396 Miscellaneous Intelligence. 



and gave them a degree of vigour and activity which was of the greatest 

 service in enabling them to support the fatigues of marching. Hence 

 M. Reynard thinks that sugar might be adopted for preventing the 

 effects of subacetate of lead, instead of the sulphates of soda, and of 

 magnesia, which are not always at hand. — Med. Rep. xx. 441, or 

 Journal d' Agriculture, &c. 



10. Vulcanic Eruption in Iceland. — On the 22d of June last, a great 

 noise began in Myrdals Joke!, on the south side of Iceland, and on 

 the 2fJth there was a dreadful volcanic eruption from the Crater 

 Kotlugian, which had been quiet since 1775. Pumice and ashes 

 were thrown to a great distance, and even covered ships that were 

 90 miles from the coast. The ice on the summit of the mountain was 

 torn asunder, prodigious masses rolled into the sea, while torrents of 

 water thrown from the crater covered the adjacent country with mud 

 and slime. There were three distinct eruptions, since which the 

 mountain has been tranquil. This new volcano lies from six to eight 

 leagues to the east of Lyafalle Jokcl, which broke out in December 

 last, and about twelve leagues south-east of Hecla. 



11. Periodical, Rise and Fall of the Barometer. — Colonel Wright, 

 member of the Ceylon Literary and Agricultural Society, is said to 

 have discovered that within the tropics, the mercury rises and falls 

 twice within the twenty-four hours, with such regularily as to 

 afford almost an opportunity of measuring the lapse of time by this 

 instrument. 



12. Periodical Thunder Storms. — Mr. Ronalds has quoted the curi- 

 ous remarks of Vol ta on the re-appearance of thunder storms for many 

 days together, at the same hour and in the same place. " It is necessary 

 to inhabit a mountainous country, and particularly the neighbourhood 

 of lakes, such as Como, the precincts of Lario, Verbano, Varese, 

 Lugano, Lccco, and 1 he whole mountains of Bianza, Bergama, &c, 

 in order to be convinced of such periods and fixations (so to speak) 

 of thunder storms at this or that valley or opening of a mountain, 

 which last until some wind or remarkable change in the atmosphere 

 shall occur to destroy them." Volta ascribes the effect to a state of 

 the atmosphere produced by the storms of the preceding day. 



13. Voyage of Discovery. — Capt. Otto von Kotzebue is again about 

 to circumnavigate the world, having already been twice round it. The 

 presentexpedition is appointed by the Russian government, and is well 

 furnished with every thing that can promote its object. The object 

 is rather to make accurate surveys than new discoveries, but an astro- 

 nomer, mineralogist, and naturalist, from the University of Dorpat go 

 with it, as well as other scientific men. The instruments are by 

 Troughton and Jones, of London. 



