found to be cut through its substance, transversely, leaving the surfaces of the divided portions perfectly smooth and even, an appearance which could have been produced only by a heavy blow, inflicted with a very sharp instrument, and which furnished the last proof wanting to identify King Charles the First.

"After this examination of the head, which served every purpose in view, and without examining the body below the neck, it was immediately restored to its situation, the coffin was soldered up again, and the vault closed."

AFRICANA.

[From Jackson's Account of the Empire of Marocco.]

The Venomous Spider, (Tendaraman.)-This beautiful reptile is somewhat similar to a hornet in size and colour, but of a rounder form; its legs are about an inch long, black, and very strong; it has two bright yellow lines, latitudinally crossing its back; it formis its web octagonally between bushes, the diameter being two or three yards; it places itself in the centre of its web, which is so fine as to be almost invisible, and attaches to whatever may pass between those, bushes. It is said to make always towards the head before it inflicts its deadly wound. In the cork forests the sportsman, eager in his pursuit of game, frequently carries away on his garments the tendaraman, whose bite is so poisonous, that the patient survives but a few hours.

Charmers of Serpents: Aisawie.-These Aisawie have a considerable sanctuary at Fas. They go to Suse in large bodies about the month of July to collect serpents, which they pretend to render harmless by a certain form of words, incantation, or invocation to (Seedy ben Aisah) their tutelary saint. They have an annual feast, at which time they dance and shake their heads quickly, during a certain period, till they become giddy, when they run about the towns frantic, attacking any person that may have a black or dark dress on; they bite, scratch and devour any thing that comes in their way. They will attack an unjumma, or portable fire, and tear the lighted charcoal to pieces with their hands and mouths. I have seen them take the serpents which they carry about, and devour them alive, the blood streaming down their clothes. The incredible accounts of their feats would fill a volume; the following observations may suffice to give the reader an idea of these extraordinary fanatics. The buska and the el effah here described, are enticed out of their holes by them; they handle them with impunity, though their bite is ascertained to be mortal; they put them into a cane basket, and throw it over their shoulders: these serpents they carry about the country, and exhibit them to the people. I have seen them play with them,

and suffer them to twist round their bodies in all directions, with out receiving any injury from them. I have often inquired how they managed to do this, but never could get any direct or satisfactory answer; they assure you, however, that faith in their saint, and the powerful influence of the name of the divinity, Isim Allah, enables them to work these miracles: they maintain themselves in a miserable way, by donations from the spectators before whom they exhibit. This art of fascinating serpents was known by the ancient Africans, as appears from the Marii and Psilii, who were Africans, and showed proofs of it at Rome.

WESTERN BRANCH OF THE NILE.

AN African manuscript, written by Seedi Mohammed ben Amran Soudanie, who, however, I do not quote as an author of the first respectability, has the following passage, which I have translated for the curious reader. "Respecting the Neele it has been ascertained by various travellers, that it hath (besides many inferior) two principal sources, one of which latter is the larger source, and rises at the foot of the jibble Kumri, (i. e. a chain of mountains which extend from east to west across Africa, passing through lat. N. 10°,) north of Genowa, (Guinea,) where it forms a lake or swamp, out of which proceeds another river, which, pass ing N. W. through Soudan, discharges itself near Asenagha, (Senegal,) in the El Bahar Kabeer; (i. e. the western or Atlantic ocean;) the larger source proceeds northward, and entering the country of Bambara, takes an eastern direction, and passing through the city of Segoo, Jinnée, and Kabra near Timbuctoo, it continues its course through Wangara; between the two latter cities, it receives from the south two auxiliary streams of considerable magnitude, which increase it so that the whole flat country of Wangara is one immense morass, formed by the overflowing of the waters; one of these auxiliary streams falls into the Neele 10 erhellat (i. e. 10 days' journey) east of Timbuctoo; the other at Wangara, and the whole body of accumulated water, hence aptly denominated the Neele El Kabeer, (the great Nile,) proceeds eastward till it communicates with the Neele Masser; (the Nile of Egypt;) the distance between the source of the greater Nile and its junction with the Nile of Egypt, is 99 erhellat of continual travelling."

In confirmation of the opinion that there is a navigable communication between Timbuctoo in Soudan, and Cairo in Egypt, says Mr. Jackson, the following circumstance was related to me by a very intelligent man, who has, at this time, an establishment in the former city:

In the year 1780, a party of seventeen Jinnie negroes proceeded in a canoe to Timbuctoo, on a commercial speculation; they

understood the Arabic language, and could read the Koran; they bartered their merchandise several times during the passage, and reached Cairo after a voyage of fourteen months, during which they lived upon rice and other produce, which they procured at the different towns they visited; they reported that there are twelve hundred cities and towns, with mosques or towers in them, between Timbuctoo and Cairo, built on or near the banks of (the Nile el Abeede, and the Nile Massar) the Nile of Soudan, and the Nile of Egypt.

During this voyage they remained in many towns several days, when trade, curiosity, or inclination, induced them to sojourn: in three places they found the Nile so shallow, by reason of the numerous channels which are cut from the main stream, for the purpose of irrigating the lands of the adjacent country, that they could not proceed in the boat, which they transported over land, till they found the water flowing again in sufficient body to float it; they also met with three considerable cataracts, the principal of which was at the entrance from the west of Wangara; here also they transported the boat by land, until passing the fall of water they floated it again in an immense (merja) lake, whose opposite shore was not visible; at night they threw a large stone overboard, as a substitute for an anchor, and watch was regularly kept to guard against the attacks of crocodiles, elephants, and river horses, which abound in various parts. When they arrived at Cairo they joined the great accumulated caravan of the west, called Akkabah el Garbie, and proceeded therewith through Barca, Tripoli, Tunis, Algiers and Angad, to Fas and Marocco, where they joined the Akka caravan, and again reached Jinnie, after an absence of three years and two months.

