The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-11-10
From the american Sentinel
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From the .fbsfrtea" oe"'e'e''
SCIENCE.
The French Philosophers are daily engaged ~
spreading before the world some new discovery Oh
scenre, for the benefit OF mankind. Inc = le ,
Academy is one OF the most interesting insti,uuons
in the civilized world. The Academy never aho"
meeting 10 pass by without communicating 'oo
thing Of great value to the public. tecen,y We nave
started Institution OF the same sofi, a. Wa'n"e
CITY We trust in time that shall DC aoie 10 seha
20 Eurone some scientific paper equal TO those that
now issue monthly from the great SCHOOLS vi hhos-
ophy abroad. Members OF these learned INSTITUTIONS
are Justly esteemed all the world oveE as they are
aborers for the general benefit Of the human race.
We submit 10 our readers some Of the most recent
scientific intelligence copied from the French pa
pers.
French Academy Of Sciences
SrrrMG or AuGusr 29.-One of the first papers
read in this sitting further nunicatlon from
NJ. Agassiz, who, as our readers know, has In the
interest OF science established himself on the glacier
of the Aar, in hut which he calls the Hotel DIES
Neufchatalois. Nj. Agassiz informs the Academy
that he continues to note down the progressive pro-
gess of tie glacier and has ascertained that it is
throughout mined and Slapped by weter courses as he
convinced was the case from the experiments
which he had performed, and of which be had given
an account One of the theories of this gentleman
was that ice instead of being solid, as was generally
supposed, is porous in high gree, and that the
motion OF glaciers, the reality of which cannot be
denied, although no attempt has been made to explain
the cause, IS due to the inhtratoGs of water through
the mass thus undermining the base. The expert
ments OF M. Agassiz on the glacier of Aar, have
fully established the truth of the theory which he adj
vanced. In his last communication TO the Academy,
M. Agasslz mentions fact which tends to corrobo-
rate what has been stated as the phosphorescence of
clouds. He informs that it is more easy the
glaciers at night, to distinguish the hands OF watch
when the sky is covered with clouds, than when it
cloudess and the light of the stars is He also
states that the appearance OF peculiar snow, owell
known to all the vsiters of the glaciers not
that falls, but merely modification of the frozen
surface.
1t will be recolected that in recent sitting of the
Academy paper was read on some remarkable cir
cumstance connected with the Daguerreotype. Ii
was stated amongst other things that cameo hav
ing been suspended to hang near, but not touch
polished plate a box from which all light what
ever was excluded, the engraving of the cameo
distinctly marked on the plate. This fact appeared
when communication was made, to be almost magi-
cal; but it appears from a letter which M Breguet
the celebrated matchmaker, addressed to the Acad-
envy, that this kind of magic has been long known to
him. He states, that he has frequently seen on the
polished inner surface of the gold of his fiat
Watches the name of his house plainly and legibly
marked, the impression having been received from
the engraved letters of the coverings of the works,
which did not touch the case. NJ Breguet's state
ment however, does not at all diminish the Importance
of the communication to which il refers, does he
ate npt to explain the agency which, in the absence
of light, produces this extraordinary effect We
must, for the present, content ourselves with the
theory laid down of the action of rays of heat upon
metal whose temperature differs slightly from that
which the engraving exists
M Arago made report of machine for the
composition and distribution of printing types the in
vention of NJ. Gaubert The results are so marvel.
lous says NJ Arago, that there is to fear
that the use of this machine would throw vast
number of hands out of bread. We do not partake
of the alarm of NJ Arago for, ingenious as the in
vention is, it wants intelligence and with compostors
intelligence is essential mechanical skill. That
portion of the labor which is now performed by
compostors might be performed by this machine,
may perhaps be true but would the work so per-
formed by the aid of machinery cost less than II done
upon the present system, entirely 10y hand If no
saving be effected, the machine will not come into
general use. NJ Gauber may have improved con-
sderably the principle of the machine, which has
been exhibited in London, and which is in use
tn re for getting up monthly publication but what
ever he may impart to it, he cannot impart mind.
SITTING SEPT. 5. considerable portion of
TINS sitting was taken up with reading of commu-
nlcat'on from Nj. PeouZe, various discoveries and
observations in chemical science A communication
from NJ NJ. Malaguti and Sarzeyu on the caculi
known under the name of oriental bezoards, and
which are formed of lithofec acid, was the next
SUBJECT before the academy. These gentlemen
nounced that they have submitted this acid to the
ton of heat, and obtained pyrogenous acid, which
differs from thofellic acid by equivalent Of wa
ter. They also announce the production of a litha
zoellic acid by the action of nitric acid upon the
acid of the beZoards The facts communicated by
these chemists are OF great interest," their research
es, well followed up, may perhaps end in acquiring
knowledge as to the means of neutraZing, rather
preventing the formation of the acids which form the
basis of calculi 1t is still disputed question among
medical men, to whether the local application of
solvents upon caculi can be made with safety and
success, but there be doubt that an increase
of knowledge to the nature and causes of evil
important step towards the discovery of the means
of cure.
An interesting communication was read from NJ
Vale, coor-maker, on the employment of solution
OF caoutchouc for canvass used by painters. Nj
Vale was led to the researches which have termina-
ted in the invention which he has submitted to the
Academy, by observing the injury caused to the
works of some of the greatest masters by the inu-
ence of the atmosphere upon canvass. 1t appears
that he has not succeeded without infinite pains for
although it was evident from experience that caout-
chouc properly allied would preserve the material
the mode OF manufacturing it to change the ma
ture of the canvass far as its properties to the
painter were concerned, was a mystery Even in
the ordinary progress of dssolving caoutchouc, the
greatest precautions necessary.
This solution should be made with the essence Of
turpentne, lime potassa, and water and the turpen
tine should be that Of America IN preference to all
other, obtained very pure, and by slow distillation
solution of this kind would not the purpose
proposed by NJ. Vale. His preparation, the secret
OF which he naturally keeps to himself, is composed
OF eight or ten substances. Although applied to both
sides of the canvass, it leaves it sufficiently elastic to
prevent cracking and it against the action Of
The atmosphere. To this discovery he adds that of
peculiar kind of varnsh for the painting and thus he
dehes the ravagcs of time
DERSONS having claims against balance due
ii from the Navy Department to the estate IF