provement. 4. One of those two steel pins is strongly fastened on a brass slider which is moved by means of a screw with very few threads, which screw has a large micrometer head, minutely divided on its edge, and a corresponding nonius; so that the tension of the wire may be adjusted with the greatest precision, in order to obtain its exact pitch. 5. A slider is fixed across the top of the moveable bridge, and is moved by means of another screw with very fine threads; so that the length of the wire may be regulated with the greatest nicety in all cases. 6. The above mentioned slider which is on the top of the moveable bridge is adjusted to the steel rod or scale, not by sight, or by the coincidence of lines; but by means of mechanical contact against projecting pieces of steel firmly fixed on that steel scale, which method is incomparably more correct. 7. Each bridge carries a metallic finger which keeps the wire close to the top of the bridge whilst the wire is made so vibrate. 8. The vibrations of the wire are produced by touching it with a piece of cork, with the same elastic force, and on the very same spot each time, namely, at the distance of one inch from the immoveable bridge. The great work on British cattle, will be shortly published by Boy dell and Co., prepared under the superintendance of lord Somerville. It will be published in numbers, in imperial quarto size, each containing two or more prints, from pictures painted by Ward. The history and descriptions, uses, merits, and defects of the cattle, with their adaptation to various sorts and situations, will be written by Mr. Law sand figures, executed by Sowerby from the drawings of Bauer. In the British house of commons, July 2, 1806, lord Henry Petty called the attention of the house to the subject of vaccine inoculation, which had checked in a great degree the progress of a dreadful malady which had spread ravage and desolation over the world. He stated that the discovery itself, as well as the effects which have since been derived from it, were the results of the constant labour of an eminent physician, Dr. Jenner, who had devoted above thirty years of his life to this single object. This discovery was made in 1777, but it was not until the year 1788 that Dr. Jenner recommended the extending of the cow-pox by means of inoculation: in 1798, he was enabled, from a long course of successful experiments, to recommend the discovery to the people of England, and to Europe, in such a manner as to excite universal attention: in 1799, it was very generally introduced into America, not only among the more civilized inhabitants, but even among the Indians. In 1801, it was practised all over the continent of Europe with the happiest effects. Certain prejudices, he said, had greatly obstructed the progress of this most useful discovery in Great Britain, and in consequence of these prejudices the number of annual deaths from the small pox in London, which had been reduced from 1,811 to 622, had again risen to 1,685, so that they were fast approaching to their original amount. The measure he proposed was, that an address be presented to his majesty, praying him to direct his college of physicians to inquire into the state of vaccine inoculation, and its effect in destroying the small pox, and to report the evidence on the subject, and the causes which have retarded its progress in the united kingdom; and that this report should be laid before parliament. He hoped that this report would be ready before the commencement of the next session; and should it be favourable, as he had every reason to expect, it would become a serious consideration with the house, what step should be taken to make the discovery as beneficial to Great Britain as it had been to other nations. It would also be a subject for their consideration, whether any reward at all adequate to the importance of the discovery, or worthy the character and liberality of Great Britain, had been given to a man who, by the entire application of his mind to this sub. ject, had been enabled to render such important services, not only to Great Britain and to Europe, but to the world; services which would not be confined to the present generation, but which would be felt as long as the human race existed. The address was agreed to nemine contradicente.. The cadets at Woolwich will shortly remove into the new academy on Shooter's hill. The building, which is in the Gothic style, is calculated for the reception of one hundred young gentlemen, the officers and masters, &c., in the most convenient manner. This public edifice is said to have cost upwards of 50,0001. Another edition