382 Notices respecting New Books. 
crystalline pallets exhibited evident polarity, and were affected 
by the approach of a fine steel plate. 
When the magnet is plunged into a solution of muriate of 
mercury, and the decomposition takes place which yields globules 
of fluid metallic mer cury, it will be seen that the action is most 
intense at the angles and base of the bar, and the reduction there 
more copious and prompt. ‘This phenomenon is manifested when 
a magnetic bar is rolled in iron filings ; for it will then be per- 
ceived that the quantity of adhering particles is much greater in 
these places than in other parts of the surface. 
It is an interesting spectacle to witness the reduction of mi- 
nute metallic balls around the poles, particularly the north and 
its base, with a square floor reflecting the form or impress of the 
inclined bar—the reduction commences at the edges, and is 
striking and beautiful. 
J. Murray. 
LXXIX. Notices respecting New Books. 
The Imperial Almanack ; or, Annual Compendium of Astrono- 
mical, Statistical, Scientific, and Interesting Information, for 
the Year of our Lord 1822. 
W: conceive it to be quite within the scope of our duty as 
journalists of science, to notice an Almanack which comes forth 
with any pretensions to the character of scientific. Most of the 
Almanacks published in this country are sad indications of the 
ignorance which still prevails among our peasantry, ignorance 
which can find gratification in the perusal of astrological pre- 
dictions, and which can tremble or rejoice in the expectation of 
events pretended to depend upon the mutual aspects of the moon 
and planets. Among the Almanacks published by the Stationers’ 
Company, there are a few exceptions to this censure; especially 
those widely-circulated productions the Ladies’ Diary, the Gen- 
ileman’s Diary, and White’s Ephemeris ; the latter of whieh, 
we are glad to observe, has lately received some valuable im- 
provements. 
The Imperial Almanack, to whose first number we now beg 
leave to draw the attention of our readers, presents several new 
and interesting features. The ca/endar part, which occupies 
24 pages, two to each month, exhibits all the usual matter of an 
Almanack, such as the lunations, the anniversaries, holidays, &¢. 
the times of rising and setting of the sun and moon, and of the 
moon’s southing; contains also, a column for the sun’s right 
ascension and declination; and comprises, instead of the usua 
column entitled ¢ equation of time,” one that shows dhe mean 
lime 
