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SCIENCE AND ART.

CARBON AND SILICON.-So much attention has of late been directed to the conversion of charcoal into flint, that the mere juxta-position of the two terms will be sufficient to attract our readers' eyes and thoughts to the following interesting communication:

To the Editor of the Literary Gazette.

Museum, Newcastle, Oct. 20, 1841.

completely deprived of these constituents. Now a most singular fact, in connexion with anthracite, is, that seve ral varieties contain a portion of silex. Numerous cases are known in which a bed of mineral fuel is ordinary coal at one part, and anthracite in another; and in one of the North American states there is a bed of bituminous coal not only converted into anthracite in one part of its range, but in another it is actually converted into Lydian stone or flint! The nodules and beds of carbonaceous chert in the mountain lime-stone districts of Northumberland brings to my mind a former allusion, which was made to and Durham are similar examples nearer at hand. This the tremendous evolution of carburetted hydrogen or firedamp momentarily taking place at Wallsend, and other collieries in the neighbourhood, and threatening to con

Dear Sir,-Your notice of fossil wood converted into silex, in last week's Literary Gazette, (No. 1292,) and your concluding query, "Is this an instance of the conversion of carbon?" induce me to send you the following extract from a lecture on geology which I delivered a fortnight since in the theatre of the Literary and Philo-vert the coal of our district into anthracite :-how awful sophical Society of this town. By inserting it in your laboratory of Nature should one day convert the golden the catastrophe, if further chemical processes in the great next Number you will much oblige your obedient sertreasures of our coal-owners into a mass of worthless W. KING, Curator of the Northumberland Nat. Hist. Society's Museum, and Lecturer on Geology at the Newcastle-uponTyne Medical School.

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Probably some of the present audience may recollect the discovery of Dr. Brown of Edinburgh, which goes to prove that some of the elementary bodies are but modifications of others,-that one element can be converted into another-for example, carbon into silicon; that is, charcoal into flint. This conversion seems to be disputed by some of the leading chemists of the day be this as it may, a great many facts in geology seem to confirm it. It has long been a chemical problem how fossils have become silicified: sponges in chalk are often found converted into silex; and sea-urchins, although their shelis consist of pure lime, are nevertheless in innume. rable instances filled with flint. The Blackdown silicious fossils constitute another remarkable instance of this kind. The specimen I now exhibit (a spatangus from the chalk) is completely filled with this substance, which apparently has had no connexion with any other mass of the same kind, but exists in the shell perfectly isolated, and has apparently been solidified as it flowed out of the vents. The perfectly rounded appearance of the little knobs of flint at each of the vents, and their perfect freedom from fracture, seem to oppose the conclusion, that the flint has separated itself from the chalk and flowed into the cavity of the shell. How shall we account for it in this state? No other way seems open than supposing, with Von Buch, that the animal matter has been converted into flint; but how, or in what manner, this celebrated naturalist was at a loss to conceive, as chemistry taught him hat the animal substance ought to have been resolved into a compound chiefly consisting of carbon. Mark the discovery of Dr. Brown: he maintains he has converted carbon into silicon: now, the animal matter of a spatangus consists chiefly of carbon, and the substance occupying the place of the animal which formerly lived in our fossil consists chiefly of silicon. What other construction can we put upon these facts? what other conclusion can we arrive at, than that the supposition of Von Buch is confirmed through the experiments of Dr. Brown; in short, that the original carbon of the animal has been converted into flint ?* Numerous other instances of this kind might be adduced; I will mention one or two more, as they lead to some curious speculations on the mineral resources of this country. Petrified trees have often been found completely changed into silex, especially when in contact with igneous rocks. Whole forests of silicified trees have been found covered with ancient lava, as in the neighbourhood of Siegen on the Rhine, in the Cordilleras, and in various other places. Some have supposed that the silicious condition of these trees is due to their being permeated by silex volatilized from the lava. This may be the case; but the enigma is of easier solution on the hypothesis that the former heat of the over; lying igneous rock has completely changed the original carbon of the trees into silicon.

"In my last lecture I explained that coal is nothing more than chemically altered vegetable matter, induced by the nearly complete evolution of two of its original constituents, oxygen and hydrogen; and that anthracite, or stone coal, in a normal state, is the same substance

The Dr.'s experiments have been repeated by several without success: the fact is in abeyance.-Ed. L. G.

flint !"—Literary Gazette, Nov. 6.

