guage, from which foreigners, the most distant conversant with Latin, might deduce favourable ideas of French lite rature, manners, and power. A rival to this Journal, is now on the point of appearing in the Athenæum, to be printed in the Greek language, and designed chiefly for circulation in the Greek Islands. Coloured Snow-It appears by the Giornale di Fisica, &c. that a shower of red snow fell in Carniola, in the nights of the 5th and 6th of March, 1808. On the same night, a shower of snow, of a rose colour, fell over the surface of Carnia, Cadore, Belluno, and Feltri, to the height of twenty centimetres. The earth was previously covered with snow of a pure white, and the coloured snow was succeeded by other of a pure white; neither were the two kinds mingled together, but remained perfectly distinct, even during liquefaction. When a portion of this snow was melted, and the water evaporated, a little finely-divided earth, of a rosy colour, remained, not attractable by the magnet, and consisting of silex, alumine, and oxide of iron. The same phenomenon happened at the same time in the mountains of Valtelline, Brescia, and the Tyrol. This snow was of a red or blood-rose colour, and was underlaid and covered with white snow. Its colour faded gradually until it was dissolved. On the same evenings, of the 5th and 6th of March, 1803, a shower of red snow fell at Pezzo, at the extremity of the Valle Camonica. It was preceded by a very violent wind on the 5th. On the evenings of the 14th and 15th of March, 1813, coloured rain and snow fell over a very large extent of country. Red rain fell in the two Cala. brias, and on the opposite part of Abruzzo, the wind being at east and south-east. Snow and hail of a yellow red colour fell over all Tuscany, with a north wind. Red snow fell at Tolmezzo, the wind being at north-east, and in the Carnia Alps. And, finally, snow of a brownish yellow colour fell at Bologna, the wind being south-west. An Electrical Mán.-Dr. Hartmanu, of Francfort, on the Oder, has published in a German Medical Journal, a statement, according to which, he is able to produce at pleasure, an efflux of electrical matter from his body towards other persons. You hear the crackling, see the sparks, and feel the electric shock. He has now acquired this faculty to so high a degree, that it depends solely on his own pleasure to make an electric spark issue from his fingers, or to draw it from any other part of his body. Thus in this electrical man, the will has an influence on the development of the electricity, which had not hitherto been observed, except in the electrical eel. ERRATA. In the number for October, page 318, 6th line from the bottom, for infuse, read insure.—Page 327, line 4th from the bottom, for elasticity, read chastity. THE ANALECTIC MAGAZINE. DECEMBER, 1819. ART. I.-Excursion from Edinburgh to Dublin. [Continued.] Ayr, April 16, 12 P. M. WE had taken seats last night in the coach for this place, which was to leave Glasgow early this morning; but on rising, just in season for our departure, an accident, somewhat humorous, though vexatious, interposed unexpectedly an obstacle. It was one of those mistakes which result from the inattention and negligence of others, and reminded me of the common-sense maxim of Dr. Franklin. If you want any thing done, go yourself; if you do not, send;' a principle which, though rather safer of application in my own country, will serve very well, if occasionally remembered, in this. As it was deemed expedient that either my companion or myself should proceed forthwith to Ayr, in order to secure seats in the public coach for Port Patrick, on the following day, and that the other should continue behind to correct the mistake, and complete some desired arrangements; a turn of king George's head decided the question of remaining, in favour of myself; and it was determined accordingly, that I should follow in the afternoon's coach. I did not regret the detention, as it gave me an opportunity of seeing a few objects in Glasgow, which I had previously neglected. Several of my friends, learning my delay, called to proffer the hospitalities of their respective families; but these I declined accepting, as I was unwilling to repeat leave-takings. They attended me, however, to the Roman Catholic church, a recent Gothic structure of some merit; to some singeing machines, so called, where the finest gauze is prepared, and receives its finish by being drawn over a red-hot cylinder of iron; to an ingenious mechanical apparatus, driven by a steam engine, where linen cloths are passed through all the stages of dressing, from a state of prime roughness to final packing;-(and the