With respect to the range of the guns, in the diagram referred to in my former essay, I hope in another paper to prove, that the circular stern admits of a ready and perfect defence, of more than an entire semicircle, without "wooding the guns," or depriving the men of sufficient room for working them. If also the line DH, in the diagram contained in. the paper under consideration, be intended to form a right angle with the longitudinal axis of the vessel, a greater advantage than what this position will afford can be obtained. For I have found by experiment that the gun can readily be trained to an angle of 79 degrees, or, in nautical language, one point before the beam; giving, therefore, a greater advantage to the gun, at the quarter, than contended for by the author of the "Observations."

I feel no ordinary pleasure in stating my belief, that the hostility which was once so vigorously displayed against the circular stern, is now considerably diminished. The torrent of feeling, which seemed at first destined to overwhelm the improvement, has in some measure subsided. The disapprobation of change, which at one time assumed the loud voice of thunder, has insensibly melted into tones of a gentler kind. Inquiry has been awakened; and many who imagined they saw in the alteration, indications of decay in the martial energies of our marine, now contemplate it with relation to the superior strength it affords, and the more ample means of defence it unfolds. Some, however, faithful to the ancient form, still regard the circular stern with unabated hostility. But to such it may be said, are we to arrest the march of architectural improvement? Is the new principle of ship-building, which has already conferred such transcendent advantages on our country, and which is now introduced into most of the naval establishments of Europe, to be deprived of one of its essential elements? While every other part of our men of war, has received accessions of strength, is the stern to remain in all its primitive weakness, without receiving a single benefit, from the science, and enlarged experience, that have been latterly applied to shipbuilding? Can such an anomaly long remain to mock the efforts of modern improvement? Is the naval engineer to be doomed perpetually to reflect, that in the magnificent bul

wark he has raised, science has lent her best efforts to strengthen the mighty frame, in all its parts, excepting one? Or is the old system to be persevered in to afford another exemplification of the maxim, "that partial strength is general weakness ?" Is it consistent with that noble spirit of advancement, which so pre-eminently characterizes the age, and which in its general operations, confers so great a lustre on our own beloved country, to allow mere feelings of convenience, and vague and uncertain notions of beauty, to stand in the way of genuine improvement? Shall we, who have even shaken off those ancient commercial restrictions, which seemed identified with our very national existence,-which had grown with our growth, and attended us in the brilliant career of our glory and power, refuse, in the present instance, to abandon an ancient form, opposed to every principle of genuine science? Rather let us, by the universal adoption of the circular stern, prove that we only adopt a system which sound experience sanctions; and that we only advance another, but a most important step, in the career of that improvement, which has been latterly introduced into shipbuilding; and that we are no longer enemies to the doubtful forms of beauty, than when they stand opposed to the progress of real improvement.

The period, however, I confidently hope, is not far distant, when the circular stern will be contemplated by all with more real pleasure than that form which has nothing but time, and the false perspective of centuries to recommend it; shedding new lustre on the name of its celebrated author, and adding to the other intellectual trophies he has achieved, one not the least valuable; since it will carry with it the unerring symbol of truth, having made its way, amidst prejudices of no ordinary cast, and in spite of an opposition of no ordinary kind; time having proved its unquestionable merits, and numbered it among its choicest and most valuable trea

sures.

PLYMOUTH, March 6, 1824.

ད་

ART. VII.-An Account of a Genus including the Herba Toxicaria of the Himalaya Mountains, or the plant with which the natives poison their arrows. By FRANCIS HAMILTON, M. D. F. R. S. &c. Lond. and Edin. and F.A.S.E.

[Having lately had an opportunity of seeing, in the Herbarium of Dr. Francis Hamilton, at Leny House, specimens of the plants with which the natives of certain parts of India are wont to poison their arrows, we expressed a desire that the characters and descriptions of these might be given to the public; and that gentleman, with the liberality which he has ever displayed in furthering the cause of science, has kindly communicated to us the following particulars.-W. J. HOOKER.

In June, 1810, being on the frontier of Nepal, I sent a man to the alpine regions of the Himalaya mountains, beyond the sources of the Kosi river. He was to collect specimens, roots, and seeds, of the alpine plants, having for some time been trained in drying specimens, and preserving seeds; and his attention was particularly directed to procure the plant used in India for poisoning arrows. In July he returned with no great store; but, among his acquisitions were specimens of the poison plant, and of two other species of the same genus, which has entirely the habit of several species of Ranunculus and Trollius. In my Account of Nepal, I have made the following observations on these plants, which may serve for giving the reader an idea of their history; and this I shall here follow up by botanical descriptions of the specimens, which were unfortunately imperfect.

