384 Population of Greenland. 
Ifthe quantity of electric fluid be very great, contact 
with the wire is not requisite. In one instance magnetism 
was communicated at fourteen inches distance from the 
conducting wire. It was also communicated through plates 
of glass and even when the bars or needles were immersed 
in water. These experiments were made both at the Roy- 
al and London Institutions. At the latter, the electrical 
batteries used, were from eighteen to seventy cubic arabe 
The voltaic: troughs of four inch plates, mounted 
with = copper’ agreeably to Dr. pe an s plan. | 
Phil. Mag. for Nov. 
44, French Translations from the Arabic, 
The French literati are occupied at this time in a work 
of some importance, preparing translations of Plutarch, 
— Tacitus, Aristotle, Hippocrates, &c. from the Ara- 
ic MSS. into which languages many or all the best Greek 
man authors are known to have been translated. 
The French Ambassador at Constantinople, M. Giardin, 
has latel MSS. in Arabic, from 
the Tmperat Library there, among which are the et 
works of Plutarch and Heroditus.—Ibid. 
_ 45. New Alkalss 
Pelletier and C: aventon have, it appears detected another 
alkali in the seeds of the veratrum sabadilla, or meadow 
saffron. It has been named veratrine. It is white; pulveru- 
lent, without smell, but excites violent sneezing ; it is very 
acrid, but not bitter, producing violent vomiting in so small 
doses, that according to some experiments, a few grains 
may cause death. It is but little soluble in cold water, 
water dissolves about ;}55 part, and acquires a0 
Cs taste. It is very soluble in seohal The super sul- 
phate alone appears to form crystals. —Ibid. 
48. Population of Greenlant. ti 
whole population of Greenland, according to the last 
ror of the missionary board, consists of three thousand 
five hundred and eighty-six individuals, spread through- 
