The Quarterly Journal of Science, Literature and the Arts, July-December, 1827

by Various

MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE.

I. MECHANICAL SCIENCE. [◊]

1. On the Adhesion of Screws.

“The screws I used were about two inches in length, 0.22 diameter at the exterior of the threads, 0.15 diameter at the bottom, the depth of the worm or thread being 0.035, and the number of threads in one inch = 12. They were passed through pieces of wood exactly half an inch in thickness, and drawn out by the weights specified in the following table:

Dry beech	460	pounds
Do. Do.	790
Dry sound ash	790
Dry oak	760
Dry mahogany	770
Dry elm	655
Dry sycamore	830

“The weights were supported about two minutes before the screws were extracted.

“I have also found the force required to draw similar screws out of deal and the softer woods about half the above.

“From which we may infer as a rule to estimate the full force of adhesion, in hard wood . . . 200.000 d δ t = f, and in soft wood . . . 100.000 d δ t = f, d being the diameter of the screw; δ the depth of the worm or thread; and t the thickness of the wood into which it is forced;—all in inches; f being the force in pounds to extract the same.” We may, from the above experiments, observe the approximation to perfection in the art of screw making; for had the screw been greater in diameter, there would have been a waste of material, or had it been less, it would not have been sufficiently strong, which may be proved as follows: the cohesion of wrought iron has been found, from a number of experiments, to be about 43000 lbs. per cylindrical inch; and as the smallest diameter of screw used in my experiment was 0.15, it would have been torn asunder by a force of about 968 lbs.; or if the hard wood had been about 58 of an inch thick into which it had been screwed, the screw would have been broken instead of forcing its passage out of the wood.—Phil. Mag. N. S. ii. 291.

[128] See page 360, vol. xvii. of the former series of this Journal.

2. Improvement in Steam-engines.

April	61,877,545
May	60,632,179
June	61,762,210
July	62,220,820
August	61,764,166

thus exceeding by nearly fifty per cent. what had been effected before that time.

3. Improved Clock.

4. Method of dividing Glass by Friction.

“By means of the fork, the glass is easily held steadily by the hand of one operator; by means of the kerf, the string, while [p455] circulating about the glass, is confined to the part where the separation is desired. As soon as the cord smokes, the glass is plunged in water, or if too large to be easily immersed, the water must be thrown upon it; the latter method is always preferable when, upon immersing the body, the water can reach the inner surface. As plunging is the most effectual method of employing the water in the case of a tube, I usually close the end which is to be immersed.”—Silliman’s Journal, xiii. 7.

5. Use of Soapstone in diminishing Friction.

Some idea of the value of soapstone thus applied, may be formed from the following fact communicated by D. Moody, Esq., the superintendent of the tar-works on the mill-dam near this city. Connected with the rolling machine of that establishment, there is a horizontal balance-wheel, weighing fourteen tons, which runs on a step of five inches diameter, and makes from seventy-five to one hundred revolutions in a minute. About one hundred tons of iron are rolled in this machine in a month; yet the wheel has sometimes been used from three to five weeks without inconvenience, before the soapstone has been renewed. The superintendent thinks, however, that it ought to be more frequently employed.

“The use of soapstone was discovered at Lowell. It has been said never to fail in producing the desired result when applied to machinery which had began to be heated, even in those cases when nothing else could be found that would answer the purpose.”—Silliman’s Journal, xiii. 192.

6. On peculiar Physical Repulsions, by M. Saigey.

i. All bodies exert between themselves a feeble repulsive action in ordinary circumstances. The repulsion between bismuth and [p456] antimony and the poles of a magnetic needle, is a case of this general law, and is not due to magnetism. Nor is it magnetism which occasions the direction of needles formed of other substances than iron, announced lately by M. Becquerel.

ii. A very marked attraction may be observed between a cold and a heated body, or between two bodies of different temperature, whether screens be interposed or not.

iii. The metallic plates in the Cabinet de Physique de Paris, intended for the repetition of M. Arago’s experiments on magnetism by rotation, contain more or less of iron capable of attracting a very mobile magnetic needle. These plates, and those of M. Arago, were made by the same person and from the same materials.

iv. I believe that, in many cases, results obtained without the appreciable developement of magnetism or electricity, have been attributed to these powers; and from well-proved experiments I shall deduce new results relative to the diurnal variation of the needle, the direction of the plumb-line and the density, temperature and attraction of the planetary masses.—Bull. Univ. A. viii. 287.

7. On the Magnetic Effects of Metals in Motion.

116	oscil- lations above a	plate of	marble
112		layer of	mercury	2	lines in thickness.
106		plate of	bismuth	2
94			platina	0.4
90			antimony	2.0
89			lead	0.75
89			gold	0.2
71			zinc	0.5
68			tin	1.0
62			brass	2.0
62			copper	0.3
55			silver	0.3
6			iron	0.4

It is also stated that he has found, from experiments, that by alloying such metals as are magnetic, like iron, nickel, and cobalt, with other metals, which like antimony diminish the magnetic force, alloys are obtained entirely neutral in their effects; thus the alloys formed by four of antimony with one of iron, three of copper with one of antimony, and two of copper with one of nickel, produce no diminution of the number of oscillations, these amounting to 116 as with the plate of marble. These three alloys are, therefore, the best for the manufacture of compasses, those of copper and nickel being the most malleable.—Annal. des Phy. 1826. Bull. Univ. A. viii. 136. [p457]

8. Duration of the Effects of Light upon the Eye.

Flame	0″.242
Ignited Charcoal	0″.229
White	0″.182
Blue	0″.186
Yellow	0″.173
Red	0″.184

9. On the Measurement of the Intensity of Light, by M. Peclet.

In both these methods, the apparent intensity of the shadow varies with the position of the observer. If the shadows are equal when observed from a point perpendicular to the white screen at the middle of the distance of the two shades, they will be no longer so on removing from that position, and the shadow nearest to the observer will always appear the darkest. These apparent variations are greater as the shadows are farther apart, or with reflected shadows as the screen is smoother, or with transmitted shadows as the interposed obstacle is more diaphanous.

The explanation given of this fact is, that unpolished opaque bodies, like paper, plaster, &c. never disperse the light incident upon them, in an uniform manner, more rays passing in the direction in which regular reflexion would take place, than in any other. Hence, when two equal shadows are produced upon such a surface, either by two equal lights at equal distances, or by two unequal lights at unequal distances; the shadow nearest to the observer must necessarily appear deeper than the other, because it is enlightened by the nearest light, the rays from which are reflected in greatest abundance away from the observer; and, on the contrary, the shadow further from the observer should appear lightest, because the rays which fall on it from the furthest light are reflected in greatest abundance towards the side on which the observer stands. The reason, also, why the effect is greater as the shadows are further apart is evident; and why in every case it is reduced to nothing when the observer is in a plane perpendicular to the screen and equidistant from the two shadows.

From these facts and explanations it may be concluded, that, in all photometrical measurements by reflected shadows, the screens should have all smoothness removed from them, and the two [p458] shadows brought as near together as possible, and even made to touch or over-lap; or that, when this cannot be done, the observation should be made from a point equidistant from the two shadows. As to the shadows by transmission, the apparent variations of intensity are so great for small changes in the position of the eye, as to render the method altogether inapplicable.—Bull. Univ. A. viii. 248.

10. On the apparent Decomposition of White Light by a Reflecting Body when in Motion.

11. On the Barometer.

12. Easy Method of reducing Barometrical Observations to a Standard Temperature, by S. Foggo.

Expansion of mercury, from 32° to 212° F.
De Luc	1-56th
Lavoisier and Laplace	1-55.22th
Halstrom	1-55th
Dulong and Petit	1-55.5th
mean, 1-55.43th.

[p459]

For 1° of Fahrenheit’s scale, this is equal to 19977.4, or .00010023: which may be called one ten-thousandth, without the most trifling error in practice. The barometric column may, therefore, be reduced to the standard temperature of 32° F. by the following simple rule, which will make a table unnecessary. Before the first three figures of the observed height place two cyphers, multiply by the temperature of the mercury −32°, and subtract the product from the observed height. Example; barometer 30.597, temperature of mercury 74°.

74° − 32° = 42°.00305 × 42 = .128 and 30.597 − .128 = 30.469 the correct height.

When the temperature of the mercury is lower than 32°, the temperature is to be subtracted from 32°, and the product, obtained as before, is to be added to the observed height. Thus, let the barometer be as before, and the temperature 15°: then 32° − 15° = 17°; .00305 × 17 = .052, and 30.597 + .052 = 30.649, the correct height.—Jameson’s Journal, 1827, p. 378.

13. Diamond Lenses.

I am, Sir, yours, &c.

G. DAKIN.

Tringham, Norfolk, July 9th, 1827.

14. Sapphire Lenses for Single Microscopes.

There is a property possessed by small single lenses formed by precious stones, which is worthy of being commented on: viz. They can be burnished fast into brass rings, and thus safely cleaned and removed at pleasure from one setting to another. The cohesion of glass is too slight to permit this operation, during which it is almost sure to burst into shivers.—C. R. G.

15. On a Method of Securing and Preserving the Rowing Pins in Boats.

In the accompanying drawing, you have a plan for preserving that indispensable requisite in a boat, the towels, or rowing pins; the loss of which is not only very teasing, but often productive of serious inconveniences; while the practice of stealing them from each other forms a constant source of petty depredations, leading to perpetual quarrels among seamen in harbours. He who has been detained the better part of a day in the island of Sky, till half [p461] a dozen of these pins could be procured, well knows how to value that trifle, the neglect of which has caused the loss of his voyage, and might have led to that of his boat and his life also.

Fixed towels cannot well be used when boats are to be hoisted in alongside, as they are subject to be broken; and they are often inconvenient in getting in water casks, as well as in many other cases. Hence, pins capable of being unshipped are preferable. These are frequently lost, and the want is not always discovered till it cannot be replaced; or else it is not replaced without loss of that time which is often so valuable at sea. Very often, also, the delay of even a minute is rendered inconvenient or even dangerous; when the boat is dragging alongside by the painter in a heavy sea, and the vessel is either drifting or standing on.

The drawing requires little explanation. By pulling at the lower pin, the two upper are fixed at once, and on being unshipped they hang secure from loss; while the lower one serves us a spare towel, should any be broken. As not one boat in twenty thousand is provided with this invention, which is indeed scarcely known, it will not perhaps be found undeserving a place in your Journal.—

I am, &c.

J. M.

16. Cold Injection for Anatomical Preparation.

II. CHEMICAL SCIENCE. [◊]

1. Extraordinary Experiments on Heat and Steam by Mr. Perkins.

“The experiment affords some data towards answering the question, at what distance from the heated metal the water remained, when under the pressure of thirty atmospheres; we may safely aver that it exceeded one-eighth of an inch.”—Silliman’s Journal, xiii. 46.

2. On the Use of feeble Electric Currents, for effecting the Combination of numerous Bodies, by M. Becquerel.

The facts described in the paper are commenced by one intended to illustrate future reasoning, by shewing what takes place when a very feeble electric current traverses a metallic circuit, interrupted in one part by a neutral solution, into which the two extremities of the wires forming the circuit are immersed. Two small copper wires were connected together by loops, and the two free ends joined to the ends of a galvanometer wire; the circuit was then cut in one place, and the extremities immersed in a solution of chloride of sodium. Then, if one of the loops be raised to a red heat by a spirit lamp, an electric current is produced, the heated loop furnishing negative electricity. Now if the ends plunged in the saline solution are terminated by platina or gold wires, no current of electricity is observed; with silver terminations, the current is very feeble; but with wires of zinc, lead, iron or tin, the current is very energetic. These remarkable effects, highly important in the phenomena hereafter to be considered, are no way connected with the conductibility of the metals; for lead and zinc, which are the worst conductors, are those which, with the copper, produce the most powerful effects. The current ceases altogether as soon as the lamp is removed.

As the zinc, copper, lead, and iron, belong to the class of oxidable metals, M. Becquerel concludes, from this experiment, that [p463] when very feeble electricities are generated in any point of a metallic circuit, interrupted by a saline solution, a current of electricity is formed or not, according as the two similar metallic terminations, which dip into the solution, belong to an oxidable or non-oxidable metal. If the saline solution be replaced by an acid, then a current will be obtained, though platina wires be used; because that kind of fluid does not interrupt the current.

With respect to the production of new compounds by electro-chemical powers, very much depends upon the strength of the power employed, and M. Becquerel only pretends, as yet, to indicate a new field of research, and not to point out the precise paths to be pursued. Two methods may be adopted. As an illustration, let a tube, from 4 to 8 hundredths of an inch in diameter, be bent into the form of the letter U, and place a plug of amianthus at the bend, to prevent the mixture of the fluids in the limbs: into one leg put a mixture of deutoxide of copper and solution of the sulphate of copper, the former will fall to the bottom; into the other put a saturated solution of common salt, and also an excess of the dry substance, then communicate the two fluids by a plate of copper. Very shortly the end plunged in the sulphate will be covered with metallic copper, and the acid set free will act upon the oxide of copper below and form more sulphate, so that a set of decompositions and recompositions will occur, and ultimately comparatively large crystals of copper will be obtained.

In the other branch of the tube, a portion of the salt will be decomposed, the muriatic acid will act upon the copper, which is oxidised in consequence of its positive state, and will probably produce an oxychloride, which will combine with the chloride of sodium, and then octoedral crystals will be formed on the plate of copper. The effects are produced either with or without access to air.

When the crystals are well dried and inclosed in a tube hermetically sealed, they suffer no change; but they are decomposed by water into chloride of sodium and submuriate of copper.

If the voltaic experiment be continued for one or two months, the crystals, from being colourless and limpid, become violet, and ultimately acquire an emerald green hue, still remaining transparent. If the chloride of sodium side be tested, it will be found that soda is evolved during the experiment. A piece of copper simply immersed in a solution of common salt, produces nothing more than a submuriate of copper, which precipitates.

