CONTENTS. xi 



OCTOBER 1799. 



Engravings of the following Objeds : i. Sedions illuftrative of the Geology of 

 the Country near Hullj and, 2. Guyton's Apparatus for the Combuftion of 

 the Diamond In Oxygen by Solar Light. 



I. Geological Obfervatlons on the Vicinity of Hull and Beverly. By John 

 Alderfon, M. D, - - - . - p. 285 



II. A circuniftantlal Defcription of the Method of cultivating the white Beet 

 (Runkelrube), in order to obtain the greateft Quantity of faccharine Matter, 

 and to prepare it for the Manuflicture of Sugar (Concluded from p. 243) p. 288 



Obfervations in proof of the aflertion, (hat roots afford more faccharine matter when defended from 

 light. Theoretical explanation from the lefs quantity of oxjgen being feparated in thcfe circum- 

 (lances. Recapitulation. 



in. On the Decompofition of the Acid of Borax, or Sedative Salt. By Lau- 

 rence de CrelJ, M.D. F.R.S. London and Edinburgh. (Concluded from page 

 257) - - - - - p. 292 



The courfe of experiments (hew, in a general way, that the acid of borax is decompofed, and that one 

 of its component parts is coal or carbone. But what may be the caufe why it is fo difficultly fepa- 

 rated, and does not, in its original combination, deflagrate with nitre, remains to be proved by fu- 

 ture refearches. 



IV. Obfervations on the Means by which the Mountains in the Cevennes arc 

 rendered fertile. By Cit. Chaptal -. - p. 295. 



The inhabitants of the Cevennes exert a furprifing degree of induftry and perfcverance, in building 

 walls acrofs the ravins, and at the edges of the calcareous platforms ; by means of which the vegetar. 

 ble earth is retained, and the whole furface of thefe naturally barren mountains rendered fo pro- 

 dudive as to fupport two or three hundred thoufand people. 



V. Account of certain Experiments and Inferences refpefting the Combuflion of 

 the Diamond, and the Nature of its Compofition. By Cit. Guyton p. 298 



Phenomena of the combuftion of the diamond in oxygen gas by fplar heat. Method of filling large 

 veilels with the gas, without the previous introduftion of mercury or water. The diamond cannot 

 maintain the temperature requifite to continue it own combuftion. It is totally combuftible, ancj 

 affords pure carbonic acid, in much greater quantity than charcoal does. Theory : that diamond is 

 pure carbone, and that plumbago, charcoal, and carbonic gas, confift of the fame bafis, oxygenated 

 in different degrees. Interefting remarks and conclufions. 



VI. On the apparently fpontaneous Combuftion of living Individuals of the 

 HuiTian Species. By Citizen Lair - - - P- 305 



Vn. Remarks on the Conflagration of the Odeon. By B. G. Sage, Profeflbr 

 and Dlredor of the firft School of Mines ■ p. 366 



The mod remarkable circumftances attending this fire, were the probable explofion of hydrogep in 

 the great hall, and the developement 6f much fulphur in various parts of the Building, by the dif- 

 oxygenation of the plafter of fulphate of lime. 



c2 vin. 