GLACIERS OF SWITZERLAND.-Academy of Sciences. Paris-Sitting of Oct. 25.-Baron von Humboldt read to the Academy a letter from M. Agassiz, upon the experiments he is occupied in making on the glaciers of Switzerland. He had found that infiltrations of water took place in the glacier of the Aar at different depths-to as certain which he had been lowered by ropes 140 feet into the heart of the ice; and that this infiltration took place at very different temperatures. He had been able to ascertain with accuracy the movement of various blocks of stone on the surface of the glacier; and had proved, by careful measurement. that a block, the position of which had been determined by M. Hugi in 1827, had been moved 5000 feet, up to the end of August, 1841. He had found the glacier of the Aar to be traversed by ribbands of blue and white ice; and had made many inte resting observations on the polishing of rocks by the movement of the glaciers, which tended to confirm his theory of the geological origin of erratic blocks. He declared himself highly satisfied at the result of his present experiments; and said, that the more he saw of the giaciers, the more they were worthy of study.—Ib.

DESIGNS FOR THE TOMB OF NAPOLEON.-The designs and plans sent in to compete for the tomb of Napoleon are in general by no means so good as might have been anticipated. Half a dozen at the outside are good for any thing: among them, the best is M. Labrouste's plan, which consists of a circular open crypt, made under the dome of the Invalides, covered by an immense elliptical buckler in bronze gilt, 30 feet in the principal axis, sup ported on four eagles, and allowing the sarcophagus of the emperor to be seen below. This has the advantage of not interfering with the general effect of the building. M. Visconti has also proposed to make a circular open crypt, but without any covering, and approached by a long series of vaults extending under the nave to the centre of the great court, where the entrance would be beneath a colossal equestrian statue of the emperor. M. Duc has designed a plain porphyry sarcophagus for the body, which would be placed within a beautiful temple of bronze gilt of most exquisite design; and the whole to be placed in the middle of a circular sunk space under the dome, surrounded by a balustrade. Two weeping female figures in white marble are sitting within the enclosure holding globes in their hands. M. Duban and M. Lassus have proposed two sarcophagal tombs of great beauty and M. Lemain has one partaking of the sarcophagus and temple, with niches containing figures of the marshals, and bas-reliefs on the basement representing the empe ror's victories. Many of the designs are grossly absurd and preposterous.-Paris Letter-1b.

Oct. 25.-M. Arago mentioned to the Academy the ob WELL OF GRENELLE.-Academy of Sciences, Paris, stacles met with in lining the bore of the well of Gre nelle with a metallic tube. In one part the tube had been 8, in another into that of a crescent. The cause of these squeezed, by lateral pressure, into the form of the figure pressures was entirely unknown; all the lining would have to be taken out; but this was found to be a work of the greatest difficulty, and only 300 feet of tubing had hitherto been extracted.-Ib.

LEVEL OF THE DEAD SEA.-Royal Geographical Society. Nov. 8.-A most interesting letter was read, being one

from our late lamented artist Sir David Wilkie to his friend Mr. John Harvey. This letter is dated Jerusalem, 8th March; and if not the only one, is certainly the last purely scientific letter of Sir David Wilkie. Mr. Harvey being at Constantinople, and unable to proceed himself into Syria, had lent his barometer to Sir David, with the request that he would observe its indication at the level of the Dead Sea, in order to a further verification of the fact of the great depression of that sea below the level of the ocean. Sir David accordingly made many observations on the coast of the Mediterranean, at Jaffa, at Jerusalem, and at the Dead Sea; and also in the mountains. The letter being read, the secretary said, it was much to be regretted that these observations were not sufficiently complete to enable us to make from them a rigorous calculation of the actual depression of the Dead Sea below the level of the Mediterranean, inasmuch as there were no corresponding observations, and no indications of a detached thermometer. Nevertheless, by taking 30 inches for the mean height of the barometer at the level of the sea, 12° 8′ centigrade for the mean temperature, and by supposing a detached thermometer shewing the same temperature as the attached thermometer, and working the formula with these data for the upper station, and Sir David's data for the lower station (the Dead Sea,)-the result is, that the depression of the latter is 1198.76 feet, which differs but slightly from former observations. And although, as has been said, the calculations from Sir David Wilkie's observations cannot be regarded as exact, they certainly corroborate, in a manner sufficiently satisfactory, the results obtained by others, to convince us that the Dead Sea is certainly depressed below the Mediterranean more than 1000 feet. The remarkable fact, nevertheless, still requires further corroboration to satisfy our minds completely; and it is much to be desired that this interesting question were finally settled, which might easily be done by any traveller, who, being competent to observe, shall be furnished with good instruments, and who will take care to obtain corresponding observations.-Literary Gazette, Nov. 13.