whole for the moderate average price of nine shillings sterling, per parcel of 24 yards,) and to the lecture room of Dr. ****, a gentleman much skilled in chemistry, who politely exhibited his apparatus, and performed several curious and entertaining experiments with gas. At 4 P. M. I entered the telegraph coach for Ayr, with feelings impressed with the many and unremitting attentions which I had received since the evening of my arrival in Glasgow. The coach drove from the city in a cloud of dust,-an unusual annoyance in my own country at this season of the year. My route to this place was by Kingswell, Fenwick, Kilmarnock, and Monkton. Five miles after leaving Glasgow, I looked back for a glimpse of Ben Lomond. A gentleman had mentioned with great exactness, the spot where, if the air should prove clear, it might be seen; and had apprised me of several circumstances by which to determine its appearance. Beyond the Campsie Fells, I descried a towering conical height, streaked with snow, and partially veiled in mist, which I was willing to distinguish as the mountain described. For the first few miles, the country was fertile and productive; beyond that, a dreary extensive tract succeeded, clothed with scanty verdure, and scarcely enlivened by the smoke of a single cabin; after which, the country again improved, and continued to do so as the road approached Ayr. Kilmarnock is a town famous for its weavers. There is an iron railway, the most extensive of the kind in North Britain, which has been constructed from that place to the harbour of Troon, solely at the expense of the duke of Portland. The town has had a more than common notoriety of late, from having given birth to several seditious meetings, which occasioned the arrest of two or three of the more suspected agents; whose trial, within a few days, has excited a strong sensation in the metropolis, and resulted in their acquittal. On the way, I saw three or four half ruinous, castellated piles of building, but none of them worthy of remark. It was twilight when I entered Ayr,-a pretty, though irregular town. I recognized the two bridges, familiarly called the Brigs of Ayr,' spanning the limpid waters of its interesting stream. My feelings and recollections, on approaching the town, were filled with BURNS.-I found my friend impatiently awaiting my arrival. We were soon seated at a supper, which he had ordered to be in readiness; and the remainder of the evening passed in various and enlivening conversation. Port Patrick, April 17.-We left Ayr at 7 this morning, in the public coach, drawn by two horses,-a proof that we were no longer in a great travelling track. The vehicle had taken the name of Diligence; a word, which every day's use along the road, has contracted into the more convenient term Dilly. A second view of Ayr, in the broader light of day, confirmed, in some degree, the impression which I had received of its prettiness: but, owing to its partial irregularity, and a few ill constructed houses, on the whole I think it strikes best when seen at a distance, and forming a part of the landscape. It makes then a very good appearance. The town of Ayr contains 5,000 inhabitants, and has improved much within a few years. Lately a theatre has been opened in it, which allows forty pounds for the full regular receipts of a night. It is probably the smallest town north of the Ouse, which is provided with such a luxurious appendage; and this does not speak so favourably of the sober, staid habits of the people, as might be wished. The morning proved uncommonly serene; the air was mild, and the rays of the sun, which shone with great splendor, were finely reflected from the peaceful bosom of the Ayr, and the still bonnier waters of the river Doon. The aspect of the country for many miles, was exceedingly lovely. There was more of woodland than I anticipated; and, besides frequent and detached groups of trees, there were several extensive tracts which were beautifully covered. The peasantry, on our leaving Ayr, were seen actively at work; the birds were carolling their matin hymns, and the breeze, as it brushed over the landscape, was barely sufficient to curl the smoke which ascended from the few cabins that peeped from their shelters of coppice, emulous to form a part in the delightful scene. Two miles from the town, we came to the hut were Burns was born. It is a low thatched building of a single story, forming the corner, and connected by the same roof with two or three others of a similar size. A trifling bribe easily prevailed on the driver of the Dilly to stop, while my companion and myself examined the interior of this humble dwelling. A sign is affixed