

Defcriptionofa Spring in the Sea. 49 



From thefe considerations it would appear natural to con- 

 fider the ruby as a faline fubftance, compofed of two bafes, 

 alumine and magnefia, and of an acid called the chromic 

 acid. 



When I announced to the National Inftitute that I had 

 not found magnefia in the ruby, I was however far from 

 imagining that Klaproth was deceived ; fo much confidence 

 did I place in the labours of that able chemift. I chofe 

 rather to conclude at that time, that the ruby I had examined 

 was different from his. But I was in an error in that refpeft, 

 as I was convinced by anewanalyfis, which I made of about 

 16 grammes of the fame ruby ; and it was from this latter 

 labour, carried on in a manner fomewhat different, that 1 

 eftabliihed the proportions of the principles of this ftone, as 

 already enumerated. This proves the neceffity of employing 

 rather large maffes, in order to find fmall quantities of mat- 

 ter. I thought it my duty to make this public acknowledge- 

 ment, both that I might render juftice to accuracy and to 

 the fagacity of a man who has given fo many proofs of it, 

 and to avoid the reproach which, might have been thrown 

 out againft me, of wifhing to conceal an error into which I 

 had fallen. 



Vin. Defcriptioii of a remariable Spring of Frefh Water, 

 which rifes through the Water of the Sea. By the Abbe 

 S p a l l a N z a n i . From the Journal de Phyfiquej Vol. XXIX. 



J. H I S fpring rifes through the fait water at the diftance 

 of fixty-five feet from the fliore and about a mile from Spez- 

 zia. It raifes itfelf fome inches above the furface of the fea, 

 and forms a fort of accumulation, fhaped like a button of 

 about twenty feet in diameter. This button, when the fea 

 is perfectly calm, is full of watery radii, exceedingly percep- 

 tible. 1 he water of which they are formed feems, a little 

 turbid ; and this is very apparent, efpecially when it has 

 Vol. III. i: rained: 