CURIOUS EFFECTS OF COMPRESSED AIR.-Academy of Sciences, Paris-Sitting of Nov. 2.-M. Triger communicated some curious effects of the compression of air, witnessed in an apparatus which he had invented for sinking shafts of coal-pits in the Maine-et-Loire, where compressed air was used for keeping out the water filtering through beds of sand. The immediate effect produced on the workmen, on passing from the open air into that compressed to three atmospheres, was pain in the ears, more or less strong; but this soon ceased. A great accelleration of combustion was witnessed-tallow candles with metal wicks being obliged to be used instead of those with cotton, which were consumed much too quickly, and gave out an intolerable smoke. It was observed that, when the pressure was taken off the air, great cold was experienced, and the air itself became converted instantly into a thick fog or cloud. The workmen found that their voices were much more feeble in the compressed than in the open air, and that they could not whistle. It was also much easier for them to go up steps of ladders in the compressed than in the open air, their breathing being more free; and one of the men who had been deaf ever since the siege of Antwerp, was able to hear distinctly while in the compressed air.-Ib.

INFUSORIAL ANIMALS.-Baron von Humboldt presented to the Academy from M. Ehrenberg, of Berlin, specimens of the argillaceous and peaty formation found beneath the city of Berlin, at twenty feet under the surface. It was full of small infusorial animals, all alive, with living ovaries, and capable of reproduction. He had discovered similar formations in other parts of Prussia; and he mentioned as a curious fact that, of 1,728,000 cubic feet of matter taken out of the port of Swinemunde, on the Baltic, in 1840, one-half of it was composed of microscopic beings. The sandy plains of the Lamburg contained strata of fossil infusoria twenty-eight feet thick.-Ib.

DISEASE CAUGHT FROM A HORSE.-Academy of Sciences, Paris-Sitting of Nov. 15.-A good deal of attention was excited in the Academy by the communication of some circumstances connected with a case of farcy recently caught by a medical assistant in the Hôpital Necker, from a patient who was himself affected with it, and had taken it from a horse. It had been hitherto doubted FEBRUARY, 1842.-MUSEUM. 37

whether the disease could be communicated by the human subject; but this fact M. Bérard, who read a notice on the case, observed was now certain. The assistant, Rocher, had been curious to study the case, and had paid particular attention to the patient up to the time of the latter sinking a victim to the fatal malady. After the decease, he assisted in dissecting the body, and, in particular, had held for some time in his hands the head, which was much putrified by the results of the disease. It was under these circumstances that the malady had been communicated: for some days, even before the death of the patient, who was a groom, M. Rocher had experienced violent cholics and diarrhea; and on the night after the groom's death was taken with a general shivering, and pain in most parts of the body. On the third day after, the malady seemed to concentrate itself in the left thigh, the right shoulder, and right part of the chest: and, on the fifth day, M. Bérard, who attended M. Rocher, found in the thigh and shoulder tumours having a decided farcial character, and foreboding the worst results. The tumour in the shoulder was absorb. ed, but that in the thigh broke on the sixth day after its appearance, and the surgeons in attendance seized the opportunity of inoculating a horse. Another tumour was formed, and broke in three days, on the right foot. On the 14th day after the commencement of the malady, the interior of the nostrils became greatly inflamed; pustules were formed on the head in great numbers; a purulent discharge took place, and M. Rocher died on the 16th day. The horse which had been inoculated died of the disease the same day. M. Bérard observed that this case shewed the extreme danger of the malady, since M. Rocher had not caught it by inoculation: no cut or scratch had been made in any part of his body while the dissection of the groom's body was going on; and it had been evidently communicated by mere contact and imbibation of the pores of the skin, or by miasmatic infection. "Hense," added M. Bérard, "the farcy is a disease as much to be guarded against as the hydrophobia."-Literary Gazette, Nov. 27.

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ELECTRICITY IN VEGETATION.-London Electrical Society, Nov. 16.- On the tendency of electricity to promote the growth of plants," &c., by Mr. Pine. The author brings, in this his fourth communication, several facts to bear upon the position he assumes,-that electricity is the grand principle in vegetative effects. He speaks of three crops of plants, one unelectrified, the other two positively and negatively, respectively and mentions that the degree of growth was in favour of the last, the negative; thus illustrating that a negatively electrized soil is more favourable to vegetation than the reverse: and this is nature's plan, the air being positive and the soil negative. He then describes some extraordinary instances of luxuriant vegetation in a room wherein an electrical machine was often used; and proceeds from these, and other analogous facts (which are given not as new facts, but as bearing on his subject,) to shew how important a place electricity fills in the vegetable creation.-1b., Nov. 20.

