1836. Scientific Intelligence. 397 



cover roofs, as at the manufactory at Knightsbridge, and for gutters. 

 In the latter case it is remarkable that water remaining in contact 

 with it produces no injurious effect. 



Painted baize for tables is usually manufactured with a smooth 

 side, and is printed with blocks of a fine structure, resembling calico 

 blocks. Fine canvass is employed ; several coats of paint are laid 

 on upon one side, and the other receives one coat, and is then strewed 

 over with wool, or flocked, as it is called. 



II. — Present State of Jerusalem. 13/A. March. — The object 

 of the lecture delivered by Mr. Davidson was to prove that the 

 present site of the walls of Jerusalem is the same as that of ancient 

 times. Dr. Clarke has argued that the Holy Sepulchre must have 

 been in the present Valley of Hinnom, because we are told that 

 it was outside the city, and that it was hewn out of a rock. The 

 lecturer endeavoured to shew, however, that the spot at present 

 pointed out as the scene of death was actually without the city until 

 the time of Adrian, who inclosed this portion of the suburbs by a 

 wall, and that the original may not signify rock but stone. This 

 common acceptation, however, may be adopted, because the founda- 

 tions of the houses at present in this quarter of the city are seated on 

 compact limestone. The lecturer described particularly the present 

 desolate appearance of the city, (about three miles in circumference) 

 and the great feeling of disappointment which he experienced on first 

 obtaining a sight of it, a ? prospect which can scarcely whisper what 

 it has been. In reference t© the great amount of population of which 

 we read in Scripture, compared with the extent of surface occupied 

 by the city, Mr. Davidson observed that the only account we have 

 of the number of the inhabitants was upon the great occasion of 

 the feast ; for the storming of the city by the Romans took place 

 at that period. He described the Mosque of Omar, which occupies 

 the place of Solomon's Temple This is the great resort of the 

 Mussulman pilgrims, and, although a fine building, is insignificant 

 when compared with the great Jewish Temple, which it is calculated 

 cost above 830 millions of pounds Sterling. A model of the mosque 

 was exhibited, and the speedy appearance announced of a splendid 

 panoramic view of the modern Jerusalem, by Mr. Catherwood, taken 

 from the top of one of the houses within the city. 



III. — Manufacture of Pens. By Dr. Faraday. 27th March. 

 Quills appear to have been employed, at least, as early as the 

 seventh century. England is supplied with this article from Russia 

 and Poland, where immense flocks of geese are fed for the sake of 

 their quills. The quantity exported from St. Petersburg, varies 

 from six to twenty-seven millions. Twenty millions were last year 

 imported into England from these countries. We may form some 

 idea of the number of geese which must be required to afford the 

 supply, when we consider, that each wing produces about five good 

 quills and that by proper management, a goose may afford twenty quills 

 during the year. Hence, it is obvious, that the geese of Great Britain 

 and Ireland, could afford but a very limited supply. The feathers 

 of the geese of the latter countries are employed for making beds. 