With silver.—If a similar tube to that described have both limbs filled with a solution of salt, a platina wire introduced into one limb, a silver wire into the other, the extremities of the wire connected so as to form a voltaic circuit, and the whole left for some months, in about fifteen days crystals will be observed on the silver wire; these will gradually increase and assume a rhomboidal form. They have not yet been particularly examined, but [p464] are known to be unchanged by water: during a long experiment they change colour, becoming, first, violet, then blue.

Experiments similar to that with the copper, when repeated with the same solutions, &c., but the substitution of plates of lead and tin for the copper plates, produced crystalline double chlorides of these metals and sodium.

Muriate of ammonia being substituted for common salt in these experiments, another series of double compounds was obtained with copper, silver, lead, and zinc.

A double chloride of barium and lead was formed slowly in a similar way.

When a solution of the iodide of potassium or sodium was used instead of the solution of salt, then double iodides were obtained: thus with lead rather a rapid formation of silky crystals occurred upon the lead, which, when examined by water, were decomposed, producing iodide of lead and solution of iodide of potash or soda. A tube two or three times the diameter of the former may be used for the experiment.

The second method of producing new combinations by weak electro-chemical powers, depends upon the electro-motive action, which is caused whenever a metal touches the oxides, or an oxide of another metal. If an oxide of a metal, a plate of metal, and a liquid be put into a tube closed at one extremity, there will be an electro-motive action of the metal with the oxide, and of the liquid with both these bodies; and the chemical effect will be according to the resultant of these three forces, which can only be ascertained by experiments.

As an illustration of the effects thus produced, three tubes, from eight to twelve hundredths of an inch in diameter, were prepared, a little protoxide of lead being put into one, deutoxide into the second, and peroxide into the third; solution of muriate of ammonia and a plate of lead were then added to each tube. After a time, lead was precipitated in the first tube, very slight chemical changes took place in the second, but a large quantity of double chloride of lead and ammonia crystallized upon the lead in the third, in the form of needles. Thus very different effects were produced, according to the state of oxidation.

Solution of salt gave similar results with the oxides of lead and lead.

The oxides of copper, with solutions of alkaline muriates, gave curious results. With muriate of ammonia, crystals were produced of considerable size, and different to those obtained by the former process. In this experiment, the black and anhydrous deutoxide of copper gradually acquired a blue colour, as if a hydrate were formed under the influence of the feeble electric current formed by the arrangement.

Copper, its deutoxide, and solution of corrosive sublimate, produced a double chloride, crystallizing in plates, and possessing a metallic lustre. [p465]

3. Crystallization of Metallic Oxides.

4. On Bromine, by M. A. de la Rive.

A few drops of bromine were then added to the water, which soon acquired a yellow colour, by dissolving a small portion of the substance; being now included in the voltaic circuit, the galvanometer needle was deviated 70°, and an abundant disengagement of gas took place from the platina wires. These were oxygen and hydrogen, in the usual proportion, proving that the water only had been decomposed.

From these experiments it results, that a body which does not at all conduct voltaic electricity, or at least but very badly, namely, pure water, may be rendered a very good conductor, by its mixture with a few drops of perfectly non-conducting substance, namely, bromine. M. de la Rive has found the same fact to occur with iodine, and iodine and water; and his father had observed, in a course of experiments made a long time ago on the conducting power of fluids, that diluted sulphuric acid is a better conductor than very much concentrated acid: may not anhydrous sulphuric acid then be a non-conductor like bromine, &c.?—Annales de Chimie, xxxv. 161.

[129] See, on this point, the statement by M. Becquerel, p. 462, relative to the use of platina wires, when forming a communicating medium with fluids.

5. Elementary Nature of Bromine.

When bromine and iodine are combined, the former passes to the positive pole, and is consequently more negative than the latter; which accords with the observation of M. Balard, that it should occupy a place between chlorine and iodine.

According to the Bulletin Universelle, when the letter to M. Arago, containing an account of the facts above referred to, was read to the Academy of Sciences, that body decided that the assertion of M. Dumas that bromine was a compound of chlorine and iodine should be considered as retracted, and that it should be so entered, upon the procès-verbal of the sitting.—A. viii. 209.

6. Quantity of Bromine in Sea-Water.

7. Sale of Bromine.

8. Preparation of Iodous Acid.

9. On a peculiar Nitric Acid, and Sulphate of Potash, by Mr. Phillips.

Real nitric acid	36.98	or	80.16
Water	9.15		19.84
	46.13		100.00

Supposing this acid to be a definite compound of two atoms of acid, 108, and three of water 27, it would consist of

Real acid	36.90	or	80
Water	9.23		20
	46.13		100

The salt remaining in the retort weighed 92.87 parts; nearly this weight of water being added and heated, the whole was dissolved, and on cooling, a salt, consisting of extremely minute filaments resembling asbestos, was obtained, which, by capillary attraction, retained a part of the residual solution so powerfully, that it was necessary to absorb it by filtering paper.

Although it appeared improbable that the crystals could be a variety of the known form of bisulphate of potash, yet supposing it might be that salt with either less, or more than two atoms of water, Mr. Phillips proceeded to its analysis. Some of the salt was readily dried by exposure to the air of a warm room: 100 grains, by muriate of baryta gave 154.75 grains of sulphate of baryta, equivalent to 52.45 sulphuric acid: 109 grains heated to redness, lost 21.6 sulphuric acid and water, and left 78.4 grains of neutral sulphate of potash. The latter contain 35.6 grains of sulphuric acid, which, subtracted from the whole quantity of 52.45, indicates 16.85 as the quantity dissipated by heat; and this again, subtracted from the 21.6, indicates 4.75 water in the crystals. The quantity of acid separated by heat is, therefore, very nearly half that remaining in the neutral sulphate, and the salt in question appears to be a sesquisulphate of potash, consisting of

			theory.		exper- iment.
3 atoms sulphuric acid	120		55.33		52.45
2 atoms potash	96		42.66		42.80
1 atom water	9		4.00		4.75
	225		99.99		100.00

Mr. Phillips found it difficult to prepare the sesquisulphate free [p468] from bisulphate; and on repeating the attempt to procure it exactly as before, obtained a large quantity of bisulphate, and a small quantity of the peculiar salt; although the quantity of water present is known to have an important influence on the nature of the sulphates produced, yet the precise circumstances on which the formation of sesquisulphate depends, are at present unknown.—Phil. Mag. N. S., ii. 429.

10. On certain Properties of Sulphur.

Fused sulphur began to crystallize between 226° and 228°. Its fusing point may be considered as 226°.4. Between 230° and 284° it is as liquid as a clear varnish, and of the colour of amber; at about 320° it begins to thicken, and acquire a red colour; on increasing the heat, it becomes so thick, that it will not pour. This effect is most marked between 428° and 572°; the colour being then a red-brown. From 572° to the boiling point it becomes thinner, but never so fluid as at 248°. The deep red-brown colour continues until it boils.

When the most fluid sulphur is suddenly cooled, it becomes brittle, but the thickened sulphur, similarly treated, remains soft, and more soft as the temperature has been higher. Thus, at 230°, the sulphur was very liquid, and yellow; and cooled suddenly by immersion in water, it became yellow and very friable; at 374° it was thick, and of an orange colour, but by cooling, became at first soft and transparent, but soon friable, and of the ordinary appearance; at 428°, it was red and viscid, and when cooled, soft, transparent, and of an amber colour; at the boiling point it was deep brown red colour, and when cooled very soft, transparent, and of a red-brown colour.

It is not necessary, as is sometimes stated, to heat the sulphur a long time to produce this effect; all depends upon temperature. The only precaution necessary is, to have abundance of water, and to divide the sulphur into small drops or portions, that the cooling may be rapid. If it be poured in a mass, the interior cools slowly, and acquires the ordinary hard state. When the experiment is well made at 446°, the sulphur may be drawn into threads as fine as a hair, and many feet in length.

M. Dumas, in remarking upon this curious effect of sudden cooling, classes it with the similar effect which occurs with bronze. Although difficult to assign the exact cause, yet he notices that the tendency to crystallize can evidently be traced as influential over some of the appearances, the hardness and opacity, for instance, [p469] which always occur together when the crystalline state is assumed; whereas, when rapid cooling has hindered crystallization, the mass remains soft and transparent, until it crystallizes, which usually happens in twenty or thirty hours.—Ann. de Chimie, xxxvi. 83.

11. On the Fluidity of Sulphur and Phosphorus at common temperatures, by Mr. Faraday.

Not being able to obtain access to the original journal, I shall quote M. Bellani’s very curious experiments from the Bulletin, in which they appear to be fully described. “The property which water possesses, of retaining its fluid states, when in tranquillity, at temperatures 10° or 15° below its freezing point, is well known; phosphorus behaves in the same manner; sometimes its fluidity may be retained at 13° (centigrade?) for a minute, an hour, or even many days. What is singular is, that, though water cooled below its freezing point, congeals easily upon slight internal movement, however communicated, phosphorus, on the contrary, sometimes retains its liquid state even at 3°, even though it be shaken in a tube or poured upon cold water. But, as soon as it has acquired the lowest temperature which it can bear without solidifying, the moment it is touched with a body at the same temperature, it solidifies so quickly, that the touching body cannot penetrate its mass. If the smallest morsel of phosphorus is put into contact with a liquified portion, the latter infallibly solidifies, though it be only a single degree below the limit of temperature necessary; this does not always happen when the body touching it is heterogeneous.

“Sulphur presented the same phenomena as phosphorus; fragments of sulphur always produced the crystallization of cold fluid portions. Having withdrawn the bulb of a thermometer which had been plunged into sulphur at 120°, it came out covered with small globules of sulphur, which remained fluid at 60°; and having touched these one after another with a thread of glass, they became solid: although several seemed in contact, yet it required that each [p470] should be touched separately. A drop of sulphur, which was made to move on the bulb of the thermometer, by turning the instrument in a horizontal position, did not congeal until nearly at 30°; and some drops were retained fluid at 15°, i. e. 75° of Reaumur below the ordinary point of liquefaction.”

The Bulletin Universel then proceeds to describe some late and new experiments of M. Bellani, on the expansion in volume of a cold dense solution of sulphate of soda during the solidification of part of the salt in it. The general fact has, however, been long and well known in this country and in France; and the particular form of experiment described is with us a common lecture illustration. The expansion, as ascertained by M. Bellani, is 287 of the original volume of fluid.

According to the Bulletin, M. Bellani also claims, though certainly in a much less decided manner than the above, the principal ideas in a paper which I have published on the existence of a limit to vaporization, and I referred back to the Giornale di Fisica for 1822, (published prior to my paper,) for the purpose of rendering justice in this case also. Here, however, the contact of our ideas is so slight, and for so brief a time, that I shall leave the papers in the hands of the public without further remarks. It is rather curious to observe how our thoughts had been at the same time upon the same subject. Being charged in the Bulletin with quoting an experiment from a particular page in M. Bellani’s memoir, (which I did from another journal, in which the experiment only was described,) I turned to the original place, and there, though I found the experiment I had transferred, I also found another which I had previously made on the same subject, and which M. Bellani had quoted.

I very fully join in the regret which the Bulletin Universel expresses, that scientific men do not know more perfectly what has been done, or what their companions are doing; but I am afraid the misfortune is inevitable. It is certainly impossible for any person who wishes to devote a portion of his time to chemical experiment, to read all the books and papers that are published in connexion with his pursuit; their number is immense, and the labour of winnowing out the few experimental and theoretical truths which in many of them are embarrassed by a very large proportion of uninteresting matter, of imagination, and of error, is such, that most persons who try the experiment are quickly induced to make a selection in their reading, and thus inadvertently, at times, pass by what is really good.

[130] Quarterly Journal of Science, xxi. 392.

[131] The Italian Journal has not yet arrived in this country.

12. Separation of Selenium from Sulphur.

Some of the sulphuret of selenium from Lukawitz, in Bohemia, was dissolved in potash, and the solution converted into hyposulphite by exposure to the air at the temperature of 65° F.; 0.1125 of the sulphuret experimented with were precipitated, and found to be pure selenium. The solution being of a deeper red colour than that of the common sulphuret, a piece of sulphur was put into it, and the whole boiled for a moment; a quarter of a grain of selenium, perfectly free from sulphur, was precipitated.

A solution of a neutral seleniate, or of one with excess of base, is soon rendered turbid by having sulphuretted hydrogen passed through it. At first pure selenium separates; afterwards sulphuret of selenium; and, lastly, mere sulphur. The solution should be considerably diluted; when concentrated, the precipitate formed is of a flame yellow colour, but soon becomes brownish-black, and sulphur is deposited, sometimes crystallizing at the surface of the deposite.—Phil. Mag., N. S., ii. 390.

13. On a new Compound of Selenium and Oxygen—Selenic Acid, by MM. Mitscherlich and Nitzsch.—This acid contains half as much more oxygen as that discovered by M. Berzelius, and with potash forms a neutral salt, having the same form and optical properties as sulphate of potash, containing no water when crystallized, and producing insoluble precipitates with barytic salts. The acid is isomorphous with the sulphuric, and may with propriety be called selenic acid, that described by M. Berzelius being considered as the selenious acid.

