is kept burning. Air is constantly blown into it through water by a pair of bellows to support the combustion, and allowed to escape in the same manner through a valve. By this means no more air can explode than what is within the lantern. Thus no accident can ever happen, and the workmen will be sufficiently warned to make their escape in time.

I cannot conclude this account without mentioning two circumstances which would deserve a more accurate investigation than they have yet received. I never heard of any accident from fire-damp in any of the coal-mines in Scotland. The accidents, I am told, are much more frequent in Staffordshire than about Newcastle. Do these differences depend upon the nature of the coal, or on the mode of working the mine?

LINNEAN SOCIETY.

May the 4th the remainder of Mr. Anderson's paper on different species of rubus was read. He terminated it with a list of various rare plants which he had observed in Britain, especially in Scotland.

Some quadrupeds from North America were exhibited to the Society by Lord Stanley.

May the 24th, at the Annual General Meeting, the following Officers were elected :

JAMES EDWARD SMITH, M.D. President.
THOMAS MARSHAM, Esq. Treasurer.
ALEXANDER MACLEAY, Esq. Secretary.
MR. RICHARD TAYLOR, Under Secretary.

The five following Gentlemen were chosen into the Council:
John Barrow, Esq.

Sir Thomas Gery Cullum, Bart.

Philip Derbishire, Esq.

Mr. James Dickson.

Edward Lord Stanley.

In the room of the five following Gentlemen:

Henry Ellis, Esq.

Thomas Furly Forster, Esq.

Lieut.-Col. Thomas Hardwicke.
Claude Scott, Esq.

George Viscount Valentia.

Since the last General Meeting about four British and three foreign members have died, and 34 new members have been elected; so that the number of fellows at present amounts to 437; the foreign members to 64, and the associates to 40.

ARTICLE XII.

New Patents.

JOHN HEATHCOAT, of Loughborough; for certain improvements and additions to a machine for the making or manufacturing of bobbin lace, or lace nearly resembling foreign lace. Dated March 29, 1813.

JOHN BENNET, of Bristol; for a metal dovetail joint, applicable to portable and other furniture, and any kind of framework requiring strength and durability, and to many useful purposes. Dated April 7, 1813.

DAVID THOMAS, of Bristol; for a new and improved method of burning animal bones for the purpose of extracting the grease or fat property therefrom, and likewise for extracting the spirituous quality thereform, and for reducing the remainder, or dry parts of bones, into a substance sufficiently prepared for being ground into ivory black. Dated March 30, 1813.

JOSEPH EGG, London; for a method of applying and improving locks. Dated March 30, 1813.

ROBERT HALL and SAMUEL HALL, of Basford; for a machine for dressing, getting up, or furnishing frame-work knitted goods from the stocking frame, whether consisting of hose, socks, caps, mitts, gloves, or of any other kind or description whatever, and whether made of cotton, lamb's wool, Vigonia wool, silk, mohair, or any other vegetable or animal substance whatever, or any intermixture of these substances one with another. Dated March 30, 1813.

JAMES TIMMINS, of Birmingham; for an improved method of making and erecting hot-houses, and all horticultural buildings, and also the making of pine pits, cucumber lights, sashes, and church windows. Dated April 7, 1813.

JOHN RANGELEY, of Oakwell-hall, near Leeds; for an improved method of constructing and working engines or machines for lifting or raising of weights, turning of machinery of all descriptions, drawing carriages on railways, and capable of being applied to all purposes where mechanical power is required. Dated April 13, 1813.

ROBERT LEWIS, of Birmingham; for a method of making brass (or any other metal of which the component parts are copper and zinc) chimney-pieces, or chimney-piece frames, plain or ornamented, either cast or of rolled metal mounted on any other substance, or of which the outward mouldings, or frame and inward pilasters, shall be composed of such metal. Dated April 13, 1813.

CHARLES PLINTH, London; for various improvements in the construction of a vessel, machine, cylinder, reservoir, or foun

tain (which he calls "The Regency Portable Fountain "), used in the manufacture of water simply impregnated with fixed air or carbonic acid, and of artificial mineral and soda waters, and in the delivery of the same therefrom; and also in the delivery of cyder, perry, and other liquids. Communicated to him by certain foreigners residing abroad. Dated April 13, 1813.

