DEAR SIR, A. W. I. the subject, if it is proved to be done in reasoning; but a little reflection, joined good time. On the contrary, it is be- to a small portion of original common lieved that to your readers in search of sense, and a thorough contempt of "the Truth, it will be cause of gratification to dogmas of the schools," and of paradoxiknow, that it may be found between the eal eclectics, will soon teach us to disgentlemen disputants. entangle ourselves from this tissue of words. "Truth," says Locke, "as well as knowledge, may well come under the distinction of verbal and real; that being only verbal truth, wherein terms are joined according to the agreement or disagreement of the ideas they stand for, without regarding whether our ideas are such as really have, or are capable of having an existence in nature." "But then it is they contain real truth, when these signs are joined as our ideas agree, and when our ideas are such as we know are capable of having an existence in nature." Real truth has nothing to do with words, it refers solely to our ideas; and the correctness of our ideas is in proportion as they comport with the real nature of things. The critic, confounding this with verbal truth, has evidently founded his negation of the latter on the etymological scaffolding of Horne Tooke. Accordingly he has quoted, in support of his assertion, the definition which that philologist has given to the word. "Truth,” says Tooke, “is what is trowed; that is, what is averred as the opinion or faith of the person who speaks. In the same ingenious manner he unties, or rather severs the gordian knot of Right: "Right is no other than Rectum (Regitum), the past participle of the verb Regere"-which latter is the infinitive of Rego;-" Rego, et Rex, a g, id est, Facio." That is, in good, plain, vernacular English, Right is derived from Rule, which is derived from Do: e. g. "Do what you please, and if you Rule the roast, you are Right.” Let all men cease to declaim, henceforth, of their rights, since etymology has proved that there are, de jure, no such things? or, rather, right and wrong are one and the same thing, since that which is wrong You must not laugh at me if I presume in ryghte goode earneste," to prove what no one ever seriously doubted, viz. "the positive existence of truth." To the sophist who doubted the existence of motion, no reply was made except by walking to and fro. But how are we to con, vince that being who denies the reality of truth, since to impart conviction to an individual is to impress him with the truth of what we assert; or how are we to give credence to the position which he advances, since to believe him is to give a practical refutation to his very assertion; that is, paradoxical as it may appear, the belief of the truth of what he asserts, involves us in the dilemma of opposing his assertion. So much for syllogism. "But," observes the critic, "truth regards the motive, and he asserts the truth who believes in the correctness of what he advances." By no means;-sincerity and truth have no more to do with each other than what the logicians term the accidents of a thing, and the thing itself; or, at most, sincerity is nothing more than truth of intention, and is only a means of arriving at positive truth. Suppose, for instance, that a circular plane be placed perpendicular to the horizon: to a person in a direct line with its axis, that is, directly opposite, it really appears what it is; but to another who bas an oblique 'view of it, that is, removed about thirtyfive degrees from the direct line of its axis, it will appear as an ellipse. Now, no one will pretend to deny that the former perceives the real truth, and that the latter, however sincere he be in his opinion, is in error. There is a species of sophism which decoys the understanding by at first bewildering it in the mazes of fantastical (quasi wrung, vide “Diversions of Purley")-provided it be ruled, becomes right. Having despatched truth and right. Aye-true to himself as it respects the conscientious discharge of his duty; but it certainly does not render his opinion infallible as it respects the correctness of what he advances. let us see what becomes of the poor dame verdict, in the absolute, although it may who holds the scale with so equal a balance. be in the legal sense. Truth, in law, Unenlightened mortals, gifted only with is only another word for sincerity, and a portion of common sense, have followed has nothing to do with positive truth, abthe sacred writings, by making justice stractedly considered. But, says the rean attribute of deity. They have, for- viewer, "his integrity makes him true:" sooth, endeavoured to enforce, in the administration of their civil code, that which is right; and the enforcement of what they deemed right, they have term ed justice. But Mr. Tooke will inform them-aye, and he will quote Greek to prove it too, that the word is merely a derivative of jubere, which is derived of jus which is derived of Jovis, os !