bacco (nicotiana tabacum) often go all at once to fertilize the piftillum, and touch it fo clofely that they seem to form a crown upon it. They fall back again immediately after the procefs of fecundation is compleated. Thofe of the delphinium and garidella afford a remarkable peculiarity. Before, and at the time of fecundation, all the ftamina are bent and applied close to the ftyle; they afterwards ftretch them felves out, and remove from the piítillum in proportion as the pollen efcapes. The two fhort ftamina of the ftachys have alfo an evident motion, which seems to have fome analogy with that of the delphinium. Before the antheræ open, they are contained in the cavity of the fuperior lip of the corolla, and placed laterally against the style. Im mediately after the difcharge of the pollen, they feparate, the one towards the right, the other towards the left, in fuch manner as that the extremity of the filament is exferted beyond the fides of the flower. This divergence of the ftamina is fo obvious and fo constant, that Linnæus has established the generic character of the ftachys on this circumftance, which does not take place till the pollen is fhed. The fame phenomenon is obfervable in fome fpecies of Leonurus. The motion of the ftamina in the afarum muft not be paffed over. Each flower has twelve stamina, and the style is a cylinder crowned with fix fligmata. When the corolla is juft expanded, the filaments are folded double, fo that the top of each anthera refts on the receptacle of the flower. When the time deftined for fecundation is come, these filaments raise them felves upright, two and two together; thus the antheræ become vertical, and each pair goes to touch its correfponding ftigma. Laftly, the ftamina of the fcrophularia fhew manifeft figns of irritability. All the flowers of this genus have four stamina, the filaments of which before fecundation are coiled up like a rib band in the infide of the corolla: but when the pollen is ripe they unfold, stretch themselves out one after ano ther, and carry their antheræ to the ftigma. We are the more inclined to confi der thefe motions as irritability, bes caufe in fome individuals, fuch as the barberry, the Indian fig, and moft of the fpecies of ciftus, they may be ac. celerated at pleasure by irritating the ftamina with the point of a pin. We fhall not deny, however, that there are motions in the ftamina of certain plants, that feem evidently to depend on mechanical action. Such as those which have been obferved in the parietaria, and in the forskoblea, the caufe of which is well known. A very fenfible and quick motion has alfo been obferved in thofe of the mul berry and nettle, which I do not confider as the effect of irritation. Their filaments are bent like an arch, and kept in that pofition by means of the foliola of the calyx which compreffes them laterally. If we widen ever fo little thefe foliola, or if we gently raise the ftamina with the point of a pin, they fuddenly ftart up and difcharge to fome diftance a quantity of pollen. But this is not the cafe with thofe motions which we have fuppofed to depend on a ftimulating caufe: in them the ftamina are entirely free from any obstacle, and the contraction is fo obvious and fo conftant, that it is hardly poffible to deny it to be the ef fect of irritability. This faculty, it is true, does not appear in every plant: thofe in particular in which the stamina are placed very near the ftyle and the ft.gma, have never fhewn the leaft figns of irritability: fuch are the compound flowers, the labiated, the perfonated, and the papilionaceous: fuch are the different fpecies of verbena, vinca, phlox, primula, and borago. Neither have I ever obferved any other than elaftic motions in the plants of the dioicous and monoicous claffes, and even these are rare. In fhort, the ftamina of many hermaphrodite plants, although naturally fituated at a diftance from the ftyle, fhew no fymptoms of motion. In this number are the cruciform plants, with the feveral fpecies of peonia, papaver, ranuncutus, hypericum, &c. арра Motions of the parts of the Piftillum. THE motions of thefe parts are lefs univerfal, and, in general, less rent than thofe of the ftamina, as if the law which determines the males of moft animals to go in queft of the females were extended to the vege. table kingdom. We may, however, fet it down as a general principle, that when the ftamina equal the piftillum in length, they move towards it; but if they are fixed below the style, then this bends down towards them. Of this we fhall now give fome examples. If we obferve the styles of the paffionflower immediately after the expanfion of the corolla, we fhall find them erect and close to one another in the centre of the flower. In a few hours they feparate and lower themfelves towards the ftamina, in fuch manner, that each stigma touches the anthera that correfponds to it; and after they have been impregnated they withdraw. Thofe of the nigella have a motion dearly fimilar, and even more evident. Before fecundation, their styles are trait, like thofe of the paffion-flower, and ftand clofe together in the middle of the flower. As foon as the anthere begin to allow their pollen to efcape, the ftyles make a curve, and prefent their ftigmata to the ftamina that are placed below them, after which they rife up and reaffume their former vertical fituation. Thefe motions are eafily obfervable. Linnæus has defcribed them in the flowers of the nigella arvenfis. The style of the lilium fuperbum bends itself towards the ftamina, then leaves them after it has been fecundated. The fame thing takes place in the scrophularias. VOL. VII. No 41. The three ftigmata of the tulip (tulipa gefneriana) are much dilated before fecundation, but vifibly fhrink after having received the pollen. Linnæus has made the fame remark on the gratiola. Gratiola, fays he, aftro venereo agitata, piftillum ftigmate hiat, nil nifi mafculinum pulverem affettans, at