of the eastern coast of that almost unknown country, from lat. 75, N. to 69. comprising an extent of coast, reckoning its numerous indentations, of about 800 miles. Captain S. discovered some extensive inlets, from the number of which he is induced to consider the whole country a large assemblage of islands. He landed on various parts of the coast, and on each visit to the shore discovered recent traces of inhabitants, and obtained fragments of their implements. It is important to geography, to know that the form of this land surveyed by Captain S. is extremely unlike what it is represented in our best charts, and that the error in longitude, in most cases, was not less than fifteen degrees. We understand that he has made large collections of plants and minerals, particularly of geological specimens."

Of the observations, remarks, and calculations, made by Captain Scoresby, during his visits to these unfrequented shores, we hope the public will be soon gratified with the details; the particulars of which, we doubt not, will prove not less interesting, than those which he has already communicated with his pen.

GLEANINGS FROM LITERATURE, SCIENCE, &c.

Wooden-wick'd Candles.-The following is the result of an experiment made in the use of candles; one of which was made with a wooden wick, and the other in the usual way, with cotton. The candles were made at the same time, moulded in the same-sized moulds, exactly equal in weight, both set on fire at the same moment, and placed upon the same table. That which was made with a wooden wick lasted seven hours, the other five; affording equal light. The size of the candles was about six to the pound, the wood used was a part of a cypress shingle, and prepared after the following manner:

The wood was split to the size of a rye straw, and made round, so that the coat of cotton which was applied might be more easily put on by rolling the stick upon a card which contained the cotton, and which had been previously well carded. The stick was then rolled upon a table, to cause the cotton to adhere closely, and then was about the size of a common quill: it was then placed in the mould, and the tallow poured in. The stick must be somewhat longer than the mould, as the candle must be drawn with pincers. Agreeably to the foregoing experiment, a pound of candles will last forty-two hours, when they would only last thirty made after the usual way. One pound of raw cotton is sufficient, with the

wooden wick, for 160lbs. of candles. Another great advantage in using the wooden wick is, that the candle will not fall in warm weather, nor will it be so easily affected by the air. On the Existence of Mercury in Sea Water.M. Proust has remarked, that marine salt contains mercury; he has found it in every kind of muriatic acid that he has tried, and also in of ascertaining the existence of mercury in sea rock salt. He suggests to navigators a method water, by attaching a plate of gold, of two or three inches' surface, to some part of the ship, so as to be constantly plunged in the water. Half an ounce of gold laminated, he conceives, would be sufficient for the purpose of ascertaining if it is amalgamated after a long

voyage.

Oxygen in Rock-crystal.—Sir H. Davy has ascertained by experiment, that the water contained in vesicular cavities in rock-crystal, in some springs, and that the superincumbent is impregnated with oxygen, like that observed air is azote.

Remarkable Formation of Ice.-While examining some subterraneous excavations in a bed of lava, near Niedermendig, M. Pictet by drop on the floor, or against the sides of observed, in some places, water falling drop the cavern. Whenever this happened, there was beneath, a mass of ice, of a certain thickness, although the temperature of the air never exceeded 39o 8, and at no time descended to

32°.

Damaged Grain.-A scientific gentleman has communicated to the Royal Society, a process for sweetening musty corn, by simply immersing it in boiling water, and letting it remain till cold. The quantity of water should be double that of the corn to be purified. He has found that the musty quality rarely penetrates through the husk of the wheat, and that in the very worst cases it does not extend beyond the amylaceous matter immediately under the skin. In the hot water all the decayed or rotten grain swims on the surface, so that the remaining wheat is effectually cleansed from all impurities, and without any material loss. The wheat must afterwards be dried, and occasionally stirred on the kiln, when it will be found improved to a degree scarcely credible, without actual experiment.

