1828.] [ 651 ] 



VARIETIES, SCIENTIFIC AND MISCELLANEOUS. 



Astronomy. We mentioned, some months 

 since, that a new star had been discovered 

 in the trapezium of the nebula 6 Orionis, 

 by M. Struve, of Dorpat. Before the con- 

 stellation of Orion disappeared in the sun's 

 rays, this fifth star became extinct, whence 

 it would appear to be a variable star, of long 

 and, perhaps, irregular return. In a subse- 

 quent number we shall insert a catalogue 

 of all the stars at present ascertained to be 

 variable. 



Education. The progress throughout 

 Europe of schools on the Lancasterian sys- 

 tem is well known ; the following is an au- 

 thentic statement of their annual increase in 

 the kingdom of Denmark First year (31st 

 Dec.) 1823, 244 schools; second year, ditto, 

 1824,605 schools; third year, ditto, 1825, 

 1143, schools; fourth year, ditto, 1826, 

 1545, schools ; fifth year, ditto, 1827, 

 2003, schools. Schools organizing in 1828, 

 368 That is to say, 2371 schools for the 

 Danish dominions. 



Mont Blanc. M. Alexander Roger, an 

 engineer officer, in the service of the Swiss 

 confederation, has been occupied in some 

 new measurements of the height of Mont 

 Blanc ; and from his observations, as well 

 as from those before made by M. Corabreug, 

 it Jesuits that the height of this mountain 

 above the lake of Geneva is 4,435 metres 

 very nearly, or about 14550-77 English feet; 

 that the elevation of Geneva above the level 

 of the sea is 376 metres, 1233-618 English 

 feet, and consequently the height of Mont 

 Blanc above the level of the sea is 4811 

 metres 15784-388 English feet. 



Meteorology The following mean tem- 

 peratures for each month in the year, from a 

 register kept at Santa Cruz, afford a fair 

 representation of the climate of the Canary 

 Islands. 



Reaumur. Fahrenheit. 



January 14-15 63-7 



February 14-35 64-3 



March 15.63 67'1 



April 15-70 67-2 



May 17.83 72-1 



June 18-62 73-8 



July 20-12 77-2 



August 20-84 78-9 



September 20-19 77-4 



October 18-36 74-5 



November 17-08 70-4 



December 15-03 65-9 



The progression of the temperature, in the 

 different months, follows the law common 

 to places without the tropics ; the greatest 

 heat and the greatest cold are in the months 

 following the solstices. The mean tempera- 

 ture of the coldest month, January, is the 

 same as the mean temperature of the whole 

 year in Southern Italy. 



Newspapers From a statistical essay 

 on the periodical press throughout the world, 



recently published in Paris, by M. Adricn 

 Balbi, we extract the following curious 



results. 



The population given is that which ex- 

 isted at the end of 1826, in the principal 

 states of the different parts of the globe ; 

 and especially in Europe and "America. 

 Some of the data, however, on which the 

 estimates were founded, go back to the 

 years 1817, 1818, 1819, 1820, and 1821. 



In the total number of Journals, not only 

 are the political and literary newspapers in- 

 cluded, but whatever can be comprehended 

 under the title of periodical publications : 

 almanacks and the proceedings of societies 

 being excepted. The statements, however, 

 are given only as careful approximations to 

 truth, while the results are to be regarded as 

 minima, and not as maxima. 



Domestic Economy. The benefits which 

 Count Rumford, the ingenious inventor of 

 the grates which bear his name, conferred 

 on the public, are duly appreciated. Still, 

 so defective is the usual process of warming 

 houses, that it has been calculated that not 

 more than from five to six per cent, of the 

 heat developed by the combustion is im- 

 parted to the room in which the fire is kept. 

 An inquiry having once been made in the 

 Institute of France, relative to some re- 

 searches in which Count Rumford was en- 

 gaged, a member, at present living, and as 

 much distinguished for the extent and depth 

 of his acquirements, as for the brilliancy 

 of his wit, replied " II s'occupe a present 

 avec des experiences pour faire sa cuisine 

 avec la fume'e de la chemin^e de son voisin." 



Natural History An Australian paper 

 mentions that a whale has been recently 

 taken in Oyster Bay, Van Diemen's Land, 

 exhibiting a most singular phenomenon. 

 On cutting it up, the blubber appeared of a 

 blood red, and, after boiling, the oil, which is 

 of a very good quality, assumed the same 

 colour. The fish exhibited no extraordi- 

 nary appearance externally, but turned out 

 seven tons of oil, specimens of which have 

 been sent to the faculty for analysis. 



4 O 2 



