Scientific Intelligence. — Chemistry. iJ63 



now discovered the same phenomenon at the end of his whip, 

 stirrups, and every prominent object. His own person and that 

 of an attendant were tipped in the same manner. Similar ap- 

 pearances, probably, suggested to Virgil the fiction of the flame 

 about the head of Ascanius, the night on which Troy was burnt. 

 — Silliman's Journal. 



CHEMISTRY. 



8. Thorine, a neiv Earth. — M. Berzelius has lately discover- 

 ed a new earth, possessing all the properties of that which bore 

 the name of Thorine, and which was only a phosphate of yttria. 

 On account of this great similarity, he retains the name of Tho- 

 rine for the new substance. It is white, and incapable of being 

 reduced by charcoal and potassium. After being strongly cal- 

 cined, it is no longer attacked by acids, excepting by concen- 

 trated sulphuric acid. Even after being treated by the caustic 

 alkalies, the sulphate of thorine is very soluble in cold water, 

 but neai'ly insoluble in boiling water, so that it cannot be freed 

 from several other salts by washing the mixture with boiling 

 water. Thorine dissolves very well in carbonate of ammonia. 

 Elevation of temperature determines the precipitation of a part 

 of the earth ; but on coohng the precipitate disappears. All the 

 salts of thorine have a very pure astringent taste, almost like 

 that of tannin. The chloride of thorine treated by potassium, 

 decomposes with a triple deflagration. There results a grey 

 metallic powder, which does not decompose in water, but which 

 above a red heat burns with a brightness which nearly equals 

 that of phosphorus in oxygen. Thorine is feebly attacked by 

 sulphuric acid or nitric acid. Hydrochloric acid, on the con- 

 trary, dissolves it with a keen effervescence. The oxide of tho- 

 rine contains 11.8 per cent, of oxygen. Its specific gravity is 

 9.4. Thorine exists in a new mineral which has been found in 

 very small quantities at Brevig, in Norway. 



MINERALOGY. 



9- Notice respecting the presence of Websterite in the Plastic 

 Clay of Auteuil, near Paris ; by M. Brongniart. — The author 

 commences his notice with some reflections on a remarkable phe- 

 nomenon which the geological history of a great number of mine- 



