passing from thence, in the form of rays, to the extremity of the disk. The progress of this animal is there fore performed, as the reader will understand from the foregoing remarks, by a species of spinning; and the kind of organization by which this is effected, has always appeared to myself to be one of the most pleasing instances of the wisdom of nature with which I am acquainted, and adapted most happily to illustrate the remark, that some of the finest specimens of what is exquisite in structure, may be discovered in animals of the very lowest order. existence of which, in that situation, the naturalist was very much puzzled to account. A collection of observations like the foregoing, would probably enable us to solve this difficulty. I have only farther to remark on this article, that, as the substance of the Medusa is gelatinous, and as this matter is soluble in common water, any person may procure the filaments I before noticed, by placing one of the animals possessing them in a bason of river water during forty-eight hours. At the end of that time, the substance of the animal will be found to have become entirely dissolved, and the filaments will be obtained floating on the surface. I am not certain whether any other of the species of this class possess the same organ to which I have now alluded. Indeed, I think we have reason to believe, that most of the species possess a power of locomotion, though not apparently of so fine a construction, yet certainly capable of accelerating their progress to a much greater degree. I remember, indeed, to have been once remarkably struck with this fact, while bathing with a companion in one of those arms of the sea which intersect the western shores of Argyllshire. We had been in use, during the greater part of the summer, to bathe in the same spot. One day, however, we were astonished on advancing farther into the water, to perceive myriads of the Medusa in rapid progress from the head of the loch, apparently towards the open sea. They continued to float by us in countless numbers, during the whole of the time we continued in the water; and though I was aware of the effect which some of the species are said to produce upon the skin when handled, we yet ventured, in youthful wantonness, and, I dare say, to the no small annoyance of the "emigrants," to pelt one another with them for a very consider able time, without afterwards experiencing any disagreeable sensations. Next day, no appearance of the Medusa could be seen; and I inferred at the time, that the animal was accustomed, at certain seasons, to make long and rapid migrations, probably from the quiet and shelter of the inland bays, towards the open sea. Those who are acquainted with the late voyage of Humboldt across the Atlantic, will indeed recollect, that one part of that vast sea is completely covered by many species of this animal, for the 2. My next observation relates to a remarkable appearance produced by the refraction of the rays of light. If an observer is seated on a ledge of rock which has a gentle declivity towards the sea, and if the tide is in such a state that the wave, after having advanced upon the rock, rests precisely at its margin when the water is at its utinost retreat, the following amusing appearance will be remarked. As the wave alternately advances and retires, that part of the rock which is subject to the inundation, will appear to be alternately lifted and depressed with something resembling a living motion." The solid stone, in short, will appear as if transformed into something either endued with spontaneous activity, or at least so light and moveable in its texture, as to be agitated with the same facility, and very much in the same way as the floating fuci which may happen to be attached to it. There are few of your readers, I dare say, of those at least who shall actually observe the appearance, who will find any difficulty in assigning the cause of it. Every person knows, that if a shilling be put into a bason, so as to be covered from the view of an observer by its margin, and if water be then poured into the bason, the piece of money is seen gradually to rise in the water, so as to become completely visible to the eye of the spectator. It is evidently in precisely the same way that the alternate appearance of elevation and depression in the margin of the rock is produced. When the advancing wave gradually makes its way up the sloping surface, that part of the stone which is covered by the water, of course, appears to be affected with a 、gradual elevation; as the wave retires, the rock necessarily sinks to its proper level; and if the ebb of the wave does not go beyond the boundary of the rock, the appearance of motion is of course uninterrupted; and when it has once attracted the notice of the observer, will be found to present a phenomenon which it is both amusing and instructive to contemplate. 