peut vivre avec une somme de bonheur á-peu-près égale, s'il y porte avec lui les vertus sociales et les ressources du commerce et de la civilisation. In reverting to the scientific object of M. Biôt's visit to our sea-girt shores, we have the satisfaction of informing our readers, that in pursuance of the recommendation of the President and Council of the Royal Society, Captain Kater has undertaken a journey to the North, with a view of ascertaining the length of the Seconds Pendulum at the principal stations of Colonel Mudge's Trigonometrical survey, and that the Government has afforded ready and liberal assistance towards this important investigation. ART. XX. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Thursday, April 9. A PAPER was transmitted from the Society for improving Animal Chymistry, containing an account of the Urinary Organs and Secretions of some Amphibious Animals, by Dr. John Davy. In this paper, the urinary organs of some species of serpents and lizards, and of the turtle and tortoise, are described. The white matter voided by snakes is almost entirely pure uric acid, and the same substance was discovered in the urine of the other animals mentioned. A Paper was also communicated by A. Cooper, Esq. on an improved method of making Anatomical Preparations, by Mr Joseph Swan. Corrosive sublimate is the preservative here recommended. April 16. A Paper on malconformation of the Uterus was read, by Dr. Granville. April 30. A Paper was read, entitled new experimental researches on some of the leading doctrines of Caloric, particularly on the relation between the elasticity, temperature, and latent heat of different vapours, and on thermometric admeasurement and capacity, by Dr. Ure. This paper contained a variety of important and apparently accurate investigations, upon the above important questions, and may be considered as a valuable addition to our stock of theoretical and practical knowledge, in a very interesting department of science. May 7. A Letter was read from Mr. Greatorex, containing an account of a geometrical admeasurement of Skiddaw, whence it appeared that the height of that mountain is 1012 yards 3 inches. A Letter addressed by B. Bevan, Esq. to the President, was also read, containing the results of a registering rain gauge, for the year 1817. The average time of actual rain was 1 hour 47 minutes per day. The average quantity per day was 0,68 inches. The observations were made at Leighton in Bedfordshire. A Paper was also read, on the Structure of the poisonous fangs of serpents, by Thomas Smith, Esq. F. R. S. The author shows that there is a longitudinal fissure in the poison teeth of serpents, the use of which is not quite apparent. In the teeth of harmless serpents, no such formation is perceptible.. May 21. A Paper on the different modes of constructing a catalogue of fixed stars, by John Pond, Esq. Astronomer Royal, was read. Mr. Pond here proposed a method of effecting the above purpose, by which in a single year, the same accuracy is attained as was formerly derived from the observations of three years. A Paper was also communicated from Lieutenant Colonel William Lambton, entitled “ An abstract of the results deduced from the measurement of an arc of the meridian, extending from latitude 8° 9′ 38′′,4 to latitude 18° 3′ 23′′,6 N. being an amplitude of 9° 53′ 45′′,2." May 28. The Astronomer Royal read a Paper on the Parallax of the fixed stars in right ascension. At the same Meeting, a Paper was read, on the oxides and salts of mercury, by Mr. Donovan. June 4. A description of the teeth of the Delphinus Gangeticus, was presented to the Society by Sir Everard Home, Bart. V. P. R. S. And at the same Meeting, Dr. Granville gave an account of the production of sulphuretted azote in the abdomen, resulting from the decomposition of an albuminous dropsical fluid. The Doctor considers this as a new and definite gaseous compound, and the results of his experiments led him to consider its component parts as 89,60 azote. 10,40 sulphur. A Paper was also read by John Williams, Esq. describing the influence of galvanism upon the germination of seeds, which when powerful enough to do any thing, appeared generally injurious. June 11. Dr. Prout communicated a Paper,, describing a new acid principle, prepared from the lithic or uric acid. Our readers are well aware of the characteristic property of uric acid of producing a fine red compound, when heated with nitric acid. Dr. Prout shows, by some very interesting experiments, that this is a compound of a new acid principle with ammonia. This acid forms purple or red compounds, with the metallic oxides, whence he calls it the purpuric acid. A communication was also received from Sir W. Herschel, consisting of astronomical