Sckntific Intelligence.— Chemistry. 193 



height and diameter of the lower lighthouse tower (which is 

 50 feet high, and 18 in diameter), and there was the appearance 

 of a smoke or fine spray on the top. It seemed be in rapid re- 

 volution, and likewise made great progress out to sea, maintain- 

 ing the same figure till lost in the distance. This first column 

 was immediately followed by a similar appearance from the 

 same point, and which took the same direction. Fahrenheit's 

 thermometer was at 46° ; and the barometer fell to 28.52 on the 

 evening of Monday the 13th, but had risen to 29.46 when the 

 water-spouts were observed on the morning of the 14th. 



3. Winds in the Polar Regions. — A decrease of wind inva- 

 riably takes place in passing under the lee, not merely of a close 

 and extensive body of high and heavy ice, but even of a stream 

 of small pieces, — and so immediate is this effect, that the mo- 

 ment a ship comes under the lee of such a stream, if under a 

 press of sail, she rights considerably. Another remarkable fea- 

 ture observable in the Polar Regions, at least in those parts en- 

 cumbered with ice, is the total absence of heavy or dangerous 

 squalls of wind. I cannot call to my recollection, says Captain 

 Parry, in the Polar Regions, of such squalls as, in other cli- 

 mates, oblige the seaman to lower his topsails during their con- 

 tinuance, — Parrifs third Voyage. 



We verily believe, that, at the Pole itself, neither wind nor 

 tide, rain nor snow, thunder nor lightning, will be found to 

 exist, — or, if any of them exist at all, it will be in the smallest 

 possible degree, — Barrow. 



CHEMISTRY. 



4. The presence of animal and vegetable matter, or emana- 

 tions from them, not necessary Jbr the formation of' Nitre. — 

 M. Longchamp, in a memoir read before the French Academy 

 of Sciences, endeavours to shew, in opposition to experiments 

 considered as correct, 1, That nitrates are formed in places 

 that contain neither animal nor vegetable matter, and which 

 have never been exposed to emanations from animals: 2. 

 That the nitric acid is formed in the open air, in materials which 

 contain not a trace of animal or vegetable matters : 3, That 

 the nitric acid is formed entirely from the elements of the at- 

 mosphere. 



OCTOBER— DECEMBER 1826. N 



