472 Minerals. — New Steam-Boul. 



mena, than to endeavour to remove the veil of mystery in which 

 they were enveloped, by the toilsome but sure method of ex- 

 perimental research, — a task happily reserved for, and ablv per- 

 formed by, Sir H. Davy. Mr. Brande illustrated these investi- 

 gations by a series of experiments with the large Voltaic appa- 

 ratus employed in his former lecture, and, having summed up the 

 leading conclusions, enumerated the discoveries of which they 

 had been productive. It was proved that the acid and alkaline 

 matter was derived from the presence of foreign bodies ; that the 

 elements of water and of the atmosphere had given rise to nitric 

 acid and ammonia ; and that, every extraneous body being care- 

 fully excluded, water was resolved by the electrical energy into 

 oxygen and hydrogen only. Having taken a cursory view of 

 electro-chemical theory in general, and having reminded his 

 hearers of the discovery of the nature of alkaline and earthy 

 bodies, — a discovery resulting entirely from these researches, — the 

 Professor concluded his lecture with some general observations 

 concerning the nature of electricity, illustrated by several new 

 and interesting experiments: he combated the idea of its being 

 a peculiar fluid, and of its phaenomena resulting from the pre- 

 sence of any distinct subtance or form of matter : it might be so, 

 but we must not say it is so, till it be proved. 



LXXXV. Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 



W E are informed that the extensive and valuable collection of 

 minerals of the Rev, Richard Hennah, late of St. Austell in 

 Cornwall, and which is now in the possession of his son the 

 Rev, R. Hennah of Plymouth, consisting of nearly 2000 speci- 

 mens of the most rare and curious productions of that county, 

 particularly of tins, is to be disposed of. 



NEW STEAM-BOAT, 



In addition to the steam-boat now plying between London 

 and Gravesend, a very fine vessel of this description has recently 

 commenced sailing between London and Margate. She is named 

 the Thames, was built at Port Glasgow from the plans furnished 

 by Mr. Robertson Buchanan, engineer, and is the same vessel 

 the drawings of which, with a description by Mr, Buchanan, 

 were given in a preceding number of the Philosophical Magazine, 

 The Thames previous to her arrival in the river had been navi- 

 gated from the Clyde to Ireland across the Irish channel, by the 

 Land's End, and round to Portsmouth and the Downs, a voyage 

 of 1500 miles, in perfect safety. 



WETKORO- 