-Thus, like another Brutus, he would assert "virtue to be but a name," since neither truth, right, nor justice exist but in opi nion. But it is long since words have been admitted to be the signs of things. Etymology proves not what is, but what was; and it frequently happens, that words in their transmission from one century to another, have not only their significations altered, but have, at length, attained opposite ones. In the definition of a term, nothing is more proper than to revert to the acceptation it has met with in the common affairs of life; because as words are the signs of our ideas of things, so the general opinion fixes their meaning. But, here, we are to recollect that, as Blackstone has it, there is in speech, an implied and expressed sense. Thus, when a witness is sworn "to declare the truth and nothing but the truth," it is not implied that he should deliver a long string of axioms, or that with an omniscient mind, his conceptions should be unering, and his depositions irrefutable. Certainly not; it is his conscience and not his understanding which is involved;-it is to the correctness of his motive, and not to his assertions, that the oath appeals. In like manner, the juror binds himself by oath “to find a true verdict according to his evidence;" but the oath, as in the former case, appeals solely to the motive. Now, no one will be bold enough to assert, that an erroneous verdict, delivered by a conscientious individual, is a true Aristotle has excellently defined "truth to be the exact conformity of human conception with the real nature of things." It does not depend upon our conception of a thing, but exists independent of that conception. Thus, as it respects sensible ideas, a square, a circle, or a parabola, will be a square, a circle, or a parabola, in China, Lapland, or Paris. But, were I called upon to prove the most undeniable of axioms, viz. the existence of positive truth, I would be as much at a loss as that ancient who was requested to define the nature of deity. The stagyrite has long ago observed, that there must necessarily exist principles of demonstration, although these principles are in themselves indemonstrable. It is a principle that will equally apply to physical and moral science. Those truths whose certainty strikes us at first sight, or, to speak more forcibly, the belief of which involves our very existence, are the most difficult of proof. Thus it is easier to demonstrate the truth of a thing, that is, truth as connected with some being, than truth considered abstractedly and in itself. If truth be a principle, and the first principle, and furthermore, the first principle of being, it must necessarily be fixed and determined; because if there be no fixed principle, there can be no such thing as a premise-an induction, or proof. Moreover, how "contradictory or opposite truths can exist," is left for the sagacious critic to prove. Differences may be asserted of the same thing, and yet be true; but no one in his senses, one would suppose, could assert that contraries as * Gillie's Aristotle, chap. 2. Metaphysics, book iv. chap. 3. to eighty feet in height, extending from southeast to northeast about three-fourths of a mile, across three farms owned by Jacob Dickinson, Andrew Guffin, and Abraham Mosier. applied to one and the same thing can on the northeast face of a hill, from sixty equally be true. But let us for a moment yield to the folly of this position; what follows? Affirmation and negation become useless, whether they apply to principles or accidents; because, according to the reviewer's creed, the affirmation and negation of a thing may equally obtain. Now, how unnecessary was it on the part of the critic to oppose the position advanced by the author, since, agreeable to his opinion, the affirmation of the one, and the negation of the other may be alike orthodox! "Jam satis," as old Horace has it. Life is of too much importance to be wasted in taking up every gauntlet which folly may throw into the ring. Such things only ought to be treated by the reductio ad absurdum. The chivalrous knight of yore disdained attacking an adversary unequally armed; in like manner reason ought to avoid encountering every fugitive sophism in his path. Sulphate of Strontian found at Schoharie, and employed in the Metallic Arts for the purposes for which Borax is commonly used. In a Letter dated 14th November, 1818, from Lieutenant R. C. Pomeroy, of the U. S. Ordnance, to Dr. Mitchill, President of the Lyceum, &c. Read be fore the Lyceum, 23d November. Having observed by one of your notes to the last edition of Phillips' Mineralogy, that "fibrous sulphate of strontian had been discovered somewhere west of Albany," Amos Eaton, Esq. and myself, left that place a few days since, for the purpose, if possible, of ascertaining the fact; and can safely assure you, that the following notes of the tour, are correct: to wit, 1st. That fibrous sulphate of strontian can be obtained in any quantity. 