That this adhesion which has been hitherto ascribed to capillary attraction is due to electricity may be proved thus. It has been found that the force with which glass, gum lac, sealing wax, sulphur, &c. &c. adhere to the surface of mercury is directly proportional to the quantity of electricity which they develope, as measured by the torsion balance.

If we are to attribute capillary action to electricity, it would follow of course, that the position of liquids in tubes ought to be deranged by electricity and accordingly it is found, that a voltaic arrangement of half a dozen or ten alternations has as complete a control as it has over the magnetic needle. Nay it will even reverse their natural motion, causing those fluids that sink to rise immediately and those that rise to sink, and if the tube be capable of motion, it immediately moves in an opposite direction.

The details of this theory offer explanations of some interesting chemical facts, such as the decomposition of peroxide of hydrogen and persulphureted hydrogen by metallic peroxides. And from the rise of temperature which it indicates in a membrane undergoing gaseous endosmosis, may perhaps be found some key to the origin of animal heat.

If sir there be any point on which you would wish more particular information it will be a pleasure to me to give it. The original papers are, I believe, to be read before the Royal Society of London, they were forwarded to Mr. Faraday and Dr. Turner for that purpose.*

21. Safety of Lead Pipes, protected by Tin.

Extract of a letter from Mr. George Chilton, to the Editor, dated New York, June 23, 1834.

Dear Sir.-Observing in the last No. of the Journal, a notice of Ewbank's patent tinned lead pipes, and having had many applications for information concerning the danger attending the use of metal pipes for conveying water, beer, cider, &c.—I have been induced to subject the pipes of Ewbank, to a few trials, for the purpose of ascertaining whether, from the occasional contact of acids, any deleterious solution of lead, would attend their ordinary use. It is well known, that the common beer pump, with a leaden pipe, has frequently given to the liquor, a dangerous impregnation, especially after remaining stag

* We should like more ample details from our correspondent.-Ed.

nant for a time, and the beer in a sour state. The substitution of block-tin would remove the apprehension of danger, but its greater price offers a strong temptation to the use of lead. It appears to me that the lead tube lined with tin, will answer the ends of cheapness, safety and durability. I would therefore, invite your attention to the following experiments, which if you think them of any importance to the public, you may insert in your Journal.

Experiments. Various portions of lead tube coated some witn pure tin, and others with different alloys of tin, and lead were bent into the form of a semi-circle, and filled with vinegar of different degree of strength. After standing, some a month, and others six weeks, with occasional disturbance, the clear solutions were tested, first with sulphate of soda and afterwards with bi-hydro-sulphuret of ammonia. The application of the first of these tests, viz. sal. soda produced no alteration in any of the solutions; from which it must be inferred that they contained no lead.

The application of the second test produced, as was anticipated, a brown precipitate of sulphuret of tin. In the same manner, two fresh pieces of tube were filled with a strong solution of common salt, which remained in contact for some time.. The solutions, when assayed with the same tests, shewed that nothing but a little tin was dissolved.

It appears that in all these cases, which I regard as galvanic effects, the tin was the most oxidable metal, although, when not under the influence of polar arrangement and in the open air, lead appears to oxidate sooner than tin. It is scarcely necessary to remind you, that results similar to these were obtained thirty years ago by the celebrated professor Proust at Madrid, who undertook, for the Spanish government, an extensive series of experiments on the different alloys of lead and and tin, with the express view of determining whether the popular prejudice against the coating of copper vessels with an alloy of tin and lead, which is the common practice, was ill, or well founded. Nothing can be more satisfactory than the conclusions he drew from his labors, viz. that as in all his numerous experiments neither lead nor copper were dissolved, there is little reason to fear the solution of lead from the tinning of our kitchen utensils. I may just mention here, that I am in the habit of cleaning out my soda fountain. every spring, with dilute muriatic acid, which uniformly dissolves the oxide of tin without touching the copper, which I am persuaded will remain as securely, as the sheathing copper in Sir Humphry Davy's great experiment and for the same reason.

22. New Comet.-Professor Schumacher, Astronomer Royal of Denmark, announces in his "Astronomische Nachrichten," of the 7th inst. the discovery of a new Comet on the 8th ult. by Professor Gambart, of the Marseilles Observatory. Although it disappeared on the 13th, and from the state of the weather, and temporary imperfection of his micrometer, his observations were interrupted and imperfect, Prof. Gambart assigns its place on the 10th. at 16 h. 32 m. 45 s. of sidereal time, to 20 h. 9 m. 7 s. of right ascension, and 220 33′ of south declination. When first seen, it was near the horizon, having a nebulous apearance and situated in the constellation Sagittarius very near the nebula 2064 of Sir John Herschel. The comet was of a pale light color, of a very round form, and with a diameter of about four or five minutes.-The Athenæum, (London,) May 17, 1834.

23. British Association for the Advancement of Science. Extract from a letter to the Editor, from Mr. Henry D. Rogers, dated Philadelphia, May 22, 1834.

Sir-I have been requested by the Secretary to the Council of the British Association for the advancement of Science, to insert in your Journal a notice, that the next meeting of that body will be held at Edinburgh, in the week commencing, Monday, September 8th, 1834.

It is understood that this is an invitation to the scientific men of the United States, and such as may find it in their power to attend, may assure themselves of a most cordial welcome, and a rich repast of science, to repay them for the journey.

24. The veteran German chemist, Prof. Sigismund Hernbstadt of Berlin, died suddenly about six months ago, after having occupied, for more than thirty years, the first chair of theoretical chemistry. He had acquired deserved celebrity by making very great improvements in almost every branch of practical chemistry.

Circumstances, beyond our control, have obliged us to omit the greater portion of the miscellany, for the present number.-Editor.

Chronometers, sea and land rates of, 121. Etna, ascent of Mt., by S. L. Johnson, 1.

Forces, Prof. Strong, on the parallelo-[[Johnson, S. L., ascent of Mt. Etna, 1.
gram of, 304.
Johnston, J., meteorological journal, 398.
Fruit-trees, and their propagation from the Jones, Dr. A., on American gypsies, 189.
seed, 183.
bituminous coal of Alaba-

ma, 190.

printing, 192.

india rubber carpets, 191.
materials for paper, 193.
stereotype metallographic

K.

Kirtland, J. P., M. D., on the sexual
characters of the animals of Lamarck's
family of Naiades, 117.

L.

Lead pipes, tinned, 210, 400.

Liquids, apparatus for transfer of, 358.
Lixivium of oak baik, for strengthening
veg. fibre, 187.

Locke, Dr. John, galvanometer, 103, 378.
Long, Lieut. Geo. W., on a parasite tree,
106.

Lunar distance, instrument for finding the
true, 63.

M.

Magnetic needle, process for correcting,

90.

Magnetism, 214.

Mallory, A., meteorological obs. at Matan-
zas, 89.

Mangle or domestic callender, 210.
Manures, action and use, 179.

Maury, M. F., on the navigation of Cape
Horn, 54.

instrument for find-
ing the true lunar distance, 63.
McGuire, W. W., on the prairies of Ala-
bama, 93.

Memory, loss of by the use of gin, 211.
Meteorological obs., table, &c. at Matan-
zas, Cuba, from Aug. 1st, 1832, to July
31st, 1833, 89.

1833, 84.

Marietta, Ohio, for