Galvanic Deflagrator. 113 
possesses a fine silken fibre. It rates in the Italian market much 
higher than the flax commonly cultivated.—Can you inform me, 
sir, whether we enjoy this variety? 
I have often regretted the want of an senennibaal Jield for 
agricultural researches, such for instance as that at Padua, &c. 
Tn horticulture we begin to possess this valuable appendix. 
I have the honour to be, sir, 
Your most humble and very obedient servant, 
J. Murray. 
XXVII. On the Galvanic Deflagrator of Professor Ropert 
Hare, M.D. of the University of Pennsylvania, in a Letter 
to that Gentleman from the Editor of the American Journal 
of Science, 
fale College, Oct. 23, 1821. 
My DEAR Sir,—l was much impressed by your account of the 
Galvanic Deflagrator, and of the fine experiments which ‘you per- 
formed with it, as described in the third volume (p. 105) of the 
American Journal of Science*. By means of your kindness in 
sending me your original apparatus (the only one which, as far 
as I am informed, has hitherto been constructed) I had it in my 
power, early in the month of June, to repeat your experiments 
in my public course of lectures. Large numbers of intelligent 
persons attended, in addition te the classes, and the results gave 
great pleasure and satisfaction. My health being at that. time 
very feeble, it was not in my power to pursue the subjeet to the 
extent which I had intended; and expecting to resume it, I had 
postponed the writing of a notice of your instrument, hoping 
that by and by I could do it more to my own satisfaction. But 
as no one else appears to have repeated your experiments, I have 
concluded, even at this late moment, to throw a hasty notice into 
the Journal, although it has not been in my power to add any 
thing to the experiments performed in June. 
I can say with truth that I consider your Deflagrator+ as the 
finest present made to this department of knowledge, since the 
discovery of the Pile by Volta, and of the Trough by. Cruickshank. 
The vessels being filled with the fluid, beforehand, prevents any 
haste or confusion, and the advantage which your arrangement 
gives the operator, of immersing, at one quick movement, the 
whole of an extensive series, is very great. Being perfectly ready, 
and with the poles in his hand, the teacher only giving a signal 
to his assistant to immerse the coils, instantly directs the whole 
power to the desired point, and produces results, which, both in 
* See Phil. Mag. vol. lvii. 
+ Your Calorimotor I have never possessed, 
Vol 59, No, 286, Fel. 1822, P brillianey 
