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