Notices respecling New Books. 375 



been ascertained either by drilling it in different places, or by 

 calculating from its weight its general thickness, supposing that 

 to have been uniiorm. 



We need not stop to say much on the construction of the 

 sugar pans and the steam-case under them: suffice it to say, that 

 on inquiry (for these had not been clei.red from the ruins when 

 we were on the spot"*^) we learnt that these also were eight feet 

 in diameter — and, if we understood rightly, the bottom of 

 each pan was nearly a plane, or had scarcelv any discernible 

 rotundity. — Pans that are to be heated bv strong steam should 

 be narrow, to gain strength ; and the surface wanted for evapo- 

 ration should be obtained by giving ti'.om sufficient j'-ngth. 



Such accidents are much to be lamented, not only on account 

 of the individual and family sufferings which they occasion, 

 l)nt also for the impediments they serve to throw in the way of 

 improvements in the manufactures of the country : for, though 

 it is certainly true that steam, as we have obiierved, is perfectly 

 manageable and safe in proper hands, yet when people witness 

 such calamities, and that under the management of people stip- 

 po-.ed to be competent, nothing can be more natmal than that, 

 instead of encouraging, they should be led to oppose improve- 

 ments which threaten such dreadful conseciuences. 



LXX. Notices respecting New Books. 



J HE Philosophical Transactions for 1815, Part II, contain the 

 following papers : 



10. On some Phaenomena of Colours exhibited by thin Plates. 

 By Jolni Knox, Esq. Communicated by the Right Hon. Sir 

 Joseph Banks, Bart. G.C.B. P.Il.S,— 1 1 * Some further Obser- 

 vations on the Current that often prevails to the westv^'ard of • 

 the Sciily Islands. Bv James Rennell, Esq. F.R.S. — 12. Somef. 

 Experiments on a solid Compound of Iodine and Oxvgen, and 

 on its chemical Agencies. By Sir Humphry Davy, LL.D. 

 F.R.S. — 13, 0)1 the Action of Acids on the Salts usually called 

 Hyperoxymuriates, and on the Gases produced from tliem. By 

 Sir Humphry Davy, LL.D. F.R.S. — 14. Further analytical Ex- 

 periments relative to the Constittuion of the prussic, of tlie fer- 

 ruretted chvazic, and of the sulphuretted chyazic Acids ; and 

 to that of their Salts; together with the Application of the 

 atomic Tiieory to the Analyses of those Bodies. By Robert 

 Porrett, jun. Esq. Communicated by W. H. WoUaston, M.D. 



* One of tliein lius been foiiiid since, not broken, but turned upside 

 down— a proof that llic explosion h.ipponcd in the boiler. 



A a 4 Sec. 



