Journal of Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, and the Arts: Illustrated with ...

Inconveniences of the prefent method of manufacturing cinnabar. Annotation defcribing that
method. New procefs in the humid way, by trituration of the black fulphuret of mercury in an
heated folution of potash. Chief difficulty of this procefs. Experiments to afcertain the nature
of the process, and to render it certain in the large way. Beautiful cinnabar resembling carmine.
Instructions to manufacturers.

II. On the luminous appearance faid to be exhibited by Phosphorus in azotic

Gas. By Dr. Alexander Nicholas Scherer, Counsellor of the Mines to his

Serene Highness the Duke of Saxon Weimar

P. 8

Hiftory of Goettling's obfervations and theory of phosphorus fhining in azote. Investigations of
the fame fubject by various German chemists and others."

III. On Mr. Lazowski's new Barometer, or Weather-Inftrument. By a
Correfpondent
p. II
Account of founds emitted by a wire on change of weather. Attempts to verify the fact. Inquiry
whether the wire acted like Ofwald's Eolian harp.

IV. Obfervations on Scylla and Charybdis. By the Abbé Lazzaro Spal-

lanzani, Profeffor of Natural History, at Pavi, F. R.S. &c.

p.12

Ancient

Ancient defcription of Scylla and Charybdis compared with their prefent ftate. Caufes why Scylla

is dangerous to mariners. Inftance. Situation of Charybdis, usually supposed to be a whirlpool.

An excurfion to the spot. Miftake of Homer with regard to the fituation and nature of this phe-

nomenon. Modern improvements in fhip-building and navigation have rendered Scylla and

Charybdis lefs dangerous.

V. Inftructions for refining Saltpetre by a new Process. By J. A. Chaptal,

J. P. Champy, and Bonjour

P. 23

Particular directions for refining crude faltpetre-by percolation-folution in boiling water-cryf-
tallization by cooling with agitation-washing, draining, and drying. Great expedition, cheap-
nefs, and excellence of this method. Examination of other proceffes.

VI. On the Light emitted by fuperfaturated Borate of Soda, or common

Borax, By Mr. F. Accum

Borax, when struck, emits an uncommonly white flash.

P. 28

VII. New Construction of the Air-pump. By Sir George S. Mackenzie,
Bart.

ib.

Air-pump with a folid pifton, both valves in the bottom of the barrel, and the valve from the re-
ceiver opened mechanically. Limits of effect in this pump, and also in those of Cuthbertson,
Prince, W. N. and Sadler.

VIII. On the Action of Nitre upon Gold and Platina. By Smithson Tennant,

Efq, F. R. S.
p. 30

Gold is diffolved in nitre by ftrong heat, and rendered partly foluble in water. When this metal
is diffolved in alkali, it is thrown down in the metallic ftate by nitre or nitrous acid, provided
thefe be partly deprived of oxygen. Platina is alfo soluble in ignited nitre, and rendered partly
foluble in water. Silver is fcarcely acted upon by nitre.

IX. An Account of the Causes of Alteration injurious to the Quality of Corn,

and the Means of preventing this Change. By B. G. Sage, of the ci-devant

Academy of Sciences, Profeffor of Chemistry and Mineralogy in the School

des Mines de la Monnoie

P. 31

When corn is houfed without fufficient drying, it heats, ferments, and the elaftic gluten is no longer
found; at the fame time that it lofes its vegetative and nutritive powers.

X. Defcription of an Apparatus for difengaging Oxygen Gas, and applying

it to the best Advantage. Conftructed by James Sadler, Efq. Chemift to

the Admiralty. To which are added, Obfervations upon the Blow-pipe.

By W. N.

P. 33

Simple furnace for extricating oxygen, and for other general experiments. Apparatus for heating
the stream of oxygen when ufed. Experiments on the denfity and velocity of air from the com-
mon blow-pipe. Deduction of the fize of bellows required to produce the fame effect. Obfer-
vations on the air-veffel of fire-engines, tending to fhow in what circumftances it may be ap-
plied to blowing engines.

CONTENTS.

iii

XI. A fhort Account of the Life of Pelletier. Read at the public Sitting of

the National Inftitute of France, the 15th Vendemiare, in the year VI. by

Citizen Laffus, Secretary to the Clafs of Natural Philosophy and Mathe-

matics
P. 37%

XII. Extracts from the Systême du Monde of M. La Place

P. 39

Irregular figure of the terrestrial meridian. Effects of planetary rotation. How the rotation may
have been caused by the original projectile impulfe. On pendulums. Laws of the rotation of a
planet, and its atmosphere. Formation of planets from the folar atmosphere. Probability
and effects of a comet striking the earth. Indications that such an event has formerly hap-
pened.

XIII. On the Preparation of the concrete Acid of Lemons. By Dizé, Apo-

thecary-in-chief to the French Army, charged with the Infpection of the

general Magazine of Medicines

P. 43

Scheele's process repeated in the large way. Theoretical remarks-affinities of the purified acid..

XIV. Useful Notices refpecting various Objects.-Governor for regulating

the Motions of Steam Engines-Amelioration of Oil

P. 46

Mr. Bunce of the admiralty invented the governor for fteam engines-Different methods of purify-
ing oil.

New Publications

Smeaton's Reports, with an account of the Society of Civil Engineers.

P. 47