3d. That its geological position is as follows: viz. It is situated in regular strata, one above the other, from one quarter inch, to one and a half inches thick, imbedded in soft argillaceous slate, (not the transition rock,) which slate is contained between graywacke below, which seems to pass into variegated sandstone towards its upper surface, and compact limestone above. 4th. That we actually took from a stratum imbedded as above, forty pounds of the fibrous sulphate of strontian, in about one hour. 5th. That a blacksmith by the name of Elisha Baldwin, of the society of Friends, discovered about fifteen months since, that the fibrous sulphate of strontian was a much better flux in brazing than borax, as it is more fixed. He also discovered the strontian, when pulverized, to be an excellent substitute for clay and borax in taking a welding heat. The most refractory steel can be conveniently welded. Specimens of the fibrous sulphate of strotian in all its varieties, I now have the pleasure to send to you, together with specimens of the graywacke, argillaceous and compact limestone, taken from the hill where the strontian is found; for that very excellent institution, the Lyceum of Natural History, over which you preside. I have the honour to be, Sir, R. C. POMEROY. Mr. EDITOR, Tomb. 2d. That its geographical position is Inscription on Sir Christopher Wren's as follows: viz. In the state of New-York, County of Schoharie, town of Carlisle, thirty-two miles west of Albany, eight miles northwest of Schoharie Court-House, and three miles west of Schoharie-bill, In your last number your readers have been presented with a very interesting account of the monument of London. "His funeral was attended by many The name of Sir CHRISTOPHER WREN which are furnished in that article, brought to my mind the following extract (which I beg you to insert) from the seventh number of the (London) Biographical Magazine, which contains a portrait, and a short biographical memoir of that distinguished architect: PAUL'S, where his corpse was deposited ART. 7. NEW-YORK INSTITUTION. Account of recent Scientific Transactions at the New-York Institution. Drawn up by Professor MITCHILL. DR IN RELATION TO BOTANY. R. John Wagner's collection of the plants of Helvetia are in fine order. He, while on his extensive tour in Europe, procured them at the town of Corvoz, in the vicinity of Mount Blanc, and generously sent them to me. He has acted worthily. I thank him for enabling me to read Haller's poetry and botany of the Alps with additional satisfaction; and for enabling a comparison to be made from actual specimens, between the most elevated summits of North-America, the White Mountains, the Kaatskill, the Peaks of Otter, and the towering summits in Carolina and Tennessee; and the most lofty piles of the Alps, the Pyrenees and the Appenines, or of the Carpathian or Uralian chains. The choice herbarium forwarded from Sweden, by the counsellor of state, Count Castrom, is in excellent condition. Henry Gahn, Esq. the worthy and accomplished consul of that kingdom, presented it with some new and valuable books, (among others with the two first volumes of the species of plantarum by Professors Raemer and Schultes) and his distinguished countryman, Mr. Croke attended him at the last sitting of the Lyceum. This important collection, like the former, correctly arranged and labelled, gives us exact knowledge of the vegetables growing on the mountains of Norway, Finland and Lapland. We are hereby enabled to peruse the journeys and descriptions of Linnæus with more exquisite relish. From various parts of our own country, specimens of economical, dietibical and medicinal plants have reached us. The Chimaphila umbellata (pipsisewa) forwarded by J. Amos Mossell, of Delaware; the Trillium atrapurpureum (beth root) sent from Cambridge by Dr. Stevenson; and the Linum perenne (Missouri flax) by Abraham Clark, M. D. of Newark, are a few of the many instances of