Part 64 (1/2)

_Tremolite_ or _grammat.i.te_ of HAuY, in the same place. These two last-mentioned substances were in terminated crystals.

_Red oxyd of t.i.tanium_, in the same place.

_New violet schorl_, or _sphene_ of HAuY, (_rayonnante en goutiere_ of SAUSSURE) in the same place.

_Crystallized sulphate of strontia_, in the mines of Villefort in La Lozere, in the environs of Paris, at Bartelemont, near the _Salterns_ in the department of La Meurthe.

_Fibrous and crystallized sulphate of strontia_, at Bouvron, near Toul.

_Earthy sulphate of strontia_, in the vicinity of Paris, near the forest of Montmorency, and to the north-east of it.

_Onyx-agate-quartz_, at Champigny, in the department of La Seine.

_Avanturine-quartz_, in the Deux-Sevres.

_Marine bodies_, imbedded in the soil, a little above the _Oule de Gavernie_.

_Anthracite_, and its direction determined in several departments.

_Other marine bodies_, at the height of upwards of 3400 _metres_ or 3683 yards, on the summit of Mont-Perdu, in the Upper Pyrenees.

_Wolfram_, near St. Yriex, in Upper Vienne.

_Oxyd of antimony_, at Allemont, in the department of L'Isere.

_Chromate of iron_, near Ga.s.sin, in the department of _Le Var_, at the _bastide_ of the cascade.

_Oxyd of uranite_, at St. Simphorien de Marmagne, in the department of La Cote d'Or.

_Acicular a.r.s.enical lead ore_, at St. Prix, in the department of Saone and Loire. This substance was found among some piles of rubbish, near old works made for exploring a vein of lead ore, which lies at the foot of a mountain to the north-east, and at three quarters of a league from the _commune_ of St. Prix.

In this country have likewise been found several varieties of new interesting forms relative to substances already known; several important geological facts have been ascertained; and, lastly, the emerald has here been recently discovered. France already possesses eighteen of the twenty-one metallic substances known. Few countries inherit from Nature the like advantages.

With respect to the administration of the mines of France, the under-mentioned are the regulations now in force.

A council composed of three members, is charged to give to the Minister of the Interior ideas, together with their motives, respecting every thing that relates to mines. It corresponds, in the terms of the law, with all the grantees and with all persons who explore mines, salterns, and quarries. It superintends the research and extraction of all substances drawn from the bosom of the earth, and their various management. It proposes the grants, permissions, and advances to be made, and the encouragements to be given. Under its direction are the two practical schools, and twenty-five engineers of mines, nine of whom are spread over different parts of the French territory. General information relative to statistics, every thing that can concur in the formation of the mineralogical map of France and complete the collection of her minerals, and all observations and memoirs relative to the art of mines or of the different branches of metallurgy, are addressed by the engineers to the _Conseil des Mines_ at Paris.

LETTER LXX.

_Paris, February 20, 1802_.

Having fully described to you all the theatres here of the first and second rank, I shall confine myself to a rapid sketch of those which may be cla.s.sed in the third order.[1]

THeaTRE MONTANSIER.

This house stands at the north-west angle of the _Palais du Tribunat_. It is of an oval form, and contains three tiers of boxes, exclusively of a large amphitheatre. Before the revolution, it bore the name of _Theatre des Pet.i.ts Comediens du Comte de Beaujolais_, and was famous for the novelty of the spectacle here given. Young girls and boys represented little comedies and comic operas in the following manner. Some gesticulated on the stage; while others, placed in the side-scenes, spoke or sang their parts without being seen. It was impossible to withhold one's admiration from the perfect harmony between the motions of the one and the speaking and singing of the other. In short, this double acting was executed with such precision that few strangers detected the deception.

To these actors succeeded full-grown performers, who have since continued to play interludes of almost every description. Indeed, this theatre is the receptacle of all the nonsense imaginable; nothing is too absurd or too low for its stage. Here are collected all the trivial expressions to be met with in this great city, whether made use of in the markets, gaming-houses, taverns, or dancing-rooms.