legislative regard in some, at least, of the United States. Schools for the blind, and for deaf mutes, have taken root effectually in the philanthropy of the country, and it is scarcely to be questioned that the tendency of our civism is to the adoption of every useful discovery, whether in mechanical or moral science, as soon as its character of utility and beneficence has received the sanction of an evident demonstration.

G.

Scientific Memoirs, selected from the transactions of Foreign Academies of Science, and learned Societies, and from Foreign Journals. Edited by RICHARD TAYLOR, F. S. A.

The enterprise of the Editor of this valuable series of papers we can readily conceive to have been dictated by the pure love of Science, and the pleasure derived from witnessing its extensive and increasing propagation in every country where the English language is read and spoken. Without some such undertaking, many of the most learned and original papers, published in Russia, Prussia, Germany, France, and Italy, would remain excluded from English readers, excepting the few who could gain access to the foreign Journals, and were able to relish their perusal in a foreign tongues The Editor, after being encouraged to commence the translation and pub. lication of the best of the foreign memoirs, a work which necessarily involveno little expense, was obliged, on the completion of the first volume to suspend it for some time for want of adequate patronage. We are pleased to find that this result has excited a feeling of regret among the friends of Science in Great Britain, and that the Editor is again encouraged to persevere. Part 2d, of the 2d vol., (part 6th, of the whole) has just been received by the Franklin Institute, and we can do no less than speak in terms of high commendation of the beauty of the paper, and of the execution, typographical and lithographical.

The contents of part VI, are,

1. Memoir on the Polarization of Heat. By Macedoine Melloni.

2. General Theory of Terrestrial Magnetism. By Carl Friedrich Gauss, Professor in the University of Gottingen.

3. On a new Instrument for the direct Observation of the changes in the intensity of the horizontal portion of the terrestrial magnetic force. By Carl Friedrich Gauss.

4. Observations on the arrangement and use of the Bifilar Magnetometer. By Wilhelm Weber.

5. Contributions to our knowledge of Phytogenesis. By Dr. M. J. Schleiden.

The names of the authors of these memoirs are sufficient to impress the stamp of high value on the contents of part VI., and although the essays may be too learned for popular perusal, they ought to be accessible to teachers and professors of Science, and hence, are deserving a place in every College Library, and collection of learned works on Science. In the subscrip tion list we find but five copies for the United States, and those all in Philadelphia except one, viz: Columbia College, New York.

G.

4

Physical Science.

NASHVILLE UNIVERSITY, Jan. 1, 1840.

TO THE COMMITTEE OF THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE ON METEOROLOGY.

GENTLEMEN,-Believing that your committee on Meteorology would gladly receive a few observations during the late solstice, I send you my notes of the weather at that time. I begin with Dec. 21st, and continue them with some intermissions to the 24th. If you think them worthy, you may send them in such form as you think fit, to the South African L. & Phil, Institution. The remainder of my communication is intended for your Committee. The past summer exceeded in drought, not only that of 1838, but any one ever remembered by the oldest inhabitants. There had been less rain than usual, the winter preceding, and although there were some good showers about the beginning of May, the ground was remarkably dry. In June, July, and August, but especially in the last two, we suffered for want of rain, and springs failed, that never failed before. The beautiful Aurora of Sept. 3, was followed by a copious rain in about 20 hours. Clear weather succeeded on the 9th, and there was no more rain until Nov. 1st, with the exception of light falls on the 17th, and 27th of Sept., and 27th Oct. With the 1st of November, the springs and creeks began to swell a little, and the popular opinion was that the rise was caused by the increase of cold. There was no rain in this vicinity sufficient to produce the effect, but there were rains at the time west of the mountains and north of us.

During November we had 3.64 inches of rain, and on the 25th day the Ther. fell to 9°, while the Bar. rose to 30.08 inches.

Such a temperature in November is very unusual-from May until this day the Ther. has not been so low, nor the Bar, as high. In December rain began at 8 P. M. on the 6th, and continued moderately until the 12th, changing into snow on the 9th at night, half an inch deep, (the first of the season) making of rain in all only .83in.

December, 12 and 13, cloudy-wind SW., SE., and East; 14th cloudy -SW.; 15th, clear-W.; 16th, cloudy-N. E.; 17th, clear-W.; Ther. 17 min. I state the above facts, because the newspapers inform us of a violent storm in the East on the 14th and 15th.

December 30th, a snow storm began here at day-break with an East and NE. wind, and continued until 4 P. M., when it lay 7 inches deep. It was followed by hail all night.

December 31, a pretty thick crust on the snow; hail continued till 9 A. M., and then a light snow through the day, Bar. 29.36, at noon began to rise at 2 P. M., when it was 29.38, wind N.; cloudy all night, but clear this morning. The amount of rain in December 2.70 inches.

Mean temperature, June, 73.17; July, 77.88; August, 77.82; September, 65.58; October, 64.65; November, 41.11; December, 34.17; max. temp. of summer 95°--river too low for boats.

Very respectfully, Yours, &c.,

JAMES HAMILTON.

Barom.

29.11 c S.

Meteorological Observations, at the Winter Solstice of 1839, made in conformity with the instructions of the South African Literary and Philosophical Institution, at the University of Nashville, Tennessee, in North Latitude, 36° 09′ 33′′, W. Long. 86° 49′ 03; "by JAMES HAMILTON, Prof. Math. and N. Phil.

42

$6.5 42

37.5 42

December 21, 1839.

29.22 c S.E. o Thin clouds.

29.22 c S.E. o Clouds heavier; sprinkles, 7h. 25m. 29.21 R S.E. o Gentle rain.