The new acid is easily prepared: for this purpose selenium, selenious acid, a selenite or a metallic selenuret is to be fused with nitre. Selenuret of lead, being the most abundant source, has been used for this purpose, but being accompanied by sulphuret, the selenic acid is usually contaminated by sulphuric acid. The selenuret of lead is to be freed from carbonates by muriatic acid, and the residue mixed with its weight of nitrate of soda, and thrown gradually into a red-hot crucible. Water then dissolves out seleniate nitrate and nitrite of soda, no selenium remaining in the residue. The solution quickly boiled, deposits anhydrous seleniate of soda, and this being separated, by cooling crystals of nitrate of soda are formed; these being removed, ebullition again causes more seleniate to fall down, and proceeding in this way an imperfect separation is effected. The seleniate, like the sulphate of soda, is most soluble in water at 181°. To purify the salt completely, the nitrite should be changed into nitrate by nitric acid; but then sulphate of soda would remain as an impurity formed from sulphuret in the ore, and no attempt to separate this has as yet succeeded.

But if the seleniate of soda be mixed with muriate of ammonia and heated, selenium, nitrogen and water come over, no trace of sulphur appearing. The selenium may, however, be dissolved in excess of nitric acid, and the selenious acid produced tested by [p472] muriate of baryta, which would then separate sulphuric acid if present; the clear solution is to be saturated with carbonate of soda, evaporated to dryness, and the mixture of selenite and nitrate of soda obtained, fuzed in a porcelain crucible over a spirit-lamp. Then proceed by crystallization as before, and a pure seleniate of soda will be produced.

To separate the selenic acid, the solution is to be decomposed by nitrate of lead; the seleniate of lead is as insoluble as the sulphate, and being well washed, is to be decomposed by a current of sulphuretted hydrogen, which has no action on the selenic acid; the solution being filtered, is to be boiled, and is then diluted selenic acid. Its purity, as respects fixed bodies, is ascertained by its entire volatility; if sulphuric acid be present, it may be ascertained by boiling a portion with muriatic acid, which produces selenious acid, and then testing by muriate of baryta, a precipitate indicates sulphuric acid.

From the isomorphism of selenic acid and its salts with sulphuric acid and its salts, M. Mitscherlich concluded, that the oxygen in the acid should be to that in selenious acid as 3 to 2; and to that in bases when it forms salt, as 3 to 1. These views were confirmed by experiments. From the decomposition of seleniate of potash by muriate of baryta, it appeared that the seleniate was composed of

Potash	42.16		oxygen	7.15
Selenic acid	57.84		——	21.79
	100.00

The composition of the acid was determined by boiling a certain weight of the seleniate of soda with muriatic acid in excess, and decomposing the selenious acid formed by sulphite of soda; 4.88 of the salt gave 2.02 of selenium, from which, and the above result, it would appear that the acid is formed of

Selenium	61.4
Oxygen	38.6
	100.0

According to Berzelius, selenious acid consists of 100 selenium, and 40.33 oxygen; and supposing this contains two-thirds the oxygen in selenic acid, the latter should consist of 62.32 and 37.68. From the analysis above given of the seleniate of potash, it is evident that 100 of selenic acid saturates a quantity of base captaining 12.56 of oxygen, which would agree with the latter estimate of selenic acid.

Selenic acid is a colourless liquid, which may be heated to 536°, without sensible decomposition; above that it changes, and is, rapidly resolved into oxygen and selenious acid at 554°. Heated to 329°, its specific gravity is 2.524; at 512°.6 it is 2.6; at 509° it is 2.625; but by that time selenious acid has been formed in it. A portion of concentrated acid, from which the selenious acid had [p473] been removed, consisted of 84.21 selenic acid, and 15.75 water; but it is certain that the selenic acid begins to decompose before it has resigned the last portions of water.

Selenic acid has a powerful attraction for water, and evolves much heat when mixed with it. It is not decomposed by sulphuretted hydrogen; so that the latter body may be used to decompose the seleniates of lead and copper. When boiled with muriatic acid it produces selenious acid and chlorine, and the mixture, like aqua regia, will dissolve gold or platina. Selenic acid dissolves zinc and iron, evolving hydrogen; it dissolves copper, evolving selenious acid; and it dissolves gold, but not platina. Sulphurous acid has no action on selenic acid, but instantly decomposes the selenious acid. A solution containing selenic acid is easily decomposed, by first boiling it with muriatic acid, and then adding sulphurous acid.

Selenic acid is but little inferior to sulphuric acid in its affinity for bases; seleniate of baryta is not completely decomposed by sulphuric acid. Its combinations being isomorphous with those of sulphuric acid, and possessing the same crystalline forms, and the same general chemical properties, present but very slight, though very interesting differences from the sulphates. These will be resumed by M. Mitscherlich in a future memoir, with the express object of illustrating the theory of Isomorphism.—Ann. de Chimie, xxxvi. 100.

14. Preparation of Hyposulphuric Acid.

15. Singular Habitude of Phosphoric Acid with Albumen.

16. Economical Preparation of Deutoxide of Barium.

The decomposition and effect are precisely the same as those lately pointed out by Mr. Phillips as occurring with potassium when the nitrate of potash is decomposed by heat.—See p. 483 of the last volume of this Journal.

17. Preparation of Aluminum—Chloride of Aluminum.

18. Mutual Action of Lime and Litharge.

19. New Chloride of Manganese discovered by M. J. Dumas.

When the perchloride is produced in a large tube, its vapour gradually displaces the air present, and the tube becomes filled with it; if it then be poured into a jar with moistened sides, the colour of the gas changes as it comes into contact with the moist air; a thick smoke of a fine rose colour appears; and the sides of the vessel acquire a deep purple colour due to the manganesic acid formed. The water thus coloured is abundantly precipitated by nitrate of silver, and, acted upon by a solution of potash, produces all the changes of the mineral chamelion.

The most simple process for the preparation of this body appears to be to form a common green chamelion, to convert it into red chamelion by sulphuric acid, and to evaporate the solution, which will give a residue consisting of sulphate and manganesate of potash. This mixture, acted upon by concentrated sulphuric acid, produces the solution of manganesic acid, into which the common salt is to be thrown in small pieces, until the vapours which rise are colourless; the latter effect is a sign that all the manganesic acid is decomposed, and that muriatic acid only is produced.

An analogous compound is formed when a fluoride is used in place of the common salt. But all attempts as yet made to collect a sufficient quantity for examination have failed; the chloride, on the contrary, is easily formed and examined, although it is not so easy to preserve it.—Annales de Chimie, xxxvi. 81. [p476]

[132] Query, what is a permanent gas?—ED.

20. Preparation of pure Oxide of Zinc, by M. Hermann.

21. Deuto-Sulphuret of Cobalt.

22. Separation of Bismuth from Mercury by Potassium.

Copper, lead, tin, and silver, are equally separated, but not so promptly, or so evidently to the eye as bismuth; for they are not associated with divided mercury, at the time of their separation, like the latter: with bismuth a mere atom is rendered visible, and M. Serullas thinks that chemistry does not present a more delicate test than the amalgam of potassium for bismuth in mercury.—Annales de Chimie, xxxiv. 195.

23. Sulphuret of Arsenic proportionate in Composition to Arsenic Acid.

M. Pfaff further says that arsenic acid may be separated from its combinations with bases, by dissolving the arseniates in nitric acid, and passing sulphuretted hydrogen through the solution; an abundant precipitate of sulphuret of arsenic is formed, containing no trace of the base of the arseniate decomposed.—Bull. Univ. A. viii. 256.

24. New Double Chromates.

Chromate of potash and sulphate of nickel were mixed in atomic proportions, and the solutions heated; after the chromate of nickel was separated, they were evaporated to dryness. The residuum, digested in water, was filtered, and the deep red solution obtained upon cooling, yielded grass green crystals in the form of oblique rhombic prisms; 50 grains of these, when analysed, gave 12.26 sulphuric acid; 0.978 chromic acid; 8.2 oxide of nickel; 9.862 potash; 12.7 water.

A similar salt may be obtained by mixing chromate of potash and sulphate of copper. It is of a light green colour, and has precisely the same form as the salts already described. In every case crystals of bichromate of potash were produced in the second crop crystals.—Phil. Mag. N. S. ii. 427.

25. Dobereiner’s finely divided Platina.

26. New Metals.

27. Analysis of Porcelain, Pottery, &c., by M. Berthier.

PORCELAIN.
	Sèvres. (i.)		English. (ii.)		Piedmont. (iii.)		Tournay. (iv.)
Silica	0.596		0.770		0.600		0.753
Alumina	0.350		0.086		0.090		0.082
Potash	0.018		. .		. .		0.059
Soda	. .		. .		. .		0.059
Lime	0.024		0.012		0.016		0.100
Magnesia			0.070		0.152		. .
Water	0.008		0.056		0.136		0.006
	0.996		0.994		0.994		1.000

(i.) Sèvres service—Paste strongly heated. It is formed from 0.63 washed kaolin of Limoges; 0.105 quartz sand; 0.052 Bougeval chalk; 0.21 of the fine sand obtained from kaolin by washing, and which is a mixture of quartz and felspar. The glaze of this ware is made of a rock composed of quartz and feldspar. When reduced to a fine powder, it is found to be composed of silica .730, alumine 162, potash 84, water 6: it fuses into a perfectly transparent and colourless glass.

(ii.) Worcester porcelain—Paste taken from the workshops, unbaked.

(iii.) Porcelain of Piedmont—Paste dried. The base of this manufacture is the magnesite of Baldissero.

(iv.) Porcelain of Tournay—Clay, chalk, and soda enter into its composition. It is very fusible, but not very fragile. [p479]

POTTERY.
	Nevers. (i.)		Paris. (ii.)		Gergovia. (iii.)
Silica	0.572		0.541		0.544
Alumina	0.124		0.127		0.220
Lime	0.226		0.063		0.064
Oxide of Iron	0.066		0.070		0.098
Magnesia	. .		0.024		0.038
Water	. .		0.173		0.020
	0.988		0.998		0.984

(i.) Earthenware of Nevers—Paste of a pale red. Made of a marle occurring close to the town; the glaze is a white enamel, containing both tin and lead.

(ii.) Paste of the brown earthenware made by M. Husson at Paris. The biscuit is red, but is covered by a brown glaze, coloured by oxide of manganese.

(iii.) Red earthenware resembling the Etruscan, and found in the ruins of Gergovia near Clermont.

CRUCIBLES, &c.
	Hessian. (i.)		Paris. (ii.)		English. (iii.)		St. Etienne. (iv.)
Silica	0.709		0.646		0.637		0.652
Alumina	0.248		0.344		0.207		0.250
Oxide of Iron	0.038		0.010		0.040		0.072
Magnesia	trace		. .		. .		trace
Water	. .		. .		0.103		. .
	0.995		1.000		0.987		0.974
	Nemours. (v.)		Bohemia. (vi.)		Le Creusot. (vii.)
Silica	0.674		0.680		0.680
Alumina	0.320		0.290		0.280
Oxide of Iron	0.008		0.022		0.020
Magnesia	trace		0.005		trace
Water	. .		. .		0.010
	1.002		0.997		0.990

(i.) Hessian crucibles—formed of a clay very aluminous, with which siliceous sand is mixed. They sustain rapid changes of temperature without fracture, but cannot retain fused litharge very long together, and have too coarse a grain for many purposes.

(ii.) Paris crucibles, manufactured by Beaufaye—they are made from the clay of Andennes, near Namur; part of the material being baked and coarsely powdered, and the rest in its natural state: no sand is mixed with it, and the inner surface of the vessels is finished with a thin coat of the unbaked material. They are said to be more refractory than the Hessian vessels, not more liable to fly by change of temperature, and more retentive of litharge.

(iii.) Fragment of an unbaked crucible prepared for an English cast-steel work.

(iv.) Paste with which the crucibles are made for the steel works of Berardière, near St. Etienne.

(v.) Fragment of a used crucible from the glass works of Bagneaux, near Nemours; it had been made from the clay of Forges (Seine Inférieure).

(vi.) A used crucible from a Bohemian glass-house.

(vii.) Bricks with which the blast furnaces at Creusot are [p480] constructed; they are made of a mixture of baked and unbaked clay.—Annales de Chimie, i. 469.

28. On the Composition of simple Alimentary Substances, by Dr. Prout.

Dr. Prout’s first object was to devise, if possible, an unexceptionable mode of determining the proportions of the three or four principles, which, with few exceptions, form organic bodies; and after numerous trials, he adopted a method founded upon the following well known principles. When an organic product, containing three elements, hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen, is burnt in oxygen gas, one of three things must happen: i. The original bulk of oxygen gas may remain the same, in which case the hydrogen and oxygen in the substance must exist in it in the same proportions in which they exist in water; or, ii. The original bulk of the oxygen may be increased, in which case the oxygen must exist in the substance in a greater proportion than it exists in water; or, iii. The original bulk of the oxygen gas may be diminished; in which case the hydrogen must predominate. Hence it is obvious, that, in the first of these cases, the composition of a substance may be determined, by simply ascertaining the quantity of carbonic acid gas yielded by a known quantity of it; while, in the other two, the same can be readily ascertained by means of the same data, and by noting the excess or diminution of the original bulk of the oxygen gas employed.

The apparatus consists of two inverted glass syphons which act the part of gasometers; these are connected when required, by a small green glass tube, in which the substance is to be decomposed and burnt: the syphons are very carefully gradated; so that the quantity of gas in them can be accurately estimated; and are supplied with cocks both above and below, so that they can be filled with mercury, the mercury drawn off and gas introduced, the gas transferred through the green glass tube, or the contents retained in an undisturbed state, with the utmost readiness and ease. The substance to be decomposed, may be put into a platina tray, and introduced alone into the green glass tube, and being there heated by a spirit lamp, be burnt in the gas passing over it; or it may be mixed with pure siliceous sand; or, what is most generally preferable, be mixed with peroxide of copper, which is always left, in consequence of the excess of oxygen gas used, in the state in which it was introduced. After the experiment the volume of gas is easily [p481] corrected for pressure, and if necessary for temperature, and the carbonic acid ascertained by the removal and analysis of a portion. No correction is required for moisture, the gas always being used saturated with water.

