Star.
London, England, 1828-11-27 00:00:00

MEDICO BOTANICAL SOCIETY.

• At a meeting of this Society held yesterday, Sir J
M'Gatooz in the Chair. Mr. Frost, the Director of the
So.ie y, introduced his Excellency Count Ofa Am-
bassador from Spain to France; Baton Von Billow, the
Prussian Minister to this Court, and his Excellency
Major-General David Stewart, of Gar h, Governor of
St. Lucia, who took their seats for the first time. Gen.
Stewart said he should feel most happy to forward to the
Society, on his arrival at his Governorship, specimens
f valuable medicinal plants indigenous to Sc.
,Lucia.
Two interesting papers* ware read by Mr. Josy, on the
medicinal properti, s of the visnia mamma, by Dr.
Sabino Berthelloi, of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, &c. and
one by Dr. J Hancock. A paper was read on the preset-
'ration and production of potatoes, accompanied wi h
specimens. Mr. Conic, of Kege, t stet', had dip.
covered, in opposition to all the rules heretofore laid
down by ancient and modern writers on natural history,
that the potato had put forth its shoots, although de-
prived or the forts.erly thought necessary stimulants
for the germination of plants, viz. air, water, tic. In an
spec iment to preserve new potatoes, which had fully
succeeded, Mr. Currie had found that the root, although
placed in a zinc box, hermetically* closed, arid from
which all stimuiatits to production were excluded, still
the potato had begun to shoot freely. Thii Mr. Currie
etre ibuted to the galvanic action of the metal used. The
specimens produced excited great attention. In re!
fesence to the objects. Of the Society, Geneial Stewart
said chat a most valuable plant existed in the West !it;
dies which.had been proved to be a complete antidote
to the bite of poisonous reptiles. He promised tatur-
. nish specimens of it. After a ballot 'had taken place
for Sir Arthur Brooke Falkner, Sir Andrew Halliday,
and othrrs, a ballot heist* dispensed with for the elec.
' .ion of the King of Piussik.the meeting adjouinel

Capt. DANCE is appointed to command the Sulphur
bomb, at Chatham, which is destined for New Swab Wales, and to
coven, the various articles. artificers, Ste. for the formation of the
new colony to be established in Oyster Harbour. Captain Sm.
info, of the Nsvy. is to be the Governor, 10 proceeds in the

Iphur.
Su • -
A most melancholy accident last week heel the crew
of the sloop Blossom, Captain Saunders, of Montrose;
who bad just arrived in the Merbey from Malaga, with
fruit, iltc. While riding quarantine at the Black Rock,
about three miles below Liverpool, the Bloom's) parted
from her anchor during a violent gale. The crew pro-
ceeded neat day in them boat to weigh it, and were in
Abe act of taking it on board, when the •david slips
aside, and mo,t uhfortunately tire boat upset, and all
nn board were immersed in the deep. To the great ex-
ertions of•the mate, George Milne, who is an excellent
swimmer, and who in the most humane manner jointly
here up the Captain and one of his fellow sulfereria
named Ritchie, until they were taken on board a brig,
the former is indebted for his life, but the vital sped'
was cads(' in the latter before any assistance could be
afforded. The only other-person in the boat, a young.
man named Jaunts Pert, was never seen to rise, having,
it is supposed, got entangled wide the anchor.

I.