Page images
PDF
EPUB

It coils extremely well, and if placed, when coiled, on the surface of a flat piece of metal, making one end of the spring fast, and marking exactly the other extremity, not the slightest expansion is visible when heat is applied. Mr. Scott further remarks, that he has, for a considerable time, made use of platina for compensation curbs, and considers it as very superiour to steel for every instrument of that kind.

Mr. Acton, of Ipswich, having used a still containing nine gallons, for distilling common water, essential oils and water, refrigerated them with a tub which holds about thirty-six gallons, found it very inconvenient to change the water of the tub as often as it became hot, which it very soon did, after commencing distillation. He therefore contrived the following addition to the refrigerating part of the apparatus, which he has found to succeed so well, that he can now distill for any length of time without heating the water in the worm-tub above one degree; so that it never requires to be changed. The heat passes off entirely into the additional condenser, and when it exceeds 150 degrees, goes off by evaporation. The additional condenser consists of a trough three feet long, twelve inches deep, and fifteen inches wide, with a pewter pipe passing through the middle of it horizontally, about two inches in diameter, at the largest end next the still, and gradually tapering to about three quarters of an inch at the smallest end, which communicates with the top of the worm. The great simplicity of this contrivance and its utility render a fair trial of it in other stills very advisable. The small degree of heat which went to the water in the worm-tub shows, that the additional condenser performed nearly the whole of the condensation; and that therefore it is extremely probable, that a second pipe and trough added to the first, would perform the whole condensation effectually, without using any worm, and thus enable distillers to dispense with this expensive and troublesome part of the apparatus.

FIR-BUILT SHIPS.

To the Editor of the Literary Panorama.

SIR,-Every thing relating to the publick good claims the particular attention of a work so truly devoted to the commonwealth as yours is. If the following observations on fir-built ships should suggest any new ideas to your nautical readers, I shall be happy in having put them into English.

Yours-SCRUTATOR.

"I built," says M. Ducrest," at Copenhagen, in 1799, a vessel of 500 tons, entirely of fir planks, an inch and a half thick. For three years successively it has navigated the north seas, which are reckoned the most boisterous in Europe; and it weathered a tremendous gale in the Baltick, in November 1801, when a great number of merchant ships perished. On entering the port of Havre, the following year, it struck on the pier, and no one on board expected to be saved. However, the ship righted, and entered the harbour without having staved a single plank, or sprung

a nail.

"The expense of building this vessel was just half what it would have cost, had it been built of oak. The hull does not weigh above half of that of a common merchantman, which, when of 400 tons burthen, is said to weigh 200 tons. Thus by diminishing the weight we should have, with the same cargo, vessels which, when well constructed, ought to sail as fast as the best frigates. An objection having been made that vessels thus built could not last long, as the intermediate planks, by wanting air, would heat and soon rot, I had one of the ports opened and found that the inside planks were much sounder than the others.

"Building with fir planks is incomparably more solid than building with squared timber; and by being as cheap again, we might employ our immense forests in the Pyrennees and the Vosges to great advantage. The danger arising from springing leaks is entirely avoided; and by the lightness of the timber, our armed vessels might be made to sail as fast as our present frigates. In short, the use of oak timber might be entirely confined to the navy; consequently we should have it much cheaper; and the economy in the construction of merchantmen is a very material object, as they might not require any repairs for twelve or fifteen years. Though line of battle ships could not be built of fir, yet the navy might use it for vessels armed en flûte, and for hospital ships attached to a squadron."

M. D. does not state whether the red or white fir is preferable.

From an

Cheap Glazing for Pottery.

Essay on the Improvement of Pottery in General," by C. R. Jouselin, manufacturer at Nevers, we learn, that the author has established a manufactory on his own principles, and announces a discovery of a new method of enameling or glazing, composed of materials so cheap, that the enamel, which costs the manufacturer at present 320 livres for one batch, will not amount to more than 20 livres.

Process of Soap.

Count Rumford has made a new application of the process of heating water by steam, to the manufacturing of soap. By this means, he has succeeded in boiling soap to a proper degree in six hours, which, in the common mode, required sixty. He is of opinion, that this saving of time is partly owing to the concussions given to the mixture of oil and lie by the heated vapour forced into it, and suddenly condensed.

VINE LEAF TEA.

To the Editor of the Literary Panorama.

