to enquire, on the principles of art, in what consisted the peculiar character of a performance which had thus charmed and enlivened the scenes of gaiety and innocent pleasure, with equal effect, in every rank and age of life.

There is perhaps no species whatever of music executed on the violin, in which the characteristic expression depends more on the power of the bow, particularly in what is called the upward or returning stroke, than the Highland reel. Here accordingly was Gow's forte. His bow-hand, as a suitable instrument of his genius, was uncommonly powerful; and when the note produced by the up-bow was often feeble and indistinct in other hands, it was struck, in his playing, with a strength and certainty, which never failed to surprize and delight the skilful hearer. As an example, may be mentioned his manner of striking the tenor C, in " Athole House."To this extraordinary power of the bow, in the hand of great original genius, must be ascribed the singular felicity of expression which he gave to all his music, and the native Highland goût of certain tunes, such as " Tulloch Gorum," in which his taste and style of bowing could never be exactly reached by any other performer. We may add the effect of the sudden shout, with which he frequently accompanied his playing in the quick tunes, and which seemed instantly to electrify the dancers; inspiring them with new life and energy, and rousing the spirits of the most inanimate. Thus it has been well observed, "the violin, in his hands, sounded like the harp of Ossian, or the lyre of Orpheus; and gave reality to the poetic fictions which describe the astonishing effects of their performance."

The different publications which have appeared under the name of Neil Gow, and which contain not only his sets of the older tunes, but various oc'basional airs of his own composition,

for instance, his " Lamentation for Abercairney," and "Loch-Errochside," are striking specimens of his genius, feeling, and power of embellishment. These were set and prepared for publication, by his son Nathaniel; whose respectable character and propriety of conduct have long secured him the esteem and favour of the public, and whose knowledge of composition, and variety of talent in the art, joined with the greatest refinement of taste, elegance of expression, and power of execution, render him (beyond all dispute,) the most accomplished aud successful performer of Scottish music in general, ever produced by this country.

In private life, Neil Gow was distinguished by a sound and vigorous understanding, by a singularly acute penetration into the character of those, both in the higher and lower spheres of Society, with whom he had intercourse; and by the conciliating and appropriate accommodation of his remarks and replies, to the peculiarities of their station and temper. In these he often shewed a high degree of forcible humour, strong sense and knowledge of the world, and proved himself to have at once a mind naturally sagacious, and a very attentive and discriminating habit of observation. But his most honourable praise is to be drawn from a view of his character, which was not so obvious to the public. His moral and religious principles were originally correct, rational, and heartfelt, and they were never corrupted. His duty in the domestic relations of life, he uniformly fulfilled with exemplary fidelity, generosity, and kindness. In short, by the general integrity, prudence, and propriety of his conduct, he deserved, and he lived and died possessing, as large a portion of respect from his equals, and of good will from his superiors, as has ever fallen to the lot of any man of his rank.

Though he had raised himself to independent and affluent circumstan

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e sin his old age, he continued free of every appearance of vanity or ostentation. He retained to the last, the same plain and unassuming simplicity in his carriage, his dress, and his manners, which he had observed in his early and more obscure years. ears. His igure was vigorous and manly; and the expression of his countenance spirited and intelligent. His whole appearance, indeed, exhibited so characteristic a model of what national partiality conceives a Scottish highlander to be, that his portrait has been repeatedly copied. An admirable likeness of him was painted a few years ago, for the Hon. Mr Maule of Panmure, M. P. for Forfarshire, by Mr Raeburn: and he has been introduced

into the View of a Highland Wedding, by the late ingenious Mr Allan, to whom he was requested to sit for the purpose.

In this picture, too, Mr Allan has preserved an admirable likeness of Donald Gow, the brother of Neil, his steady and constant violoncello; and without whose able and powerful accompaniment Neil could scarcely, in his latter days at least, be prevailed on to play a note.

Such was the person to whose memory this brief biographical tribute has been thought due. It is paid, unsolicited, by one who had full and frequent opportunity to judge of his character. He had often listened to Neil Gow, while delighting the gay by his music-he had seen him often in the midst of his family; and he had conversed with him, when, in sickness, he was anticipating the near approach of death.

