Foreign Literate and Science. 379 
ever so little aside, so as to touch the plumbago in its com- 
mon state, or even that which has been ignited, without be- 
ing fused, a vivid spark will instantly pass. This fact is the 
more remarkable, because it is equally true of the intensely 
black globules which are sensibly magnetic, and therefore 
contain iron, as of the light colored and limpid ones, which 
when both poles are tipped with those substances, there is 
only a minute spark, which is but little augmented when 
charcoal terminates one of the poles. But the fact is re- 
markably the reverse with the Rhode-Island anthracite; 
this conducts quite as well as plumbago,: and I think even 
better, giving a very intense light, and bright scintillations. 
ave now no doubt, that the deflragrator will melt it, but 
have net had time to complete the trial. 
If it should be said that the conducting power of the R. I. 
anthracite may be owing to iron, we are only the more em- 
barrassed to account for the fact, thatits black melted globules 
are insensible to the magnet, and are perfect non-conductors. 
t will now probably not be deemed extravagant, if we 
conclude that our melted carbonaceous substances approx- 
imate very nearly to the condition of diamond.—Ed. 
April 23, 1823. 
17. New Journal.—The first No. of the Boston Journal of 
Philosophy and the Arts will be published in the month of 
May. 
18. Ittro Cerite.—Col. Gibbs has discovered the Ittro 
Cerite at Franklin in New-Jersey. 
Il. Forzien. 
1. Stereotype Edition of Newton’s Principia.—A very el- 
egant stereotype edition of the “ Principia’’* has made its 
appearance from the University Press at Glasgow, conduct- 
*Of which a copy is now in our hands. 
