The Sun.
London, England, 1822-02-13 00:00:00

THE SUN OF SCIENCE, LITERATURE, AND THE

ART'S.—No. I.

At a period like the present, when a noble
spirit for the cultivation of Literature and
Science' has diffused itself throughout the whole
of Britain, when Weekly Papers devoted solely
to the support of the liberal Sciences and general
Literature, are rapidly spreading around us,
we have thought it would afford our Readers
pleasure, combined with valuable information,--
should we occasionally set apart a portion of our
columns for communications, of this description,
These will contain every Paper which shall be
distinguished, either for the new views it dis-
plays, or for. its. arguments, leading to new in`-
vestigation. We solicit therefore the contribti-
dons of men of Science and Literature upon

every subject which can be supposed interesting
to every Reader of a Magazine.—Discoveries Tor
the extension of our Manufactures—Accounts of.
new Inventions—Popular Descriptions of Dis-
eases, or Discoveries in Anatomy, Botany, and
in eve'ry other science, will find a ready insertion
in the " SUN of SCIENCE." To those whose in-
terest it is to be read, our columns will afford
every facility. We have thus been induced to
devote occasionally a portion of our columns to
Science and the Arts, from being convinced of
their importance, whether viewed through the
speculum of speculation, philosophy, or practi-
cal utility. If the only aim of science was the
explanation of the phenomena of the universe--
was only to explain the wonders and make ma-
nifest the beauties and majestic order of the
starry heavens :—the teeming earth and the
briny ocean, it might then be looked upon as be-
fitting the searchers after amusement, and the re-
ligious enthusiast only ; but it would be of no
practical benefit during our terrestrial wander-

ings, it would assist inpreparing us for our Let-
ter home, but would in no way improve the com-
forts of our present habitation. But such is not
the solitary aim of the philosopher ; his object is
to improve our present condition, whilst he points
out the glories of the future. True science
beams on the " to-day" and these beams are re-
flected back and illuminate the path to the re-
gions of the endless to-morrow. With this im-
pression we commence our labours, firmly con
fiding, that in this age of scientific and literary
research, we shall not fail of the approbation of
our friends.

Article I.—On the Destruction: of the Effluvi4, arising from
Soap and other ManUfactories where Animal Matters are
employed.

The nuisance arising from some of these Manufactories
where animal matters are employed is, in populous neighbour-
hoods,. dreadfully. annoying, Those of cart -grease, Soap;.
-sbe. --are only a -few 'nitwit"; the number. Any, simple
plan, therefore, which shall tend to the destivction of these
fumes, by an effective economical process, will be valua-
ble ii.formation—will be conducive both to the interests of
the manufacturer and to his suffering neighbour.—The plan
adopted for this purpose by Messrs. Colchester, soap-manufac-
turers, of Ipswich, is distinguished {or its scientific simplicity.
The effluvia arising from animal matters is rarely in such quan-
tities as to be offensive, except when they are heated. This in
the process of soap-boiling is' a necessary part of the operation,
_to render the soap of a proper dodsiUtency.—Fire is therefore
employed under iron-pans-; and, during the concentration of
the soap, the fumes arise.. To destroy these, fumes, Messrs.
Colchester have simply caused the ash-pit of the fUrnacenf the
soap-pan-to communicate by a wooden trough with the surface
of the, heated soap in the pan, which pan is slightly covered
with a wooden moveable cover, open on, one side to admit the
air.—Tire whole, therefore, of the current of atmospherie air
necessary for the supply of the coals burnt in the furnace passeS
over the surface of the melting-oils, and the animal fumes are
thus drawn in the current under the furnace, where they are
immediately destroyed, and, by their combustion, increase the'
power of the coals consumed. The result is most satisfactory,—
' the moment the cover is on, all trace of the offensive fuMes
immediately disappeats. 'We should hope Messrs. Colchester
may be induced to favour the public with a more detailed ac-
count of their plan.
lArt. 2.—On the Manufacture of Ink.

With a bad pen, and bad ink, Pope could not have transla.
ted his Iliad, nor Newton written his Principia. For our own
parts, -we always find, that however full our brains may be with
" thoughts that breathe, and words that burn" yet- still,
without tolerable specimens of these " res necsatiw," they
issue more even than commonly "sans taste, sans every thing."
To keep our friends as free as possible from this evil of p. lite-
rary life, we have gleaned the recommendations of several phi-
losophers for the Composing of this potent fluid. As to the Ina-
nufaeturing of a On, we recommend Mr: Millington, and other
distingultahed members of the mechanical world, to, turn their
attention to the construction of a portable. pen-making ma-
chine. -
Although the receipts' for making writing-ink are numerous
and varied, yet that of Pr. Lewis, we find by experience, is to
be preferred as to the !proportions, for the constituents cannot,
vary.—For one quart of ink, the following it-;Tedients. are ne-
cessary, which may be all procured for one shilling
3 oz. of finely powdered galls.
I do. of sulphate of iron (green vitriol.)
• 1 do. of logwood chips.
I .do. of powdered gum-arabie.
And a quart of the softest water procurable ; these should be
admixed in a stone or glass vessel; the mouth of which unist
be only covered with a piece of porous gauze; and the liquidrnust
be repeatedly shaken. To prevent it from becoming mouldy,Pro-
fessor Hoffman recommends half a dozen cloves to be pounded
with the gum arabie before admixture.- : Professor Srande, of
the Royal Institution, directs the rnenstruam used to be half
water and half vinegar ; the " quality of the ink," he observes;
" is materially improved by dissolving a•. stick of Indian ink,
and ten grains of corrosive sublimate, in every quart." The:
addition of a portion of sugar . renders ink slow in; drying—ad=
vantage is taken of this property, where numerous copies of the
same letter or document are required ; when the characteis of
old viriting nre rendered illegible by time or by fraudulent meaks,
they may be restored by penciling them over -with a solution of