SO SCIENTIFIC KE^S. 



s 



The Pontine Marshes. 

 It is announced, from the Continent, that the French havtf 

 tucceeded in draining the Pontine Marshes ; a pestilential 

 nuisance which has subsisted for so many centuries, in the 

 vicinity of Rome, in defiance of every attempt of the ancient 

 Imperial, as well as of the papal government. This district, 

 once so healthy and so populous, and at length again reclaimed, 

 is said to afford a disposable quantity of 150,000 acres of 

 excellent land. The means adopted are not, nor perhaps can 

 he, clearly stated in a short notice. That the Engineers have 

 improved the line -, regulated the falls j enlarged the water 

 ways j secured the embankments, sluices, and other works ; 

 and no doubt, employed the powers of steam to facilitate their 

 general and particular labours — may be concluded from the 

 science and activity of a people, too long employed in the works 

 of destruction. To works like the present every friend to 

 humanity must join in wishing success and duration. 



William Davis's Treatise on Land Surveying, to which are 

 how first added a supplement, and a portrait of the Author, 

 the fifth edition greatly improved, enlarged and better arranged 

 is nearly ready for publication. 



Mr.Bakewell will commence a course of Lectures on Geology 

 and Mineralogy, at the Surry Institution, in January, 1813. v 



Mr. Nicholson takes this opportunity to acquaint his Patrons 

 and Correspondents, that he has been, for some time, occupied 

 upon such arrangements, with regard to his public undertakings 

 and other concerns, as have enabled him to take the conducting 

 and editing of this Journal entirely into his own hands ; which, 

 for some time past, have, in a great measure, been committed to 

 an eminent and able scientific gentleman, who is not at present 

 engaged in the work. The whole of the annotations and remarks, 

 together with various original as well as abridged and selected 

 articles, on different subjects, will consequently , as in times past, 

 be produced by Mr. Nicholson ; and he looks forward with con- 

 fidence and pleasure to many a renewed correspondence on the 

 subjects of natural Philosophy and Uie Arts. 