Dr. Prout considers the principal alimentary substances as reducible to three great classes, the saccharine, the oily, and the albuminous; and his paper relates to the first of these. This, with certain exceptions, includes the substances in which, according to MM. Gay Lussac and Thenard, the oxygen and hydrogen are in the same proportion as in water. Such substances are principally derived from the vegetable kingdom, and being at the same time alimentary, Dr. Prout uses the terms saccharine principle and vegetable aliment as synonymous.

The following tables show some of Dr. Prout’s results with several substances, extreme care having been taken in every case to obtain the bodies pure, and new processes often resorted to for that purpose.

SUGAR.
	Carbon.	Water.
Pure sugar-candy	42.85	57.15
Impure sugar-candy	41.5 to 42.5	58.5 to 57.5
East India sugar-candy	41.9	58.1
English refined sugar	41.5 to 42.5	58.5 to 57.5
East India refined sugar	42.2	57.8
Maple sugar	42.1	57.9
Beet root sugar	42.1	57.9
East India moist sugar	40.88	59.12
Sugar of diabetic urine	36. to 40?	64. to 60?
Sugar of Narbonne honey	36.36	63.63
Sugar from starch	36.2	63.8

AMYLACEOUSPRINCIPLE.
		Carbon.	Water.
Fine wheat starch		37.5	62.5
"	dried (i.)	42.8	57.2
"	highly dried (ii.)	44	56
Arrow root		36.4	63.6
"	dried (iii.)	42.8	57.2
"	highly dried (iv.)	44.4	55.6

(i.) Dried between 200° and 212° for twenty hours, lost 12.5 per cent.

(ii.) Part of the former, dried between 300° and 350° for six hours, lost 2.3 per cent.

(iii.) Dried as (i.), lost 15 percent.

(iv.) Part of the last, heated to 212° for six hours longer, lost 3.2 per cent. more.

LIGNIN, or WOODY FIBRE,

Obtained by rasping wood, and then pulverising it in a mortar; boiling the impalpable powder in water till nothing more was [p482] removed, then in alcohol; again in water, and dried in the air till they ceased to lose weight.

		Carbon.	Water.
From box		42.7	57.3
"	dried (i.)	50.	50.
From willow		42.6	57.4
"	dried (i.)	49.8	50.2

(i.) Dried at 212° for six hours, afterwards between 300° and 350° for six hours. That from box lost 14.6, that from willow 14.4 per cent.

Acetic acid		47.05	52.95
Sugar of milk		40.	60.
Manna sugar		38.7	61.3
Gum arabic		36.3	63.7
"	dried (i.)	41.4	58.6

(i.) Dried between 200° and 212° for twenty hours, lost 12.4 per cent. The same gum further heated to between 300° and 350° for six hours, lost only 2.6 per cent., and had become deep brown.

Vegetable Acids.	Carbon.	Water.	Oxygen.
Oxalic acid	19.04	42.85	38.11
Citric acid	34.28	42.85	22.87
Tartaric acid	32.00	36.00	32.00
Malic acid	40.68	45.76	13.56
Saclactic acid	33.33	44.44	22.22

29. Preparation of Sulphate of Quinia and Kinic Acid, without the use of Alcohol.

The lead, dissolved in the fluid, is to be separated by a few drops of sulphuric acid, or a small current of sulphuretted hydrogen, and the filtered liquid is to be precipitated by adding caustic lime, previously mixed into a thin paste with water, until the earth is in very slight excess; in this manner the quinia is precipitated. The addition of sulphuric acid readily converts this quinia into sulphate, [p483] which may be obtained in very white and silky crystals. The fluid left after the separation of the quinia, contains a kinate of lime almost pure. Being evaporated until of the consistence of syrup, it readily crystallizes in a mass, which may then be purified by recrystallization. The kinate of lime may be precipitated by means of alcohol, and then be crystallized after solution in water or diluted alcohol; or, by adding oxalic acid drop by drop, according to the directions of M. Vauquelin, the lime may be separated and kinic acid obtained. Two thirds of the quinia or cinchonia in a specimen of bark may be thus separated, and with such facility as to offer a ready test of the presence of these alkalies in any wood or bark submitted to examination.—Ann. de Chimie, xxxv., 166.

30. Pure Narcotine prepared.

31. Uncertain Nature of Jalapia.

32. Preparation of pure Mellitic Acid, by M. Wöhler.

33. On a New Acid existing in Iceland Moss.

The potash salt crystallizes in quadrilateral prisms, needles or plates, and is not deliquescent. The soda salt has similar characters, and the ammonia salt crystallizes in needles. These salts abundantly precipitate the acetate and muriate of iron of a red brown colour; they precipitate sulphate and nitrate of zinc white; muriate of manganese slightly of a clear brown colour; barytic and strontian salts abundantly white; being mixed with strong solutions of muriate or acetate of lime, they gradually produce an acicular crystalline white precipitate; acetate of silver yields an abundant white precipitate, which does not change colour in less than twenty-four hours: they do not precipitate salts of glucina, magnesia, alumine, uranium, nickel, copper, cobalt, gold or platina. This substance has been named the lichenic acid, and is distinguished from boletic acid by the different character of its vapour, and by forming an insoluble salt with baryta.—Bull. Univ. A. viii. 270.

[133] About one hundred and twenty grains.

34. Remarks on the Preparation of M. Gautier’s Ferro-prussiate [p485] of Potash, as described in this Journal for July, 1827.[134]

M. Gautier giving the proportions of materials, directs—

Blood in a dry state	3 parts
Nitre	1 "
Iron scales	150 of the blood employed.

Blood not being at hand, animal muscular fibre was substituted, and the following results were obtained. I am not aware that the dried parts of animal muscular fibre are more inflammable than the coagulated and dried parts of blood:—

Muscular fibre	3 parts
Nitre	1 "
Iron filings	150 of the undried muscle employed.

The muscular fibre, nitre and iron filings were beat into a mass, and partially dried by a moderate heat; they were then returned to the mortar and reduced to a perfectly homogeneous greyish white powder. This was dried and weighed, and appeared to be reduced to nearly equal parts of nitrate of potash and animal fibre.

The desiccation having completed by a very moderate heat on a sand bath, will not, as far as I am aware, differ materially from that produced by exposing the mass in “an airy situation to dry,” as nitrate of potash undergoes no decomposition by admixture with animal matters at a low temperature.

When the desiccation was completed, the mixture was charged into an iron cylinder, placed in the sand-bath, and though combustion was not anticipated in this part of the process, yet the mouth of the cylinder was turned towards the wall, lest an accident should occur, (which appeared to me to be more than probable in some stage of the process.) In about two hours after the cylinder had been heated, I was surprised to see its contents ejected with considerable force, in a state of brilliant combustion. Supposing something in the above experiment had been overlooked, and that, if the materials had been longer in contact previously to subjecting them to complete desiccation, this inflammation would not have taken place, the experiment was repeated with the following precautions: after the muscular fibre had been subjected to the action of the pestle in combination with the prescribed quantity of nitrate of potash, the mass was boiled with water for some hours, and then gently evaporated to dryness; even now, by applying a piece of red-hot charcoal, it was found that the nitre was in a condition to enter [p486] into active combustion, and if the cylinder had been again charged and subjected to a temperature capable of producing ignition, there cannot be a doubt, but that a similar inflammation would have taken place.

However this might be, this quantity of material was now mixed with hydrate of potash to an equal weight with the nitre used; and the mass subjected to the heat of a sand-bath for some hours, and afterwards submitted to the action of a naked fire for rather more than an hour, and the heat brought up to redness. No considerable action took place, but some particles of the carbonaceous matter were ejected, and produced brilliant scintillations in the fire, so that we may conclude, notwithstanding the presence of so large a quantity of potash, the properties of the nitre were not destroyed.

H. P.

Canal-street, Birmingham.

[134] Pages 207 and 208.

III. NATURAL HISTORY. [◊]

1. Squalls of Wind on the African Shores.

2. Destruction of an Oak by Lightning.

3. Description of a Meteoric Fire-Ball seen at New Haven by the Rev. S. E. Dwight.

i. The meteor was at first about 35° above the horizon, and, judging from the course of a fence near at hand, its direction about N. 20°. E.

ii. Its figure nearly that of an ellipse, with the ends in a slight degree sharpened or angular.

iii. The length of its transverse diameter appeared to be about equal to the apparent diameter of the moon when on the meridian, and that of the conjugate about three fourths of the transverse.

iv. The colour rather more yellow than that of the moon.

v. A tail of light, ten or twelve degrees in length, was formed behind it; broadest near the body; decreasing in breadth very slowly for about two-fifths of its length, after which it was uniform, and about as wide as the apparent diameter of Venus. The direction of the tail was coincident with that of the transverse diameter.

vi. The ball was far more luminous than the tail, and the part connected with the tail scarcely less distinct than the opposite part.

vii. The light was such that all objects cast distinct shadows, though less strongly marked than when the moon is full.

viii. Numerous sparks continually issued from the ball of the [p488] meteor; they were of the apparent size, but much more brilliant than the smaller stars, and after descending a little distance, disappeared.

ix. The meteor was visible for about eight or perhaps ten seconds.

x. A second or two before its disappearance, three much larger sparks or luminous fragments were thrown off at once, two of them the apparent size of Venus, the third larger. These were the last pieces which were seen to leave the body. Their paths were at first nearly parallel with that of the meteor, yet beneath it. From this direction, however, they all deviated constantly and rapidly, in parabolic curves, until they seemed falling perpendicularly towards the earth. Each fragment became less and less distinct until it disappeared. The largest continued visible until about 20° from the horizon.

xi. The meteor itself disappeared as suddenly as if, in one indivisible moment, it had passed into a medium absolutely opaque, or as if, at a given moment, it had left the atmosphere; but a few moments afterwards there was a distinct and somewhat extensive illumination over that part of the sky for about a second.

xii. When the meteor disappeared, it was about 30° above the horizon in the direction of N. 45° E. or 25° east of the place where it was first seen. The direction of the path was probably from W. by S. to E. by N. The meteor was obviously going from the observer, its path making an angle with the optic axis of about 60°.

xiii. Between eight and ten minutes after the disappearance of the meteor, there was a loud and heavy report, accompanied by a very sensible jar; it did not much resemble either thunder or the report of a cannon, but was louder, shorter, and sharper than either, and was followed by no perceptible echo.

xiv. A friend of Dr. Dwight’s, who was in Berlin at the time, about twenty-three miles due N. of Newhaven, saw the meteor distinctly, but made no particular observations. His account accorded generally with that given; but the meteor appeared to him larger, more elevated, and somewhat more to the east in its apparent place. No account could be obtained of any fragments which had fallen from it.—Silliman’s Journal, xiii. 35.

4. Remarkable Meteoric Phenomenon, described by Chladni.

5. Aurora Borealis seen in the Day-time at Canonmills.

6. Aurora Borealis in Siberia.

7. On the Presence of Ammonia in Argillaceous Minerals.

It was now suspected that all mineral substances, emitting an argillaceous odour, contained ammonia; a great number of specimens were tried, being moistened with solution of caustic potash, and examined by litmus paper. In no case was ammonia absent, and with common clay it continued to be evolved for more than two days. Amongst the substances tried, were pipe clay, other clays, numerous gypsums, Paris plaster, steatite, &c. The antiquity of the mineral seemed to have no relation to the ammonia.

M. Bouis concludes that, in all cases, the argillaceous smell of minerals is connected with, and dependent upon, the presence of ammonia, the latter being the vehicle of this particular odour.—Annales de Chimie, xxxv. 333. [p490]

8. Composition of Apatite.

	S. G.	Chlo. Calc.	Fluor. Calc.
Apatite from Suarum in Norway	3.174	4.280	4.590
Cabo de Gota in Spain	3.235	0.885	7.049
Arendal	3.194	0.801	7.010
Greiner in the Tyrol	3.175	0.150	7.690
Faldigl, ditto	3.166	0.100	7.620
St. Gothard	3.197	trace	7.690
Ehrenfriedersdorf	3.211	trace	7.690
Annales de Chimie.

9. Burmese Petroleum Wells.

10. Direction of the Branches of Trees.

11. Effects of Light on Vegetation.

“Seven years ago, next month, I had a still more favourable opportunity to observe this phenomenon in company with the Hon. J. Lansing, late Chancellor of this State. While we were engaged in taking a geological survey of his manor of Blenheim, the leaves of the forest had expanded to almost the common size in cloudy weather. I believe the sun had scarcely shone upon them in twenty days. Standing upon a hill, we observed that the dense forests upon the opposite side of the Schoharie were almost white. The sun now began to shine in full brightness. The colour of the forest absolutely changed so fast that we could perceive its progress. By the middle of the afternoon, the whole of these extensive forests, many miles in length, presented their usual summer dress.”—Silliman’s Journal, xiii. 193.

12. Organization and Reproduction of the Trufle.

The reporters of this memoir to the Academy state that they have verified M. Turpin’s account, but point out a circumstance in the natural history of the trufle, which is still unexplained. If the [p492] method described be the only mode in which the trufle is reproduced, then it is difficult to comprehend the enormous multiplication of that vegetable in certain parts of France, where immense quantities are annually collected without exhausting or even diminishing the race. If the plant has no means of progression, how can the young trufles leave the place of their birth, and become disseminated over the soil? The Mémoire received the approbation of the Academy.—Revue Ency. xxxv. 794.

