gar. The preparation of this is the fame as that of the mufcovado, with this difference, that,towhiten it,theyftrain the liquorthrough blankets, as it comes out of the firft copper. The invention of ftrained fugar is owing to the English, who are more careful than their neighbours in the preparation thereof; for they not only ftrain it, but, when boiling, put it into square wooden forms. or moulds, of a pyramidal figure; and when it has purified itfelf well, they cut it in pieces, dry it in ftoves, and barrel it up.

Earthed fugar, is that which is whitened by means of earth laid on the top of the forms it is put in to purge itself.

Sugar of the fcum, is made of the fcum of the last two coppers; thofe of the former being reserved for the making of rum. The fcum deftined to make fugar is kept in a veffel for that purpose, and is boiled every morning in a copper fet apart for that use.-With the fcum, is put into the copper a fourth part of water, to retard the boiling, and give time for its purging; when it begins to boil, the ufual ley is put in, and it is carefully feummed: when almost enough boiled, lime and alum-water are thrown in; and when it is ready to be taken out, they sprinkle it with a little powdered alum.

Sugar of fyrup or treacle, is made of three kinds of fyrups that run from fugar. The firft, from the barrals of raw fugar, which is the coareft of all; the fecond, from the forms, or moulds, after they are perforated, and before they receive their earth, the third, that coming from the forms after they have had their earth; which lait is the best.

The coarfe fyrups fhould only be used for rum, but fugar being grown dear, endeavours have been used to make fome hereof, and that with tolerable fuccefs. They are firft clarified with lime-water: and, when boiled, are put in barrels, with a fugar-cane in the middle, to make them caft the remainder of their fyrup, and fit them to be returned into a crude fugar. The Dutch and German refiners, first taught the islanders how to turn their treacle into fugar.

The fecond fyrup is wrought fomewhat differently: after the copper it is to be boiled in is half full, eight or ten quarts of limewater are caft in; it is then boiled with a brisk fire, and carefully fcummed; fome had a ley, and others none. F. Labat takes the former method to be the better, though it requires more trouble and attention. This fugar may be earthed along, or at leaft, with the heads of loaves, the dried tops, and fuch other kinds of fugar as may be mixed with true earthed fugar, nor yet with the crude fugar.

For the third fyrup, after boiling and fcumming it as the former, they put it in ftantly into coolers, the bottoms whereof are covered half an inch thick with white fugar

very dry, and well pounded'; and the whol is well ftirred to incorporate the two together. This done they frew the surface over with the fame pounded fugar, to the thicknefs of one-fifth of an inch, this affting the fugar in forming its grain. When fettled, and cruft gathered at the top, a hole is made in the top five or fix inches diameter. By this aperture they fill the cooler with a new fyrup poured gently in, which infenfi bly raifes up the former cruft. When all the fyrups are boiling, and the cooler is full, they break all the crufts; and, after mixing them well, put them in the forms or moulds.- -The reft is performed in the same manner as for the earthed fugar; from which it only differs, in that it falls fhort of its glofs and brightness; being in reality, fometimes whither and finer, though of a flatter and duller white.

Refined fugar, has for its bafis, or ground,' crude fugar, ftained fugar, and the heads or tops of loaves that have not whitened well. The methods of making it will be defcribed when we treat of the refining of fugar.

Royal fugar, ought to have for its bafis the pureft refined fugar to be found. This they melt with a weak lime-water; and, fometimes, to make it the whiter, and prevent the lime from reddening it, they use alum-water. This they clarify three times, and pafs as often through a clofe cloth, ufing the very beft earth. When prepared with thefe precautions it is whiter than fnow, and fo tranfparent, that we fee a finger touching it, even through the thickeft part of the loaf.

The refining of fugar, is the art of purifying and giving it a fuperior degree of whitenefs and folidity. The excellence of mufcovado sugars, or such as have not been refined by the planter, but are fent home in the moft crude ftate, confifts in their whitenefs, drying or freeness, cleannefs, and fharpnefs or ftrength. The judicious refiner decides upon these several qualities by the eye, the touch, and the tafte.

