On Ship-hmlding 355 



the pipe. There were placed seven of the Cliina jars, with 

 eighty parts of oil and one of acid. After boiling thus for an 

 hour, they were taken out, seven more placed in their room, 

 and so on for a third time." 



We have been thus particular in describing the process, 

 in the hope that those who have plenty of time and opportunity 

 may repeat Mr Tytler's experiments, with the view, if pos- 

 sible, of bringing the product to perfection, and rendering it 

 generally useful in those parts where castor-oil abounds, but 

 where wax may not be equally procurable and cheap. After 

 all, however, perhaps the most eligible and economical plan 

 will be found to be using the oil simply for the lamp, instead of 

 converting it into oleocere. 



Mr Tytler found that dropping the oleocere from a height 

 on the floor hardened it. He submitted a specimen of the sub- 

 stance to the meeting, which was harder and brighter than 

 what is commonly obtained, but still too soft to form candles 

 for burning in the hot weather ; and notwithstanding his laud- 

 able perseverance and great trouble, Mr Tytler does not ap- 

 pear sanguine as to the substance being very likely to prove 

 useful as a substitute for wax in making candles. 



The oleocere of coco-nut oil, prepared in the same way as 

 that of castor-oil, he found never hardened beyond the consist- 

 ence of butter; its colour was paler, and it might perhaps 

 enter advantageously into the composition of ointments. — From 

 Asiatic Journal^ No. i. New Series, p. 66-67. 



Art. XXIV.— analysis OF SCIENTIFIC BOOKS AND ME- 

 MOIRS. 



I. The Article Ship-Building. Published in Vol. xviii. Part I. of the 

 Edinburgh EncyclopcBdia. Edited by Dr Brewster. Continued from 

 page 171. 



All the cultivators of ship-building previous to our own time, must have 

 been constantly subjected to the mortification of finding the figures assign- 

 ed to the vessels which they constructed, and on whose lines they had pro- 

 bably bestowed much meditation and care, undergo considerable changes 

 the moment the vessel entered the water, — its natural element, and where 

 it ought to retain the exact form originally assigned to it. The plane of 

 flotation, on which the genius of a Bouguer may have dwelt, and which 



