168 Miscellaneous Intelligence. 



between eight in the evening and six in the morning of the 14th 

 and 15th of that month." 



5. New Comet. — A luminous appearance was observed in the 

 heavens, on the night of Wednesday, Nov. 13, at the distance 

 of about a degree and a half from Cor Caroli, which very much 

 resembled a small comet. It was viewed distinctly for ten 

 minutes, from the hills in the neighbourhood of East Grinstead, 

 but a veil of cloud then hid it, and it has not since been seen. 

 — New Monthly Mag. ix. 33. 



6. Analysis of Uranite. — This mineral has been analyzed, both 

 by Mr. Gregor and Berzelius ; the latter philosopher found it to 

 be " a compound of oxide of uranium with lime and water ; in 

 fact, a true salt, with a base of lime, in which the oxide acts as 

 an acid ;" and he considers the Cornish variety as containing 

 an accidental admixture of arseniate of copper. 



Mr. Phillips has lately re-analyzed this mineral, and very unex- 

 pectedly finds it to contain phosphoric acid ; indeed, to be a 

 phosphate. A specimen from Cornwall gave, 



59. 



7. Native Phosphate of Alumina. — A substance has lately 

 been placed in the hands of M. Vauquelin for analysis, which 

 proved to be phosphate of alumina. It was brought by M. 

 Debassyns from the Quartier Saint Paul, Isle Bourbon, being 

 found in a volcanic cavern, occurring in a large basin, formed by 

 the river Saint Gilles, and known in the country by the name 

 of the Blue Basin. 



No one had before entered the cavern, which is very deep 

 and irregular, and covered with stalactites. After a few steps, 

 there are found considerable portions of the white earth, de- 