SIR, From the experiments I have tried, I find that, on being dried, which should be done in the shade, the leaves of the vine make an excellent and an extremely wholesome tea, though somewhat different, both in taste and flavour, from that commonly used. I have also found that, besides being admirably calculated for making vinegar, the prunings of the vine, on being bruised and put into a vat, or mashing-tub, and boiling water poured on them, in the same way as is done with malt, produce a liquor of a fine vinous quality; which, on being fermented, forms a fine substitute for beer, and which, on being distilled, produces a very fine spirit, of the nature of brandy. As this is the season for pruning the vine; many thousand cart loads of which are, year after year, thrown away as useless, where there are not goats to eat them; and the idea here suggested is not only new, but of high importance to the inhabitants of this country, particularly at the present juncture, your inserting it in your highly useful and interesting work will oblige,

June 11th, 1808.

Sir, your constant reader, and most humble seavant,

On a remarkable Property of Steel.

JAMES HALL.

SIR,-The following curious fact not being generally known, I take the liberty of communicating it, that among the numerous readers of your valuable work it may meet with an explanation.

There is a fault in most candles, viz. that of not having the cottons properly disposed, and of the same length throughout, which causes what is commonly called a thief, from its wasting the tallow in its descent down the candle. Now the effect of steel is such, that if you lay any piece of that metal, as the snuffers, on the opposite side of the candle to that on which the thief is, in such a manner that it may touch the candle, where it meets the candlestick in the socket, it will not only stop the progress of the thief down the candle, but will cause it to be taken up and consumed in the flame itself.

In hopes that through the medium of your valuable magazine, I may learn in what way the steel thus acts, I am, sir,

February 9, 1809.

Your very obedient servant,

CANTABRIGIENSIS.

LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.

RECENT AMERICAN PUBLICATIONS.

By Mathew Carey, Philadelphia, republished, in handsome editions, the following works.

CULLEN'S Materia Medica, recommended by Dr. B. S. Barton, professor of Materia Medica, in the university of Pennsylvania. Price $2.75.

Adams's Roman Antiquities, in 1 vol. 8vo. Price $3.

Ferguson's Lectures on Mechanicks, Hydrostaticks, &c. revised and corrected by Robert Patterson, Esq. professor of mathematicks in the university of Pennsylvania, in 2 vols. 8vo. with a quarto volume of plates. Price $6.

Ferguson's Astronomy, corrected and improved by Robert Patterson, Esq. with 18 handsome engravings Price $3.50.

Simpson's Euclid, corrected by Robert Patterson. Price $2.50.

Black's Elements of Chymistry, 3 vols. 8vo. Price $8.

Taciti historiarum libri quinque, ad fidem optimarum editionem expressi. Cum notis Barboun. Price $1. 12 1-2.

Universal Letter Writer. Price 50 cts.

David's Psalms, pocket edition. Price 37 1-2 cts.

Elizabeth, or the Exiles of Siberia. An elegant novel. Price $1.

Pablo y Virginia-Traducido in Espanol. Price $1.

Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded. Price 31 cts.

Grammaire Francoise. Par Mons. L'Hamond. Price 50 cts.

Junius's Letters. Price 87 1-2 cts. on coarse paper, and $1. 12 1-2 cts. on fine paper. Gay's Fables. Price 50 cts.

Gulliver's Travels. 2 vols. Price $1.75.

Simpson's Algebra; a handsome edition, revised and corrected by Robert Patterson, Esq. Price $2.50.

Butler's Geographical and Map Exercises, designed for the use of young ladies and gentlemen. Corrected and improved by Stephen Addington.

By David Hogan, Philadelphia, published,

Report of the case of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, versus John Smith, Esq. marshal of the United States for the district of Pennsylvania.

By James Humphreys, Philadelphia, republished,

Hamilton on purgative Medicines.

By I. Riley, New York,

First Volume, Hening and Munford's Virginia Reports, royal octavo, revised.

Second Volume, do.

do.

do.

Thaddeus of Warsaw, by Miss Porter, 4 volumes in 2. 12mo.
Fourth Volume, Cranch's United States' Reports.

PROPOSED AMERICAN PUBLICATIONS.

Mathew Carey, Philadelphia, proposes to republish,

Hannah Moore's Essays.

Lady's Library.

A new edition of Ferguson's Astronomy.

