386 Miscelhuieous JnteUigetice. 



union of these two cylinders, some melted tin was run between 

 them. With the exact particulars of this construction, I am 

 not acquainted; but the material circumstance is that, during 

 the cooling of the heated mass, a portion of the melted tin was 

 forced, by the alteration of volume of the cylinders, through 

 the substance of the cast-iron cylinder, and issued over its 

 internal surface in the state of fibres, which were curled and 

 twisted in various directions. Such was the tenuity of these 

 hbres of tin, that little tufts of them applied to the flame of a 

 candle, took fire and burned like cotton." 



Mr. Smithson suggests, that perhaps this penetration of solid 

 matter, by other solids or fluids, by great pressure, may have 

 useful applications, and produce some compounds very advan- 

 tageous in tlie arts. 



2. Granulation of Copper. — The following singular circum- 

 stance is related by Mr. W. Keates, of the Cheadle copper- 

 works, to Mr. Phillips. " I send you some^lobules of copper, 

 quite hollow, and so light as to swim on water ; the history of 

 which is as follows : one of our refining furnaces contained 

 about 20 cwt. of melted copper, which was to be laded into 

 blocks; but the refining process had not been carried far 

 enough, so that when the men came to lade it out into the 

 moulds, they found it to be impracticable, in consequence of 

 its emitting such a great quantity of sulphurous acid vapour. 

 They were therefore obliged to put it into a cistern of water, to 

 granulate it ; but by this operation, instead of the copper 

 assuming the form of solid grains, the whole of it became in the 

 form sent to you, and floated on the water like so many corks. 

 What is the most probable explanation of this phenomenon ? 

 One of our refining men, during forty years' experience in the 

 business, has never seen any thing similar." Mr. Phillips adds, 

 that the globules of copper sent to him were light, and that, 

 though they had lost the power of floating on water, they 

 floated in sulphuric acid. — Annals of Philosophy, vol.i. p. 470. 



3. Selenium. — In consequence of the repairing of the leaden 

 chamber of the sulphuric acid works, at Gripsholm, a quantity 

 of a substance has been collected, consisting principally of 

 sulphur, impregnated with selenium. This has been forwarded 

 by Professor Berzelius, to Mr. Allen, of Plough-court, Lom- 

 bard-street ; and is to be sold in small quantities, for the 

 benefit of the proprietors. A translation of the process recom- 

 mended by Professor Berzelius, for the separation of the 

 selenium is given with the substance. 



4. Chromic and Sulphuric Acids. — When sulphuric acid is 

 "boiled on chromate of lead or baryta in excess, the chromic 



