of some valorous Roman general." Let us to work, said they, with one concurring voice, and with their mattocks they set furiously to the business. Before they had proceeded far, their attention was attracted by the hallooing and bellowing of a sturdy peasant, who was hastening towards the spot. When he had approached them, and stopping till he had gathered wind, he exclaimed, "Hoot, hoot, lads! what's that you're about? mind what the Bible says,—Cursed be he who removes a landmark."—"Peace, clown," said the junior antiquary,—"you are ignorant of the matter; R. I. L. that is, Romani Imperii Limes.—"Hoot, toot, lads!" said the countryman, "I ken Latin as weel as you do yoursel.—Do ye think I was na bred wi' Mr Doig, at Falklan school, wha could hae learned the very kaes that biggit in the auld palace to speak Latin, as my auld granny said, gin they had only leeted till him. And you say, too, I am ignorant o' the matter. But faith, birky, let me tell you, I should ken mair o' the matter than you,—for was na I present whan auld Rab Roughcast, the mason, hewed and pat in that very stane, in my gutcher Robin Rantletree's time. Romani Imperii Limes, wi' a ban to ye! I believe ye are nae better than a band o' tinklers, wha wad claim Rab Innes' Lands as the property of ony Roman. But there's auld Rab Innes himsel, poor feckless body, coming—we're no owre thrang neebours, yet I wadna like to see him wranged for a' that. But I'se gae my ways, and gif he lets you remove the landmark, I say again, accursed be he wha does sae."
This onset gave the antiquaries no stomach to encounter Rab Innes, and they precipitately took a direction which separated them equally from Rab Innes and young Rantletrees, leaving the R. I. L. in quiet possession of the field.
Now, Mr Editor, you must not suppose that I intend to throw any discredit upon your Antiquarian Repertory. Quite the reverse. All that I mean to deduce from what I have said is, a caution to you against being taken in by a gudewife's "kail-pat" for a "Roman camp-kettle," or by the landmark betwixt two decent cock lairds for a Romani Imperii Limes.
In proof of my sincerity, I shall, D. V., before your June Number goes to press, furnish you with some very curious matter connected with the ancient manners and history of our country; and I think, that out of the great materials I am possessed of, the article will be upon "Border Bonds of Manrent."—I am, &c. Strila.
Edinburgh, 23d April 1817.
CHEMICAL PROCESS OF COMBUSTION.
It appears, from the notices inserted in the scientific journals, that the attention of Sir Humphry Davy is at present particularly directed to the consideration of the chemical process of combustion; and though we do not consider ourselves entitled to suppose that all our readers can possess that minute acquaintance with this subject, which might justify us in presenting it to them in considerable detail, we yet think, that on so very interesting a topic it is possible to convey such general information as may be sufficiently understood by every description of readers. No phenomenon, it is evident, presents a subject of more interesting speculation to a mind of just philosophical taste. The instantaneous transition from a state of darkness to that of clear and useful illumination, which is produced by the presence of a lighted taper—the beautiful form which the flame itself is disposed to assume—the varied tints which characterize this appearance from the mild blue of its base to the white or orange of its waving summit—and the unfailing steadiness with which it maintains its place, so long as the materials of its nourishment are afforded, present an assemblage of striking appearances, which, but for the inattention induced by its almost-habitual presence, is better fitted, perhaps, to awaken the interest of a thinking mind than any other phenomenon of daily occurrence. It is a fact, however, that the researches and theories of modern chemistry have as yet been able to advance but a very little way towards a satisfactory explanation of these appearances.—The most obvious supposition unquestionably is, that the light and heat which are essential to the phenomenon, are derived from the burning body itself—and this, accordingly, it. is universally known, was the opinion entertained by the followers of Stahl, whose doctrines exercised an unlimited influence, before the introduction of
