that Dr. Colden had a good opinion of the remedy." Letter from Dr. Franklin to M. Dubourg.

Note F.

Linnæus, in his Flora Laponica, tells us that the roots of Calla palustris, although acrid and caustic in the highest degree, (ignis firme instar,) are made into a kind of bread in high estimation, called Missebræd. This is performed by drying and grinding the roots, afterwards boiling and macerating them until they are deprived of acrimony, when they are baked like other farinaceous substances into bread.

The recent juice of the Jatropha manihot, or Cassava tree of the West Indies, is highly poisonous. The deleterious principle however resides in a volatile portion, which is dissipated by heat. The remaining substance of the root is used by the inhabitants for bread, as a material for a kind of soup, and as the basis of a fermented liquor.

Note G.

The following is Kæmpfer's description taken from his Amenitates Exoticæ, p. 791. His accompanying figure resembles the American Rhus vernix, except, that the end of the branch and bud are larger in proportion than with us.

"Sitz, vel. Sitzdsju, i. e. Sitz planta, vulgo Urus seu Urus no ki, Arbor vernicifera legitima, folio pinnato Juglandis, fructu racemoso ciceris facie.

"Arbor paucis ramis brachiata, salicis ad altitudinem luxuriose exsurgit. Cortice donatur incano, ex verruculis scabro, facile abscedente; ligno saligneo fragillimo; medulla copiosa, ligno adnata; Surculis longis crassis in extremitate inordinate foliosis. Folium est impariter pennatum, spithamale vel longius, Juglandis folio æmulum, costa tereti, leviter lanuginosa ; quam a semipalmari nuditate stipant lobi sive folia simplicia, pediculo perbrevi nixa, tenuia, plana, ovata, trium vel quatuor unciarum longitu

dinis, basi inæqualiter rotunda, mucrone brevi angusto, margine integro, suprema facie obscure viridi, lævi, et ex nervis lacunosa, dorso incano et molliter lanuginoso. Nervus medius in mucronem terminans subinde multos latere demittit nervos minores, citra marginem deficientes. Sapor folio sylvestris inest, cum sensibili calore; humor affrictus extemplo chartam ferrugineo colore imbuit. In surculis quibusdam ex foliorum axillis singuli surgunt Racemi laxe ramosi, palmares, tenues, qui, petiolis in calyculos rotundos desinentibus, Flosculos continent pumilos, et citra Coriandri seminis magnitudinem radiantes, in luteum herbaceos, pentapetalos, petalis carnosis nonnihil oblongis et repandis; staminibus ad petalorum interstitia singulis, apicatis, brevissimis, stylo perbrevi tricipite, floris turbini insidente. Ordorem spirant dulcem, Aurantio flori affinem et pergratum. Fructus flosculum excipit gibbosus, utcumque in rhomboidis figuram compressus, bifidus, facie ac magnitudine ciceris, membranula tenui micante vestitus, per maturitatem durissimus et obsoleti coloris.

"Cortex arboris cultro crenatus lacteum fundit lentorem, humore crystallino (ex aliis ductibus stillante) permixtum, qui ad aëris contactum nigrescit. Eundem surculi divulsi, foliorum pediculi, et nervi produnt, nullius gustabilis qualitatis participem, nisi califacientis sine acredine. Venenatos tamen spiritus hæc arbor exhalare dicitur, vehementes adeo, ut pueris circa eandem commorantibus exanthemata in corpore pariant: qualia etiam lignum tractantes alii (non omnes) experiuntur. Collectio Urusj, sive Vernicis, ut instituatur, caudices præcipue triennes, paucis crenis vulnerandæ sunt, ex quibus stillans liquor subinde excipitur, iterata in recente loco sectione, donec exsucci marcescant. Emulsi atque omni succo orbati, illico amputandi sunt ; sic nova e radice provenit soboles, quæ, triennis facta, collectioni denuo subjicitur."

*

"Vernix nativa vix præparatione indiget. Japonica per duplicatam chartam subtilissimam, telæ aranearum pene similem, et

eam in rem singulariter constructam docta exéigno torqueri solet, ut a particulis heterogeneis et crassioribus mundetur; mundatæ pauxillum admiscetur (centissima fere pars) olei Toi dicti ex fructu arboris Kiri. Sic vasibus ligneis indita per Japoniam venalis transvehitur.”

Note H.

The following account of the death of Socrates is translated from the Phædon of Plato.

And Crito hearing this gave the sign to the boy who stood near. And the boy departing after some time returned bringing with him the man, who was to administer the poison, who brought it ready bruised in a cup. And Socrates beholding the man, said, “Good friend, come hither, you are experienced in these affairs,-What is to be done?" "Nothing," replied the man, “only when you have drank the poison, you are to walk about until a heaviness takes place in your legs. Then lie down. This is all you have to do." At the same time he presented him the cup. Socrates received it from him with great calmness, without fear or change of countenance, and regarding the man with his usual stern aspect, he asked, "What say you of this potion? Is it lawful to sprinkle any portion of it on the earth as a libation, or not?” "We only bruise," said the man, “as much as is barely suflicient for the purpose." "I understand you," said Socrates, "but it is certainly lawful and proper to pray the gods that my departure from hence may be prosperous and happy, which I indeed beseech them to grant." So saying, he carried the cup to his mouth and drank it with great promptness and facility.

Thus far most of us had been able to refrain from weeping. But when we saw that he was drinking and actually had drunk the poison, we could no longer restrain our tears. And from me they broke forth with such violence, that I covered my face and deplored my wretchedness. I did not weep for his fate, so much,

as for the loss of a friend and benefactor, which I was about to sustain. But Crito unable to restrain his tears was compelled to rise. And Apollodorus, who had been incessantly weeping, now broke forth into loud lamentations, which infected all who were present except Socrates. But, he observing us, exclaimed, "What is it you do, my excellent friends? I have sent away the women that they might not betray such weakness. I have heard that it is our duty to die cheerfully and with expressions of joy and praise. Be silent therefore, and let your fortitude be seen." At this address we blushed and suppressed our tears. But Socrates, after walking about, now told us that his legs were beginning to grow heavy, and immediately laid down, for so he had been ordered. At the same time the man who had given him the poison, examined his feet and legs, touching them at intervals. At length he pressed violently upon his foot, and asked if he felt it. To which Socrates replied, that he did not. The man then pressed his legs and so on, shewing us that he was becoming cold and stiff. And Socrates feeling of himself assured us, that when the effects had ascended to his heart he should then be gone. And now the middle of his body growing cold, he threw aside his clothes and spoke for the last time, "Crito, we owe the sacrifice of a cock to Esculapius. Discharge this and neglect it not." "It shall be done, said Crito; have you any thing else to say?" He made no reply, but a moment after moved, and his eyes became fixed. And Crito seeing this, closed his eyelids and mouth.