observations and experiments, selected for the purpose of ascertaining the relative distances of clusters of stars, and of investigating how far the power of our telescopes may be expected to reach into space, when direct ed to ambiguous celestial objects. The President then adjourned the Society for the long vacation, which terminates on the 5th of November. ART. XXI. Miscellanea. I. MECHANICAL SCIENCE. § 1. MATHEMATICS, ASTRONOMY, &c. 1. Mathematical Prize Question for 1820. The Royal Academy of Sciences at Paris, have again proposed as a question for 1820, the following theorem of Fermat. "Beyond the second degree, there exists no power which may be divided into two other powers of the same degree." The reward is a gold medal of 3000 francs value, and the latest time allowed for the reception of memoirs, 1st January, 1820. 2. Astronomical Prize Question for 1820. The question proposed by the Royal Academy of Science at Paris, is as follows :-To form by the theory of universal gravitation alone, and without taking from observations, any thing but arbitrary elements, tables of the movement of the moon, as exact as the best tables in existence. The prize is a gold medal of 3000 francs value, which is to be awarded in March 1820. The utmost period allowed for the reception of papers, 1st January, 1820. 3. Astronomical Prize Medal. The Royal Academy of Sciences at Paris, have awarded their own gold medal to the astronomer Royal, John Pond, Esq. That which was before voted to him was the one founded by the astronomer De Lalande. 4. Harvest Moons. This year is the third of a series of 10 years in which the moon will prove the most beneficial to the farmers for reaping and gathering in the fruits of the earth, viz. from 1816 to 1825 inclusive. The preceding nine years, namely, from 1807 to 1815 inclusive, were in the class of those in which, from natural causes, the harvest moon has been least benefical. Such will also be the years from 1826 to 1882. § 2. ARCHITECTURE, THE ARTS, AGRICULTURE, &c. 1. Incombustible Store-House at Plymouth. The incombustible Store-House which has just been completed in Plymouth Dock-Yard, has every part of it composed either of stone or iron. The girdlers, joists, doors, sashes, and frames, are all of cast iron, neatly executed. The roof is of cast iron, and the floors of Yorkshire stone. The staircase, which is a geometrical one, is of moorstone. expense of the building is fifteen thousand pounds. 2. Mr. Feetham's Description of an apparatus for sweeping Chimneys, without the aid of Climbing Boys. The estimated In consequence of the repeated occasions on which I have examined chimneys, my attention has been strongly drawn to the various methods of sweeping them, and as I found that none of the mechanical contrivances answered completely the desired end, and that cases frequently occurred when they were entirely inadequate, I was induced to contrive As this machine has for the last a machine for my own use. six or seven years completely answered my wishes, and as it has been approved of by many eminent surveyors and builders, I shall no longer hesitate to make it public. The apparatus consists of a thin iron box or frame, about 13 inches by 11, with two closely fitted doors, 4 inches apart, forming the back and front; a pulley is fixed to the lower part of the frame, in either an inclined or vertical direction, according to the inclination of the flue. This frame is fitted into the chimney as near the top as is convenient, either in the attic, loft, or on the roof, so that the door may be got at with ease. From this door upwards, the chimney is cleaned by an elastic whalebone brush, and downwards in the following manner: a whalebone brush, which may be shaped to any sized flue by the person who is using it, has a ball of iron fixed to the lower part of it in gimballs, so that it can roll in any direction downwards, and a rope is made fast to the upper end; the brush and ball are put through the door into the chimney, and the rope placed over the pulley; the weight carries the brush down, and it is drawn up again by the line, so that it can be made to traverse three or four times up and down the chimney in a few minutes; the door is shut during this operation, the rope passing through a small notch in it, so that scarcely any dirt is occasioned. The brush will pass down a flue that has a considerable degree of inclination, but at horizontal parts, or at square angles, extra doors will be required. These, however, by the advantages they afford, will abundantly compensate the slight additional expense; they afford the readiest means of extinguishing fires, of stopping descending currents of smoke from neighbouring flues, or of working in any way in the chimney: and |