SINGULAR EXPERIMENTS IN VEGETABLE GROWTH.The late investigations of Professor Liebig have gone far to overturn former notions as to the phenomena of vege. table growth, showing considerable grounds for concluding that the soil is only a medium through which the substance of plants is formed, and not the source of that substance-in short, that all vegetable matter comes out of the atmosphere and the vapours suspended in it. This theory derives further confirmation from the results of some experiments of a singularly bold kind, lately made by two gentlemen in the neighbourhood of Brest. It is from a communication made by them on the subject to La Phalange, a Parisian publication, that we obtain the following particulars.

In a field usually considered too poor for wheat, a plot of twelve square yards, untilled, and unmanured, was strewn over with that grain, and afterwards a layer of wheaten straw, about one inch in thickness, was laid over it. The same thing was done with a similar plot in a neglected garden, which was previously trodden with the feet. A pane of glass was also laid down in the same place, with twenty grains of wheat scattered over it, and a layer of straw above. The winter was rigorous, and the spring dry, so that vegetation in general suffered considerably in that district; nevertheless, a strong crop rose SP. OF MAG.

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through the straw in all these three situations, the stalks being above six feet high, and the ears containing from fifty to eighty healthy grains. That growing upon the glass, though not a particle of earth was near it, was as strong and abundant as the rest. There were no weeds, the straw having choked all plants but those of its own kind. It is to be remarked that the roots were few in number, and short and hard like the claws of birds.

water reptiles. From the aquatic salamander, or triton, he had obtained oil at the rate of 30 centigrammes from each individual of ordinary size: it was extracted by simple pressure. The oil was very good for burning, and gave less smoke than fish-oil; it was also applicable, from its great fluidity, to fine machinery.-1b.

STEERING BALLOONS.-M. Comasche, who claims to have discovered the art of steering balloons, recently The cause of the success of this experiment is suggest made an aeronautic ascent at Lyons, which (to use the ed by the two gentlemen (Paillard and Bernard) to be language of the French journals) was almost quite sucthe following:-"Straw being a bad conductor of heat cessful. The weather was unfavourable, the sky coand a good conductor of electricity, maintains the root of vered with clouds, the rain frequent, and accompanied the plant in a medium temperature, and prevents the by violent gusts of wind. The aeronaut crossed the earth from being deprived entirely of moisture. The Saône, going westward, and continually describing a moisture of the earth, or the substratum, being continual, curve, recrossed the river, and alighted not far from the facilitates the gradual and constant absorption of carbonic point at which he started. His balloon, instead of being acid gas from the surrounding atmosphere, and hydro- cylindrical, has a rhomboidal form.-Athenæum, Nov. 6. gen and carbon, the chief elements of nourishment to vegetables, are thus economized in regular supplies where COMMITTEE ON THE FINE ARTS.-We rejoice to see by they are constantly required, and pass in combination the Gazette of Tuesday, that the commission spoken of with oxygen from the roots up to the stems and branches some time ago, for the purpose of inquiring whether adof the plants, in which they are assimilated, and the oxy-vantage might not be taken of the rebuilding of the gen thrown off in the exhalation from the leaves. The Houses of Parliament for promoting and encouraging the straw decays but slowly, and thus furnishes its substance fine arts, has been appointed by the Queen, and embraces by degress to the young plant in due progression and a list of names well calculated to promise something ef The commisioners are proportion (such as the silicious ingredients, for instance, fectual in this desirable cause. of the pod or capsule,) so that the decomposition of the Prince Albert, Lord Lyndhurst, the Duke of Sutherstraw corresponds to the four phases of fermentation in land, the Marquess of Lansdowne, Lords Lincoln, progressing from the saccharine to the alcoholic, the acid, Palmerston, Melbourne, Ashburton, and Colborne, C. Shrewsbury, Aberdeen, John Russell, Francis Egerton, and the putrid states, analogous to those of infancy, bud- Shaw Lefevre, Sirs R. Peel, J. Graham, and R. H. Inding youth, maturity, and seeding of the plant." If there be no fallacy in the experiment, and no misstate-glis, Messrs. Gally Knight, B. Hawes, jun., H. Hallam, ment in the report-if, moreover, the expense for straw S. Rogers, G. Vivian, and T. Wyse. be not too great-we may expect hereafter to see grain growing without tillage or manure, and with equal luxuriance on all kinds of soil.

which Mr. Barry has stated would be available for this We may advert to the immense space of interior wall

purpose; and notice the views which are, more or less,

entertained by several individuals named in the commission. One is in favour of frescoes, and, considering the fession, proposes to employ the celebrated Cornelius, small practice of English artists in this branch of the prowhose recent visit to this country was probably connected with the plan. Another would have the ornaments to be

