He Does
Not Explain On What Principle, And Perhaps Was Not Acquainted With It.
The Fact Is, That Sulphuric Acid, Which Is Produced By The Burning Of
Sulphur, Has The Power Of Checking, Or Altogether Destroying, The
Fermentation Of Substances.
In the present case, it seems, enough of
it had not been produced to answer the purpose effectually.
Some other
acids have the same power. Hence the desideratum mentioned in the text
is easily supplied. The juice, it may be thought, will be changed by
the addition of a strong acid, and rendered unserviceable. There can
be no doubt, however, that when it is required for the purpose of
making beer, &c. means could be used to neutralize the acid that had
been added to it, without materially, or at all, affecting the juice
itself. - E.
[4] "When we made application to this indolent Don, by the governor's
direction, to be supplied with cattle, he indeed promised to furnish
us with as many as we wanted, but we never got more than a single lean
bullock. The company perfectly tyrannizes over the inhabitants, and
sells them wretched merchandize at exorbitant prices." - G.F.
This gentleman says there are very few white people in the Cape Verd
Islands; that he did not see more than five or six at St Jago,
including the governor, commandant, and company's agent; and that in
some of the islands even the governors and priests are taken from
among the blacks. He draws a moving picture of the wretched condition
of these forlorn islanders, under the indolent and yet oppressive
government of the court of Lisbon. Mr G.F. be it known, was peculiarly
sharp-sighted in discovering, and vehement in inveighing against,
every impolitic violation of human liberty. In the judgments of some
persons, he had imbibed too readily the intoxicating beverage of
revolutionary France. Many strong heads, it is certain, were not proof
against its effects. - E.
[5] "Before leaving Port Praya, Captain Cook invited the governor-
general and the commandant to dinner, and we staid on board in order
to act as interpreters on this occasion. The captain sent them his own
boat; but when it came on shore the governor begged to be excused,
because he was always affected with sickness on board any vessel,
whether at sea or in harbour. The commandant promised to come, but
having at first neglected to ask the governor's leave, the latter
retired to take his siesta, (or afternoon's repose,) and no one
ventured to disturb him." - G.F.
[6] "The heavy rains entirely soaked the plumage of a poor swallow,
which had accompanied us for several days past; it was obliged,
therefore, to settle on the railing of the quarter-deck, and suffered
itself to be caught. From the history of this bird, which was of the
common species, we may deduce the circumstances that bring solitary
land-birds a great way out to sea. It seems to be probable, that they
begin with following a ship, from the time she leaves the land; that
they are soon lost in the great ocean, and are thus obliged to
continue close to the ship, as the only solid mass in this immense
fluid expanse.
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