^16 Mr Scott's Observations on tJie 



bottom of the small earthenware evaporating dish, I treated it 

 with a small quantity of litmus, which appeared to have its 

 tint extremely slightly reddened. To ascertain the presence of 

 any of the stronger acids, I added a little carbonate of ammo- 

 nia, which produced no action whatever. These rude trials 

 render it probable that none of those saline matters usually 

 employed to produce cold occur in the terra cotta of the 

 Monte Testaccio in any sensible degree. 



The coolness of the cellars renders the wine preserved in 

 them extremely agreeable in such a hot climate as that of 

 Rome ; and many of the town's people go out to the Monte 

 Testaccio to drink it in full perfection. The Abbate Venuti, 

 in giving an account of the hill, seems as if he spoke con amove 

 of its effect on his favourite beverage. " Ha questo monte 

 una mirabile proprieta," says he, " ed e, che nell' estate esce 

 da questi frammenti nella parte infima quando siano ben dis- 

 posti, un vento freddissimo, e pero vi si sono fatte d'intorno 

 piu sotto stanze e grotte al piano del terreno di fuori con ca- 

 panne e Spartamenti, nelle quali viene il vino notabilmente 

 ririfrescato,'''' ^ 



Aet. IV. — Observations on the Formation of Ice in India, 

 in a Letter from David Scott, Esq. to George Swinton, 

 Esq. Calcutta. 



I HAVE received your letter, with Dr Brewster's enclosures, 

 at a time most opportune for giving you what information I 

 possess on the various subjects which he mentions, having 

 been for the last week enjoying the delightful climate and 

 scenery of the Cossyn mountains. This part of the country 

 is much higher than the Jyntah territory, I should think near- 

 ly 4000 feet above the plains ; and the climate is proportion- 

 ally colder. The thermometer is now, (10th November,) at 

 noon, 63° in a small hut, and this morning the grass on the 

 low grounds was covered with hoar frost ; and ice one-third of 

 an inch thick was prodliced in vessels placed upon straw. The 

 subject of artificial congelation is one which seems to be more 

 imperfectly understood by scientific men in Europe than al- 