Some experiments, at present in the course of being made at the garden of the Caledonian Horticultural Society in Edinburgh, tend to confirm the possibility of rearing wheat by these means. Three specimens of the ficus elastica have been suspended by Mr. J. Macnab, junior, in a hot-house, with a supply of water for the root by means of a worsted cord connected with an inverted bell-oil-paintings, and the work performed by native artists. glass above. The plant hangs by a wire, with its roots having Cornelius, and others under his direction, to do Some, we have heard, are for mixing both styles; and exposed to the air; the worsted connects it with the water in the bell-glass; but it has no connexion with any the frescoes, whilst our most eminent men produce the thing else. Yet these three plants grow extremely well, subjects in oil. and perform all their natural functions in the most healthy manner-the only point in which they differ from plants of their own kind in ordinary circumstances being, that the spongioles of the roots have decayed, and new ones have come out, of a kind resembling those which naturally belong to plants designed to have their roots expos: eda fact which shows, in a lively manner, the power of nature to adapt itself to circumstances.-Chambers's

Journal.

PRUNING FRUIT-TREES.-Horticultural Society, Nov. 2.-J. R. Gowen, Esq. in the chair.-A paper was read on pruning fruit-trees, by Mr. Crace. The object in view was to make old branches which have become barren reproduce bloom-buds. To check luxuriant growth, he annually prunes the roots, leaving them each time about an inch longer than before. In June the young shoots are nipped off to about six inches, which occasions the developement of the dormant buds on the old wood, and causes the bloom-buds round the shoulder to produce their foliage, thus bringing to maturity numberless eyes otherwise dormant. When the fruit is ripe, the autumn pruning is commenced, by cutting off the shoots to within half an inch of the shoulder, excepting the top, which are left uncut till winter.-Literary Gazette, Nov. 6.

INJECTING PLANTS WITH MERCURY.-Academy of Sciences, Paris-Sitting of Nov.8.-A paper by M. Lambotte was read, on a method of injecting certain small vessels of plants with mercury, the result of which had been to show the existence of minute tubes not hitherto known. He had applied it in particular to the water-lily, and had found a curious system of small canals spreading over the leaves. They were so numerous, that when the mercury had fully penetrated into them, the surface of the leaf appeared as if silvered all over.-Ib., Nov. 20.

OIL FROM FROGS.-M. Rossignol read a paper on the extraction of oil from frogs, toads, efts, and other fresh

dividuals engaged in it, it would be presumptuous in us In this inchoate state of the inquiry, and with such into offer any opinion. Our hope is that, at any rate, native, as well as German, artists will be called to the work; the judgment of Prince Albert being ripe on both. We given for a particular object, the influence of this comalso hope that though, in the first instance, the impulse is mission will lead to the permanent encouragement and advance of the fine arts in Great Britain. It seems, and ought to be, the dawning of a brighter day for them 1b., Nov. 27.

CINGALESE MONEY.-Society of Antiquaries, London. Mr. Jerdan, accompanying a specimen of old Cingalese At the meeting on Thursday, a letter was read from money, which he supposes to be about three hundred years old. Rings appear to have formed the money of most nations in an early state of society; the early AngloSaxon poetry contains frequent allusion to this ring of money; and the epithet ring-giver (or disposer of treakings up to the latest period of their history. Specimens sure,) derived from it, was applied to our Anglo-Saxon of ring-money of a very early date, are frequently found in Ireland, as well as in Germany and Scandinavia. The forms of money, indeed, seemed to assimilate to the a warm climate, with scanty clothing, strung cowries, or habits of different people and climates. The Asiatic, in coins with holes in the centre, in a convenient way to be carried about in his hand. The European, with pockets and pouches, found a round coinage of metals most ready. In the present case, the Andoo, a silver hook, value fourpence (Andoo in the Cingalese language,) was shaped so as to be hung on canes. And so in other cases, which Mr. J. alluded to, without going into details.-Ib., Nov. 20.

ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS.-There is a talk in Paris of the Academy of Fine Arts no longer sending from the School of Fine Arts pupils in engraving, medal cutting, and music, to the French Academy at Rome; and of

only keeping there five students in painting, five in sculpture, and five in architecture. It is to be hoped that this shabby scheme will be defeated; and that while the three classes of students which are now threatened are maintained, the other three classes may be doubled.-Literary Gazette, Nov. 20.