Neil Gow was born in Strathbrand, Perthshire, of humble but honest parents, in the year 1727. He died at Inver, near Dunkeld, on the 1st of March 1807. He was twice married; first to Margaret Wiseman, by whom he had a large family: the second time to Margaret Urquhart, by whom he had no children.Besides his son Nathaniel, already

mentioned, he left another, John, who has long resided in London, and is also distinguished and admired, as inheriting much of his father's musical taste and power of execution. Two other sons, of equally eminent musical talents, William and Andrew, died before their father, a few years ago; but not till after they had completely established their reputation as true descendants of Old Neil. On the whole, a family of such celebrity in our national music, as that of the Gows, Scotland is not likely soon to witness again; and we trust, that those of them, who yet remain, may long be preserved to us.

Proceedings of the Wernerian Natural History Society.

AT the meeting of this Society on Saturday the 14th January, Dr T. Thomson read an interesting description and analysis of a particular variety of Copper-glance from North America.

At the same meeting, Dr J. Barclay communicated some highly curious observations which he had made on the caudal vertebræ of the Great Sea Snake, which exhibit in their structure some beautiful provisions of Nature, not hitherto observed in the vertebræ of any other animal.

And Mr P. Neill read a copious and interesting general account of this new animal, collected from different sources, especially letters of undoubted authority, which he had received from Orkney. He stated, however, that owing to the prevalence of tempestuous weather, the head, fin, collar-bone, and dorsal vertebræ, promised to the University Museum some weeks ago, had not yet arrived; but that he had received a note from Gilbert Meason, Esq. (the gentleman on whose estate in Stronsa the sea snake was cast) assuring him that they might now be expected by the first vessel from Orkney. In the

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days, accompanied with much drifting snow, and some hail. On the 7th the wind veering for some time towards the south, a gentle thaw commenced. This continued till the 12th, when frost again set in. The quantity of snow near Edinburgh, was, at this time, nothing to what occurred to the north of the Forth. Between Queensferry and Kinross, it lay from six to ten feet deep for many days. On Wednesday the 18th, in the evening, the frost became exceedingly intense, the mercury in Fahrenheit's thermometer falling as low as 11o, or 21 degrees below the freezing point in the neighbourhood of this city. At Foxhall, about eight miles west from Edinburgh, in a window exposed to the current of air from the N.E., it was observed as low as 6o, or 26 degrees below the freezing point. During the three following days, the thermometer indicated from 22° to 28°. Sunday the 22d was one of the coldest days in the remembrance of the present generation. At 8 o'clock in the morning, in this city, the mercury stood at 11°. A little way from town it was observed at 8°. Queen Street, exposed to the Jorth, it was as low as 6°. In the evening it was perhaps still colder; for, at Foxhall, it was noticed as low as 5o, or 27 degrees below the freezing point. The large bason of the new harbour at Leith, though filled with salt water was so completely frozen over, that the sailors could pass from ship to ship upon the ice. From the 22d to the 25th, the thermometer has varied from 15° to 25°.

During the last six months therefore, we have seen a range of temperature of no less than seventy degrees; we have experienced the greatest heat and the greatest cold known for many years past.

TT is a great presumption in favour of the use of Coffee, that it constitutes a general article of consumption in almost all foreign countries, and as it is now likely to be as generally used in our own country, I have ventured to trouble you with some observations on the subject.

As very little is known of the history, qualities, or proper method of adapting Coffee for general use, I beg leave to refer your readers to a Tract, written by the late Dr Fothergill, and published in the second volume of his works, wherein the author says, " the point in view is, to engage the Legislature to lower the duties, and encourage the produce and consumption of Coffee, for the mutual benefit of this nation, and her colonies." Dr Fothergill's advice seems at last to have made a proper impression on the Le gislature; and his opinion, precepts, and example, must necessarily have great weight with all those who are acquainted with his reputation, for wisdom, patriotism, and philanthrophy; his botanical knowledge and medical science. But as many of your readers may not have an opportunity of perusing Fothergill's book, I shall give you a few hints, taken from it, which may ay be useful to those who possess little information respecting the manner of preparing Coffee, or of its qualities.

1st, it is generally allowed that Coffee enlivens the spirits, and, without prejudice to the constitution, prevents drowsiness. It is also, with many, a cure for a very distressing and common complaint, the head-ach, ber sides being a relief in various other disorders.

2d, The longer Coffee is kept in the bean the better; even to the ex

tent