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coast of Arabia, and several islands in the Persian Gulph, and was accompanied by specimens collected in the countries which he describes. On a voyage from Bombay to Bushire (near the head of the Persian Gulph), Mr. Fraser had an opportunity of examining the country round Muscat, and for a distance of some miles in the interior; where there is a considerable extent of serpentine and of stratified calcareous rocks. He landed also on the island of Rishm, consisting of a formation probably very recent; while the rocks on Ormus seem almost wholly primitive.

Two letters were read from W. Hamilton, Esq. his Britannic Majesty's Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of Naples, to Dr. Granville, MGS. giving a description of the late eruption of Vesuvius.

Dec. 20.--Part of a letter to Dr. Wollaston, VPGS. from Dr. Fitton, was read, containing an account of the geology of the vicinity of Boulogne, and notifying the author's intention to present a memoir on this subject to the Society. This notice was accompanied by a map and sections of the district included by the chalk, from the place where it leaves the sea near Wissant, to where it rejoins it to the west of Neufchatel and Samer. A

paper from George Cumberland, Esq. was read, describing the strata round Dursley, Stroud, and other places on the Banks of the Severn, and in the county of Gloucester, with a description of some fossils found in several beds of the colite formation.

Jan. 3.- A letter was read from the late Rev. John Wright, rector of one of the principal parishes in Nassau, on the Bahamas, transmitted to Professor Buckland, in compliance with a late circular letter from Earl Bathurst to the colonies, giving an account of the geological structure of the Bahamas.

These islands, which stretch in length not less than 600 miles, appear to be a very recent formation. They are all calcareous, and have a strong resemblance to each other in their general features. A very full and interesting account of their physical structure, products, and geographical relations, is furnished by Mr. Wright's paper, with a description of some curious caverns and valuable salt lakes in which many of them abound.

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ARTICLE XI.

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SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE, AND NOTICES OF SUBJECTS

CONNECTED WITH SCIENCE, 1. Electro-Magnetic Experiment. By Prof. Oersted. Although there are many proofs that every point in the circumference of a round galvanic conductor has an equal action on the magnetic needle, yet it appears that several authors are of the contrary

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opinion. The reason of this may be, that no method has hitherto beere devised of giving the needle any desired situation with respect to the conductor, and although Paggendorf has thrown much light on this subject, by employing magnets for the purpose of giving the needle any situation at pleasure, yet the respective intensity of action which each point exerted on the needle remained undecided in his experiment.

Prof. Oersted has endeavoured, by the following experiment, to remove all doubts on this subject. A brass wire, 10 feet long, and 1-36th of an inch in diameter, is placed in a perpendicular position on the side of a column, at the middle of which is a stand to place the Needle on.

Both ends of the wire are placed in small vessels filled with mercury; by these it communicates with a single pair of plates on the Professor's construction, in which the vessel is of copper; and in order to prevent the influence of the other parts of the apparatus, this is so constructed that they remain far distant from the needle during the experiment. The galvanic apparatus is fixed on the middle of a pole 10 feet long; one of the conductors passes over the upper end of the pole, and the other beneath the lower one ; and from thence they are brought, in a horizontal direction, each into contact with the mercury in one of the small vessels. The entire apparatus is of a rectangular figure.

The pole with the galvanic apparatus is now made to revolve in a circle around the perpendicular wire and the needle: during the experiment, therefore, every point in the wire will constantly change its position with respect to the galvanic apparatus, and will be, in succes.sion, on the inner and on the outer side of the galvanic chain. In a series of experiments in which the apparatus went round at least threefourths of the circumference, the needle constantly exhibited the same declination which it had at the moment when the galvanic circuit was completed. It appears, therefore, from these experiments, that no doubts can be entertained, but that every point in the circumference of the conductor has the same effect upon the magnetic needie. II. Existence of Metallic Veins in the Transition Limestone of Plymouth.

It has hitherto been believed, that the extensive strata of limestone in the neighbourhood of Plymouth, which belong to the Transition class of Werner, or to the Submedial order of the Rev. W. D. Conybeare's new arrangement of rocks, are altogether devoid of metallic veins. The Rev. Richard Hennah, in his “ Succinct Account of the Lime Rocks of Plymouth," lately published, being the Substance of his communications respecting them to the Geological Society, says, p. 18, “ The bed of Plymouth limestone appears to be entirely free from all metallic veins ; and I have not seen, nor have I heard, of any thing tending to what miners would call a lode, of any of the metals

, having ever been discovered in any one of the quarries that have hitherto been opened. It is true that indications of the presence iron, and also of manganese, may occasionally be seen, as a colouring matter, in particular spots; but always thinly spread, and never in any quantity."

