330 Slatislical Account of 



at the end B. A glass tube 3-lOths of an inch in dianneter be- 

 ing drawn once through a piece of silk held in the hand and 

 placed at the distance of 12 inches from the end A of the con- 

 ductor AB, the leaves of the electrometer diverged with positive 

 electricity to an angle of 40 degrees. And the electrometer, 

 being removed from the conductor liefore the tube began to 

 lose its energy, remained permanently electrified. Hence the 3d 

 Objection to the theory of the Leyden phial appears to be 

 founded on a supposition which is erroneous. 



Lynn, Nov. 3, 1815. Ez. WaLKER. 



[To be continued.] 



LXII. Statistical Account of the Quicksilver Mines of Tdria in 

 Illyria. By JVf. Paysse, Supermtendanl of the Mcinufae- 

 ture of Mercurial Productions. 



[Concludcc! from p. 312.] 



Vegetation is neither so active nor so early at Idria as at 

 Laybach, and even Upper Laybach. The months of August 

 and September are those in which vegetables seem to shoot out 

 most luxuriantly. 



A great number of rare and curious plants grow on the alps 

 which surround Idria. The celebrated Scopoli has described 

 them very minutely, and very few have escaped him. Rye, bar- 

 ley and maize, succeed very badly around Idria. 



The trees of which the forests are con)posed are various kinds 

 of pines, yews, ash, &c. 



The leguminous plants are reared at great difficulty; besides^ 

 they are not juicy. 



Fruits with kernels rarely ripen, and those gathered are taste- 

 less and watery. 



Apples and pears thrive a little better, and are fit to be eaten 

 or used for cyder and perry. 



The vine, which shoots up here vigorously, furnishes a grape 

 ■which ripens but very rarely. 



Medical Constitution. 

 Considered in a medical point of view, the climate of Idria is 

 not insalubrious : those thick and frequent fogs, which are the 

 sources of many morbific affections to those who reside in the 

 marshy plains of Laybach, do not prevail here. 



The workmen are subject to certain fevers ; phthisis is fre- 

 quent: but the diseases which most generally prevail among the 

 working class arise from a checked perspiration. It will be 



easily 