3. I have now to direct the attention of your readers to some particulars respecting the production and diffusion of fogs. It has been stated as being now decisively proved, that fogs are not to be regarded merely as vapour suspended in the air by the simple circumstance of the inferior specific gravity of their particles, but as moisture so combined with electricity, as to assume that inferior gravity by which its suspension is affected; and, as a proof of this, it is said, that, on one occasion, a fog having been carried very near a tree, the electricity of the fog was attracted by the tree, and the moisture thus deprived of its electricity was so immediately converted into snow, as actually to tear up, by its overwhelming impulse, the roots of the tree upon whose branches it had rested. Now, although the fact, when thus stated, certainly possesses no slight resemblance to some of those which the renowned Munchausen observed in the course of his journeyings, I have yet long been convinced that the theory which it supposes is perfectly correct. Indeed, considering how far our knowledge of the properties of electricity has been extended, and how certainly we are now informed of its universal diffusion, it is not a little astonishing that philosophers should persist, with such obstinacy, in excluding it from their explanations of those ordinary appearances, with which it cannot he doubted that it has the most intimate connection. Who, for instance, can doubt that snow, and rain, and dew, in all their varieties, are not merely dependent, according to the prevailing theory, upon the meeting and intermixture of currents of air of different temperatures,-but, far more, upon changes taking place in that active fluid, which seems to pervade and communicate their most important properties to every thing upon and around this globe. That the production of mist is chiefly dependent upon the agency of this fluid, I am satisfied, among other considera tions, from a fact which I have frequently noticed upon the sandy shores of the Firth of Forth. When the air is in that state which is productive of mist, that is, when an east or northeast wind has been blowing for some time, I have frequently remarked, that the water which was left upon the sands of the beach, and in every basin and pool which was near the shore, is carried off by evaporation, with a celerity and power which gives to the whole coast the appearance of a vast smoking furnace. And that this is not merely the effect of the temperature of the air at the time, must be evident from this consideration, that, on many of our most splendid and sultry days, when the wind happens to blow from any of the south or west points, no trace of evaporation can be perceived, and the atmosphere is indeed remarkable for a very peculiar degree of transparency. An east wind, in this climate, therefore, I apprehend, is to be considered as connected with important changes in the electrical state of the atmosphere, as might indeed have been long ago suspected from the known increase of pressure in this fluid when the wind blows from any of the eastern points. These electrical changes, which probably take place at the same time in the atmosphere and in the earth, appear to be peculiarly favourable to the elevation and suspension of vapour; and hence it happens, that, when the wind blows from the east, we are immediately plunged in a cloud of haze or fog, while those genial breezes, which have traversed the Atlantic, and which might have been expected to come to us with wings profusely bedewed with the moisture of their way, pour only around us that beautiful transparency, through which all the hues of nature are seen to advantage. 4. I have one further remark to make. It often happens, in very calm weather, that the sea has the appearance of being very beautifully varied, from portions of its surface being gently agitated, while other portions are in a state of perfect repose; and these alternations are commonly so gracefully disposed, as rather to resemble the effect of some moving body which had passed in a winding direction over its surface, than of any cause existing in Nature itself. Nothing is more common, indeed, than to hear this appearance ascribed to a variety of causes,-to the oily matter deposited by vessels which had sailed in the direction of the more placid portions,-to something in the bottom of the sea which rendered the surface more easily agitated in some parts than in others, to the influence of clouds exerting a composing energy on those tracts of water which lie beneath them, or to the effect of promontories and other partial irregularities in interrupting the natural direction of the wind. The simple account, however, of these appearances seems to be, that, besides those greater and more extensive agitations to which the atmosphere around us is constantly liable, its lowest stratum is also occasionally subject, especially where it is in contact with the surface of the sea, to a tremulous agitation of a far less perceptible character; which seems to originate in causes somewhat different from that by which wind is produced; and the existence of which could only be discovered by its effect upon a surface so easily agitated as that which a very placid sea presents. It is to this slight tremulous agitation in the lower surface of the air, a motion, I may remark, which is probably not very easily propagated, which seems, as I have already said, to depend upon causes of a peculiar nature, and not necessarily to be carried forward like wind, in a continued stream, that I am disposed to attribute those variations of the surface by which even the calmest sea is commonly marked; and I am persuaded, that any person who will take the trouble of remarking the manner in which these agitated and calmer portions of the water are gradually varied and intermingled with each other, will readily acquiesce in this solution of the phe nomenon. you in the attainment of this object, so far as my ability may