“The term bish or bikh, according to the pronunciation of the same letters on the plains, and in the mountains, is applied to four different plants with tuberous roots, all in great request. I have already mentioned the Singgiya bish, as found on the lower mountains and hills, and supposed it to be a species of Smilax. The others have not the smallest resemblance to it, but are so strongly marked by a resemblance to each other, that I have no doubt of their all belonging to the same genus, although I have only seen the flower of one. This is called bishma or bikhma, and seems

to me to differ little in botanical characters from the Caltha of Europe. The bishma or bikhma is also, I believe, called mitha, although I am not certain but that this name may be also given to the following species, which deserves the most serious attention, as the bikhma is used in medicine, and is a strong bitter, very powerful in the cure of fevers, while the plant that will be next mentioned is one of the most virulent poisons."

"This dreadful root, of which large quantities are annually imported, is equally fatal when taken into the stomach and when applied to wounds, and is in universal use throughout India for poisoning arrows; and there is too much reason to suspect for the worst of purposes. Its importation would indeed seem to require the attention of the magistrate. The Gorkhalese pretend, that it is one of their principal securities against invasion from the low countries; and that they could so infect all the waters on the route by which an enemy was advancing, as to occasion his certain destruction. In case of such an attempt, the invaders ought, no doubt, to be on their guard; but the country abounds so in springs, that might be soon cleared, as to render such a means of defence totally ineffectual, were the enemy aware of the circumstance. * This poisonous species is called bish, bikh, and kodoya bish, or bikh; nor am I certain whether the mitha ought to be referred to it, or to the foregoing kind."

"The nirbishi, or nirbikhi, is another plant of the same genus, and, like the first kind, has no deleterious qualities, but is used in medicine. The president of the Asiatic Society, in a note annexed to Dr. Roxburgh's account of the Zedoary, gives the nirbisha, or nirbishi, as a Sangskrita or Hindwi name of that plant, which has not the smallest resemblance to the nirbishi of the Indian Alps. In fact, the nomenclature of the materia medica among the Hindus, so far as I can learn, is miserably defective, and can scarcely fail to be productive of most dangerous mistakes in the practice of medicine."

"In fact, our troops, in a subsequent invasion, suffered nothing from such means; nor do I believe that they were attempted."

The specimens of the Bishma which I have given to the India House are, in the catalogue, called Caltha bisma, although it differs much in habit from the Caltha palustris; and it has only four petala, and four germina, which may `perhaps induce some to consider it as a new genus.

CALTHA BISMA.

Radix tuberosa. Caulis herbaceus, simplex, cubitalis, glaber. Folia caulina plura alterna, petiolata, cordata, subrotunda, glabra, venis reticulata, subquinquenervia, quinqueloba lobis cuneatis, apice incisis, acutis. Petiolus longus, amplexicaulis, glaber.

Panicula terminalis, rara pedunculis elongatis, paucifloris, ex apice caulis, vel ex foliorum superiorum axillis. Bractea subsessilis, trifida, parva, pedicello paulo infra florem posita. Flores parvi, erecti, virides, extra nigricantes.

Calyx nullus. Petala quatuor, crassa, ovalia, concava, obtusa, ruda. Filamenta plura, hypogyna, brevissima. Antheræ erectæ, bisulcæ, utrinque emarginatæ. Germina quatuor subulata, polysperma. Styli crassi, subulati. Stigmata simplicia, acuta.

The specimens of the Nirbishi sent to the India House I have called

CALTHA NIKBISIA.

Radix tuberosa. Caulis herbaceus, simplex, glaber. Folia caulina plura alterna, petiolata, cordata, triangularia, pilis raris brevibus, marginem versus aspersa, subquinquenervia, venis reticulata, lobis cuneatis incisis acutis quinquefariam divisa. Petiolus longissimus, amplexicaulis.

The specimens of the Kodoya bish, or Radix toxicaria, which I sent to the same collection, are called

CALTHA COdua.

Radix tuberosa. Caulis herbaceus, erectus, cubitalis. Folia caulina plura alterna, utrinque pilosa, nervosa, venosa, ovata, peltata, lobis multis incisa cuneatis, iterum lobatis. Lobuli obtusiusculi, incisuris duabus apicem versus folii pro fundis.