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[tural and pleasing expression, and stiff attitudes to ease and grace. In less than a second of time the impression is complete! Indeed, on a favourable day an almost instantaneous effect is produced. After adjustment, the mere opening and immediate closing of the camera, is sufficient for the operation:-the portrait or copy is there, ELECTRO-MAGNETISM.-Every novel suggestion and most lifelike and true, when brought to view by the merevery new opinion of authority in this highly attractive cury-fumes; most lifelike in expression and most true in and promising branch of physics is worthy of record and of form, but still of hue more or less metallic. And this, attention. Impressed with this belief, we proceed to nowe think, must ever be. We are not sanguine-indeed, the the following experiment and remarks made by Mr. we cannot conceive the possibility of the production of Grove at the London Institution on Monday evening, in colours by the process. There are many reasons for this his second lecture of a course on magnetism. The sub- opinion; but we will reserve them until we write an es ject-matter, well arranged and impressively delivered, say on the art. With the exception of colour, however, was the discovery of Oersted, the reciprocal action of photography is making rapid strides to perfection. Some electrical and magnetic currents; the theory of Ampère, of M. Clandet's productions are beautiful beyond descripelectro-dynamics, or the mutual action of electrical cur- ceeded in daguerreotyping by means of the oxy-hydrotion. With this highly sensitive compound, he has sucrents one on the other; the suggestion of Wollaston as to the probability of rotatory motion from these reciprocal gen light, with equal minuteness, delicacy, and truth, as actions; the great success of Faraday, who was the first with day-light. In conjunction with the daguerréotype, that ever produced motion by electro-magnetism; and we must say a few words on the electrotype. If possithe more recent application of this power to practical ble, the transfer of the picture to the precipitated copper, purposes. The experiment alluded to refers to the pro-the effect is said to be due to a surface of silver and meris more curious than the heliograph itself. In the latter, cuction of permanent magnetism in steel by induction. This Mr. Grove conceived to be possible, and has proved cury. By making it the positive pole of a voltaic circle, to be practicable, by placing in contact with an electro- as we have seen, according to Mr. Grove's method, the magnet a red-hot piece of steel (then as soft iron in relaone metal is more readily attacked than the other; lines tion to electricity and magnetismn,) and, immersing them or indents are quickly eaten out, and of sufficient depth thus together in water, suddenly cooling the steel. The to print from; although as yet we have seen only faint result is, that from the temporary magnetism of the elec- specimens, showing, however, all the minute details of tro-magnet, a powerful permanent steel magnet is ob- has been arranged as the negative pole, nothing is taken the original. When for electrotyping the daguerréotype tained. The remarks have reference to the application from it, no lines are formed, but a metallic covering is of electro-magnetism to motive power. Already may this principle or agent be beneficially employed for minor given to it by precipitation of the copper from the metalmachines, such as lathes, &c. Still it is a question, pleasure; and when removed, it affords an accurate copy lic solution. This covering may be of any thickness at whether for machines on a large scale it will ever be of the portrait, but now a positive picture, as the term is. profitable source of power-whether, in short, the steam-with lights and shades, right arms and left arms, accordengine will be superseded by the electro-magnetic engine. ing to nature. The curious part of the inquiry is, what Mr. Daniell thinks not; and his opinion and reason are of weight,- Water and coal will ever be cheaper than produces the effect on the copper? acid and zinc." But may not, Mr. Grove observes, other lines as in an engraving. And the daguerréotype is said advantages compensate for this-nay more, perhaps out-this we doubt. For we conceive, that to every electroto lose nothing by the close contact of the copper. But weigh this consideration? By the electro-motive power, rotatory motion is at once and directly caused; whereas type copy, the daguerréotype imparts a film of itself; and from steam power it is obtained only by expensive and fainter and fainter, until the picture were entirely effaced. that by repeating the process, the latter would become complicate mechanical aids. The consumption of acid and zine yields to the full their latent powers, whilst those We may say here, that the production of the electrotype of coal and water are not practically so used. And far-copy does not depend at all on the sensitiveness of the ther, the battery may be always charged and ready for preparation of the photographic plates; a like result use, without the slightest waste; but fire must be conwould be obtained from a daguerréotype, whether simple santly kept burning under the boiler and coal consumed, iodine, or the bromure or chlorure, had been originally whether the steam be on duty or hissing in air. These, employed. Both processes are replete with scientific and other considerations, induce a strong belief that elec. interest.-Ib., Nov. 13. tro-magnetism will soon be applied as an useful locomo- A THERMOMETRICAL APPARATUS, the invention of M. tive power. The principles of application are two,-the Jurgensen, has been presented by M. Arago to the suspension of induced magnetism and momentum; and French Academy of Sciences, intended to act as a selfthe simple reversion of the electro-magnetic poles. The measurer of the variations of temperature, and yield their former is patented, and is familiar to the public as applied mean sum in every four and twenty hours. Its princito a lathe for ivory-turning at the Colosseum: the iden- ciple is that of the action, in the inverse sense, of what is tical machine was exhibited, in motion, at the London called the Compensator in watch-machinery. The me Institution. The latter was given to the world by the late tallic substance of the balance in clock-work being subProfessor Ritchie. Various arrangements in illustration ject to successive expansions and contractions from atwere shown in action. One, in particular, attracted mospheric variation, such irregularities are, it is well marked attention. It was the model of a boat constructed known, counteracted by this compensating balance,by Watkins, with, of course, electro-magnetic machinery which is likewise a metallic substance, so disposed as to and a screw propeller. The improvements of Mr. Hen-act on the original balance in an opposite direction to the ley and Mr. Hill on Ritchie's rotator were especially brought to notice. Mr. Grove gave preference to the laiter. It has already been described in our columns, in a report of the proceedings of the Electrical Society.-Ib. DAGUERREOTYPE AND ELECTROTYPE.-Our Paris letter (No. 1293) contained an account of the use of the bromure in lieu of the chlorure of iodine for photography, and of the extraordinarily rapid and beautiful results obtained by M. Gaudin. This new material has since been employed with equal success by M. Claudet at the Adelaide Gallery, and a great and striking improvement is evident in the specimens exhibited for inspection. The old and serious looks, the stern frown, the fixed stare, in the first portraits, have given place to smiles, and to na

