250 Professor Powell on the Repulsion produced [April 



the touch. He also drew up notes for the colonization of 

 Algiers, a point upon which he had been consulted by 

 government. 



One thought alone distressed him in the prospect of 

 death, the circumstance of leaving his young daughter 

 without a protector. Fortunately his nephew, to whom 

 he had acted as a father, and who is a distinguished road 

 and bridge engineer, had imbibed a tender regard for his 

 cousin ; and Desfontaines had the pleasure of uniting on 

 his death-bed, the two individuals whom he most loved. 

 Government provided for his wife. Thus assured of the 

 happiness of his dearest friends, he met death amid suffer- 

 ing it is true, but with a serenity and calmness which 

 could not be surpassed. The benevolence of his character, 

 seemed on this occasion, to increase, and " I have learned," 

 says Jussieu, " from his death-bed scene to love him still 

 more." He recited classical recollections, adapted to his 

 situation, testified his love for those friends who were 

 present by tender remarks, sent kind remembrances to 

 those who were absent, and at last, expired on the 16th of 

 November, 1833, aged 81 years. His situation has been 

 supplied by M. Adolphe Brongniart, a young botanist of 

 the highest promise. His herbarium of Barbary, he gave 

 to the Museum, and his general one has been obtained by 

 Webb, a botanist, who will undoubtedly make a good use 

 of it. 



M. DeCandolle, gives a list of Desfontaines publications. 

 They amount to about 70, including memoirs and volumes. 

 M. De Candolle characterizes Desfontaines as being one of 

 the most excellent men that could be met with, as well as 

 one of the most distinguished philosophers of his age. 



Article II. 



An Abstract of some researches on the Repulsion produced 

 between Bodies by the action of Heat, with additional 

 observations. By the Reverend Baden Powell, M.A., 

 F.R.S., Savilian Professor of Geometry, Oxford. 



The curious point to which my attention has been directed, 

 is one of those which too generally fail in securing the 

 attention of philosophers, from the circumstance that they 