The first operation in the process of refining is that of clearing the pans; previous to which they are charged, by throwing about fix quarts of freth bullock's blood (called fpice) into each pan, and filling it with lime-water to about half the height from the bottom to the part in which the brace is fixed; and when thefe are well ftirred together, the pan is filled to the brim with raw fugar. This mafs, with a moderate fire, will in about two hours be brought to the verge of boiling heat; but should not be allowed actually to boil; and in this time the earthy particles of the fugar, and other adventitious impurities, will be feparated from it by the effect o fthe heat,and the cleanfing quality of the fpice, and thrown up to the furface. About two quarts of spices are added to each pan,

within

within the first hour after the fire are light ed The fcum thus produced, which is ufually from four to ten inches thick, is fit to be taken off, when the furface appears black and dry, and not greasy; and it is gently removed with a broad skimmer into a portable tub, and conveyed into the fcum ciftern. Having done this, the pan-man ftirs together about a quart of fpice, and a gallon of line-water, and pours this mixture into each pan. When the fugar is again brought to a fcalding heat, it throws up a fecond fcum, not fo foul as the firft, which is removed as before. He then adds a lefs quantity of fpice than before, and repeats this operation, till the fugar cafts up a clean milky froth, which indicates that the impurity is wholly extract ed. The liquor is alfo fometimes examined with a bright metal fpoon, that any remain ing foulness may be difcovered. In the making of double loaves, powder loaves, or very fine fingle loaves, it is ufual to heighten the natural colour of the fugar by the additien of a little blue. For this purpofe, when the pans are almoft clear, about fix penny weights of the beft indigo, finely powdered and filtered through a piece of blanket in a balon of fresh water, and well firred toge ther, is thrown into each pan. The fugar being once raifed in the pan after infufion, the groffer particles of the colour are taken off in the last seum, and the remainder is incorporated with the sugar in the pan.

The pannan, having brought the fugar to the cleaneft ftate, prepares to fkip it off, or to fhift it from one vellel to another: this is done by means of a wooden gutter laid along the pans, and opening into the clarifying ciftern. Over this ciftern, upon large iron bars, is fixed an oblong basket, about fixteen inches deep, in which a large thick blanket is faftened; and through this blanket and basket the fugar liquid paffes out of the gutter; and to the mafs a quantity of fyrup is ufually added. Having meafured the quantity of liquid in the ciftern with a graduated rod, the panman pumps back in to the pan either the fixth or ninth part of the whole, as he is directed by the boiler; and the pans are all fupplied together by means of a trough. When this is done, the fire is flirred up to a confiderable of fierceness; and then commences a new ope ration, that of evaporation. In this part of the procets (the day's work being divided into three fillings) the panman pumps in to the pan one-ninth part of the quantity in the ciller, which in a few feconds begins to bod, and must be continued in a boiling state, but not with too intense a fire; and to prevent the fugar from boiling up to the furface or the pan, he cafts a ima'i quantity of but ter or greafe into the boiling liquor. Here It is to be obferved, that fugar thould boil Now in the pan, and yet not too flat like wa

ter; for by rifing hollow from the bottom, the neceffary evaporation is retarded, and the fugar is expofed to the action of the fire for a longer time than it ought to be. In a space of time from twelve to thirty minutes the evaporation will have produced its effect, and the fugar acquire the requifite degree of vifcouineis. The ftate will be indicated be various circumftances; as by the bubbles dragging heavily over the furface of the boiling mafs, and by the clammy liquid falling in ropes from the proof stick, but principally by that teft which is called the proof. For this purpose the boiler draws the flick, out of the boiling liquid with his right hand, and placed his left thumb upon the fugar; draws it across the stick, carrying away upon the end of his thumb as much of the fugar as will hang upon it; he then by means of a candle placed in a black box, called the proof-box, and by repeated trials (drawing the fugar to a thread between his thumb and fore-finger) determines when the evaporati on is complete; and when this is decided, the fire is fmothered, and nearly quenched. The hot fugar liquor is then removed by means of basons out of the pans into coolers, two or three gallons being left in each pan to prevent the bottom from being fcorched; and the pans are again fupplied with a quantity of liquor for the next evaporation. The liquor in the coolers is gently stirred to prevent a cruft from forming on its surface.→ When the fecond quantity is brought to proof, and skipped off into the coolers, the pans are supplied with a fimilar quantity; and while this is boiling, that part of the proceís of refining, called granulation, is purlued. For this purpose the fugar is difturbed in the coolers by an inftrument called the oar, and resembling the oar of a boat; the violent motion thus continued for several minutes, ferves to deftroy the viscoufness of the fugar, and to complete the graduation. Upon this operation much of the beauty antif fuccefs of the manufacture depends; for be the fugars are not enough, the grain of the refined fugar will be large and loofe, and its colour not fufficiently white; but if it is ftirred too much, the grains will be broke, the fugar will be difunited in its parts, and though clofe and smooth, without lufireand it will lofe confiderably of its due weight When the third fkipping is boiled, and the coolers fufficiently stirred, the contents of the pans are removed to the coolers as before; and thus the firft ftage of boiling for the day is completed. The courfe with the other two fillings is precifely the fame. Public Spirit and Prudential Sefyhnefs contraficu.

