158 Miscellaneous Intelligence. 
suhject, quoted sulphur as an instance. Natural crystals of sul- 
phur are furnished by some calcareous strata, and by volcanoes. 
Artificial crystals may be obtained either by evaporating a solution 
of it in carburet of sulphur, or by fusion of the sulphur and slow 
cooling. On fusing native sulphur, it gives the same crystals as 
common sulphur. The primitive form of the crystals of sulphur, 
either natural, or obtained as above by evaporation, is an octoédron, 
with a rhombic base; but the primitive form of the crystals ob- 
tained by fusion, is an oblique prism, with a rhombic base.— Anz. 
de Chimie, xxiv. 264. 
4. Supposed Effect of Magnetism on Crystallization. — The follow- 
ing is an experiment first made by Professcr Maschmann, of Chris+ 
tiana, and confirmed by Professor Hanstein, of the same city; we 
should nct have noticed it but for these names. A glass tube is to 
be bent into a syphon, and placed with the curve downwards, and 
inthe bend is to be placed a small portion of mercury, not suffi- 
cient to close the connexion between the two legs; a solution of 
nitrate of silver is then to be introduced until it rises in both limbs 
of the tube. The precipitation of the mercury in the form of 
an arbor Diana will then take place, slowly only;when the syphon 
is placed in a plane perpendicular to the magnetic meridian; 
but if it be placed in a plane coinciding with the magnetic me- 
ridian, the action is rapid, and the crystallization particularly 
beautiful, taking place principally in that branch of the syphon 
towards the north. If the syphon be placed in a plane perpendicular 
to the magnetic meridian, and a strong magnet be brought near it, 
the precipitation will recommence in a short time, and be most 
copious in the branch of the syphon nearest to the south pole of the 
magnet. 
4. On Thermo-magnetism.—The following account of results on 
the magnetism of a single piece of metal developed by heat, is 
abstracted from a paper by Dr. J. d’Yelin, or rather from an 
account of that paper in the Bibliotheque Universelle. The re- 
sults, if confirmed by further experieuce, are very highly impor- 
tant to the theory of magnetism. 
In repeating the experiment of Seebeck, M. Yelin made use of 
platina, gold, silver, iron, copper, brass, zinc, tin, lead, antimony, 
bismuth, and arsenic. The result of his observations was that 
‘* the effect of Seebeck’s circuit should not be considered as a de- 
terminate function of power possessed by the heterogeneous metals 
of developing electricity by contact, and of their various conduct- 
ing powers as to heat; and that therefore, conclusions cannot be 
drawn from these properties,” as is proved by the following facts : 
' 1. Silver and zine give by contact an electricity stronger than 
silver and antimony; but a circuit formed of the two latter metals 
