Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. S09 



dicular wall descends to immense depths, is the same as the summit, 

 we have further evidence that carbonate of lime does exist, or has 

 existed, in such situations — far from coasts. 



Again, Sir James C. Ross, in his Voyage to the Southern Seas 

 (vol. i, pp. 202, 203, 207, 208), relates that on one occasion the 

 dredge was put over in 270 fathoms and brought up living coral ; a 

 day or two afterwards corallines were obtained in 300 fathoms ; and 

 speaking of the maintenance of organic life under pressure, he ob- 

 serves, " hitherto we have not been able to determine this point 

 beyond a thousand fathoms, but from that depth several shell-fish 

 have been brought up with the mud." Sir James appears to believe 

 that their existence at greater depths is not impossible ; for he pur- 

 sues, "as we know they can bear the pressure of one thousand 

 fathoms, why may they not of two ? " 



I leave it to your judgement whether the foregoing remarks are 

 worthy of publication, and remain. 



Your obedient Servant, 



Walter White. 



GOLD IN CERTAIN MINES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE RHONE. 



MM. AUain and Bartenbach state that the coppermines of Chessy 

 and of Saint Bel (Rhone) have been the objects of interesting ex- 

 periments; the result of which is, not only that the copper and zinc 

 which the pyrites contains may be easily extracted, but that it con- 

 tains also at least 1-10,000 of gold. According to analyses, the 

 numerical results of which are not stated by the authors, the pyrites 

 contains sulphur, iron, zinc (about 8 per cent.), copper (about 5 per 

 cent.), silica, arsenic, and gold, 1-10,000 at least. This discovery 

 of gold has naturally led to the performance of a series of opera- 

 tions, in order to find an oeconomical method of extracting this metal. 

 Although the experiments are not entirely finished, the authors 

 consider that the separation of this small quantity of gold is easy 

 and oeconomical, and that the copper, zinc, and sulphuric acid ob- 

 tained, will partly cover the expenses of extraction ; the method is 

 briefly as follows : — The sulphur and arsenic being expelled by roast- 

 ing, and the oxides of zinc and copper formed dissolved by sulphuric 

 acid, the residue, which is composed of silica, sesquioxide of iron 

 and gold, is to be washed, and then treated with a cold aqueous 

 solution of chlorine ; after some hours' action a solution of chloride 

 of gold is obtained, from which the metal is reduced by the usual 

 processes ; the chlorine in this case does not act upon the sesqui- 

 oxide of iron Llnstiiut, Aout 8, 1849. 



ON THE ANALYSIS OF PLANTS BY INCINERATION. 

 BY M. CAILLAT. 



The author, who is professor at the Agricultural Institute of 

 Grignou, is of opinion that incineration, generally hitherto employed 