ROBERT CAMPION, of Whitby, for a new and improved method of making and manufacturing double canvas and sailcloth with hemp and flax, or either of them, without any starch whatever. Dated April 13, 1813.

CHARLES AUGUSTUS BUSBY, London; for certain methods of constructing locks of canals, docks, and navigations. Dated April 14, 1813.

THOMAS MEAD, of Sculcoats, Yorkshire; for an endless chain of a peculiar construction, with appendages, which, with the assistance of other mechanical apparatus, is applicable to a variety of useful purposes. Dated April 28, 1813.

ARTICLE XIII.

Scientific Books in hand, or in the Press.

Mr. Leslie, Professor of Mathematics in the University of Edinburgh, is just upon the point of publishing A View of Experiments and Instruments depending on the relation of Air to Heat and Moisture.

Capt. Laskey has in the Press a Scientific Description of the Rarities in that magnificent collection the Hunterian Museum, now deposited at the College of Glasgow. It is intended to comprise the rare, curious, and valuable articles, in every department of Art, Science, and Literature, contained in that great repository. This work may be expected to appear early in July.

Mr. Henry Alexander, surgeon, will shortly publish a Comparative View of the different Modes of operating for the Cataract.

A second Volume of M. de Luc's Geological Travels on the Continent is nearly ready for publication.

Dr. Bateman is preparing a Practical Synopsis of Cutaneous Diseases, according to the Arrangement of Dr. Willan, and exhibiting à concise View of the Diognostic Symptoms, and the Method of Treatment.

Mr. Mawe, Author of Travels in the Brazils, is about to publish a Treatise on Diamonds, and other Precious Stones, including their History natural and commercial.

*** Early Communications for this Department of our Journal will be thankfully received.

ARTICLE XIV.

METEOROLOGICAL JOURNAL.

BAROMETER.

THERMOMETER.

1813. Wind. Max. Min. Med. Max. Min. Med. Evap. Rain.

The observations in each line of the table apply to a period of twenty-four hours, beginning at 9 A. M. on the day indicated in the first column. A dash denotes, that the result is included in the next following observation.

REMARKS.

Fourth Month. 24. Heavy Cumulostratus clouds throughout the day.. 25. Rain nearly the whole day. 26. Max. Temp. at 9 a. m. Cloudy: clear, with Cirri, at evening. 27. A wet day. 28. Wet morning: cloudy. 29, 30. Cloudy: much wind.

O

ค

Fifth Month. 1. Max. temp. at 9 a. m.

a. m.

wet. 2. Cloudy,

a. m. but p. m. the sky cleared pretty suddenly: some dense Cumulus clouds remaining in the N. E. to the summit of one of which a Cirrostratus was observed for a considerable time adhering; which was at length incorporated with the larger cloud. The moon appeared with a pale golden crescent, the remainder of the disk being pretty conspicuous. 3. Dense Cumuli to the S. with Cirrus and Cirrocumulus intermixed, as usual before thunder a shower of large drops about sunset. 4. Overcast, About 6 p. m. (after some previous dripping) a thunder storm, the weight of which fell to the E. of us. A most brilliant and perfect bow was now exhibited for about 40 minutes. A nightingale continued to sing with spirit in the midst of the shower. 6. a. m. Much dew: p. m. a large thunder cloud in the N. and which moved by W. to S. after which a storm in that direction, nearly out of hearing, till midnight: thensudden heavy rain. 7 a. m. Cloudy: p. m. (after a shower) clearer, but with indications of more rain. 8. An appearance of much electrical action in the clouds, far to the S and S.W. 9. A few drops of rain, a. m. various modifications of cloud. 10. Nimbi dripping afternoon rainbow: fine evening. Cloudy; windy. 14. Much wind. 15. The same: calm night. 16, 17, 18. Much wind: showers.

:

RESULTS.

Winds variable.

13.

Mean of the period.... 54.79°

Evaporation (at the surface of the earth) 1.67 inches.

Rain, 3.72 inches.