in quarto will follow it. Grotius de Veritate Christianæ Religionis, with numerous corrections of the text, will be sent to press before the winter. The copy is just completed. A new room, adjoining to the Bodleian library (formerly the law school), has been lately completed, and partly filled with ancient manuscripts, leaving spaces in the upper library for printed books. The principal manuscripts are those of Mr. Carte and bishop Tanner. Accounts have been received from the baptist missionaries in Bengal, dated November 15, 1805, by which it appears that the converts had increased since the commencement of the year, from thirty-four to seventy. Three of the natives are preaching the gospel. The missionaries are proceeding in the translation and printing of the Old and New Testaments in four or five eastern languages, and they hope to accomplish the translation into all the languages of the east. A catalogue of the particulars of the manuscripts, collations, and books with manuscript notes of the late James Philip D'Orville, Esq., purchased by the university of Oxford, in 1805, for 10251. will shortly be printed. A show of pinks, for a wager of five hundred guineas, between the gentlemen florists of London, and of Uxbridge and its vicinity, took place on the 24th of June, at the Hats, on Mr. Home has furnished to the the Uxbridge road; umpires were Royal Society an interesting paper chosen from the most celebrated on the comparative anatomy and judges. The show consisted of six physiology of the camel, particularstands, with twelve blossoms of vari- ly on its stomachs and water-bags, ous sorts; three on each side. It in which it can retain a quantity of was universally allowed, that a more water sufficient to support itself for beautiful display was never witness- several weeks. ed. After a most careful and particular scrutiny, the umpires decided in favour of the London florists. Mr. Stephens, a gentleman of great celebrity, as an amateur of flowers, proposed, after dinner, in the names of the London gentlemen, to show pinks the next season, for any sum not exceeding five hundred guincas, against all England. A new edition of Clarendon's History of the Rebellion, in octavo, is just issuing from the university press, In the Antiquarian Society an account has been read of the splendid equipage and sumptuary retinue of the earl of Northumberland, at his embarkation for France in the reign of Henry VIII. The gospel of St. John in Latin, but written on parchment in Roman characters mixed with Saxon, was exhibited to the society by the reverend Mr. Milner. This volume is said to be 1,200 years old. Mr. Davy has discovered that the acid, which exists in minute quantities in the wavellite (the new fossil from Barnstable), is the fluoric acid, in such a peculiar state of combination as not to be rendered sensible by sulphuric acid. er at the Foundling. 8. On music, W. Crotch, M. D., professor of music in the university of Oxford. 9. On the history of commerce, the Rev. Edward Forster. 10. On drawing in water colours, W. M. Craig, Esq. 11. On botany, J. E. Smith, M. D., F. R. S., and president of the Linnean Society. 12. On perspective, by Mr. Wood. A gentleman connected with the manufactures of Sheffield, has given the following description of the changes which take place in the various processes of hardening, tempering, A letter has recently been receivhammering, burnishing, &c. "Ied from M. Rehmann, the physician took," says he, "a steel plate thirty inches long, twelve broad, and four thick; I hardened it in a composition of oil and tallow, and afterwards tempered it down to a spring temper; it was not so elastic as to recover its position after being bended; by hammering it to set it straight, it lost its elasticity; after being ground in the same manner as a saw, the elasticity became still less, having nearly returned to the same state as before hardened; it was then very uniformly heated till it became blue, when it recovered the whole of its elasticity after being glazed bright upon a glazier coated with emery, the elasticity was found to be impaired, but in a less degree than when it was ground: the same effect was also produced by rubbing with emery or sand paper, and also by burnishing. The elasticity was invariably recovered by blueing, and hence this is always the last operation in the manufactory of elastic steel plate." The following arrangement has been made at the Royal Institution for twelve courses of lectures, to be delivered the ensuing season, by the undernamed gentlemen. 1. On chemistry, by H. Davy, Esq., F. R. S. 2. On natural philosophy, by William Allen, Esq., F. L. S. 3. On English literature, by the Rev. T. F. Dibdin. 