fatiata rictum claudit. Hort. cliff.9. The different motions in the feve ral organs of plants, of which we have here related fo many ftriking examples, feem to us a function dependent on their living principle, to which we cannot refufe the name of irritability. This power of motion has been generally acknowledged and allowed in the leaves of a great many plants, why then fhould it not be admitted in thofe organs, the motions of which are at least as conftant and as evident? Both appear to depend on one caufe, that is, the vegetable life; and how indeed can we conceive that any plant fhould be fecundated without allowing a principle of irritability in the organs deftined for its reproduction? It may here be afked, why the fexual organs exhibit no figns of irritability except at the time of fecundation, while this power is always ready to act in the leaves or other parts that poffefs it? The answer feems to me to be plain. We know that these organs do not arrive at their perfection till after the expanfion of the flower, and that they fade when the fecundation is performed; while the leaves continue in a state of perfection for a long time, and therefore it is not furprising that their irritability fhould always be ready to exert itself. fexual organs of plants have even in this refpect fome analogy with those of animals. The This contraction of the different parts may perhaps be mechanically ac counted for, by fuppofing larger veffels on one fide of a filament, or of a ftyle, than on the other, in which the juices may circulate with greater rapidity at the time of fecundation. By this fupU u pofition, pofition, the filament may eafily be Carried, or bend towards the piftillum, and vice verfa. To this objection we may anfwer, 1. That all the external and internal veffels, when obferved with a microscope, are of equal diameter. 2. That even though thofe on one fide should have a larger opening than the rest, we would neverthe lefs be obliged to admit a fort of irritability, in order to explain the quicker propulfion of the fluids thro' thofe veffels. Such is the refult of the observa tions we have made on the fexes of great number of plants. We have telated with precifion the fimple facts, fuch as they prefented themfelves to our inveftigation. They feem the more interefting, as they ferve to confirm the doctrine of the fecundation of plants, and as they establish new analogies between vegetable and aninial nature. We are of opinion that the fubje&t deferves to be further profecuted, and that it offers a wide field for inveftiga tion to the fagacious Naturalift. TH Defcription of a curious Funeral Ceremony HE natives of the coaft of Africa depofit their dead in the ground in the European manner, and generally either in the evening or morning; but the ceremony of interrogating the corpfe is curious, and deferves a particular defcription. When the deceafed is defigned for interment, the corpfe is laid upon. an open bier, decently wrapped in a white cloth, and borne upon the heads of fix young people, either male or female; for that is a matter left entirely to the choice of the corpfe, who fignifies his approbation or difapprobation of the bearers, by his inclination or difinclination to move (which they firmly be lieve it is capable of exerting) to the place of burial. When arrived there, a perfon, who is generally a relation or friend of the deceafed, places himself five or fix paces before the bier, with a green bough in his hand, and addreffes the deceafed in this manner-" You are now a dead ntan 66 -you know you are no longer a "live and as one of us-you know you are placed upon the fticks (i. e. "the bier) of God Almighty, and "that you must anfwer truth." And then he asks him what made him die -whether he knew of his own death, or whether it was caufed by witchcraft or poifon; for it is a firm and univerfal belief among them, that no perfon dies without having a previous know ledge of his death, except his death be caufed by witchcraft or poifon, or the more powerful charms of another perfon over thofe he wears. If the corpfe anfwers in the affirmative to any of the questions propofed, it is fignified by forcibly impelling the bearers feveral paces forward, by a power which they fay they are unable to refift-if on the contrary, it is fignified by a rolling motion which they alfo fay they cannot prevent. If, by the fign given, a fufpicion arifes that the death of the party was occafioned by poifon or witchcraft, they proceed to question him who was the person, and name feveral people to whom they fuppofe he was not attached in his life time; but they first begin with his relations. If it should happen to be any of them, the corpfe remains filent for fome time, as if afhamed to accuse his own kindred, but at last is obliged to anfwer. He is then more particularly queftioned whether he is certain of the perfon; if he is, it is requested that he will strike that hand which holds the bough, (the perfon before From a Voyage to the Coaft of Africa, by J. Matthews. the the corpfe holding the bough up in his hand.) Upon this the corpfe immediately impels the bier forwards, and ftrikes the bough. In order to convince the fpectators, they repeat this two or three times. The culprit is then feized, and if a witch, fold without ceremony: and it frequently happens if the deceafed were a great man, and the accufed poor, not only he himself, but his whole family are fold together. But if the death of the deceated was caufed by poifon, the offender is referved for a further trial; from which, tho' it is in fome measure voluntary, he feldom escapes with life. After depofiting the corpfe in the grave, which is hung round with mats, and his most valued cloathes and neceffaries put in with him, they confine the accufed in fuch a manner that he can release himself; which fignifies to him he has tranfgreffed the laws of his country, and is fuppofed to be no longer at liberty. As foon, however, as