13. Alteration of Corn in a subterraneous Repository.

Being analysed, it was found to consist principally of a substance resembling ulmine in its properties, ulmate of lime and carbonaceous matter: the proportions were

Ulmine	26.5
Ulmate of lime, containing some phosphate of lime and a little oxide of iron	42.0
Carbonaceous matter	30.0
Muriates of potash and lime	1.5
Nitrates of potash and lime	1.5
Fatty matter of the consistency of wax, undetermined.
	100.0

Although the time during which this corn has been stored up is probably very long, still M. Braconnot thinks the principal cause of the change in it has been humidity; and thinks also that the same may have been the case with the corn lately found in an Egyptian tomb[135], and quotes the known fact of corn having been found at Scarpone, an ancient Roman station, preserved in good condition, during eighteen centuries, in a reservoir constructed of Roman mortar.

The best use that could be made of the carbonized corn of Deneuvre was to apply it as a manure, for it contained the best elements of a substance of this kind, and M. Braconnot had long since observed the presence of ulmine in good manure, its acid properties, and its effects on vegetation. He adds also that Bruyères earth of excellent quality gave one-fourth of a combustible matter formed of ulmine and a carbonaceous body but little soluble in potash, the remaining three-fourths being a pure siliceous sand without a trace of lime. Yet so effectual is this earth, that, where it cannot be obtained, certain exotics cannot be cultivated.—Annales de Chimie, xxxv. 262. [p493]

[135] See p. 210 of the last Number.

14. Quick Method of putting Insects to Death.

15. Destruction of Snails by common Salt.

16. Remarkable Hairy Man.

17. Application of Remedies by Absorption from the Surface.

Salts of Morphia, applied in this manner, speedily exhibit their [p494] action upon the brain and nervous system, by the contraction of the pupils, and often by dysuria and ischuria; nausea and vomiting are rare; sometimes a sensation of itching is felt in the nasal cavities, and papular eruptions not unfrequently appear upon the skin.

Extract of Belladonna, applied upon the upper surface of the feet, produced all the consequences derived from its internal exhibition; such as dilatation of the pupil and impaired vision.

Extract of Squill, while it augments transpiration, promotes the urinary secretion, and facilitates expectoration.

Well powdered Strychnine supports the suppuration of wounds tolerably well, and stimulates the locomotive system without inconveniently exciting the brain. It happens also in certain palsies, such as those which are caused by the carbonate of lead, that the power of motion is restored without the production of those violent shocks which have been so unpleasant to patients. M. Bailly has observed, with respect to this medicine in general, that it often excites a marked turgescence about the head, heightening the colour of the face, which demands the suspension of the remedy, if not the intervention of blood-letting.

Perchloride of Mercury (corrosive sublimate) produces an intense sensation of heat, and corrodes the parts with which it comes in contact. Sometimes, however, it has been known to relieve the pains of exostoses, &c. The proto-chloride (calomel) also excites pain, particularly if rubbed upon a recently blistered surface. In this way it may cure old syphilitic affections; but as a set-off against these advantages, there is sometimes a difficulty in keeping up the action, as the absorbent powers of the surface wear out by long continued contact.

One great advantage of the endermic practice is the exemption of the digestive organs from an inconvenient or unaccustomed stimulus; and its importance must be apparent where the stomach is incapable of retaining medicines, or the power of deglutition is lost.—Nouv. Bib. Med.—Med. Rep. v. 341.

18. On the Strix Cunicularia, or Coquimbo Owl.

“The Biscacho[136] is found all over the plains of the Pampas; like rabbits they live in holes, which are in groups in every [p495] direction, and which make galloping over these plains very dangerous. These animals are never seen in the day, but as soon as the lower limb of the sun reaches the horizon, they are seen issuing from their holes in all directions, which are scattered in groups like little villages, all over the Pampas. The biscachos, when full grown, are nearly as large as badgers, but their head resembles a rabbit, excepting that they have large bushy whiskers. In the evening they sit outside their holes, and they all appear to be moralising. They are the most serious looking animals I ever saw; and even the young ones are grey headed, have mustachios, and look thoughtful and grave. In the day time their holes are always guarded by two little owls, who are never an instant away from their post. As one gallops by these owls, they always stand looking at the stranger and then at each other, moving their old-fashioned heads in a manner which is quite ridiculous, until one rushes by them, when fear gets the better of their dignified looks, and they both run into the biscachos’ “hole.”—(Head’s Rough Notes, p. 82.)

Captain Head has not given us the name of this owl, but in all probability it was the Strix Cunicularia, or Coquimbo Owl, which is described as flying in pairs, sometimes by day, and making its nest in long subterraneous burrows[137]. In the singular motion of its head, it however corresponds with the Strix Brasiliana, or Brownish Horned Owl, mentioned by Maregrave in his History of Brazil, which he says is easily tamed, and can so turn about its neck that the tip of the beak shall exactly point at the middle of the back; that it also plays with men like an ape, making many mowes, (as Willoughby translates it,) and antic mimical faces, and snapping with its bill. But for the best account we have met with, we are indebted to the splendid continuation of Wilson’s American Ornithology by Lucien Bonaparte, under the title “Burrowing Owl—a bird,” he says, “that so far from seeking refuge in the ruined habitations of man, fixes his residence within the earth; instead of concealing itself in solitary recesses of the forests, delights to dwell on open plains, in company with animals remarkable for their social disposition, neatness, and order. Instead of sailing heavily forth in the obscurity of the evening or morning twilight, and then retreating to its secluded abode, this bird enjoys the broadest glare of the noon-day sun, and flying rapidly along, searches for food or pleasure during the cheerful light of the day. In the trans-Mississippian territories of the United States, this very singular bird resides exclusively in the villages of the Marmot, or Prairie Dog, whose excavations are so commodious, as to render it unnecessary that it should dig for itself, as it is said to do in other parts of the world, where no burrowing animals exist. These villages are very numerous, and variable in their extent, sometimes covering only a few acres, and at others spreading over the surface of the country for miles together. They are composed of slightly [p496] elevated mounds, about two feet in width at the base, and seldom exceeding eighteen inches in height. In all these Prairie dog villages, the burrowing owl is seen moving briskly about, or else in small flocks scattered among the mounds, and at a distance it may be mistaken for the marmot itself when sitting erect. They manifest but little timidity, and allow themselves to be approached sufficiently close for shooting; but if alarmed, some or all of them soar away, and settle down again at a short distance: if further disturbed, their flight is continued until they are no longer in view, or they descend into their dwellings, whence they are difficult to dislodge. The burrows into which these owls have been seen to descend on the plains of the river Platte, where they are the most numerous, were evidently excavated by the marmot, whence it has been interred by the learned and indefatigable Say[138], that they were either common, though unfriendly residents of the same habitation, or that the owl was the sole occupant by right of conquest.” We have in the statements of Captain Head, however, a proof that both tenants habitually resort at the same time to one burrow; and we are assured by Pike and others, that a common danger often drives them into the same excavation where lizards and rattlesnakes also enter for concealment and safety.

In the above extracts we have noted in italics the striking similarity to the account given by Captain Head.

E. S.

[136] This animal is probably either the Cavia Paca, Spotted Cavy, or Arctomys Monax, Ferruginous Brown Marmot, though the latter is described as principally found in North America.

[137] Turton, Lin. vol. i. 169.

[138] We have had no opportunity of consulting Say, and therefore can only refer our readers to an author who has collected an interesting store of facts relative to natural science, and particularly with regard to this bird.

19. Naturalisation of Fish.

16th August, 1827.

Sir,

Having understood that the correctness of Dr. Mac Culloch’s statements respecting my pond, and the attempts to propagate sea fish in it, have been questioned, I beg to say that his statements are perfectly correct; and to add further, that during nearly four months of the year the water is perfectly fresh, and is drunk by cattle.

In summer, the saltness varies; but no examination yet made has discovered in it more than half as much salt as is contained in the neighbouring sea-water.

I further beg leave to add, that the general size of the pond in summer is about four acres and a half; in winter, when swelled by the rains, it is extended to upwards of fifteen acres; which will account for the freshness of the water.

I remain, Sir, your obedient humble servant,

To the Editor of the Quarterly Journal.

J. B. ARNOLD.

20. Mode of keeping Apples.

21. On the Cultivation and Forcing Sea Kale.

It has been long introduced into our gardens as a culinary vegetable, but it is only within the last thirty years, that it has been brought into general use, and subjected to a mode of cultivation, very different from that which was first bestowed upon it.

The principal value of this plant is its property of early growth; appearing at table at a time when few such things can be had. It precedes asparagus, for which it is no bad substitute; and as it makes a dish of itself, it gives a variety to the delicacies of the table; and if the opinions given of its medicinal virtues be correct, it is well worth cultivation, and the notice we are about to take of it, in describing an easy method of having it in great perfection throughout the winter months, and up to the time it may be gathered from the natural ground.

Prepare one or more beds (with alleys two feet wide between) for the reception of the seeds, in the following manner: mark out the bed or beds two and a half feet wide, and of any required length, as near as can be from east to west; line off the sides and ends, driving a stake at each corner to ascertain the boundaries; dig out the earth of the bed one spade deep, removing it to some distance; fill this excavation with the purest and finest sand which can be procured in the neighbourhood, either from the sea-shore, the bed of a river, or from a pit. It signifies nothing of what colour it is, so it be pure, and as free from loam as it can be had; for in proportion as the soil of the bed is poor or rich, so will the flavour of the plant be when dressed. When this precaution is not taken, and when the plants are suffered to enjoy the rich and cultivated soil of a kitchen garden, or the situation made so, by rich dressings or coverings of fresh manure, the plants are stimulated into an unnatural luxuriance, which deteriorates the flavour, imparting to them that strong disagreeable scent and taste, resembling common cabbage, than which nothing can be a greater drawback on the value of the vegetable; but when grown entirely in pure sand, the flavour is mild and pleasant, and is relished by most palates.

When the bed is filled with sand and raised therewith about six inches above the natural level of the ground, (and this should be done previous to the end of March, which is the sowing season,) draw a drill along the middle, from end to end, about three inches [p498] deep, in which drop the seeds pretty thickly, as they can be thinned out to the proper distance after they come up. If the sand or weather be dry at the time of sowing, give a little water in the drill and immediately cover up. If the seed be good, the plants will soon appear, and when they are advanced to a size large enough to enable the gardener to choose the most promising, let them be thinned out to the distance of six or seven inches, the distance at which they may remain. During the summer, the bed should be occasionally watered with dung water; and this for the purpose of encouraging the growth of the plants on their first setting off; and as manure given in this shape is more fugitive than when applied in a more solid or concentrated state, it cannot impart rankness to the plants when they arrive at that age fit to be brought to table.

The plants cannot be forced, nor should any of their shoots be cut, the first winter after sowing; but should be suffered and assisted to establish themselves, and gain sufficient strength to yield adequate crops, in the succeeding years.

About the month of November in the second winter after sowing, a part at one end of the bed should be prepared for forcing. For this purpose, and in order that it may be done with facility and effect, a rough wooden frame or frames should be made, eighteen inches high behind, and one foot high in front, shaped like a common hot-bed frame, and of any convenient and portable length; and in width, the same as the bed. Light wooden covers in convenient lengths should be fixed by hinges to the back; these may be raised at will for admission of light and air, and, in fine weather, may be thrown entirely back. When the frames are placed, dig out the alleys one foot deep to receive linings of hot dung, which may be banked op against both the back and front of the frame. The surface of the bed within the frame must be covered with soft, short straw, or hay, nine inches thick, to arrest the heat which rises from the linings, and form that warm humid region into which the shoots will advance. The temperature of these dark frames must be regulated by due attendance; and in intensely cold or frosty weather, the frames at night will require coverings of mats and litter, to prevent the plants receiving a check.

The required supply of the family—the time for it—and the length or number of the frames, must be judged of by the gardener, and who will act accordingly; but two frames are indispensable; because the second should be considerably advanced by the time the crop in the first is all cut.

Young plants may be transplanted; and if they are to be had, may be tried; but the safer way is to sow and plant both, to prevent disappointment; and in order that the roots be not too much exhausted by forcing, one bed should be forced in one year, and another the next.

The crowns of the roots have a tendency to rise; and as annual [p499] additions of sand will be required after the autumnal dressing, the beds by these additions become unsightly; but cutting off the most aspiring (with its flowering stem) every summer, will keep the whole within proper bounds. Instead of covering with dung or litter, to protect from winter’s frost, the frames may be set on those parts intended to be forced, to answer that purpose; and the uncovered parts of the beds may receive a coat of mould out of the alleys, to be drawn back off the sand in the spring.

The writer of this began to force Sea Kale as long ago as 1798, using hot dung within, as well as without, a frame with glazed lights; but soon found that, neither the glass nor dung inside was necessary or suitable; he, therefore, afterwards succeeded, by the above plan, to produce the finest crops of this vegetable, at any time in the winter months; and can confidently recommend such management, especially to those who have no hot-house or hot-bed frames; because when there is any early forced house or frames, if old roots are properly selected and potted in the autumn, and placed in such house or frame, where there is sufficient heat, and well shut up from light by whelming other empty pots over them, a crop may be had in this way, without the trouble and expense of out-door forcing.

J. M.

METEOROLOGICAL DIARY for the Months of September, October, and November, 1827, kept at EARL SPENCER’s Seat at Althorp, in Northamptonshire. [◊] The Thermometer hangs in a North-eastern Aspect, about five feet from the ground, and a foot from the wall.