to the walls without, which bears the inscription which follows:- Burn's cottage, Robert Burns, the Ayrshire poet, was born under this roof, on the 29th January, 1759.' Two small rooms occupy the whole floor of the house; in one of which, now used as the kitchen, is a recess where stood the bed in which the poet was born. The other apartment is furnished with some neatness, and boasts an engraved view of the dwelling, and a large painting of Burns, which, from its size and style of execution, seems to have been intended for a tavern sign-board. The present occupier of the cabin, an elderly sawney-looking man, who seemed to have been never particularly abstemious in the use of whiskey, said that it was in that room that he last saw Burns, and then took a dram with him; adding, 'poor fellow.' He seemed nowise averse to repeating the draught, even at this early hour; and, accordingly leaving him enough for a double and tripple portion, we mounted our seats and pursued our journey. Alloway Kirk, distant half a mile further, on the right, is pleasantly situated on the margin of the Doon, a few yards from the road. It is now unroofed. The walls, however, and belfrey remain, though in a ruinous state. A small cemetery sur rounds it. The Doon is a romantic little stream. Its 'banks and braes' are indeed 'bonnie;'-and we thought its various beauties abundantly entitled to the praises which have been lavished upon them by the Ayrshire bard. The view from Carrick Hill, a little further on, was uncommonly pretty and extensive-the scenery soft and beautifully varied. Shortly after, we passed the ruins of Battarsan castle, and subsequently at no great distance, the nobler remains of Corseragwell abbey. This last, with its mouldering towers and cloisters, and arches, its moss-grown walls, and grass-grown courts, was a most venerable and imposing object. Its order is a florid Gothic. The road, the greater part of the day, followed closely the windings of the coast. The large rocky island of Arran, streaked with snow, the tall, stern cliff of Ailsea, and the abrupt iron-bound shore of Kantyre, continued in sight for many miles. Leaving Kirk-Oswald, a pretty place on the seacoast, where we breakfasted, the country became much more hilly; and beyond Girvan, ten miles further, it assumed a very wild aspect. The soil was poor, and covered with slight verdure. A few sheep only were browsing among the heath and broom. For some miles, our path led us along a ledge which was cut from the precipice that shelved abruptly to the water's edge. We noticed many ravines, or fissures, at intervals, in the hilly ridge on our left, some of great depth. It was common also to see streams, or rather burns, as they are termed, gushing through these openings and producing a fine effect. Several sea views were very magnificent. We dined at a miserable inn at Ballantrae, and had as miserable fare. My food consisted of barley-broth, oatmeal cakes and eggs. Leaving Ballantrae, the country became much more wild and bleak, than even it had appeared before. The hills were scantily covered with furze, and exhibited barely a few patches of heather. We entered a deep glen, where scarcely a single habitation was to be seen, which extended for three or four miles, till it terminated with a full view of the waters of Loch Ryan. The first sight of the lake, though it served to vary, could hardly be said to relieve the scene. As we proceeded, however, the hills near the loch, began to be covered with birches and broom; and the road gradually became pleasanter, as it followed its margin-a firm, smooth beach, to Stranraer, a distance of nine miles. This town stands at the head of the lake, and is large and neat. Loch Ryan itself, is an estuary, extending nine or ten miles into the main land, and occupying a breadth of three or four. It would be very pretty, if the country on each side of it were productive and well managed. A few boats, which we saw near Stranraer, skimming the surface of the lake, gave to the scene considerable expression. From S. to Port Patrick, the road was good, and the country much improved. Two miles distant from Port P. we came in sight of St. George's channel, and saw distinctly beyond, in the horizon, the coast of Ireland; the first time that I had seen it since losing sight of the Wicklow mountains, while on my passage to Liverpool. Again I beheld it with pleasure. We find Port Patrick a neat and rather romantic village, built under an amphitheatre of hills, and extending round a small cove in a semicircular form. The harbour is well protected, and is almost enclosed by high ledges of rocks, which jut from the mainland, and exhibit some |