1811.] 
‘conviction of its benefit. From Scot- 
land it appears that the practice of vac- 
cination is universal among the higher or- 
ders of society ; and thatit is the opinion 
of the College of Physicians, the College 
of Surgeons, of Edinburgh, and the Fa- 
culty of Physicians and Surgeons of 
Glasgow, that the mortality from small- 
pox has decreased, in proportion as vac- 
cination has advanced, in that part of 
the*United Kingdom. At Dublin, and 
in Ireland generally, vaccination conti- 
nues to make progress. The Board have 
also received very favourable accounts 
of the progress of vaccination in India; 
and it appears that by vaccination the 
ravage of small-pox has been repeatedly 
prevented, and the disorder exterminated 
in the island of Ceylon. The Board de- 
clare their unabated confidence in the 
preventive power of vaccination, and 
their satisfaction with the gradual and 
temperate progress by which this prac- 
tice ig advancing, and that they are of 
opinion, that, by perseverance in the 
present measures, vaccination will in a 
few years, become generally adopted. 
The money granted by parliament during 
the last session has been sufficient 
to defray the expences of the year 1810; 
and they are of opinion that the same 
sum will be adequate to the expenditure 
of the current year. 
Wrought iron has Ben proposed as an 
advantageous substitute for the materials 
now in use for many purposes in shipping. 
\ A mast of this metal, the cylinder being 
- halfan inch thick, and the same height and 
diameter as a wood mast, will not be so 
heavy, will be considerably stronger, much 
more durable, less liable to be injured by 
shot, and can be easily repaired, even at 
sea. It will weigh duly 12 tons, and at 451, 
per ton will not cost more than 5401. while 
its strength will be nearly fifty per cent. 
above that of a wooden mast, that weighs ° 
23 tons, and costs nearly 1200I. This 
mast is made to strike nearly as low as 
the deck, to ease the ship in a heavy 
sea, Ships furnished with wooden masts 
are in such circumstances obliged to cut 
them away. Ships furnished with iron 
masts, will not, like others, be exposed 
to the risk of receiving damage from 
ightning, the iron mast “being itself an 
excellent conductor: by using an iron 
bolt from the bottom of the mast through 
the kelson and keel, the electric matter 
will be conducted through the bottom of 
the ship inte the water, without injury 
tu the ship. Yards and bowsprits way 
also be made of wrought iron, at the 
Mostity Mac, No, 214. 
Literary and Philosophical Intelligen.. 
551 
sa:ne proportion of strength and expense 
as the mast; and chain shrouds and 
stays of iron, which may be used with 
those masts, will mot cost half the ex- 
pense of rope, while they will also prove 
ten times more durable. Even the whole 
hull may be made of wrought iron. 
GERMANY. 
A German, of the name of Routgen, a 
scholar of the celebrated’ Blumenbach, 
in Gottingen, has announced his inten- 
tion to endeavour to penetrate into the 
interior of Africa, nearly in the track 
pursued by. Mr. Horsemann, who, as-he 
has not been heard of for nearly ten 
years, is thought to have perished in the 
enterprise. This young man is about 
twenty years of age, and seems to have 
obtained all that kind of knowledge which 
is particularly necessary for his purpose. 
He understands the Arabic language, is 
remarkably abstemious, and has accus- 
tomed himself to make raw flesh and 
insects his food. At Gottingen he sub- 
mitted to circumcision, tliat he might 
appear to bea true believer in the Koran, 
and, in the character of a physician, 
travel through those countries where 
the name of Christian would infal- 
libly lead to slavery or death. In his 
peregrinations on foot through Germany 
and Switzerland, he always chose the 
worst lodgings and accommodations to 
inure himself to hardships. In Germany 
and Paris he has collected a number of 
questions proposed by the literati, re- 
lative to the unknown regions which he 
intends to visit. He means to endeavour 
to accompany a mercantile caravan from 
Mogador to Tombuctoo. 
It appears from information received 
on this subject from different quarters, 
that almost all the great’ forests in the 
interior of Germany are infested by 
bands of robbers. One of them is report- 
ed to have established itself in the Wet- 
teravia, and another in the Odenwald. 
These have communications with each 
other, and with the gang which during 
the winter has interrupted the public 
safety in the Spessart. Another troop 
resides in the forest of Thuringia, and 
has lately extended its incursions to the 
northern and eastern frontiers of , the 
grand-duchy of Wurzburg. The duchies 
of Saxe-Coburg, Meinungen, and fild- 
burghausen, have also been disturbed by 
this band, which is divided into several 
detachments. According to the docu. 
ments laid before the tribunal at Mente, 
itis calculated, that the amount of ihe 
robberies committed by these organized 
4C bands, 