it is dark he efcapes to the next town, and there claims the protection of the head man, who is fuppofed to be an impartial perfon; informs him that the corpfe of fuch a perfon has accufed him of caufing his death by poifon; that he is innocent, and defires that to prove it he may drink red water. This requeft is always allow ed, and the friends of the deceased are fent for to be witaeffes. innocent, but yet not entirely fo till the fame hour next day. During the interval he is not allowed to eafe nature by any evacuations; and should he not be able to reftrain them, it' would be confidered as ftrong a proof of his guilt as if he had fallen a vic tim to the first draught. And to prevent the leaft poffibility of the medicine's not operating, fhould any re main in the ftomach, they oblige the accufed to join in the rejoicings made for his efcape, which confifts in finging and dancing all night.--After being fairly acquitted by this ordeal trial, he is held in higher eflimation than formerly, and brings a palaver, or, to fpcak in profeffional language, an action againit the friends of the deceased, for defamation or falfe imprisonment, which is generally compromifed by a payment adequate to the fuppofed in jury. But if the deceased fays he knew of his death, and that it was premeditated; they ask him what induced him to die and leave them? and propofe feveral queftions, fuch as, Was any one poffeffed of a fine gun, or a fine cloth, that he could not acquire the fame? or had any body offended him that he could not be revenged of? but on thefe accounts they cannot bring any palaver against the object of his refentment. It fometimes happens that the corpfe will accufe a perfon of caufing his death by witchcraft, that they cannot fell on account of their age, or dare not fell on account of their family or connections, as it leaves a ftain upon the family; in that cafe, after the guilt of the perfon accufed is proved, he is carried to a field out of the town, and obliged to dig his own grave; the people who are with him as a guard frequently reviling him, faying, "You deal in death, and can make other people die, you must now taste of it yourfelf," Notwithstanding, he goes on with his work with an appearance-of the utmost unconcern, retorting, ""Tis U uz At the time appointed, the accused is placed upon a kind of high chair, ftripped of his common apparel, and a quantity of plantain leaves are wrapped round his waift. Then in the prefence of the whole town, who are always affembled upon thefe accafions, he firft eats a little colá or rice, and then drinks the poifoned water. If it kills him, which it is almoft fure to do, he is pronounced guilty; but if he efcapes with life after drinking five or fix quarts, and throwing up the rice or colá unchanged by the digeftive powers of the ftomach, he is judged truc, true, I did kill fuch a one, and many others, and if I lived I would ki many more," and often during his work meafuring the length and width of the grave, by the dimenfions of his own body. When the grave is judged deep enough, they direct the prifoner to ftand at the edge of the foot of it, with his face towards it, then a perfon behind ftrikes him a violent blow upon the nape of the neck, which caufes him to fall upon his face into the grave; a little loofe earth is then thrown upon him, and a sharp stake of hard wood is drove through the expiring delinquent, which pins him to the earth; the grave is then filled up, and his or her name is never after mentioned. Though the ceremonies above related are conftantly practifed, yet the different tribes have different methods of performing them. The Suzees carry the whole body, but the Timmaneys and Bullams only the cloathes the deceafed had on at the time of his death, and the nails of his hands and feet, which they cut off immediately after he is expired, and which they hold to have the fame power to an fwer the queftions propofed, as if the whole body was prefent. Dialogue between Taflo and Voltaire *. Tasso, Volt. Milton had lefs reason to complain: he was left to ftarve; but he was left at liberty. Tao, For a confiderable time, I enjoyed the fame bleffing at the fame price. At length an Italian Prince invited me to his court, loaded me with honours, and amufed me with abundance of promifes. I thought him my friend, and I was fincerely his: But, bye and bye, the moft powerful of the two friends threw the other into ignominious confinement. Volt. The prifon is never far from the palace. Taf, I was fhut up in a mad-houfe: 'tis true, I was in love. Volt. Were you beloved? love cannot deserve the name of madness or folly, while it is confined to the breaft of the lover, without being communi. cated to the object of his paffion. Taffo, As to that, I fhall leave you in the dark. The fuccefs of my paffion hath remained a fecret both to the public, and to the rival who caufed my confinement. Volt. I, as well as you, was thrown into a dungeon, on bare fufpicion. One can't help thinking, that, in the times when you and I lived, court fpies must have been deemed infallible. Taffo, What a train of ills did they occafion to me! I was confined in a mad-houfe, and, in my confinement, reafon well nigh deferted me. But pray how did you employ yourself when in prison? Volt. I compofed an epic poem. Taffo, A prifon is a miferable Par naffus. We are told that Homer ftudied in a cave; but then he kept the key himself. Volt. I fuppofe you have heard the refult of my undertaking. The hero, whom I chofe to celebrate, was highly worthy of the honour. But he was, unfortunately, ten or twelve centuries too late in coming into the world: and his exploits were not performed in the regions of gods or enchanters. Taffo, Yes, Henry IV. was too modern. Our perfons and events should be fuch as we may defcribe and vary as we please. Volt. We fhould alfo have fuch readers as you found among the Italians. I had been told before, indeed, *Efprit des Journaux. that |