HAT temper of mind, to which we THA give the same of public spirit, is fo

neceflary

neceffary to all public focieties, that a noble author obferves, it is next to impoffible, that they can long continue without it; and, indeed, whatever difficulties fome men may find, in the exercife of it, all men agres to recommend it.

But, wholly oppofite to this laudable principie, is prudential selfishness, if I may fo express myself, which draws our attention folely to our own interefts; and which, in all cafes of hazard or danger, makes us feek our quiet or fecurity, in preference to the good of the community at large.

It is not uncommon to hear this prudence, as it is termed, recommended inflead of public spirit; and if a man can acquire any addition to his property, by means, however corrupt, he will be applauded for that mark of attention to his family, while the fuffering disinterested patriot is laughed at by the very men, in whofe favour he has embarked

That fuch conduct is a proof of our depravity, need scarcely be afferted. But it is more, it carries with it an omen of approaching mifery; for the deftruction of an Empire never fails to follow the depravity of its controuling principles.

Societies cannot long exift, but by the fame manner they were firft inftituted.-ImPartiality, juftice, zeal, for the public good, and fteady adherence, are the only national fecurities-when these are wanting, fleets and armies will prove but feeble fupporters, and in defpite of every splendid appearance, ruin will enfue!

The feveral changes of the government, and the melancholy overthrow of the Grecian common-wealths, are proofs of this obfervation.-Abuse of power produced corruption-corruption produced bafenefsbafenefs, luxury-ani luxury extinction of virtue-ending in tyranny and opprel

fion.

-

Yet in times of the greatest depravity and corruption, public virtue was held praifeworthy and commendable, infomuch that those who had it not, would fain preferve the appearance of it.-It was referved for modern times to ridicule a virtue so eminent and fo useful, and to discontinue a principle which afforded the only fecurity of public happiness.

It would have been a strange argument in the ears of an ancient Roman, that the intereft of the individual should be preferred to that of the community-that perfonal fafety, domeftic ease, and family connections, fheuld be preferred to the more important concerns which affect a whole community!-Life, property, friends, and kiafmen would all have been facrificed by that brave ennobled people, in the cause of the public, and of pofterity. Neither would it ever have enGent. Mag. Aug. 1788.

tered their imaginations, that the proftitution of fuffrage fhould provide for the private wants or inconveniencies of individuals.

It appears therefore at this fingularly depraved æra, as if we were equally renounc ing the rules of good fenfe and virtue, when for a grasp of ore-a paltry office-an empty title, or a tawdry ornament, we lofe fight of the divine light of public virtue. For one nation to grow rich by the spoils of another is manifeftly unjuft, fays a certain liberal writer. But to weaken and impover ifh our own is not only unjuft, but foolish. Let the prefent miniftry, who affect public economy and virtue by the facrifice of poor and friendless men, look to real objects of importance; and, if they are seriously bent upon doing good to their country, let them ftop the current of parliamentary corruption.

Defeription of the Grotto of the Fairies at St. Bauzie, near the town of Ganges, in the By M. Marfellier.

Cervennes.

ATURE prefents fo many beautiful ob

jects to our view, that we never conder thofe the conceals from us as worthy of our attention. Avarice, indeed, with unceasing eagerness ranfacks the bowels of the earth; and the Naturalift, with unwearied industry, explores the hidden receffes of the globe. Foffile fhells, petrified wood, and volcanoes, are fources from which we draw new additions to our knowledge; and it is by the continued exertions of thefe labours and useful refearches, that man has attained that degree of wisdom which teaches him how little he knows.

Of thole objects that moft deferve the attention of the curious obferver, mountains feem to be the chief; thote vaft refervoirs that attract and imbibe the waters of the clouds, that purify and tranimit them through a thousand fubterraneous channels; thofe bare and barren rocks, the deformity of which feems to announce the decrepitude of nature, afford ample scope for obfervation. Who would believe that these interesting ob jects fometimes conceal others ftill more interefting? that many of thefe enormous maffes, which feem to overburden the globe, are only vaults that protect the most beauti fui fabrics, in the construction of which Nature feems to have exceljed even herself? There, in filence, he is at work. Uncontrouled by man, he makes light of the greatest difficulties; and even, though under the influence of fecond caules, art is aftonifhed at her fortuitous, and yet regular combinations; at the boldness and majefty that appear even in her moft careless perfor mances; but, above all, at the fimplicity of the means the employs, The vulgar are in Fif capture

raptures, and think they understand her operations; the philofopher admires, but laments his own ignorance.

