a famous Greek philosopher, born at Abdera, was the disciple of Democritus, and the legislator of the Thurians. He was more subtle than solid in his reasonings; however, he taught at Athens with great reputation, but was at length banished from thence for the impiety of his doctrines. He then traveled, and visited the islands in the Mediterranean, where it is said that he was the first philosopher who taught for money. He died in a voyage to Sicily, in a very advanced age. He commonly reasoned by dilemmas, and left the mind in suspense with respect to all the questions he proposed. Plato wrote a dialogue against him. He flourished 460 B.C.

PROTEA, the Silver-tree; a genus of the monogynia order, belonging to the tetrandria class of plants. There are three species: 1. The conifers, with linear, spear-shaped, entire leaves, grows to the height of 10 or 12 feet, with a straight regular stem. The branches naturally form a large regular head. The leaves are long and narrow, of a shining silver colour; and as they remain the whole year, make a fine appearance in the greenhouse. 2. The argentea, commonly called silver-tree, has a strong upright stem covered with purplish bark, dividing into several branches which grow erect, garnished with broad, shining, filmy leaves, which make a fine appearance when intermixed with other exotics. 3. The nitida, or wagg- boom; greatly resembles the second sort: the leaves are very silky and white, with erect purple branches.

All these plants, being tender exotics, require to be continually kept in the greenhouse during winter. The first may be propagated by cuttings, which should be cut off in April, just before the plants begin to shoot; the second and third sorts may be propagated by seeds.