FORSEPTEMBER, 1827.
		Thermometer.		Barometer.		Wind.
		Lowest.	Highest	Morn.	Eve.	Morn.	Eve.
Saturday	1	37	60	30.20	30.20	E	EbS
Sunday	2	42	64	30.20	30.18	NE	NE
Monday	3	44	64	30.18	30.18	NE	NE
Tuesday	4	51	59	30.18	30.18	NE	NE
Wednesday	5	51	61	30.17	30.17	NE	NE
Thursday	6	48	57	30.17	30.17	NE	NE
Friday	7	51	59.5	30.17	30.15	NE	NE
Saturday	8	52	60	30.11	30.07	NE	EbS
Sunday	9	51	62	29.83	29.77	EbS	SW
Monday	10	55	67	29.74	29.69	SW	SW
Tuesday	11	55	69.5	29.66	29.58	SSE	SbW
Wednesday	12	55	62.5	29.54	29.57	SW	W
Thursday	13	50	61	29.70	29.93	W	W
Friday	14	46	65	30.03	30.03	W	W
Saturday	15	50	67	30.10	30.13	W	WNW
Sunday	16	58	67	30.17	30.17	WbN	W
Monday	17	57	66	30.17	30.16	E	ENE
Tuesday	18	57	62	30.13	30.10	ENE	NE
Wednesday	19	45	57	30.02	30.02	SW	W
Thursday	20	46	54	29.69	29.70	SE	NE
Friday	21	43	63	29.70	29.48	NNE	SW
Saturday	22	45	60	29.44	29.34	SW	WbS
Sunday	23	43	59	29.30	29.40	SW	WSW
Monday	24	40	60	29.50	29.50	SE	SW
Tuesday	25	42	61	29.50	29.50	SSW	S
Wednesday	26	48	65	29.48	29.48	SE	S
Thursday	27	52	66	29.48	29.57	NE	NE
Friday	28	48	64	29.57	29.57	NE	SE
Saturday	29	47	61	29.57	29.54	E	SE
Sunday	30	53	63	29.60	29.60	SE	SE

FOR OCTOBER, 1827.
		Thermometer.		Barometer.		Wind.
		Lowest.	Highest	Morn.	Eve.	Morn.	Eve.
Monday	1	52	65	29.67	29.70	SE	SE
Tuesday	2	54	63	29.74	29.90	E	ENE
Wednesday	3	46	62.5	30.04	30.12	ENE	ENE
Thursday	4	45	60	30.21	30.23	NE	NNE
Friday	5	42	62	30.28	30.17	NNE	NNE
Saturday	6	44	61.5	30.10	29.96	E	E
Sunday	7	43	58	29.87	29.73	E	SbE
Monday	8	39	61	29.60	29.33	SE	SE
Tuesday	9	46	62	29.20	29.08	SE	WSW
Wednesday	10	48	53	29.20	29.13	SW	NE
Thursday	11	46	56	29.04	29.08	SW	SW
Friday	12	44	55	29.12	29.32	W	W
Saturday	13	34.5	53	29.39	29.39	W	W
Sunday	14	44	57	29.60	29.68	W	SW
Monday	15	46	61	29.70	29.71	SW	SSW
Tuesday	16	57	64	29.71	29.71	SW	SSW
Wednesday	17	49	62	29.71	29.69	SE	SE
Thursday	18	38	61	29.69	29.63	SE	E
Friday	19	45	60	29.63	29.63	ENE	E
Saturday	20	52	62	29.63	29.59	E	E
Sunday	21	50	59	29.50	29.42	E	E
Monday	22	52	59	29.28	29.10	EbS	SE
Tuesday	23	51	59	29.02	29.18	SE	SE
Wednesday	24	47	60	29.44	29.74	SE	WbS
Thursday	25	46	59	29.87	29.88	WbS	SSW
Friday	26	52	61	29.96	29.84	SW	SE
Saturday	27	46	60	29.63	29.46	SE	SSW
Sunday	28	45	57	29.31	29.50	NE	NE
Monday	29	33	48	29.77	29.88	NE	WNW
Tuesday	30	33	52	29.82	29.68	W	W
Wednesday	31	46	53	29.64	29.64	NW	NNW

FOR NOVEMBER, 1827.
		Thermometer.		Barometer.		Wind.
		Lowest.	Highest	Morn.	Eve.	Morn.	Eve.
Thursday	1	32	50	29.87	29.90	NW	NW
Friday	2	37	51	29.68	29.90	W	NNW
Saturday	3	30	53	29.98	29.98	W	W
Sunday	4	41	56	30.00	30.03	W	W
Monday	5	44	56	30.10	30.20	W	W
Tuesday	6	45	57.5	30.18	30.11	W	W
Wednesday	7	45	48	30.06	30.03	W	W
Thursday	8	43	49	30.00	29.96	E	E
Friday	9	44	53	29.77	29.68	W	WbN
Saturday	10	46	54	29.73	29.80	WbN	W
Sunday	11	47	57	29.80	29.80	W	NW
Monday	12	35	53	29.97	30.00	NW	WbN
Tuesday	13	40	60	30.00	30.02	WbN	WbN
Wednesday	14	50	50	29.98	29.88	EbS	SE
Thursday	15	41	48	29.66	29.50	SW	SE
Friday	16	37	47.5	29.30	29.39	E	ESE
Saturday	17	30	47	29.62	29.69	ESE	SE
Sunday	18	36	51	29.86	29.95	E	E
Monday	19	45	50	30.02	30.02	EbS	S
Tuesday	20	45	48	30.00	29.92	W	NW
Wednesday	21	36	39	30.01	30.01	NbW	N
Thursday	22	31	34	29.80	29.60	W	W
Friday	23	17	36	29.58	29.47	W	W
Saturday	24	22	33	29.60	29.79	WbN	WbN
Sunday	25	21	39	29.79	29.80	W	W
Monday	26	37	45	30.08	30.12	WNW	NW
Tuesday	27	38	47	30.17	30.10	SW	SW
Wednesday	28	36	45	29.88	29.70	S	SE
Thursday	29	39	49	29.27	29.30	SE	WbS
Friday	30	35	51	29.30	29.30	W	W

INDEX. [◊]