Bradford and Inskeep, Philadelphia, to republish,

The Hungarian Brothers. A celebrated novel, by Miss Ann Maria Porter, author of Thaddeus of Warsaw, &c.

Also, a new work by Miss Owenson, entitled Woman; or Ida of Athens.

Also, Leontine, by Augustus Von Kotzbue.

James Humphreys. Philadelphia, to republish,

Lessons for young Persons in humble Life.

Caledonian Sketches; or a Tour through Scotland in 1807. By sir John Carr, author of the Northern Summer, &c. &c.

Letters from the Mountains.

An Abridgement of a Treatise on the Chymical History, and Medical Powers, Application, and Effects, of some of the most celebrated Mineral Waters, with observations on the use of cold and warm bathing. By William Saunders, M. D. F. R. S. Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, London, and Senior Physician of Guy's Hospital. To be enlarged by extracts from the latest and most celebrated writers on the above subjects: an account of the different artificial mineral waters now in use, with their medical application, effects, and manner of preparing them: and as perfect an account as can be procured of the mineral springs in the United States.

Hamilton and Ehrenfried, Lancaster, Penn. to publish by subscription, in one large octavo volume,

A complete English-German and German-English Dictionary. In which the meaning of every English word will be explained in German, and every German word will be explained in English. There will be prefixed, Principles of Pronunciation and a Prosodial Grammar.

John M'Cahan, Printer, Huntingdon, Penn. to republish by subscription, A Treatise upon the Life of Faith. By William Romaine, M. A. Lecturer of St. Dunstan's in the West, London. From the fourth London edition.

John Berry, Brownsville, Penn. to republish by subscription,

A History of the Life and Adventures of Louisa, the Lovely Orphan; or the Cottage on the Moor. By Mrs. Helme.

I. Riley, New York, has in press,

Vol. III. Hening and Munford's Virginia Reports.
Part I. Vol. IV. Johnson's New York Reports.

Vol. II. Day's Connecticut Reports.

Vol. I. Vesey, jun. new series, or Vol. XIII. London.

Vol. I. M'Henry and Harris's Maryland Provincial Reports.

Vol. I. Hon. Royal Tyler's Vermont Reports.

Vol. I. Hon. E. H. Bay's South Carolina Reports.

Vol. I. Anthon's New York Nisi Prius Reports.
Comyns on Contracts. 2 vols. royal octavo.
Jacob's Law Dictionary. 5 vols. 8vo.

Curran's Speeches. 2 vols. 8vo. much enlarged.

Gil Blas, in French.

Preparing for press,

Lawyer's Guide, by William W. Hening, Esq.
Digest of all the American Reports.

Digest of the Laws of New York.

A Treatise on Bills of Exchange.

A new interesting novel, entitled The Child of Thirty-six Fathers.
Hon. Judge Workman's Writings.

Second volume Judge Bay's South Carolina Reports.

RECENT BRITISH PUBLICATIONS.

Scloppetaria; or Considerations on the nature and use of rifled barreled guns, with reference to their forming the basis of a permanent system of national defence, agreeable to the genius of the country. Illustrated with twelve copperplates. By a corporal of riflemen. Price 9s. in boards.

Letters on Literature and Composition, addressed to his son, by George Gregory, D.D. late vicar of West-Ham, domestick chaplain to the bishop of Landaff, &c. In two elegant volumes duodecimo.

A Treatise on Scrophula. By James Russel, Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, and professor of clinical surgery in the University of Edinburgh. 8vo. price 3s. A Series of Letters between Mrs. Elizabeth Carter and Miss Catherine Talbot, from the year 1741 to 1770: to which are added, Letters from Mrs. Elizabeth Carter to Mrs. Vesey, between the years 1763 and 1787; which Mrs. Vesey earnestly requested should be published. Published from the original manuscripts, by the rev. Montagu Pennington, M.A. vicar of Northbourn, in Kent, her nephew and executor. In two volumes quarto, price 31. 3s. in boards.

A Dictionary of Chymistry and Mineralogy, with an account of the process employed in many of the most important chymical manufactures; to which are added, a Description of chymical apparatus, and various useful tables of weights and measures, chymical instruments, &c. By A. and C. R. Aikin. In 2 vols. quarto, closely printed, price three guineas and a half, in boards, illustrated by fifteen engravings. Memoirs of Frederick and Margaret Klopstock. Translated from the German. By the author of "Fragments in prose and verse." In one volume, price 6s. in boards. John De Lancaster, a novel. By Richard Cumberland, esquire. In three volumes post 8vo. price a guinea in boards.