Thofe fubterraneous caverns, called Grot toes, have been often described, but the difficulty of approaching them has generally damped the curiofity of travellers, who have been content with viewing thofe of eafieft accefs. Yet it is to be remarked, that thofe which are more worthy of being feen, are precifely thofe which are with moft difficulty and danger approached; as if Nature meant to defend her treasures, and to protect them from the idle vifits of the multitude.

Some years ago, Monf. Lonjon, of the town of Ganges, an enthufiaftic admirer of the curiofities of nature, after having fcrutinifed all the grottoes in his neighbourhood, was tempted to examine that of the Fairies, (baume de las doumaifelles, in the language of the country.) This grotto is fituated three quarters of a league from Ganges, near St. Bauzile, in a wood at the top of a very steep mountain called Roc de Taurach, where it is much celebrated. It is faid, that, in the time of the religious wars, a devoted family fheltered themfelves in this place from perfecution and death; that they continued here for many years, living on herbs, roots, and fuch animals as came within their reach; that they were fometimes feen, towards evening, pale, emaciated, and naked, the terror of the neighbouring shepherds. As the people are prone to the marvellous, they were confidered as forcerers or fairies, and it was thought impious to doubt that they were fupernatural beings. Afterwards, when mifery had extinguished their race, the belief of their existence continued, and no body ventured near the spot they had inhabited. The bones that are ftill found, fhew that they muft have lived here for a long time; and fome utenfils, formed in a very rude manner, give fome idea of their arts and their genius.

M. Lonjon, excited by the accounts of the inhabitants, and even by their fears, could not refift the defire of vifiting this grotto; but finding infurmountable difficulties to his first attempt, he abandoned it, with the refolution of returning provided with every thing neceffary for ensuring fuccefs.

Several years afterwards, I accidentally met M Lonjon at Montpellier. A corre pondence of pursuits made the difcourfe turn upon Grottoes, many of which I had seen. The Grotto of the Fairies was mentioned, and the description of it, which feemed to me a romance, inftantly determined me to wifit it. M Lonjon talked to me of the dan gers; I replied, by fixing the day. We haftily provided ourfelves with fome neceffa ry implements, which we thought would be more than fufficient,

M. Brunet, a young gentleman of Montpellier, who applies his mind to the fciences at an age when others think of nothing but pleasure, confented to accompany me, along with a domeftic and two pealants. We had a ladder of ropes 50 feet long, with cords, torches, and fome provifions, and with thefe, and a fufficient portion of curiofity, we set out on our fubterranean expedition on Wednefday the 7th of June 1780. We

At first we had nothing but fatigue. were forced to clamber up the mountain for three quarters of an hour; we had to contend with the heat of the fun reverberated from the rocks, with roads never traversed but by goats, with loose ftones, with the weight of our hammers, torches, ropes, and provifions, and, what was worft, with thirst, as we had neglected to bring water, expecting to meet with it at the grotto: but we fupplied the want with fome cherries.

About the middle of the mountain we stopped at the Mas de la Cofte; (mas means a fmall houfe): here we increased our caravan by the addition of a man and of a ladder. On the top of the mountain we found a little wood of green oaks, which affords a grateful fhade, and defends the opening of the cavern.

This is in the shape of a funnel, twenty feet in diameter at the mouth, and thirty feet deep. This opening is most delightfully over fhadowed with trees, plants, and wild vines with their grapes, as if these meant to make the curious adventurer regret the beauties of nature which he is about to leave for dark and gloomy receffes. The afpect of this cavern must neceffarily be very frightful, for M. Brunet's dog, an animal exceedingly attached to his master, preferred waiting for eight hours at the mouth of the grotto, making hideous yellings, and the most moving and pitiable cries, till M. Brunet returned.

We defcended by a rope, tied round a rock, to the place where a wooden ladder had been firmly fixed. When we had overcome this difficulty, we found ourselves at the entrance of the first cavern, which inclines a little, and is covered with capillary plants: on the right is another cave, that does not reach far.

In front are four magnificent columns, like palm-trees, ranged in a line, and forming a gallery of ftalactite thirty feet high. They do not reach the roof, which is fmooth, and they are larger at the top than at the bottom; this is not in general the shape of fuch ftalactites as reft on the ground.

In this first cavern which is divided into two by thefe columns, we kindled a fire, took breakfast, and renounced for a long time the light of day.

There is a paffage from this into the fecond

savern,