• Abernethy, Mr., [337]
• Aberration, of glass and of diamond lenses, compared, [20]
• Absorption from the surface, remedies thus applied, [493]
• Abydus near Thebes, excavations by Mr. W. Banks at, [182]
• Acid, on a new vegetable, [217]
• Acon, Mr., James, on the growth of early and late grapes, [159]
• Adamant, difficulty of making lenses of, [16]
• Adams, Mr., his account of the Aurora Borealis seen in London, [398]
• Africa, season of malaria and fevers, [41]
• African travellers, hint respecting, [55]
• Agens Physiques, leur Influence sur la Vie, par W. F. Edwards, D.M., [137], [296]
• Agnano, Lake, [45]
• Air, night, why avoided, [43]
• Air, on the determination of the mean temperature of the, [223]
• Alimentary substances, on, by Dr. Prout, [480]
• Alkaline springs of the West Riding of Yorkshire; their presumed virtues, [25]
• Altheine, a new vegetable principle; discovered by M. Bacon, [217]
• Aluminum, preparation of, [474]
• Americans, North, possess swift merchant vessels, [32]
• Amici’s microscopes, Professor, [198]
• Ammonia, its presence in argillaceous minerals, [489]
• Amphitheatres, Roman, [366]
• Anatomy of animals, the comparative by C. J. Carus, M.D., [377]
• Ancient substances, chemical researches relative to certain, [209]
• Animal economy, conversations on the, [382]
  • — fossil, generally found at Roman stations, [368]
  • — known to the Romans, [369]
• Apatite, composition of, [490]
• Apothecaries, Society of, incorporated, [338]
• Apothecary, dissertation on the word, [337]
• Apples, kept well in corn, [496]
• Arago’s, Mr., experiment on the refractive power of bodies, [444]
• Architecture, naval, its theory, [26]
• Architecture, on the modern ornaments of, [292]
• Armies destroyed by the influence of malaria, [54]
• Arnold, Mr. J. R., respecting the naturalisation of fish, [496]
• Arsenic, its separation from nickel or cobalt, [209]
  • — sulphuret of, [476]
• Astronomical and nautical collections, [113] et seq. [428]
• Average duration of human life in various countries, [58]
• Audition, experiments on, [67]
• Augustus Cæsar, Egyptian tablets relating to his victory, [314]
• Aurora Australis, described by Mr. Forster, [408]
• Aurora Borealis, seen in London, its description, by Mr. Kendall, [385]
  • — —, general description of this phenomenon, [405]
  • — — seen in the day-time at Cannonmills, [489]
  • — — in Siberia, [489]
• Aurora, Guido’s; critical examination of the composition, [11]
• Bacon, Anthony, Esq., stoves employed in his garden, [174]
• Banks, Mr. William, his discovery of the list of monarchs in hieroglyphics, [182]
• Bark-beds, Mr. Bregazzi’s thermometer for, [425]
• Barometrical observations reduced to a standard temperature; by S. Foggo, [458]
• Barrowby, Dr., anecdote of, [345]
• Basse, the, a voracious enemy of other fish, [325]
• Bellani, M., his reclamations of chemical discoveries, [469]–[470]
• Berthier, M., on porcelain, [478]
• Berzelius, M., [471]
  • —, his canons, [64]
• Beurré d’Aremberg Pear, described, [173]
• Bichat’s treatise on asphyxy, [141]
• Biot, M., pendulum apparatus employed by him, [155]
• Birds, subjected to experimental inquiry, [299]
• Bismuth, property of, [202]
  • —, its separation from mercury, by potassium, [476]
• Bisulphuret of copper, volcanic, [226]
• Bitter principle from aloes, on the, [214]
• Bitter substance produced by the action of nitric acid on indigo, silk, and aloes, [210]
• Blair, Dr. Patrick, his history, [344]
• Bleeding, practice of, height to which it was carried in France, [331]
• Blight in fruit-trees prevented by painting a garden wall, [169]
• Blowpipe, treatise on the use of the, by John Griffin, [380]
• Bond, Thomas, Esq., on the cultivation of strawberries, [168]
• Botanic garden at Chelsea, [337]
• Bouvart, M., humorous anecdote, [330]
• Branches of trees, their direction, [490]
• Bromine, M., A de la Rive on, [465]
  • —, its elementary nature ascertained, [466]
  • —, prepared for sale by M. Balard, its discoverer, [466]
• Browne’s, Mr., articles in the Ed. Rev. relative to the hieroglyphics, [317]
• Bruckman, Mr., his employment of the plough in excavations, [197]
• Brunel, Mr., his carbonic acid engine, [65]
• Bull, Marcus, on fuel, [378]
• Burckhardt, I. L., travels in Nubia, [189]
• Burnett, Mr. Gilbert, [76]
• Burton, Mr., his discovery of a triple inscription in Egypt, [92]
• Butler Dr., William, his tobacco practice, [339]
  • — — —, anecdotes of, [342]
• Caledonia, the proportions of this ship, [33]
• Camaldoli, convent of, [45]
• Camellias, on the cultivation of, [172]
• Cantharides, preservation of, [231]
• Carbazotate of ammonia, [212]
  • — of baryta, [213]
  • — of copper, [213]
  • — of lime, [213]
  • — of magnesia, [213]
  • — of potash, [212]
  • — of silver, [213]
  • — of soda, [212]
• Cardoon, on the varieties of, by Mr. A. Mathews, [162]
• Carlini, professor, his pendulum experiments on Mont Cenis, [153]
• Case, Dr. John, [330]
• Cattle, subject to intermittents and epidemics, [59]
• Celery, on the transplanting of, [168]
  • —, upon the culture of, by T. A. Knight, Esq., [166]
• Cementation of iron by cast iron, [207]
• Champollion Figeac, M., [185]
• Champollion, M., his interpretation of hieroglyphics, [185], [315]
• Chemical Manipulation, by Michael Faraday, F.R.S., [221], [275]
• Chemistry, elements of, by Dr. Edward Turner, [60]
• Cherry, Chinese, [Prunus Pseudocerasus], described by T. A. Knight, Esq., [173]
• Chevalier, MM. Vincent, their aplanatic object-glasses for diverging rays, [248];
• their microscopes, [257]
• Chinese language, Baron Von Humboldt’s letter on the genius of the, [92]
• Chloride of lime applied in cases of burns, [231]
• Chlorine, on its existence in the native black oxide of manganese, by John M’Mullen, Esq., [258]
• Chromate, new double, by Mr. Stokes, [477]
• Chronology, the Bible, compared with that of the hieroglyphics, [185]
  • — of Manetho, the, [180]
• Chrysanthemums, [426]
• Circle of the seasons, and perpetual key to the calendar and almanack, [381]
• Cities of Great Britain compared with those of other European nations, [285]
• Cleopatra of Egypt, tablet containing her name, [313]
• Cline, Henry, epitaph for the eminent surgeon, [333]
• Clock, improved, made by F. Houriet, of Loch, [454]
• Cobalt, deuto-sulphuret of, [476]
• Cobbett’s English Grammar, [96]
• Cochrane’s, Captain C. S., Journal in Colombia, [356]
• Cocoa palm, the, [262]
• Coins, British, having the tapir and elephant on them, [358]–[361]
• Columbium, a metal discovered by Mr. Hatchett, [277]
• Combination of numerous bodies effected by the use of feeble electric currents, [462]
• Comet, Ephemeris of the periodical, for its return in 1828, [428]
• Commerce of the Romans with India, [361]
• Complexions, sallow, in countries subject to malaria, [58]
• Cooper, Sir Astley, [337]
• Coptic alphabet, the, [177]
• Cordus, Euricus, account of, [330]
• Corn, its alteration in a subterraneous repository, [492]
• Corpuscular forces, on the action of, [448]
• Covelli, M. N., his examination of Vesuvius, [226]
• Crambe maritima, on its cultivation, [497]
• Currants, preserved upon the bushes, [169]
• Curves, on the beauties contained in the oval and elliptic, by R. R. Reinagle, R.A., [1]
• Cyanic acid, on the composition of, [203]
• Dahlies, on, by Mr. William Smith, [170]
• Dahlia, display of beautiful varieties of the, [426]
• Dalmahoy, epitaph for, [334]
• Danaus, his migration from Egypt to Greece, [185]
• Davy, Sir Humphry, experiments by, [62]
• Denham, Major, [55]
• Desideratum in naval architecture, stated, [32]
• Désormes, M. Clement, on the action of a current of air, and the pressure of the atmosphere, [193]
• Deutoxide of barium, preparation of, [474]
• Diamonds, formed into single lenses for microscopes, [15]
• Diamond lenses, letter of Mr. G. Dakin, [459]
• Diet, attention to, essential to travellers in tropical countries, [55]
• Diffraction, theory of, [434]
• Dominica, fever at, [59]
• Douglas, Mr. David, [191], [383]
• Douglasia, a new genus of plants, described, [383]
• Dragon’s blood, new substance contained in, [218]
• Drowning, recovery from, [231]
• Duncan, Sir William, M.D., [344]
• Dumas, M., on the properties of sulphur, [468]
• Dutrochet, Dr., his experiments, [77]
• Ear, physiology of the, [67]
• Edwards, Dr. W. F., De l’Influence des Agens Physiques sur la Vie, [137]
• Egg-plants, on the esculent, by Mr. A. Mathews, [167]
• Egyptian history, on the recent elucidations of early, [176]
• Electric currents, use of feeble, by M. Becquerel, [462]
• Electrical excitation, M. Walcker on, [201]
• Electricity, [62]
• Elephant, number of species unknown, [365]
• Elephants, carnivorous, [356]
• Elephants, remains discovered near Belturbet, remarks thereupon, [354]
  • — still existing in North America, [356]
• Enchorial inscriptions, [310]
• Encke, Professor, on the return of the periodical comet, [428]
• Engiscope, improved Amician, [200]
• Engle, M., his mode of preserving paper, [198]
• English language, on the character of the, [93]
• Ethers, on the mutual action of these and other substances, [221]
• Etruscan vases; illustrations given, [12]
• Europe, climate of its various divisions, [40]
• Evelyn, Alexander, Esq., [190]
• Exodus, disquisition relative to the date of the, [186]
• Faraday, Mr., his Chemical Manipulation, [61]
  • — —, his experiments on the disinfecting soda liquid, [84]
• Faro in Sicily, remarkable effects of malaria, [51]
• Fashion destructive of taste, [14]
• Ferro-prussiate of potash, on its preparation, by M. Gautier, [207]
• Fever attendant on the houses of the opulent at Rome, [52]
• Fever, causes of intermittent, [40] et seq.
• Fish, on the naturalisation of, by Dr. Mac Culloch, [320]
  • — Chinese method of fattening, [234]
  • — subjected to experiments by Dr. Edwards, [297]
• Fish-store or depot, recommended by Dr. Mac Culloch for London, [328]
• Flora Danica, coloured set of the, [192]
• Fluidity, of sulphur and phosphorus, by Mr. Faraday, [469]
• Fluoric acid and fluates, experiments on, [205]
• Fog from across the sea, a vehicle of ague, [46]
• Fossil bones and remains, [353]
• France, large districts of, insalubrious, [57]
• Frigates, large French, with curvilinear sterns [36]
• Friction diminished by the use of soapstone, [455]
• Fruits, the specification of those of the best quality, displayed before the Horticultural Society, [192]
• Fruit-trees, on planting the alluvial banks of rivers with, [170]
  • — on walls, protecting frame for, [167]
• Fuel, on the varieties of, and the apparatus for their combustion, by M. Bull, [378]
• Gadus Polachius, the, [or whiting pollack], [73]
• Gaseous exhalations of the skin, upon the, [230]
• Gases, on the specific heat of, by MM. de la Rive and Marcet, [200]
• Galvanism, effects of it in cases of asphyxia by submersion, [230]
• Gardening among the Romans, [264]
  • — landscape, [270]
  • — ornamental, [268]
• Genus of plants, discovered in North America, by Mr. David Douglas, [383]
• Gold, compounds of, [209].
  • —, a native argentiferous, M. Boussingault’s tables of, [225]
• Gore, Mr. R. T., [377]
• Goring’s, Dr., modification of the Amician reflector, [15], [199]
• Gower, Charles, M.D., his humour, [334]
• Gowrie, Carse of, [39]
• Grammar, English, disquisition respecting, [95]
• Grapes, observations on the growth of early and late, by M. J. Acon, [159]
• Grapes of the Portugal yellow fruit, grown at Hampstead, [426]
• Greece subject to autumnal fevers, [56]
• Greeks, ancient, uninfluenced by arbitrary fashions, [14]
• Grindall, Richard, sketch of, [335]
• Grose, Captain, Samuel, [453]
• Guido, his Aurora, [11]
• Hachette, M., [193]
• Hannibal’s line of march indicated by the fossil remains of his elephants, [368]
• Hare’s, Dr., experiments on opium, [215]
• Hayes, Captain, [28]
• Head, Captain, Rough Notes of, [494]
• Heat, its evolution during the compression of water, [201]
• Hecquet, Philip, the prototype of Dr. Sangrado, [331]
• Henderson’s, Mr. T., calculations of lunar phenomena, [450]
• Henry, Dr., his style, [61]
• Hieroglyphical fragments with some remarks on English grammar, [92]
  • — — illustrative of inscriptions in the British Museum, [310]
• Hieroglyphic Catalogue of the Egyptian kings, discovered, [182]
• Hieroglyphics, their language, [92]
  • — the old Chinese, [94]
• Hippopotamus, the, [362]
• History of Egypt developed by the modern science in hieroglyphics, [178]
• Holbeck Spa, in Yorkshire, [21]
• Holland, calculation as to the duration of life in, [58]
• Holly trees and hedges in Scotland, described by Joseph Sabine, Esq., [174]
• Horticultural Society, communications to the, [168]
  • — — proceedings of the, [190], [425]
• Horticulture, modern improvements of, [261]
• Howship, Mr., [249]
• Hoya, description of the several plants of the genus, [164]
• Human organization and phenomena, [303]
• Humboldt, letter to the Baron, [92]
• Hunter, Dr., [50]
• Hunter’s, Dr., anatomical lectures, [336]
• Huskisson, Mr., his speech on the shipping interests, [35]
• Hyposulphuric acid, its preparation, [473]
• Iceland moss, on a new acid existing in, [484]
• Indigo and indigogene, M. Liebeg on, [220]
• Injection, cold, for anatomical preparations, [461]
• Inman’s, Dr., naval constructions, [28]
• Insects, method of putting them to death, [493]
• Instrument to enable young persons to acquire a knowledge of the stars, by S. Lee, Esq., [371]
• Iodous Acid, on, [204]
  • — — preparation of, [466]
• Italy, its shores pestilential in summer, [41], [56]
• Jalapia, uncertain nature of, [483]
• Jamaica, malaria, at, [50]
• Jebb, Sir Richard, M. D., his blunt manner of speech, [333]
• John of Gaddesden, surgeon, [336]
• Josephus, his extracts from the history of Manetho, [180]
• Karnac at Thebes, palace of, [184]
• Kings of Egypt, chronological list of the, [180]
• Kinic acid prepared without alcohol, [482]
• Kitchen gardening, [272]
• Knight, T. A., Esq., on the culture of celery, [166]
  • — — on the culture of the mango and cherimoyer, [190]
• Labarraque, M., his chloride of oxide of sodium, [84]
• Lamprey, sea, described, [72]
• Laudanum, denarcotized, [215]
• Lens, diamond, art of forming it, [15]
• Lenses, sapphire, Mr. Pritchard’s, [459]
• Leopards, the breed of dogs crossed with, [365]
• Liebeg, M. Just, [210]
• Light, undulatory theory of, by M. Fresnel, [113], [431]
  • — duration of its effects upon the eye, [457]
  • — its effects on vegetation, [490]
  • — on the apparent decomposition of white, [458]
  • — on the measurement of the intensity of, [457]
• Lightning, destruction of an oak by, [487]
• Lignin or woody fibre, [481]
• Lime and litharge, their mutual action, [475]
• Lime, on the incandescence and light of, [201]
• Lindley, Mr. J., his account of a new genus of plants, [109]
• Lines, theory respecting beauty in, [2]
• Linnæus, the sexual system of, [269]
• Liquefaction of gaseous substances, experiments of Sir H. Davy, [62]
• Lister, Mr. J., [248]
• Lithotrity, reward adjudged to M. Civiale for his discovery of, [230]
• Litmus as a test, fallacy of the infusion of, [214]
• Lloyd’s list, calculation of shipwreck from, [26]
• Lucretius, reference to, [62]
• Luminous appearances in the atmosphere, [222]
• Lunar observation, rule for the correction of a, by Mr. W. Wiseman, [135]
• Lunar phenomena, calculations of, by T. Henderson, Esq., [450]
• Mac Culloch, Dr. J., review of his Essay on Malaria, [100]
• Madder, purification of, [219]
• Magnetic repulsion, results of M. Becquerel’s experiments, [202]
  • — effects of metals in motion, on the, [456]
• Malaria, an Essay on the production and propagation of, by Dr. Mac Culloch; reviewed, [39], [100]
  • — accompanying fogs, [48]
• Mammiferæ, observations on, [305]
• Mammoth, the, considered to be fabulous, [371]
• Man, remarkable hairy, in Ava, [493]
• Mandouei, King, inscription at Karnac bearing this name, [188]
• Manetho, his history of Egypt written in Greek, [179]
• Manganesic acid, on, by M. Unverdorben, [204]
• Manganese, new chloride of, discovered by M. J. Dumas, [475]
• Mango-Capac, suppositions respecting him, [359], [360]
• Mangosteen, living plants introduced from the East Indies, by Captain Drummond, [191]
• Mantua, Napoleon’s precautions against sickness before, [54]
• Mapp, Mrs., celebrated bone-setter, [341]
• Maremma of Tuscany, [58]
• Mastodon, the bones of the, [356]
• Mathews, Mr. Andrew, [167]
• Maurandya Barclaiana, a new Mexican flower, [425]
• Mayerne, Sir Theodore, M.D., [340]
• Mayo, Dr. Herbert, on the sensitive plant, [76]
• Meadows, drains in, cause malaria and fever, [104]
• Meconic acid, Dr. Flare’s method of obtaining, [217].
• Medical garden, Mrs. Gape’s, [338]
• Melons, grown on open borders, [172]
• Mellitic acid, preparation of pure, [483]
• Memnon, or Amenophis, statue of, [181]
• Mems., Maxims, and Memoirs, by W. Wadd, Esq., [329]
• Menes, monarch of Egypt, [180].
• Mental powers affected by residence in a pestilential climate, [58]
• Merchantmen, bad construction of British, [26]
• Merritt’s statistical notices of the population of the British empire, [283]
• Metals, three supposed new, discovered by Professor Psaun, [478]
• Meteoric fire-ball at New Haven, [487]
  • — phenomenon described by Chladni, [488]
• Meteorological diary for June, July and August, 1827, [236]
  • — — for September, October, and November, [500]
  • — Essays by Mr. Daniell, [379]
  • — observations at Chiswick, plan of a journal of, [169]
• Mexico founded by the Aztecs, [359]
• Microscope, Dr. Brewster quoted respecting the improvement of the, [17]
  • — with a double convex diamond lens, [17]
  • — with sapphire lenses, [406]
• Mimosa Pudica, observations on the motion of its leaves, [76]
• Moist air, the chief conductor of malaria, [46]
• Moisture and heat, effects of their combination, [41]
• Moles, destruction of, [232]
• Montezuma’s address to Cortez, relative to his ancestors, [359]
• Montfalcon, medical observation by, [45]
• Moon, on the supposed influence of the, by M. Arago, [222]
• Morphia, its extraction from dry poppy heads, [216]
• Nantes, [57]
• Narcotine, pure, its preparation, [483]
• Naval construction, observations on the state of the English, [25]
• Naval revision, commissioners of, [27]
• Nitre, peculiar formation of, [205]
• Nitric acid, test for the presence of, [205]
  • — — on a peculiar, by Mr. Phillips, [467]
• Northern light, or streamers, described, [405]
• Notes to books condemned, [97]
• Nubia, monuments of, [184]
• Nugæ Canoræ, or Epitaphian Mementos of the Medici Family of Modern Times, [329]
• Nugæ Chirurgicæ, or a biographical miscellany, by W. Wadd, Esq., [329]
• Object-glasses of M. M. Chevalier, the aplanatic, [248]
• Ohio, the American man of war, [35]
• Old system of ship-building, evils entailed by it, [35]
• Opium, Dr. Hare’s test of the presence of, [215]
• Orache, varieties of, and cultivation of, by Mr. W. Townshend, [170]
• Orchards, and orchard fruit, [271]
• Osymandyas, statues of, the Mandouei of the inscription at Karnac, [189]
• Oval and elliptic curves, evidenced in the motion of ships, the form of feathers, leaves, and fruits, [13]
• Ovals, formed into elegant diagrams, [6]
• Ousirei, tomb of king, discovered by Belzoni, [187]
• Owl, the Coquimbo, [494]
• Oxalate of lime, existence of its crystals in plants, [214]
• Oxygen gas, [141]
• Paintings, Egyptian sepulchral, discovered by Belzoni, [187]
• Paper, preservation of it from humidity, [198]
• Parian marbles, the, [185]
• Passifloras, eatable, [169]
• Pears, five varieties of, from Jersey, [173]
  • — the most celebrated, [426]
• Pendulum apparatus, the Milan, [155]
  • — experiments on Mont Cenis, by Professor Carlini, [153]
• Penitentiary in Westminster, [52]
• Pennsylvania, the extraordinary length of this American first-rate, [35]
• Persian monarchs, their names in the Phonetic characters of Egypt, [188]
• Peter the Great, anecdote of, [338]
• Petromyzon Marinus, description of the, [72]
• Petroleum wells, Burmese, [490]
• Pharaohs, dynasty of the, [178]
• Philæ, inscription on the base of the obelisk of, [178]
• Phillips, Mr. Richard, [258]
• Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London for 1827, part II. contents, [379]
• Phonetic characters of the Egyptians, [176]
• Phosphorus, crystallization of, [206]
  • —, solutions of it in oils, [206]
  • —, its fluidity at common temperatures, [469]
• Phosphoric acid, its singular habitude with albumine, [473]
• Physical agents, on the action of, [137] et seq.
• Physicians, college of, the new and old buildings, [332]
• Physiology, [139]
• Pine apples preserved by removing their crowns, [228]
• Pine-cone, enormous, of Pinus strobus, from the river Columbia, [191]
• Pitcairn, Dr., his treatment of fever, [332]
• Planting of trees a safeguard against contagious winds, [53]
• Plants, on acclimatizing, at Biel, in East Lothian, [164]
  • — report upon the new or rare, at Chiswick, [167]
• Platina, Dobereener’s, finely divided, [477]
• Pleischel, M., [201]
• Plough, use of the, in excavating canals, [197]
• Polypi, cure of nasal, [232]
• Pomological Magazine, the, [427]
• Pontine marshes, the, [53]
• Pope, cause of the poet’s death, [76]
• Porcelain pottery, its analysis by M. Berthier, [478]
• Portsmouth dockyard, education of architects for the royal navy, [26]
  • — Duchess of, admonished by her physician, [331]
• Potash, ferro-prussiate of, remarks on M. Gautier’s preparation, [484]
  • — sulphate of, [467]
• Powder, on the inflammation of, when struck by brass, [207]
• Power, microscopic, of various lenses, [20]
• Priestley, Dr., on the relation of gases to respiration, [141]
• Pritchard, Mr. A., on the forming of diamonds into microscopic lenses, [15]
• Prothéeïte, a new mineral, discovered in the Tyrol, [226]
• Proto-carbazolate of mercury, [213]
• Prout, Dr., on the composition of simple alimentary substances, [481]
• Quadrupeds, remarks on some supposed to be extinct, [350]
• Quartz, peculiar crystals of, by Mr. W. Phillips, [223]
• Quinia, rewards for the discovery, [229]
  • —, sulphate of, preparation of, [482]
• Raffles, Sir Stamford, relates that the tapir exists in Sumatra, [361]
• Raphael, his painting of the dispute on the sacrament, [11]
  • — principle in his compositions, [11]
• Raspberries, red and white Antwerp, [169]
• Red cabbage, infusion of, a chemical test, [278]
• Reevesia, new genus of plants named, [109]
• Reeve, Dr. Thomas, [344]
• Reeves, Mr., genus of plants sent by him from China, and named Reevesia, [109]
• Reflector, Amician, [17]
• Refraction, single, its superior light, [16]
• Reinagle, R. R., Esq., discourse on the oval and elliptic curves, [1]
• Repulsions, on peculiar physical, by M. Saigny, [455]
• Reynolds, Henry Revell, M.D., his personal elegance, [334]
• Rheine, a new substance from rhubarb, [218]
• Rhubarb, Buck’s (rheum undulatum), [168]
  • — upon forcing garden, by Mr. W. Stothard, [173]
• Rive, M. A. de la, observations on bromine, [465]
• Robertson, Mr. John, on fruit-trees, [170]
• Rocks under the surface of the sea, how discoverable, [198]
• Rome; accidental causes of malaria, [51]
• Rosa Indica, branches budded upon the, [190]
• Roses, method of increasing the odour of, [228]
• Rosetta stone, the, its importance to learning and history, [178]
• Rowing pins in boats, means of securing them, [460]
• Royal Society, proceedings of the, [424]
• Royal Navy, architectural education for this service, [26]
• Rubens, the coronation of Mary de Medicis: character of the composition, [11]
• Sacchara, tablets transmitted by Mr. Salt from, [311]
• Sail, quantity of in ships, [36]
• Salad-herbs, on growing them at sea, [233]
• Salamanders subjected to experiments, [142]
• San Quintino, letter to the Cavaliere, with remarks on M. Champollion’s opinions, [310]
• Savart, M. Felix, [67]
• Sapphire lenses, by Mr. A. Pritchard, [459]
• Scarborough, Sir Charles, his works, [331]
• Screws, on the adhesion of, [453]
• Sea-kale, on the cultivation and forcing of, [497]
• Selenic acid, [472]
• Selenium and oxygen-selenic acid, new compound of, [471]
• Selenium, its separation from sulphur, [470]
• Sensitive plant, Dr. Mayo’s observations on its leaves, [76]
• Seppings, Sir R., vessel built on his system, [28]
• Ship-builders, [27]
• Ship-building, great principles of the art of, [31]
• Ships, French, their great relative length, [31]
• Ships with four masts, [37]
• Shisak, king of Egypt, identified in the inscriptions at Bubaste, [185]
• Sicily, insalubrious villages of, [45]
• Sickness and death of Prince Henry in 1612, [340]
• Sienna, mortality at, [56]
• Skeleton of an elephant in a tomb at Mexico, [359]
• Smith, Mr. W., on the varieties of the dahlia, [170]
• Smyth’s, Captain, respecting the climate of Sicily, [45]
• Snails, their destruction by common salt, by M. Em. Rousseau, [493]
• Soapstone used in diminishing friction, [455]
• Soda liquid, disinfecting of, M. Labarraque, [84]
• Soleb, on the river Nile, [184]
• Solubility of substances by heat diminished, [202]
• Sowando in Russia, fall of the lake, [227]
• Spallanzani, investigations of, [142]
• Spawn of fishes, Chinese method of transporting the, [327]
• Squadrons, experimental, [29]
• Squalls of wind on the African shores, [486]
• Stanley, near Wakefield, mineral spring at, [21]
• Stars, Mr. Lee’s instrument for gaining an early knowledge of them, [371]
• Statistical Notices by Mr. Merritt, [283]
• Steam and heat, experiments by Mr. Perkins, [461]
• Steam-engines, improvement in, [453]
• Stoop, on the means used with the intention of curing a, by Mr. Shaw, [237]
• Stoves, heating them by hot water, [174]
• Strawberries, novel method of cultivating, [168]
• Street, Mr. John, on acclimatizing plants, [164]
• Strix Cunicularia, or Coquimbo owl, [494]
• Sulphate of copper, its decomposition by tartaric acid, [208]
• Sulphocyanide of potassium in saliva, [208]
• Sulphur, on certain properties of, [468]
• Tar-water introduced as a remedy by Bishop Berkeley, [342]
• Tattam, Mr., his Coptic grammar, [92]
• Tests, chemical; litmus paper and turmeric paper, [279]
• Theory of the oval and ellipse, applied to an historical composition of Raphael, [11]
• Thomas Dawson, M.D., his marriage, [330]
• Thomson, Dr. Thomas, [60], [64]
• Thought, experiments on, [308]
• Tic douloureux, on, [346]
  • — —, surmise respecting its cause and nature, [108]
• Tirhakah, king of Ethiopia, [185]
• Transportation of fishes, [326]
• Trufle, organization and reproduction of the, [491]
• Tulley’s, Mr. W., double object-glass, [254]
• Turner, Dr. Edward, [60]
• Turtle, fossil remains of the, [364]
• Tobacco, a preventative against disease, [55];
• old song on, [38]
• Tollet, Geo., Esq., on the preservation of apples, [168]
• Tooke, Horne, his grammatical in inquiries, [95]
• Torpid animals, experiments on, [300]
• Torpor, vegetable, [228]
• Transpiration; inquiry of Dr. Edwards into the causes of perspiration, [151]
• Tusks, species of elephants without, [365]
• Tychsen, M., of Gottingen, [316]
• Varley, Mr., [17].
• Vases, Etruscan, [12]
• Vases, formed from the oval, [7]
• Villa Borghese, deserted, [52]
• Ville de Paris, the, her proportions, [33]
• Viper, bite of the, remedies, [232]
  • —, on the poison of the, [232]
• Vegetable diet important, in Africa and Hindostan, [55]
• Vegetable substances, condensed, and preserved for ships’ provisions, [229]
• Velocity, the great purpose of naval construction, [34]
• Vesuvius, Mount, [226]
• Vogel, M. on heavy muriatic ether, and chloric ether, [204]
• Undulations of light, theory of the, [113]
• Unicorn, the, [362]
• Wadd, W., Esq., [346]
• Watson, Sir William, his treatise on time, [310]
• Wild-beasts, their destruction by the Romans and Moguls, [366]
• Wilkes, John, his flashes of wit, [345]
• Wilkinson’s, Mr., inscriptions, [319]
• Willaumez, Admiral, his frigates having a round stern, [36]
• Wine, M. A. Chevalier’s tests for the natural colouring matter of, [215]
• Wiseman, Mr. W., on the correction of lunar observations, [135]
• West, Mr. William, his analysis of a mineral water, [22]
• Wohler’s, M., cyanic acid, [203]
• Wollaston, Dr., [67], [276]
• Woods and coppices, occasioning disease, [104]
• Woodville, Dr., his death, [345]
• Writing, indelible, [223]
• Writing, the formal Egyptian, [177]
• Young, Dr., [113], [316], [318].
• Zinc, preparation of pure oxide of, by M. Hermann, [476]

