540 
‘grounds, and in dry and cold places, are of 
‘a tonic and stimulating power, while those 
which grow in low and moist grounds pos- 
sess quite the contrary qualities. 
' The Geographical Society, at a general 
annual meeting on the 25th March, pro- 
posed eight prizes (in medals) for different 
geographic and statistic essays; and another 
(in franes) for A Voyage to Tombuctoo, and 
into the Interior of Africa. 
The Anniversary Meeting of the Four 
‘Academies, instituted by the late king to 
celebrate his return to France, and the 
union of these ancient academies, now con- 
founded in the brilliant glories of the In- 
stitute, took place on the 28th April. 
In the Academy of Inscriptions and 
** Belles-Lettres,”’ it has been determined 
to use effective means to re-excite the spirit 
of antiquarian research, in France. 
The Society for the Encouragement of 
National Industry (Arts and Manufactures), 
held its usual winter meeting on the 27th 
April; two gold medals were accorded— 
the first, to M. Crespel (of Arras, Pas-de- 
Calais), for the manufacture of red-beet 
sugar. This gentleman annually disposes 
of 150,000 Ibs. of this sugar: “he has con- 
trived many methods of abridging labour ; 
and, actuated by a noble disinterestedness, 
throws open his factory to all who wish to 
examine its regulations: he even supplies 
workmen acquainted with all his proceed- 
‘ings. It is remarked, that a prince of the 
Ukraine left his country, to put on a la- 
bourer’s frock, and learn of M. Crespel 
to make sugar. The second, to Messrs. 
Manby and Wilson, who have introduced, 
into France, the greater part of English 
machinery. These two merchants have 
deen subjected to a fine of £200, which, 
‘out of respect to the laws of their country, 
‘they have paid. They both bear strong 
‘testimony to the intelligence of French 
Remarks on New Patents. 
[July 1, 
workmen ; and particularize one, a simple 
carman, who, in a very short time, ren- 
dered them all’ the services of a smith, to 
whom they had paid nearly £1 a day. 
The society then proceeded to an entire 
renovation of its committee, &ce: &e. - But 
all its members were re-elected. 
RUSSIA. 
Moscow.—The Secretary of the -Agri- 
cultural Society (which held its annual 
meeting on the 17th of last February). an- 
nounced, that the Emperor had conceded, 
to the Society, a large tract of land near the 
‘gate of Moscow, where the farm of the 
Society is established. 
St. Petersburgh. — The Academy of 
Sciences have formed a valuable collection 
of 200 volumes of Arabie; Turkish, and 
Persian manuscripts. 
NETHERLANDS, 
Brussels.— At a meeting of the Academy 
of Sciences, in 1823, the following prize- 
question was proposed—‘“‘ To determine 
what alteration, as to temperature and salu- 
brity of air, would be produced, in neigh- 
bouring countries, by the destruction of 
extensive forests, particularly with regard 
to the fall of rain, whence results the source 
of running streams, and the direction and 
violence of prevailing winds ?”? This ques- 
tion excited much interest in different parts 
of Europe: but no satisfactory solution 
being obtained, the same Society proposed 
it again; and, on the 7th May, unani- 
mously adjudged the prize to the author 
of ‘ Researches concerning the Physical 
Changes occasioned by the Destruction of 
Forests.”’ This is M. Moreau de Jonnés, 
who has before been mentioned in our 
Miscellany (p.p. 505-6 of the present num- 
ber), and whose labours have been now, in 
the space of four years, five times crowned 
with suceess by some of the first academies 
in Europe. 
PATENTS FOR MECHANICAL AND CHEMICAL 
INVENTIONS. 
—=>— 
To Joun ARRowsMITH, of Air-sireet, Mid- 
dlesex, for his Diorama, or Mode of 
publicly exhibiting Pictures or Painted 
« Scenery, by Distributing or Directing the 
Day-light upon or through them, so as to 
produce many beautiful Effects of Light 
and Shade: partly invented and communi- 
cated from abroad.—l0th Feb. 1824. 
NHE principle of novelty, in this inven- 
tion, consists in anew mode of throw- 
‘ing day-light upon or through painted 
«scenes, and of varying the brilliancy of the 
light, as well as giving different tones and 
tints to the picture, by the intervention of 
several. screens or shades, of different 
‘colours: by the moving of which screens, 
-the light may be thrown upon, or gradually 
“withdrawn from, any:parts:of the /picture, 
‘to represent the effect of passing clouds, 
storms, &c.—the colours of the several 
screens being such as will throw the desired 
tint upon the scene, and may be made of 
thin silk or cotton, dyed. A 
In the much-frequented exhibition in the 
south-east corner of the Regent’s Park 
(described in p. 263 of our present volume), 
two distinct subjects are exhibited in the 
same building, in. stationary pictures; and 
instead of the company having to move 
from one room: to another, to view these 
pictures in succession, the spectators’ part 
of the theatre is there mounted on a pivot, 
centrical to a circular rail-way, whereon it 
can be turned part round, backwards and 
forwards, by means of rack-work and winch- 
handles, situated beneath, for the viewing 
of each picture alternately; but these ar- 
rangements, regarding the mobility of the 
spectators* 