effect produced by heat or cold respectively. The object of this invention has been, on the contrary, to exaggerate these effects of dilation and contraction, making them record themselves, and leave the sum of their mean an easy problem. The problem is about to be submitted to experiment at the Observatory.-Ib.

A COLOSSAL STATUE OF J. P. RICHTER, better known to the world as Jean Paul, is about to be erected in Bayreuth, where he spent the latter part of his life. This statue is the joint work of Schwanthaler and Stiglmaier, and is erected by the King of Bavaria, whose national spirit is not satisfied with marshalling in his Glyptothek the figures of the mighty dead of Germany.-Athenæum, Nov. 6.

OBITUARY.

EARL OF ELGIN.-The French papers announce the death of the Earl of Elgin on Sunday last, in the 76th year of his age; a man whose immortality is ensured by the association of his name with the works of Phidias, now in the British Museum-and unhappily with the poems of Byron. The fierce denunciations of the poet against the spoilers of the Parthenon may have been just we at least can deeply sympathize with him-but he should have poured out his indignation on the whole civilized world, and not on an individual, whose zeal and energy secured the prize on this occasion for his country. Yet, if Byron were right, why do we not launch our inoral thunders against the French for removing the obelisk of Luxor?-against Lord Ponsonby and the British government for appropriating and transporting to Eng land the treasures lately discovered in Lycia by Mr. Fellows? But, says Byron, Lord Elgin's

--noblest native gusto was-to sell To sell, and make.

Where is the proof? Lord Elgin, from circumstances, and his position as ambassador at Constantinople, had an opportunity of securing these invaluable works, and he undertook the enormous cost of doing so without conditions: had he failed he must have suffered the loss-he

ship had not entered upon his duties at the Palace since he received the appointment. By the noble Marquis's demise, the Lord-Lieutenancy of the county of Roxburgh becomes in the gift of the present administration.-Britannia, Nov. 20.

EARL OF HAREWOOD.-We exceedingly regret to state that accounts have been received in town from Harewood Earl of Harewood. The noble earl had been out huntHouse, Yorkshire, announcing the sudden death of the ing on Wednesday last, and appeared in his usual health and spirits. Whilst returning homewards, in the neighbourhood of Tadcaster, he felt himself indisposed, dismounted from his horse, leaned against a gate-post for support, and almost instantly expired. The noble earl was found by the whipper-in, lying on his face, and quite dead. He had only been left about ten minutes. His lordship's remains were removed to Branham. The cause of death is attributed to the bursting of the bladder. The deceased peer was in his 74th year, having been born in December, 1767, and married, in 1794, Henrietta, eldest daughter of the late Sir John Saunders Sebright, who died in February last year. He has left a large family, his eldest son, Viscount Lascelles, being in his 46th year. The only appointment vacated by his death is the LordLieutenancy of the West Riding of Yorkshire.—1 b., Nov. 27.

succeeded, and he at once offered the treasures to his died on Saturday last, after a protracted illness, brought JAMES FRASER, the publisher of "Fraser's Magazine," country on repayment of his expenses. We know nothing of Lord Elgin's private life or circumstances; but on, as it is supposed, by the attack of Mr. G. Berkeley. if "to sell and make were indeed his "noblest native Literature has thus lost an earnest supporter, literary men gusto," he must have been singularly unfortunate in his a generous patron, and a large circle of friends one bespeculations; for after having held the highest diplomatic loved as a very brother. It is often true that an intimate offices for more than a quarter of a century, he is gene-acquaintance, by unveiling defects of character, weakens rally believed to have died poor, and to have lived for the reverence, respect, and esteem first felt. This did many years, from prudence rather than choice, an exile not apply to Mr. Fraser. One learned slowly but surely from his country.-Athenæum, Nov. 27. to love him, and they who knew him best loved him most. His fine taste, his ardent attachment to literary deared him to the most distinguished literati of the age. His unfeigned faith, humility, and true Christian conduct. exemplified in public life, and yet more richly developed on a death-bed, showed that the loss of many is indeed the gain of one.-Times, Nov. 1.