Mr. Hennah also states, that, in a single instance, he has observed spots of pyrites in fragments of limestone and slate," found in sinking

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a well at Stonehouse; and that he has been told, that in digging an. other well, on the road leading from Plymouth to Cat-Down; "particles of pyrites were observed by the workmen employed, and also a glimpse of copper ;” but he expresses strong doubts of the accuracy of this relation

It appears, from the following circumstance, that this subject demands a more rigorous investigation : in a collection of specimens from the Plymouth limestone, recently brought to London, is an assemblage of small quartz crystals, mingled with crystalline galena ; upon the galena are small lenticular crystals of carbonate of iron, and the amorphous mass of quartz into which the crystals pass, is mixed with a greenish-grey substance not unlike chert, in which are disseminated minute cubes of iron pyrites. The entire specimen bears every character of having once formed part of the lining of a cavity in a vein: it was procured from a quarry at Cat-Down.

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By W.

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Observations on the Functions of the Digestive Organs, especially those of the Stomach and Liver ; with practical Remarks on the Treatment of some of the Diseases to which these Organs are liable. Prout, MD. FRS. &c. &c.

*** This Work will comprise the results of an experimental inquiry into the nature of some of the more important chemical changes which take place during the digestion and assimilation of the food. The practical remarks will principally relate to the proper adjustment and use of remedies, and to the pernicious effects liable to be produced in delicate habits by the constant operations of various slowly acting causes, especially impure or hard waters : illustrated by analyses of the principal waters in common use in the metropolis and its vicinity.

An Account of an Expedition from Pittsburgh to the Rocky Moun-tains, performed in the Years 1819, 1820, by Order of the Hon. J. H. Calhoun, Secretary of War, under the Command of Major 8. H. Long, of the United States, Topographical Engineer. By Edwin James, Botanist and Geologist to the Expedition. In Three Volumes, with Maps and Charts.

An Account of a Voyage to Greenland in the Summer of 1822, with an accurate Map of that remote Region, by Mr. Scoresby.

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JUST PUBLISHED

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A Universal Technological Dictionary, or familiar Explanation of the Terms used in all Arts and Sciences; containing Definitions drawn from original Writers, and illustrated by 60 Plates, and very numerous Wood-Cuts of Diagrams, Arms, &c. By George Crabb, AM, Author of " English Synonymes Explained." In Two Volumes, 4to. Price 51. 8s.

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Transactions of the Royal Geological Society of Cornwall, instituted Feb. 11, 1814. Vol. II. with Six Maps, &c. 8vo. 158.

Dr. Faithhorn on Diseases of the Liver and Biliary System, comprehending those various, extensive, and often complicated Disorders of the Digestive, Internal

Organs, and Nervous System, originating from these Sources. The Fifth Edition. With an Appendix of Cases, illustrative of the Principles of Treatment. 8vo. 9s. Boards.

A new Map of the Ear, exhibiting its external, intermediate, and internal Structure, together with the principal Nerves and Blood Vessels in its immediate Vicinity, designed as an Anatomical Illustration of that important Organ. By J. H Curtis, Esq. Aurist to the King. 65. coloured.

Researches respecting the Medical Powers of Chlorine, particularly in Diseases of the Liver; with an Account of the new Mode of applying the Agent, by which its Influence on the System can be secured. By W. Wallace, MRIA. Member of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Lecturer on Anatomy and Surgery, &c. 8vo.

A new View of the Infection of Scarlet Fever, illustrated by Remarks on other contagious Disorders. By W. Macmichael, MD. FRS. &c. Physician Extraordinary to the Duke of York, &c. 8vo.

1064

HOM Dec.

ARTICLE XIII.

NEW PATENTS. J. Brindley, Finsbury, near Rochester, ship-builder, for improvements in the buildings of ships, &c.--Oct. 18.

T. Leach, of Blue Boar.coat, Friday-street, Cheapside, for an improvement in steam-engines. Communicated to him by a foreigner. Oct. 25.

W. Piper, of Coakley Iron-works, Wolverley, Worcestershire, civil engineer, for several new anchors, for the use of shipping and other vessels.-Nov. 1.

A. Flint, of Uley, Gloucestershire, engineer, for a machine for scouring, pising, and washing of woollen cloth.--Nov. 1.

J. Oxford, of Little Britain, for an improved method of preventing premature decay in timber, metallic substances, and canvass.Nov. 1.

J. D. Moxon, Liverpool, ship-owner, for improvements in the construction of bridges, and works of a similar nature.- Nov. 9.

F. Deakin, Birmingham, sword manufacturer, for an improvement in the manufacture of holster-cases, cartouch-boxes, and certain other description of cases.Nov. 9.

J. Jekyll, of Roundhill House, Wincanton, Somersetshire, for improvements in steam or vapour baths.- Nov. 9.

R. Roberts, of Manchester, civil engineer, for improvements in the process of weaving plain or figured cloths, or fabrics-Nov, 14.

J. Egg, Piccadilly, gun-naker, for certain improvements in the construction of guns and fire-arms, upon the self-priming and detonating principle.-Nov. 26.

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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.

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