transmitted plants. The pedestrian tour made by two of our enterprising botanists, Messrs. Torrey and Cooper, from New-York to Pennsylvania, through the region of Jersey, situated south of the river Raritan, produced much information. They returned with their port-folios filled with rare and curious plants; such as grow usually in the southern states only, but in this case thrive in the cedar swamps and pine-barrens, though lying so much to the northward of their ordinary limits. The seeds of plants sent us by Sammé. of Antwerp, Hartman, our fellow-citizen, Devotion, of Massachusetts, and various other gentlemen, evince the interest they take in disseminating the useful species. European insects, to exchange with those American tribes. The critics who have of America. examined it, hanging like tapestry from the wall, admire the singular neatness and execution of this graphic performance. Beautiful additions are making to the conchology of the institution. The Molluscas of the land, of the rivers, and of the sea, offer their shells to the admiration of beholders. Mr. Hall's collection from the Bahamas, Mr. J. Asstin's contribution from Muscat, in Arabia, and Dr. Willey's gathering around Block-Island, all materially add to the number and value of the cabinet. Some of the nicest works of the Polypes, such as gorgonias, sea-fans, corals, madrepores, and animal-rocks, have been received from different quarters. They afford a very instructive view of the works carried on by the zoophytous and litheephytous animals inhabiting the depths of the ocean. Of the finny tribes, the fishes of Jamaica, and of the surrounding waters, as collected by the late William M. Ross, M. D. have been presented by his widow. They are well prepared and varnished, and enable the student to read with increased satisfaction the histories of that productive island, by Sir H. Sloane, and Dr. P. Browne. The fishes of New-York and its vicinity, as preserved and exhibited by the late Dr. Samuel G. Mott, were generously offered by his brother. These are executed in a finished style, and afford excellent information to the angler, the sportsman, and the house-keeper, upon a class of natural productions for which the market of New-York is pre-eminent. Several excellent articles of an anatomical kind, have been placed in the collection; such as the skeletons of birds and reptiles, and very recently, the series of skulls, comprehending numerous species of animals from the horse down to the porpuss, presented by David Hosack, M. D. amounts to an important body of craniology. The skin of a young bison, or Ameriean buffaloe, elegantly painted with bieroglyphics, after the Mexican manner described by Robertson and Clavigero, is a great curiosity, calculated at once to ilJustrate the history of writing, and of the The dragons, or winged lizards of China, were introduced to us by Dr. Gunn. They are slender and delicate reptiles of the sauridan order, and belonging to the great family of the iguanas. A pair of wings, or elongated processes resembling wings, neatly shaped, finely fringed, and beautifully clouded, distinguish the dragon from all other creatures of this kind. The length of the dragon is seven inches; of which four belong to the tail. The breadth, between the extremities of the wings is three inches. The mouth is ample; the tongue large enough to fill it. The eye-orbits squarish above. The jaws furnished each with an entire row of small, sharp and close-set teeth. The bony sides of the thorax are wanting; for instead of curving into ribs, it radiates into supports for the wings. Under the throat is a pouch or skinny projection more than half an inch long, with a smaller one on each side. IN GEOLOGY. The visiter is struck with wonder, on beholding the number and variety of organic remains. There lie the remains of several mastodons and fossil elephants, disinterred within a short distance from New-York city; and a remnant of the antediluvian cecodile, from the base of the Never-sink bills near Sandy-Hook. Near them are placed the fossil relics of animals mostly extinct, to the number of twenty species or more, chiefly polypes and molluscas, discovered within the city of New-York. Among these are anomias, scallops, oysters, sea-mats, seafans, snails and gryphites. They are mostly bedded in a sort of friable ochreous compound, or in a compact argillaceous iron-stone, or in solid calcarious carbonate. None of them are stratified, but all are scattered through the alluvial soil, in the form of nodules, boulders, or detached masses, some of them lying thirty or forty feet beneath the existing surface near Corlaers-Hook, where the la |