Scientific Ne-ws, fs^f. a 83 



engine. Much praflical information is to be found in Curr's Coal- viewer, and Engine-. 

 Builder's PraBical Companion, fold by Taylor, in Holborn. Dr. Htition has alfo written On 

 this fubjedt, in his Mathematical and Philofophical DiSiionary-y art. Steam ; and profeflbr 

 Robifon more amply in the Encyclopedia Britannica, art. Steam, tUid-Steam-en^i/ie. 



W. N. 



• 



Paftgraphy, or Univer/al TVritiftg. 



A numerous meeting of friends to the arts and fciences was held the a^tb of Prairial, at the 

 Republican Lyceum at Paris, where C. Demainieux explained the twelve rules of Pafl- 

 graph)', and the three rules of Pafilaly, two arts which only make one, and of which he is' 

 the inventor. The former, as the term implies, is a method of univerfal writing, which 

 can be read in all languages at once. That is to fay, its charadlers, denoting ideas and 

 not words, may be read at the fame time, by fix pcrfons fpeaking each a different language, 

 by communicating the very fame ideas to each, who will exprefs them to himfelf in his own 

 terms. The fecond art is an univerfal language, of which that writing is the bafis. The 

 perfpicuity of the expofition, the fimplicity of the means, and the manifeft utility of the 

 refults were much applauded. It is known that the National Inftitute has direiSted its 

 attention to this difcovery, and have appointed a commiflion to examine it. C. Rjederer, 

 who is charged with this report, has already read it, in a private fitting of the clafs of moral 

 and political fciences, of which he is a member. He treats the fubjedt philofophical ly, 

 not merely as an univerfal method of conveying our ideas in every language, but likewife in 

 a ftill more important point of view, as a method of extending our refearches, and~carrying 

 them to a higher degree of perfeilion. 



Several foreign philofophers attended, and among them, M. Van Swinden, of Amflrerdam, 

 and M. d'Ofluna. ^I^g- Encyclop. ■ 



French Weights and Meafures, 



I have deferred re(51ify5ng the tables of French weights and meafures, as notified on the 

 wrapper of Number 27, till I fhall receive the new report of the commiflion appointed for 

 that purpofe. Dr. Delametherie informs us, Journal de Phyf. V. 460. that the metre is 

 fettled at 3 Frendi feet, 11 lines, and 0.296 of a line. 



Royal Iitflitution of Great Britain', 

 For diffufmg the knowledge, and facilitating the general introdui^lion of ufeful mechanical 

 inventions and improvements, Sec. is now incorporated by charter, under the patronage of 

 his miyeily, by the title of the Royal luftitutioa of Great Britain, The prefent officers are : 



Prcfident 



> 