29.21 R S.E. O Rain heavier.

29 21 R S.E. O Rain lighter; W. nearly cl'r. 10h.40m. 29.19 c S.W.S.E. o Clouds thinner; mist 11h. 30m. 29.14 c S.E. o

o Clouds heavy.

29.10 c S.

O Clouds lighter.

29.06 c W. 1 From 6h. 10m. to 6h. 25m. wind 2. 29.06 R W. 1

29.11 c W. 1 At 12h. 40m. a few flakes of snow. 29.14 c W. 3

29.20 c W. 1

December 23.

Meantime found by means of transit, and kept by a superior clock, not varying 30 seconds in 6 weeks. Ther. Fahrenheit, Barometer of English manufacture; diameter of the tube inch, cup. 2 inches; in good order; Dolland, London; height above ground 38 feet, and 128 feet above low water of the Cumberland river-external thermometer 35 feet above ground, facing North.

Mechanics' Register.

LIST OF AMERICAN PATENTS WHICH ISSUED IN JANUARY, 1839,
With Remarks and Exemplifications by the Editor.

1. For an apparatus for Evaporating Fluids; William Henry, Laporte, Laporte county, Indiana, January 8.

The patentee tells us that "the nature of his improvement consists in so rarifying the air in the boiling apartment, by means of fires lighted therein, at the back, creating a strong draft through a flue, or flues, above the fire, which conduct off the steam rapidly from the surface of the liquid in the boiler, causes the evaporation to go on more expeditiously than heretofore, removes the nuisance and inconvenience arising from the steam in the manufactory, saves fuel, lessens the number of boilers required, and improves the quality of the sugar, salt, or other article manufactured." We have here a promising list of valuable results from the discovery patented. The matter is not very clearly explained, but the thing appears to consist in the making of an additional fire above, and behind, the tops of the boilers, so as to produce a more rapid draught up the chimney. The patentee says that the rapidity of the evaporation will be so far increased, that one pound of fuel burnt for rarifying the air will be as valuable as four under the boilers. We do not believe this, as according to our understanding of the matter, the rapidity of evaporation from a boiler is proportioned to the fire surface of the boiler, and the intensity of the fire; as to draught, it should be suf ficient to carry off the vapour, and the fire under the boilers may certainly answer this purpose. The claim is to "the before described method of evaporating liquids, by rarifying the air in the boiling room.

2. For an improvement in Bedsteads; Thomas Early, county of Williamson, Tennessee, January 8.

The subject of this patent seems to us to be one of the most trifling on record, although it wears the garb of novelty. At the distance of two or more inches from the posts of a low post bedstead, four high posts are to be placed, for the purpose of sustaining curtains. These high posts are to be attached to the low ones by iron straps at their lower ends; that is all. The advantage derived is the "allowing the bed covering to hang over the bedstead on all sides, without the interference of curtain posts, uniting taste with convenience." The claim is to "the adding to, or combining with, the common bedstead, curtain posts, as above described." Animadversion is not necessary.

3. For a Submarine Excavator; William P. Brayton, and James Hamilton, city of New York, January 8.

This apparatus is intended for removing the dirt, or mud, from docks

and slips, and for clearing channels. It consists mainly of a platform, suitably framed, and having on its lower side scrapers, or buckets, which extend from side to side, hinged by one edge to the platform, the other edge being capable of being opened and closed. This platform may be suspended between scows, and let down and raised by means of windlasses, when on drawing it forward on the bottom of the dock, slip, or channel, the buckets, or scrapers, which stand in a range like the slats of a window blind, are to collect the dirt.

The claim is to "the application of said scrapers, or buckets, for the purpose aforesaid, and in combination with the platform, chains, and coulters, or pins, and with the other parts of the machine, as described."

We apprehend that this machine will be liable to serious objections. If made to operate in soft mud, nearly the whole, we think, will be washed out in raising the platform; in operating upon a bottom moderately hard, the resistance to the motion of the machine forward, will be greater than can be readily overcome.

4. For a machine for Sharpening Curriers' Knives; Warren Egleston, city of Troy, New York, January 8.

A bench is to be prepared on which the knife may be secured, so that the edge, or side, to be rubbed may be placed, and held in the proper position for the action of the rub stone. This latter is attached to a suitable frame, which is guided by a rod, or wire, extending along on one side of the frame, the parts being so constructed as to allow a free motion to be given by hand to the rub stone, both lengthwise, and crosswise.

The claim is to "the combination of the bench with the rub stone, the whole being constructed and arranged in the manner substantially as described."

5. For packing and gearing Mill Spindles; David D. Wagner, city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, January 8.

66

Claim. The employment of the metal box attached to the bridge tree by keys, and moving longitudinally and transversely upon it, in combination with the mode of adjusting by means of screws, the carriage which holds the stepping of the lower pole of the spindle. Secondly, the employment of a metal bush containing packing through which the spindle is permitted to revolve, which packing may be tightened or slackened, even whilst the machine is in motion, by a follower acted upon by screws movable from without, as described."

There are several patents for devices the same in object with the foregoing, but the arrangement in that above metioned has been deemed sufficiently new, to obtain the grant of a patent; we do not see any thing in it, however, demanding special notice.

6. For an improvement in the manufacture of Cigars; William D. Groff, Marietta, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, January 8.

These cigars, are to be made like other cigars, but instead of the genuine Havana, the leaf of the sun-flower, or of Rhubarb, or of both combined, is to be used. The patentee, for the sake of those to whom long habit_has_rendered the taste of tobacco desirable, sometimes adds a wrapper of this material, but he claims, and will probably be allowed to smoke, "the prepared