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are set in such a manner that no light can be transmitted through any of their surfaces. The same instrument may be employed to distinguish all minerals that have a small portion of their surface polished, either naturally or artificially. The application of the instrument is so simple, that any person, however ignorant, is capable of using it. We expect soon to be able to give an account of it in this journal.—Annals of Philosophy for March 1818.
African Expedition.—A letter from Sierra Leone, mentions the return to that place of the scientific expedition for exploring the interior of Africa. They were completely unsuccessful, having advanced only about 150 miles into the interior, from Rio Nunez. Their progress was there stopped by a chief of the country; and after unavailing endeavours, for the space of four months, to obtain liberty to proceed, they abandoned the enterprise, and returned. Nearly all the animals perished. Several officers died, and, what is remarkable, but one private, besides one drowned, of about 200. Capt. Campbell died two days after their return to Rio Nunez, and was buried, with another officer, in the same spot where Major Peddie and one of his officers were buried on their advance.
Russian Voyage of Discovery.—Captain Krusenstern, in a letter to Captain Burney[1], dated Revel, Oct. 1, 1817, informs him, that letters had been received a few days before from Lieut. Kotzebue. On leaving Kamschatka in July 1816, he sailed through Behring's Straits, and succeeded in ranging the coast of America to latitude 67°, when he discovered a large inlet extending far to the eastward. He was obliged to quit it without exploring the whole, but intends to resume the labour this year. Captain Krusenstern does not himself believe that a communication exists between the North Pacific and the Atlantic, but remarks, that the discovery of this inlet does hold out some hope that one may be yet found.
Moveable Axle for Carriages.—A useful and ingenious improvement, applicable to all four-wheeled Carriages, has just been announced, possessing the following advantages: A carriage with this moveable axle will turn in much less space than with the old axle; may be built from 15 to 18 inches shorter than on the old principle, and affords complete security against upsetting: the fore wheels may be made higher, while the body may be hung lower, which facilitates the progress of the carriage where impediments present themselves, arising from inequalities in the road. This invention has been brought forward by Mr Ackermann of the Strand, well known as the publisher of many ingenious and useful works. Many of our first coach-makers are already busy in applying this improvement to use.
Animal Flower.—The inhabitants of St Lucia have discovered a most singular plant. In a cavern of that isle, near the sea, is a large bason, from twelve to fifteen feet deep, the water of which is very brackish, and the bottom composed of rocks. From these, at all times, proceed certain substances, which present, at first sight, beautiful flowers, of a bright shining colour, and pretty nearly resembling our marigolds—only that their tint is more lively. These seeming flowers, on the approach of a hand or instrument, retire, like a snail, out of sight. On examining their substance closely, there appear, in the middle of the disk, four brown filaments, resembling spiders' legs, which move round a kind of petals with a pretty brisk and spontaneous motion. These legs have pincers to seize their prey; and, upon seizing it, the yellow petals immediately close, so that it cannot escape. Under this exterior of a flower is a brown stalk, of the bigness of a raven's quill, and which appears to be the body of some animal. It is probable that this strange creature lives on the spawn of fish, and the marine insects thrown by the sea into the bason.
Yellow Dye.—A chemist of Copenhagen has discovered a brilliant yellow matter for dyeing, in potato tops. The mode of obtaining it is, by cutting the top when in flower, and bruising and pressing it to extract the juice. Linen or woollen soaked in this liquor during forty-eight hours, takes a fine, solid, and permanent yellow colour. If the cloth be afterwards plunged in a blue dye, it then acquires a beautiful permanent green colour.
Those who feel interested in the progress of the arts, will be gratified to know, that paper-hangings are now manufactured capable of being washed with soap and water, and by this peculiar quality alone are they to be distinguished from those in common use. Where they have been used, we understand that they have been highly approved of. The public are indebted to Messrs Creese and Co. of Great Newport-street, Long Acre, for this valuable discovery; and we have no doubt they will receive that patronage which they so justly deserve.
To prevent the dry-rot in oak timber, Mr John Shillibeer of Walkhampton, near Plymouth, proposes, instead of felling oak immediately after the tree has recommenced its growing—when the pores are open and extended to receive the great quantity of sap which is thrown up into the trunk and branches of the tree from the roots, and when also it is soft and easy to be cut, and the bark separates from the trunk with great facility, the sap, which should have returned to the roots, being dried by the sun, the pores remain open, and soon become infected with this pernicious disease—to let the tree stand until the vegetation has entirely ceased (say till Christmas), the sap will have returned into the roots; the pores which had been opened in the spring to re-
- ↑ Published in the last Number of the Quarterly Journal.