1828.] Varieties. 



on the scale into ten degrees, obtaining 

 measures of each by a successive addition 

 of ten per cent, of gold to the silver, the 

 fusion of which, when pure, marks the 

 point of zero, while that of gold is reckoned 

 t ten degrees. From the point of fusion 

 of pure platina to that of pure gold, Mr. 

 P. assumes 100 degrees, adding to the al- 

 loy, which is to measure each, in succession, 

 one per cent, of platina. 



Busby's Terrestrial Planisphere. There 

 are so many ridiculous attempts, at the 

 present day, to find a " royal road to know- 

 ledge," that we instinctively look with sus- 

 picion upon any contrivance for facilitating 

 the means of acquiring information. We 

 have at different times pointed out what, 

 upon examination, appeared to us deserv- 

 ing of notice, though we have more fre- 

 quently passed over in silence than exposed 

 what was worthless ; and, were we to enu- 

 merate the various articles of which ac- 

 counts are sent to this Journal, we might 

 fill up some pages with the announcements 

 of interested parties. A small terrestrial 

 planisphere has recently fallen in our way, 

 which seems admirably calculated to effect 

 very nearly all that can be done with a 

 globe, and at a cost quite trifling compared 

 with the price of the latter. A few slight 

 additions, which might readily be made, 

 would, in some degree give this little ma- 

 chine a superiority over a globe, for the 

 solution of many questions which fre- 

 quently arise ; and we shall be very glad if 

 any commendation of ours have the effect 

 of introducing it to the notice of the 

 public. 



Hydraulics. A gentleman of the name 

 of Cooper has invented in America an hy- 

 draulic machine of, we may say, almost 

 incredible force. The model of it has been 

 publicly exhibited. It is a cylinder eight 

 inches in length, and the same in diameter, 

 Avith a handle, of which the two extremities 

 are attached to a pivot. The power of four 

 men is sufficient to make it discharge con- 

 tinually a column of water, three-quarters 

 of an inch thick, to a distance of 120 feet 

 in an horizontal line, and to more than 90 

 feet in a perpendicular line. It is said that 

 this machine is constructed on a principle 

 entirely new. The inventor has given it the 

 name of a rotatory piston ; but, in fact, it 

 has neither piston nor valve ; it has rather 

 the appearance of a wheel, which forms a 

 vacuum on one side, and produces a strong 

 compression on the other. The volume of 

 water which it raises in a single revolution 

 is said to surpass that of the entire ma- 

 chine. Great expectations are consequently 

 formed as to its general utility ; and steps 

 have been taken for its construction upon 

 a large scale, as well as agents been sent 

 into Europe to prepare the way for its in- 

 troduction into this country and France. 



Plan for the Publication of Eastern 

 Works. It has long been a subject of re- 

 gret to scholars, that scarcely any, or at 



319 



least so very few, oriental works in the 

 original languages are to be met with in 

 this country, except as manuscripts, which 

 exist in very great numbers in nearly all 

 the public libraries. This general feeling 

 has led to a plan being formed, among the 

 members of the Asiatic Society, for pul\- 

 lishing, free of expense to the authors, 

 translations of the whole or parts of such 

 works in the oriental languages as a pro- 

 per committee (already appointed) shall 

 approve. These translations are to be ac- 

 companied by the original texts, and such 

 illustrations as may be considered neces- 

 sary. By the publication of the original 

 text, it is intended to multiply copies of 

 such works as are scarce, and to furnish 

 students at a moderate expense with cor- 

 rect copies of the best Asiatic works, to 

 which they might not otherwise have ac- 

 cess. Pecuniary and honorary rewards 

 are to be given for such translations of 

 works, in whole or in part, as may be 

 thought deserving ; and communications 

 opened with other parts of Europe and the 

 East, for the purpose of collecting valuable 

 MSS., and whatever may be calculated to 

 forward the views of the society. It is to 

 be hoped that an undertaking so truly na- 

 tional as this is, will be supported and en- 

 couraged by national liberality; and that, 

 by means of this plan, properly managed, 

 the chief, perhaps the only obstacle, to the 

 much-desired dissemination of knowledge 

 relating to the East, may be entirely re- 

 moved throughout Europe. 



Substitute for Gall-Nuts. We learn 

 from Newton's Journal that, in the year 

 1826, a foreigner obtained in this country 

 a patent for a substitute which he had dis- 

 covered for gall-nuts, in all the different 

 branches of the arts or manufactures in 

 which gall-nuts can be used ; and, from 

 its apparent utility, we regret that this pro- 

 cess has not been earlier brought before 

 the notice of the public. This substitute 

 for gall-nuts is an extract from the shell of 

 the chestnut, and also from the wood and 

 sap of the chestnut-tree, and is prepared by 

 reducing the chestnut-shell into small pieces, 

 and boiling them in water. One hundred 

 weight of the shells of chestnuts thus broken 

 is to be immersed in about 180 or 200 

 quarts of water in a vessel of copper, or 

 any other material except iron, and after 

 having been allowed to soak in this water 

 for about twelve hours, the material is then 

 to be boiled for about three hours, in order 

 to obtain the extract. The wood of the 

 chestnut-tree may be cut into small pieces, 

 or shaved thin, and treated in the same 

 way. The extract is now to be drawn off 

 from the boiler, and filtered through a fine 

 sieve or cloth, after which the water must 

 be evaporated from it until the extract is 

 reduced to the consistency of paste. It 

 may now be cut into cakes of any conve- 

 nient size, and dried in an oven of low 

 temperature, and, when hard, may be 