4. On moral philosophy, by the Rev. Sidney Smith, A. M., evening preacher at the Foundling Hospital. 5. On dramatic poetry, by the Rev. William Crowe, LL. B., public orator of the university of Oxford. 6. On zcology, by George Shaw, M. D., F. L. S., librarian to the British Museum. 7. On belles lettres, the Rev. John Hewlett, B. D., morning preach in the suite of the Russian embassy to China, dated Kiachta on the frontiers of China, October 14th, 1805: in which he says that he has vaccinated a great number of the children of the Mogols. "These people (continues M. Rehmann) have retained the simple manners and customs of their ancestors. They live in tents, and still make use of bows and arrows, which they employ with such dexterity and precision, that when they went out with the Russians of the ambassador's suite they killed six times as much game as the latter, though provided with excellent fowing-pieces." He likewise writes that he has discovered a little portable pharmaceutic collection of Thibet, from which the science of medicine is likely to derive advantage.It consists of sixty different articles, very elegantly wrapped in paper Among these are some remedies known in Europe; but with a much greater number the botanists attached to the embassy were unacquainted. The latter consist of small fruits, nuts, and some chemical preparations. M. Rehmann has procured a translation of the list of them, which was written in the language of Tangut. He proposes to bring with him some of these collections of medicines, which are much in use among the Bucharians. Sweden was hitherto in want of a Swedish and French pocket dictionary, on the plan of the French and Swedish by Jonchere. This deficiency has been supplied by M. Nordforss. Of the magnificent collection of views in Sweden, by Martin, which is to be completed in sixty plates, the five first have appeared. These consist of three views of Stockholm, one of the mine of Dannemora, and one of the mine of Hogborn. Colonel Skioldebrand, whose Picturesque Tour in Lapland is well known, is at present engaged on a history of all the public festivals in Sweden, which will be a splendid work with engravings. He is said to have received an advance of 12,000 rix dollars towards this work, of which great expectations are entertained. The fifth part of Icones Plantarum Japonicarum, by Thunberg, has made its appearance; but it is like ly to be the last the learned professor will publish, unless some foreign bookseller will undertake to give his admirable collections to the world. M. Schonherr, silk manufacturer of Stockholm, possesses a handsome cabinet of natural history, and has recently published an octavo volume with plates, entitled Synonomia In sectorum. The Botany of Sweden, written in the Swedish language by a society of literati, and embellished with coloured plates, is proceeding rapidly. The 42d number has already appeared. In the Academy of Sciences of Copenhagen, professor Bugge lately read a memoir, in continuation of the theory of terrestrial refraction, and on the method of calculating the height of mountains above the surface of the sea. Several mountains in Iceland have been measured according to this method by the officers Olsen and Vetlesen; and it has been found that the height of Wivelfield is about 347 fathoms above the surface of the sea, that of Wester Jokel 760, of Hekla 827, and of Ejafiella, or Oster Jokel, 921. M. de Threbra, superintendant of the mines of Freyberg, and professor Lampadius, have lately ascertained, by repeated experiments, the relative temperature of the internal parts of the earth. Having placed, at different depths in the mines, two of Reaumur's thermometers, and compared them twice every day with VOL. VI. NO. XXXVII. another exposed in the open air, they found that whatever difference of temperature prevailed above ground, one of the two thermometers placed in the mines uniformly indicated 12° above zero, and the other 94°. M. Delambre has completed the printing of the first volume of his great work on the meridian, in 750 pages. It is intitled Base du Système Métrique Décimal, ou Mesure de l'Arc du Meridien, &c. It contains all the triangles formed from Dunkirk to Barcelona. The second will contain the bases, the azimuths, the latitudes, and the calculations of the triangles. There will probably be a third. The Berlin Memoirs for 1802 contain observations by M. Bode, and calculations relative to the planets Piazzi and Olbers. The Ephemerides of Vienna for the year 1806 contain a great number of longitudes determined by eclipses, as