Printed by WILLIAM CLOWES, Stamford Street.

TRANSCRIBER'S ENDNOTE

[Part 1.] [Part 2.] [Index.]

Original spelling and grammar has generally been retained, with some exceptions noted below. Illustrations are moved from inside paragraphs to between paragraphs. Footnotes are moved from the bottoms of pages to the ends of the relevant essays. The transcriber created the cover page, by modifying the scanned image of the original title page of the Journal, and hereby assigns it to the public domain.

Original printed page numbers are shown as "[p052]". THIS IS SMALL CAPS. Italics look like this. Ditto marks are sometimes deleted, and replaced with repeated text if necessary. Hyperlinks ◊ will take the user to the one of the tables of contents.

Large curly brackets, "{" or "}", used to indicate combination or grouping of information on two or more lines, have been eliminated from this ebook. The information has been recast, if necessary, preferring minimal changes, to retain the original meaning.

The original Journal of July–December, 1827 was evidently printed in two parts, at different times. The title page of the first part (page 1) was printed with a footer "JULY–OCT. 1827". The title page of the second part (page [237]) contained a similar footer "OCT.–DEC. 1827". The text of these footers have been moved into the titles on the same pages.

The Table of Contents for the first part was labeled "Jul.–Oct. 1827" The Table of Contents for the second part was not similarly labeled, but the transcriber has inserted a label "Oct.–Dec. 1827". The section titled "Proceedings of the Horticultural Society" that starts on page [190] originally had no entry in the Table of Contents; such an entry has been inserted. The original Table of Contents for Part One did not include a reference to the Meteorological Diary for Jun–Aug; such a reference has been inserted. The two Meteorological Diaries were originally printed as three-month tables, approximately 7.4 inches wide by 3.9 inches, turned 90°, using 6.5 point type. These tables have been divided into three tables each, one for each month.

Page [31]: In the phrase "ratio of which to the breadth has been augmented by them from about 314.1, to 4.1", the phrase "314.1" apparently denotes a ratio of 3.25:1, and "4.1" must mean a ratio 4:1.

Pages [136] and [137]: The characters, such as M′, S′, M, S, etc. denoting mathematical variables were originally printed in italics. This use of italic has been discarded on these pages.

Page [194]: In the text following 'M. Hachette says, “The air', there was no closing quotation mark. Three quotation marks have been inserted, to close the paragraph, and to enclose the apparent quotation in the paragraph below.

Page [223]: There is an equation that originally ended "sin. [(n−1) 30° + 124° 8′)]". The last right parenthesis is not balanced, and has been removed.

Page [227]: There was no closing quotation mark for the quotation begun on the previous page; such a mark has been added at the end of the first paragraph.

Page [253]: "sufficient far" was changed to "sufficient for".

Page [277]: "Chemical apparhtus" was changed to "Chemical apparatus".

Page [288]: "rea advantages" was changed to "real advantages".

Page [313]: The quotation mark immediately following 'It begins immediately with' has no closing quote. This structure has been retained.

Page [315]: "children, for ever. 28" was changed to "children, for ever. (28)".

Page [376]: In "bring the scale L to cnt it", "cnt" was changed to "cut".

Page [425]: "council,) the chair" was changed to "council, (the chair".

Page [451]: The large table (originally 7.0 inches wide by 3.8 inches, turned 90°, printed in 9 point type) was divided into two parts, retaining the first column in both parts. The table on page 452 was restructured to three columns instead of six.

Page [455]: For the quotation begun 'Bailey of Boston, says, “I understand', a closing quotation mark has been inserted at the end of the paragraph.

Page [459]: "74° − 32° = 42° .00305 × 42" was changed to "74° − 32° = 42°; .00305 × 42". And "and 30.597 + 052 = 30.649" was changed to "and 30.597 + .052 = 30.649".

Page [463]: In "The effects are produced either with or without access to air", "to" was illegible, and has been inserted.

Page [479]: The larger table ("Crucibles, &c.") has been divided into two tables.

Page [491]: The quotation beginning 'Troy, April 30, 1827. “Clouds and rain' had no close quote. New quotation marks were inserted at the end of that paragraph, and around the apparent quotation in the following paragraph.

Scans of the original printed book are available from archive.org/details/quarterlyjournal37roya. Based on the stated scanning rate of the Internet Archive copy, the Journal page size was about 4.3 inches wide by 7.8 inches high. The first paragraph of the first article on Page 1, "On the Beauties . . .", which is typical of an html h3 level article, was printed in a column 3.7 inches wide, using type with height 11 points, with 2 points leading between lines. The heading "III. Natural History" on page [486] is a typical html h4 level heading. It was printed in 9 point small caps type. The paragraph below it, a typical h5 level article, was printed in 9 point type, with no leading.