Expedition to Africa. — Clarifying (f Sugar. 153 



1SI6 it was = 43 cent. 47. The diiference tlierefore in old 

 measures corresponds to two inches five lines and seven tenths. 

 It is added tliat in 1S15 tliere were from January to October 

 inclusive, 1*27 days of rain ; and in ISIG during the same space 

 of time eiiilif days more. In 1 81.3 it rained twelve times in July ; 

 in I8I6 tiie same month presented oi\\y Jive days without rain. 



EXPEDITION TO AFRICA. 



The Congo arrived at Spithead from Bahia on the 23d of 

 Fchruarv, having brought home the \vhole of the crew that em- 

 barked on the expedition to Africa, except one, who died at sea 

 of t!ie fiux. Mr. Lockhart, from the King's Garden at Kew, 

 and the serjeant of marines, were left at Bahia, not being con- 

 sidered as sufficiently recovered from the sea voyage. 



, CLARIFYING OF SUGAR. 



Tlie Annalea de Chimie xcv. 232, contains a notice, tliat a 

 Mons. Dorion having discovered that the bark of the pyramidal 

 ash, in powder, thrown into the boiling juice of the sugar-cane, 

 effects its chirification, the planters of Guadaloupe had given 

 him 100,000 francs, and those of Martinicjue a like sum, for 

 connnunicating his discovery; and that the English sugar planters 

 had bought the secret for 4000 francs. 



Dr. Thomson (Annals of Philosophy, No. 49), alhiding to 

 this notice, states, that he had leiunt from a planter lately re- 

 turned from the West Indies, that this process had been known 

 there for years; that the planter had himself employed it, but never 

 heard M. Dorion's name mentioned, " and is quite sure that 

 the alleged purchase of the method by the English planters is 

 not true." 



In the statement of Dr. Thomson's friend, as also in that of 

 the Aiiiialei de Chimie, there is a mi.xture of truth and error, 

 which by the favour of an intelligent correspondent we are en- 

 abled to clear up. It is true that the Doctor's friend " from 

 the West Indies" (rather a wide range, however, when facts de- 

 pend u))on locality) " never heard ?>1. Dorion's name mentioned 

 there ; for the name of the person v.ho made the discovery is 

 not Dorion, but Du Boc — and liowcver sure ha may be " that 

 the alleged purchase of the method by the English planters is 

 not true," we are well assured that the House of Assembly of 

 Jamaica voted M. Du Boc one thousand pounds sterling for his 

 secret. As this discovery is an important one, and the process 

 has not been before published in this country, we are happy iu 

 being able to lay the following coniumnicutioa before our readers: 



To 