a sequel to the great work of M. Triesnecker; a memoir by M. Burg, to prove that Bradley's refractions ought to be increased; observations made at Vienna, Buda, Prague, Crems-Munster, Carlsburg, Naples, Palermo, Ratisbon, Amsterdam, Gotha, Milan, Munich, and Brunn, to the south of Olmutz. M. Bode's Ephemerides likewise contain a great number of observations made at Berlin, Vienna, Petersburg, Bremen, Breslau, Prague, Wilna, Crems-Munster, Palermo, Upsal, Huth, and Dantzig, and calculations relative to the three new planets. M. Poczobut and M. Treschka, astronomers of the university of Wilna, have made a great number of observations of the new planets, made in 1803 and 1804, with excellent instruments. M. Ciccolini, an astronomer of Bologna, has published a Memoir of the Eclipse of the Sun on the 11th of February, 1804, which was supposed to have been total in Italy; but he demonstrates that this neither was nor could have been the case, from the diameters of the sun and moon 10 which are in Lalande's tables. Circumstances were as unfavourable for the observation in Italy as in France. M. Ciccolini has made a useful addition to the reflecting-circle. He has formed the posterior part of that instrument into a quarter of a circle, the radius of which is the diameter of the instrument, and with a perpendicular and the telescope of the same circle he can ascertain, in half a minute of time, within half a degree, the altitude of the star, and at the same time the degree at which the glass of the telescope should be placed for taking the observation. In this manner you avoid the disagreeable necessity of groping with the fingers in observations of altitudes, the inconvenience of which has already been acknowledged by astronomers and mariners of high distinction. With this method the telescope may be made to magnify more than usual, which would be exceedingly advantageous in obser. vations of this kind. M. Lenoir has likewise made at Paris a pedestal with which one sin gle observer may make use of the repeating-circle. M. Augustus Pictet, of Geneva, has discovered a method of observing transits of the meridian by means of the reflecting-sextants, used at sea. For this purpose it is sufficient to fix, due west, a glass which shall be exactly 90° from every point of the meridian. A second enlarged and revised edition of the valuable narrative of a Tour in England, Wales, Ireland, and Scotland, by professor Gode, has appeared in Germany. M Shutze, who four years since published the third volume of his Holsteiniche Idioticon, has completed the fourth and last volume of that work. In the Scandinavian Literary Society at Copenhagen, M. Niebuhr, son of the celebrated traveller of that name, recently made a memoir, in which he showed how far the nations subdued by the Romans might have maintained or recovered their independence. A splendid edition of the poetical works of the celebrated Schiller, with plates, will speedily make its appearance. The worthy abbe Mann, who, as a member of the Academy of Brussels, formerly wrote various interesting treatises, and among the rest a very interesting description of that city, is about to publish, at Vienna, a work entitled Principes Metaphysiques des Connaissances et des Etres. Sturz is about to publish Maittaire de Lingue Grace Dialectis opus auctum et emendatum. Dr. Hedwig is engaged upon a work entitled Adambratio et delineatio Microscopico-analytica plantarum ealyptrarum: the first part of which, in folio, will speedily be pub-. lished. The garden Schwetzingen, near Mannheim, is reckoned one of the finest in Germany. Ten views of it are soon expected to appear, from drawings by Kuntz, and accompanied with a topographical, botanical, &c., description. A German and English dictionary by Kuttner and Nicholson, after the English and German dictionary of Adelung, will soon make its appearance. M. Nemnich's Narrative of his late Tour in England is expected with impatience. The Teylerian Society at Haarlem has proposed the following questions as the subject of a prize essay, to be adjudged on the 8th April, 1807 -1. In what does the difference between natural and revealed religion consist? 2. Whether various publications have not appeared at different times, which tend to obscure this difference, and to cause the advantages possessed by christianity over the religion of nature to be forgotten? 3. Whether, in proportion as these writings are disseminated, and the two religions assimilated to each other in every point, the most fatal effects may not be expected to result to christianity, morality, and the happiness of man? The prize is a gold medal of 40′′ |