Ella St. Lawrence; or the village of Selwood and its inhabitants.-By Mrs. Isaacs, author of Ariel, Glenmore Abbey, and the Wood Nymph. In four volumes, 12mo. price 11. s. in boards.

A Letter to John Haygarth, from Colin Chisholme, exhibiting further evidence of the infectious nature of pestilential diseases in Grenada during 1793, 4, 5, and 6; and in the United States of America, from 1798 to 1805. 6s.

The School for Authors, a comedy in 3 acts, now performing at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket, written by the late J. Tobin, Esq. author of the Honey Moon, &c. 8vo. 2s. The Life of Princess Louisa, a Carmelite Nun, daughter of Louis xv. and aunt to Louis XVI. kings of France. Translated from the French of Abbé Proyard, 2 vols. 12s.

Memoirs of William Paley, D. D. Rector of Bishopwearmouth. By G. W. Meadly, 8vo.

The Mother, a poem, in five books. By Mrs. West, foolscap, 8vo. 7s.

Caledonian Sketches, or, a Tour through Scotland, in the year 1807. By Sir John Carr. 4to. with numerous fine views, 21. 2s.

An Essay on Sepulchres; or, a Proposal for erecting some Memorial of the Illustrious Dead in all ages on the spot where their remains have been interred. By Wil. liam Godwin. Foolscap, 8vo. 4s. boards.

The London Review, conducted by R. Cumberland, Esq. No. 1, for February, 1809. To be published quarterly. 5s.

The Works of the late Right Hon. Henry St. John Lord Viscount Bolingbroke; with the Life of Lord Bolingbroke, by Dr. Goldsmith, now enlarged by more recent information relative to his publick and personal character. Selected from various authorities. 3 vols. 8vo. 31. 12s. boards.

Amelie Mansfield. Par Mad. Cottin. 3 tom. 12mo. 18s. sewed.

PROPOSED BRITISH PUBLICATIONS.

The Medical and Chirurgical Society of London intend shortly to publish the first volume of their Records. Some very valuable contributions from practitioners of first-rate eminence in the metropolis will thus meet the publick eye.

Mr. Macartney intends to publish a small work on the Relation between external and internal Parts, by which the situation of any important blood vessel, nerve, &c. may be precisely ascertained in the living body. To be illustrated by plates, &c. Mr. Todd's new edition of Milton will appear in a few weeks; and he has sent to the press, Observations on Gower and Chaucer.

Mr. Southey has in preparation a romance in rhyme, founded on the mythology of the Hindoos, to be entitled, The Curse of Kehama.

Mr. Taylor, the Platonist, is engaged in writing a work on Infinitesimals in Mathematicks, in which it is said he has made some important discoveries.

Mr. Campbell's new poem, Gertrude of Wyoming, or the Pennsylvanian Cottage, is on the eve of publication.

Dr. Stock of Bristol, has undertaken to write a Life of the late Dr. Beddoes, with the approbation of his family and friends.

The Reports of the Preventive Medical Institution at Bristol, which have been some time expected, were left in a certain degree of forwardness by the late Dr. Beddoes: and they will be completed and published, as soon as possible, by Mr. King and Dr. Stock. The former gentleman has been surgeon to the institution from its

commencement.

Speedily will be published, A System of Surgery, in 4 vols. 8vo. by James Russell, F. R. S. E. Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, one of the surgeons of the Royal Infirmary, and Professor of Clinical Surgery in the University of Edinburgh.

In the press, and soon will be published, A System of Surgery, in 4 vols. 8vo. by John Thomson, M. D. one of the surgeons to the Royal Infirmary, Professor of Surgery to the Royal College of Surgeons, and Regius Professor of Military Surgery in the University of Edinburgh.

A member of the university of Oxford has announced for publication, Lindley Murray Examined, or an address to classical French and English teachers; in which grammatical errours in Mr. Murray's grammar are pointed out; showing, at the same time, the necessity of an English granimar, that will lead to the grammar of any other language, without violating the purity of the English.

Lord Valentia has printed two volumes of his Travels. The whole will appear about May or June next, in 3 quarto volumes.

« PreviousContinue »