314 Spodumene. — Fbior Spar, 



A work of such consequence, when printed, should not be placed 

 tinder one roof, but sheet by sheet, as they are worked off, ought 

 to be separated in two or three divisions, and placed in different 

 buildings, in order to preclude a total loss by fire, and conse- 

 quently not deprive the public of the temporary use of that valu- 

 able guide. 



Four davs ago I had occasion to inspect the Nautical Almanack 

 for the present year, previous to observing the transit of the sun, 

 in order to erect a sun-dial in my garden; but, to my surprise, I 

 was told that the last edition of the Nautical Almanack for 1819 

 was all sold, and not a copy to be procured, nor would another 

 edition be printed, as the year would soon end ! — For the safety 

 of lives and property, and for the honour of our country, 1 trust this 

 is not the case, although I have made several applications for an 

 Almanack, and received similar replies. Perhaps the publisher 

 may consider it of little or no benefit to him, to print another 

 edition of the Nautical Almanack s^o late in the year; but as there 

 are two months and twenty-two days (or eighty -three days) of the 

 year unexpired from the time that the last edition of the Almanack 

 was sold off, and consequently out of print, it becomes a matter 

 of serious importance and regret, that all the British shipping de- 

 stined on foreign voyages, which sail between the 7th of October 

 1819 and the 1st of January 1820, must for the greater part grope 

 their way bv dead reckoning, (as in the infant statel of naviga- 

 tion,) if they cannot procure the Connoissance des Temps from 

 France, or some other equivalent from theContinent ! — A remedy 

 ought certainly to be provided bv the Commissioners of Longi- 

 tude for these irregularities in the publication of a work so ne- 

 cessary to the safety of navigation as the Nautical Almanack. 



I am, sir, yours obediently, 



An Observer. 



SPODUMENE. — FLUOR SPAR. 



We understand that spodumene was discovered last year by 

 Dr. MacCulloch on the west coast of Scotland. It occurs em- 

 bedded in granite, and may now be added to the list of British 

 minerals, which has of late received such large accessions by 

 his exertions, and by that of other mineralogists in this country. 



We are also informed that he has discovered fluor spar in se- 

 veral parts of Aberdeenshire. It is almost always found in veins 

 traversing granite ; generally accompanied by quartz, and some- 

 times bv galena. At Abergeldie it occurs crystallized in the 

 most common form of cubes, and of various colours, blue-pur- 

 ple, crimson-purple, green, and white. The green varieties 

 present a remarkable property, which has not yet called forth 

 the attention of mineralogists j becoming white, or colourless, 



by 