Finally it appears from the corroborating testimony of all who have performed the journey from Timbuctoo to Egypt, that the country contiguous to the Nile el Abeede is rich and productive, that the banks of the river are adorned with an incredible number of cities and towns of incalculable population, that the Mohammedan religion prevails, that the Arabic is the general language spoken throughout these countries. The cities and towns are crowded with mosques, having square towers attached to them; fondaques, or caravanseras, for the accommodation of travellers, are spacious and convenient, so that we may conclude that the banks of the Nile el Abeede from,,Timbuctoo to the confines of Egypt, may be as populous as the banks of any river in China.

[How far, then, from correct was the sentiment of the ancients, that the interior of Africa was an uninhabitable desert! Will the Mohammedan religion forever boast the proud distinction of having penetrated into regions, the very existence of which was unknown to Christendom? Will not the energies of our countrymen direct their inquiries, by means of Marocco, to the interior of Africa, Timbuctoo, &c. ?]

BIOGRAPHY OF FOURCROY.

[From Annals of Philosophy.]

LITERARY men may be divided into three classes. Some make a great figure during their lifetime; but death erases their names from the annals of science, and they sink into the grave and obscurity at once. Such were Dr. Mead and Sir John Hill. Some are little known during their lifetime, and spend their days in obscurity and penury; but when death has once closed the scene, their reputation rises untarnished by envy, and unsullied by emulation, and flows on like a mighty river, the broader, and deeper, and greater, the farther it advances. Such, in some respects, were Kepler and Scheele. Some are so unfortunate, through imprudence, or a perverse train of circumstances, neither to acquire reputation during their lives, nor after their death; while their more fortunate cotemporaries, with less labour, and less merit, gather all the laurels which they had earned. It would be invidious to mention the names of any who unfortunately belong to this class; but they will readily occur to every one acquainted with the history of science. Every tyro in algebra is familiar with Cardan's rules for the solution of cubic equations, while the name of the real discoverer of these rules is scarcely known, except to mathematical antiquaries. M. de Fourcroy, the subject of this article, made so conspicuous a figure during his lifetime, that it would by no means surprise us if he should finally take his place among that class of literary men whom we characterized in the first place: not that he wanted merit; for it is not so much merit, as a regard to distributive justice, which leads to the classification. Who will be hardy enough to affirm that Churchill wanted merit as a poet? During his short and rapid literary career he appeared to wield the thunderbolts in his hand, and was an object of dread and adoration, like a kind of divinity. But where is his reputation now? It has sunk, since his death, as much below the true level, as it rose above it during his lifetime. And this we believe will always be the case. Mankind will atone for the excessive adulation which they pay to a man during his lifetime, by a corresponding negligence after his death.

Antoine François de Fourcroy, Comte of the French Empire, councellor of state, commander of the legion of honour, member of the institute, and of most scientific societies in Europe, professor of chymistry at the museum of natural history, professor of the faculty of medicine at Paris, and teacher in the polytechnic school, VOL. II. New Series.

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was born at Paris, on the 15th of June, 1755, and was the son of Jean Michel de Fourcroy and of Jeanne Laugier.

His family had long resided in the capital, and several of his ancestors had distinguished themselves at the bar. One of them during the reign of Charles IX. was honoured with the epithet of fori decus.

Antoine François de Fourcroy sprung from a branch of the family that had gradually sunk into poverty. His father exercised in Paris the trade of an apothecary, in consequence of a charge which he held in the house of the Duke of Orleans. The corporation of apothecaries having obtained the general suppres sion of all such charges, M. de Fourcroy, the father, was obliged to renounce his mode of livelihood; and his son grew up in the midst of the poverty produced by the monopoly of the privileged bodies in Paris. He felt this situation the more keenly, because he possessed from nature an extreme sensibility of temper. When he lost his mother, at the age of seven years, he attempted to throw himself into her grave. The care of an elder sister preserved him with difficulty till he reached the age at which it was usual to be sent to the college. Here he was unlucky enough to meet with a brutal master, who conceived an aversion to him, and treated him with cruelty. The consequence was a dislike to study; and he quitted the college at the age of 14, somewhat less informed than when he went to it.

His poverty now was such, that he was under the necessity of endeavouring to support himself by commencing writing-master. He had even some thoughts of going upon the stage; but was prevented by the hisses bestowed upon a friend of his, who had unadvisedly entered upon that perilous career, and was treated in consequence without mercy by the audience. While uncertain what plan to follow, the advice of Viq. d'Azyr induced him to commence the study of medicine.

This great anatomist was an acquaintance of M. de Fourcroy, the father. Struck with the appearance of his son, and the courage with which he struggled with his bad fortune, he conceived an affection for him, and promised to direct his studies, and even to assist him during their progress. The study of medicine to a man in his situation was by no means an easy task. He was obliged to lodge in a garret, so low in the roof that he could only stand upright in the centre of the room. Beside him lodged a watercarrier, with a family of 12 children. Fourcroy acted as physician to this numerous family; and in recompense was always supplied with abundance of water. He contrived to support himself by giving lessons to other students, by facilitating the researches of richer writers, and by some translations which he sold to a bookseller. For these he was only half paid; but the