extend, I am, Mr Editor, yours very respectfully, P. ACCOUNT OF A REMARKABLE AUDIENCE OF A POLISH AMBASSADOR AT THE COURT OF QUEEN ELIZABETH IN 1597. THE arrival in 1597 of an ambassador from Sigismund the Third, King of Poland, at the Court of Eliza beth, is mentioned by all the historians of her reign. This ambassador, whose name was Paul Dzialenski, was sent to complain of some interruption of the Polish commerce by the English cruizers; a measure to which, according to Carte, his master was instigated by certain Jesuits at his Court in the interest of the King of Spain. Elizabeth granted him a public audience, at which he addressed her in a harangue of uncommon boldness and vehemence, to which she immediately made a suitable reply in Latin, in which tongue the Pole had spoken. The substance of both their speeches is given in Camden's Annals, and in Carte's History; but we have procured an extract from the Burghley Manuscripts, preserved in the British Museum, of a letter froin Sir Robert Cecil to the Earl of Essex, which, as it contains much more minute details of the circumstances attending this remarkable audience than are to be found in these histories, cannot fail, we should think, to prove interesting to our readers. The letter is not a little curious in several respects. Elizabeth's partiality for handsome men is well known to all who are acquainted with her history and character; and it appears from this letter, that she was induced to grant the Polish ambassador a public and splendid audience, from the very favourable accounts she had received of the beauty and elegance of his person and manners. She seems to have been prepared to hear an address from him, couched in those romantic terms of love and admiration in which she was sometimes accosted by her courtiers ; who, when they wished to ingratiate themselves, always contrived to mingle Whatever, Sir, may be the truth of these explanations, I apprehend, however, that your miscellany can seldom be better employed than in giving currency to such views of the appearances of Nature as may lead your readers to a more intelligent observation of the beauteous order which prevails around us, and, with assurances of my being always ready to assist p. 665. Carte's History of England, Vol. III the praises of the woman with the adulation of the Queen; and her disappointment and indignation were therefore proportionally great, when she was so roughly attacked by a young and handsome foreigner. The courtly writer of the letter, however, swears, that she did not lose her dignity in administering the deserved reprimand to the Pole; and he takes care to enjoin Essex to praise her when he should write to court, for the temper and eloquence she displayed on the occasion. It is evident enough that such praises from her favourite were expected, and would be grateful to her. "There arrived three daies since in the cittie an Ambass out of Poland, a gentleman of excellent fashion, witte, discourse, language, and parson; the Queene was possessed by some of our new counsellors, that are as cunning in intelligence, as in decyphering, that his negociation tendeth to a proposition of peace. Her Matie in respect that his father the Duke of Finland had so much honored her, besydes the lyking she had of this gentleman's coinmeliness and qualities, brought to her by reporte, did resolue to receaue him publickly, in the Chamber of Presence, where most of the Erles and Noblemen about the Court attended, and made it a great day. He was brought in, attired in a long robe of black veluctt, well jeweld and buttond, and cam to kisse her Mats hands where she stood vnder the state, from whence he straight retired, tene yards of, and then beganne his oration aloude in Latin, with such a gallant countenance, as in my lyfe I neuer behelde. The effect of it was this, that the King hath sent him to put her Matie in minde of the auncient conderacies betweene the Kings of Poland and England, that neuer a monarche in Europe did willinglie neglect their friendship, that he had euer friendlie receaued her marchants and subiects of all qualitie, that she had suffered his to be spoiled, without restitution; not for lacke of knowledge of the violences, but out of meere iniustice, not caring to minister remedie, notwithstanding many particular petitions and letters receaued; and to contrm her disposition to avowe these courses, (violating both the law of nature and nations,) because ther were quarels between her and the King of Spaine, she therfor tooke upon her, by mandat, to prohibite him and his countries, assuming therby to her self a superioritie (not tollerable) ouer other princes, nor he determined to endure, but rather wished her to knowe, that yf there were no more than the auncient amitie between Spaine and him, it were no reason to looke that his subiects should be impedited, much lesse now, when a strickt obligation of bloud had so conioyned him with the illustrious house of Austria:" concluding, that if her Matie would not reforme it, he would. "To this I sweare by the liuing God, that her Matie made one of the best aunswers, ex tempore, in Latin, that euer I heard, being much mooued to be so challenged in publick, especially so much against her expectation. The wordes of her beginning were these: Suerlie, I can hardlie beleeue, that yf the King himself were present, he would haue used such a language, for yf he should, I must haue thought, that his being a king not