Proper State of Prussic Acid for Medicinal Use. A series of experiments have been undertaken by a company of associated physicians, surgeons, and naturalists, at Florence, to determine the best state of the hydrocyanic or prussic acid, for medicinal purposes. The experiments were made with great care, and varied several ways. Different preparations of the substance were used, rabbits being the animals on which they were tried. Their joint opinion is expressed as follows:-"We may conclude, from our researches, that the essential oil of the Prunus lauracerasus is to be preferred, in medical practice, to all other preparations which contain the hydrocyanic acid; for, unlike the distilled water of the plant, and pure prussic acid, it contains the same proportion of the acid, and is of the same power, whether recently prepared, or old; when made in one place, or another; after exposure to the air, to light, or to heat. We think, also, that the oil of olives, or of almonds, is the most proper vehicle, in the proportion of an ounce

cated, the use of which is now become very considerable among us, although the invention is of a very recent date.

Pera
Mexico

Paris -
London

Christiana

Arendahl

Brassa

Hare Island Davis's Straits Baffin's Bay

Diff. Intensities.

1.4959

84 25

1.6685

Weavers' Reeds.-A gentleman of Manchester has taken out a patent for a very ingenious machine for making weavers' reeds, of either steel or brass. It puts in and finishes no less than 160 dents per minute, and the workmanship is greatly superior to any thing of the kind done by hand, particularly in fine reeds, for every part is mathematically true; added to which, there is a considerable reduction of price. The patentee is now erecting a large manufactory. His invention is highly approved of, especially by the silk-weavers.

Oil for Watch and Clock Work.Good oil bas long been a desideratum among watchmakers. Col. Beaufoy remarks, that if olive oil be exposed to the rays of the sun for a considerable length of time, it becomes colourless, limpid, free from mucilage, and not easily congealable. He exposed two eight-ounce phials, nearly

filled with this oil, to the solar beams for one or two years, and found this effect produced. The bottles should be opened occasionally, to allow the gas to escape, or the cork may be taken out. We believe, however, that Oil of Almonds, when pure, will be found very supe. rior to any olive oil whatever, for machinery of clocks and watches; oil of almonds never congealing in the coldest temperature of this

country.

Oil Gas-Mr. Wilson proposes obtaining this gas in countries where the oil is chiefly vegetable, by introducing the seeds themselves into the retorts, much in the manner that coals are used here. Besides saving the expense of preparing the oil, it is supposed that the charcoal left may be useful and valuable.

New Method of weaving Mats.-This method consists in disposing in a cheap and coarse kind of loom, a double series of plain and coloured lines or longitudinal stripes of twine; the from each other. These threads of twine being stripes being at intervals considerably apart

opened in the manner of a warp, by means of the treddles and harness of the loom, either Dutch rushes, or the leaves of the Typha latifolia, or Greater Cat's-tail, torn into shreds, are to be introduced, from time to time, with a wooden needle, having an eye or opening at one end of it to receive the rushes, to form the

shoot, and the twine is closed over them by

the continued action of the loom.-In this man

ner a very cheap and useful matting is fabri

ANSWER TO A QUERY ON BOOKS.

MR. EDITOR.

Sir,-In turning over the pages of your instructive and interesting miscellany, for the month of January, Col. 101, I observe a Query on Books, by Ignoramus; to which I transmit you the following reply, and am, Sir, your's respectfully, E. USHER. Grove-House Academy, Tottenham, July 14th, 1822.

"WHAT books contain, at the smallest expense, the greatest quantity of useful knowledge, with which a poor man ought to be acquainted, in reference both to this world and the next?" Without staying to inquire, whether Ignoramus is humble and ingenuous, or affected and clamorous, in his inquiry, I remark, that, first of all, he ought to seek a thorough acquaintance with the "Scriptures of truth;" the book received among Christians as divine, and, by way of eminence, denominated "The Bible." The Bible is the best interpreter of the Bible; and the Holy Spirit is, in all cases, an infallible expositor. "Search the Scriptures, (said Jesus Christ,) for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me," John v. 39. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, tion in righteousness; that the man of for reproof, for correction, for instruc God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works," 2 Tim. iii. 16. 17.

In addition to this, it may be commendable for him attentively to pe ruse Paley's or Addison's Evidences

of Christianity; Horne's Plain Rea sons for being a Christian; Wesley's