M. AUDOUIN.-The Paris papers announce the un-pursuits, and his sacrifices in the service he loved, entimely death, at the early age of forty-four, of M. Audouin, a distinguished member, in the Agricultural section, of the Academy of Sciences, professor of entomology at the Museum of Natural History, and author of many works on zoological subjects, the most novel and important of which were his memoirs on the insects most destructive to agricultural produce.-Ib., Nov. 20.

SIR FRANCIS CHANTREY.-Within a short time British art has lost two of its chief ornaments: but lately we had to record the loss of Wilkie, and now we have the painful duty of announcing the death of Sir Francis Chan

MR. GEORGE BENNETT, the African missionary, traveller, and author, died suddenly on Saturday last, as he was walking in Hackney, of a rupture of a blood-vesseltrey, the first English sculptor of the day, and in porin the heart.-Literary Gazette, Nov. 20.

Sir Francis Chantrey had finished the head of the model of the Duke of Wellington, for the colossal eques trian statue for the City of London, having had a last sitting from the Duke just before he went to Holkham; and he had recently given the finishing-touches to an admirable bust of Lord Melbourne.

traiture unequalled throughout Europe. This event ocMARQUIS OF LOTHIAN.-We have to announce the curred very suddenly, at the residence of Sir Francis in death of the Marquis of Lothian, which took place at the Eccleston street, on Thursday evening between eight seat of the Dowager Lady Suffield on Sunday. The me- and nine o'clock. At seven he dined moderately, as lancholy intelligence was received by the Duke of Buc-usual, with a small circle of friends; feeling unwell, be cleuch, and the other branches of the family in town, yes- was attended by a medical man in the neighbourhood; terday morning. The deceased, John William Robert who, on seeing him, desired that his physician should be Kerr, Marquis and Earl of Lothian, Earl of Ancram, immediately called in; but before the arrival of Dr. Baron of Newbottle, Jedburgh, Kerr of Nesbit, Long- Bright, Sir Francis had breathed his last. Though newton, and Dolphington, and Kerr of Newbottle, Ox-healthy, Sir Francis was constitutionally of a full habit. nam, and Jedburgh, all in the Peerage of Scotland; Ba- and was frequently obliged to lose blood by cupping; and ron Kerr, of Kerraheugh, county Roxburgh, in the Peer- an apoplectic attack was probably the immediate cause age of the United Kingdom, who was born Feb. 1, 1794, of his death, though it has been called a disease of the was the eldest son of the late William, sixth Marquis, by heart. his first marriage with Lady Harriet Hobart, eldest daughter of John, second Earl of Buckinghamshire, whose marriage with Amar Lowry, first Earl of Belmore, was dissolved in 1793. He succeeded his father in the family title and estates 27th April, 1824, and on the 19th July, 1831, married lady Cecil Chetwynd Talbot, daughter of Earl Talbot, by whom the deceased Marquis Sir Francis Chantrey, who was of very humble origin, leaves issue a youthful family of seven children, the and rose to eminence solely by the force of his great naeldest, Lord Jedburgh, being only in his tenth year. The tural talents, was born in 1782, and consequently had deceased Marquis was Lord-Lieutenant of Roxburghshire, passed his fifty-ninth year: he was married, and has left and Colonel of the Militia of the county and city of Edin-a widow, but no children. He was a man of shrewdness burgh. By his Lordship's demise, the families of the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch, Earl of Talbot, Viscount and Lady Sarah Ingestre, Sir John Stuart and Lady Louisa Forbes, Lord and Lady Clinton, Lord and Lady Henry Kerr, Dowager Lady Suffield, Lord and Lady Charles Kerr, Earl and Countess of Antrim, Lord Robert Kerr, Countess of Abingdon, &c., are placed in mourning. The noble Marquis was a Lord in Waiting to the Queen, having been appointed by Sir Robert Peel at the dissolution of the late Government; but his Lord

and penetration, and remarkable for bonhommie. Mr. Allan Cunningham, who originally filled the humble office of rough-hewer of marble, and up to the present time was occupied with the business of the studio-his numerous literary productions being the produce of his leisure hours solely-has been with Sir Francis twentyeight years; and Mr. Heffernan, who has cut in marble almost every one of Chantrey's busts, literally from the first to the last, has been engaged during thirty years.Spectator, Nov. 27.

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