of many yeares, and that (non de jure sanguinis, sed jure electionis imò noviter electus) may happilie leaue him vninformed of that course, wch his fauther and auncestors haue taken with us, and wch peraduenture shal be obserued by those that shall liue to come after him; and as for you, (saied she to the Ambass',) although I perceaue you haue redde many bookes, to fortifie your arguments in this case, yet am I apt to beleeue, that you haue not lighted upon the chapter, that prescribeth the forme to be used between kings and princes; but were it not for the place you hold, to haue so publickly an imputation thrown upon our justice, wh as yet neuer failed, wee would answer this audacitie of yours in an other style; and for the particulars of y' negotiations, wee will appoint some of our counsell to conferre with you, to see upon what ground this clamer of yours hath his fundation, who haue showed y'self rather an heralde than an ambassador." I assure your LP, though I am not apt to wonder, I must confisse before the living Lord, that I neuer heard her (when I know her spirits were in passion) speake with better moderation in my lyfe. "You will think it strange that I am thus idle, as to use an other bo dies hand: I assure you, I haue hurt my thumme at this hower, and because the Queene tould me, she was sorrye you heard not his Latin and hers, I promised her to make you partaker of as much as I could remember, being as I knew the worst you would expect from her, and yet the best could come from any other; yf therefore this my lettre finde you, and that you write backe, I pray you take notice that you were pleased to heare of her wise and eloquent answer." Burghley Papers, 1587. Mus. Brit. Bibl. Lansdown. Vol. 85. ON THE PROPER USE OF TERMS IN WRITING. MR EDITOR, THE use of appropriate terms to convey information with effect, or to describe objects with accuracy, is one of the first beauties in written composition; and I trust I shall have your indulgence, and that of the readers of the Edinburgh Magazine, while I point out one or two incongruities which are to be met with in the works of many respectable authors. No expression in descriptive writing is more frequent, than that such or such a lake is a "beautiful sheet of wa ter;"-and yet no term is more indefinite or worse understood than this. To a stranger to the object described, it may imply an extent of water fifty miles in diameter; while perhaps to another, it does not suggest a space larger than a mill-pond. It is evident that, unless the author who uses a term so undefined, specifies the actual length and breadth of the water he describes, no person can form the slightest idea of the dimensions of this said sheet of water. As an improvement on the expression, I take the liberty to suggest a plan by which such indefinite description may be avoided, without changing the word now in general use. I would term all the largest lakes or expanses of water, say, for instance, not less than fifty miles in length and ten in breadth, a sheet of water; those of less dimensions, or twenty-five miles in length and five in breadth, a half sheet ---those of smaller size a quarter sheet ;---and lakes still smaller than these may be distinguished by the terms octavo pages of water, duodecimo pages, &c.---till the most insignificant pond should have a distinctive name that should represent its relative size to the mind with sufficient accuracy. To the public the introduction of this plan would be of essential service; and if it were once generally adopted, no one could be at a loss to conceive the meaning of another. Few persons who read books are ignorant of the comparative sizes into which paper is folded ; and if the appointed standard were to be fool's◄ cap, many respectable authors would find themselves at home. Another expression of unrestricted meaning frequently met with in books, is "an arm of the sea." The writers who first used this term had certainly their reasons for doing so. Perhaps they metaphorically supposed the sea an animal; but if they took the idea from the human species, and gave the name of arm to places relatively situated in the ocean, there is an incongruity in the expression which is really ludicrous; for no analogy can reconcile either an arm or the bottom of the sea to the corresponding parts in the "human form divine." Sometimes we find the phrase, arm of the sea, put for a navigable inlet 100 miles in length:---at other times a creek not extending so many yards is so denominated. If the sea is to be a metaphorical monster, (and so it must be, for it has more than a hundred arms in Scotland alone,) why do not geographers lay down the position of its legs as well as its arms? or, if it has no legs, may it not have fins and a tail? A ridge or chain of mountains running across, or traversing an island or a continent, is another phrase in very common use among our geographical writers; whereas the fact is, that the said ridges, luckily for the stability of the earth's surface, continue, and have continued since the creation, in their accustomed places. Knowing of no good reason, either moral, political, or orthographical, for using these misapplied metaphorical terms, may I beg to suggest, that authors ought to employ words which, in their meaning, include the immoveability of these fixtures of nature. I know not, Sir, what you may think on this subject; but it is certainly a serious thing to unsettle all our notions of |