Miscellaneous Inlelligence. 385 



London, called the Terpodion. It is the invention of M. Busch- 

 man, who has lately brought it from the continent. Its etiect 

 is striking, and astonishing, for it combines the sweetness of 

 the flute and clarionet, with the energy of the horn and bassoon, 

 and yields a full and rich harmony, resembling an orchestra of 

 wind instruments. The sounds may be continued at pleasure 

 with any degree of strength, and the action of the instrument 

 resembles that of the ediphone, but it is described by the in- 

 ventor as consisting entirely of wood, and it is understood that 

 the sounds are produced by the vibration of wooden staves; its 

 construction is said to be cheap, and its state unalterable by the 

 weather, 



7. Large reflecting Telescope. — Mr. J. Ramage of Aberdeen has 

 constructed a twenty-five feet reflecting telescope, the largest 

 except that of Sir W. Herschel ever made. The speculum is 

 twenty-five feet focal length and fifteen inches diameter, the 

 power froni .50 to 1,500, and the mechanism by which the ob- 

 server and instrument are moved, is simple and well contrived. 



8. Iron Bridges. — Carthage bridge on the Genessee river in the 

 state of New York, fell to pieces on the second of May (1820?). 

 It was a single arch of iron, and for its extent and height stood 

 unrivalled in America or in Europe. The arch consisted of nine 

 ribs, its chord 352 feet, and height of the railing above the 

 water 200 feet; the length of the floor 714 feet. — New Monthly 

 Magazine. 



9. Prize Question. — The following question has been proposed 

 by the Society of Sciences and Arts of Utrecht. " What relation 

 is there between speculative philosophy and mathematics? Why 

 are mathematics necessary to philosophy, excluding their ap- 

 plication to physics? and what means does speculative philo- 

 sophy offer for the extensive and ultimate perfection of pure 

 mathematics ?" 



II. Chemical Sctence. 



§ Chemistry. 



1. Permeability of Iron to Tin. — Mr. Smithson describes, in 

 the Annals of Philosophy, vol. i., p. 276, an instance where tin 

 had been forced through the pores of cast iron. It is adduced, 

 in support of the opinion, that the capillary copper in the slag 

 of the Hartz, has been formed by being pressed through minute 

 pores. " For some purposes of the arts, Mr. Clement formed 

 a cylinder of copper, and, to give it strength, introduced into 

 it a hollow cylinder, or tube of cast iron. To complete the 



