314 Inlelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 



Mr. Mac MuUin continued his experiments to discover the source 

 of the chlorine, and concludes " that the chlorine combined with 

 the black oxide is in the state of chloric acid ; and that the native 

 oxide is, at least in part, and probably in proportions varying with 

 the different specimens of the ore, a native chlorate of manganese." 



I had prepared some observations, and at considerable length, 

 to prove that the author of the above paper has been completely 

 misled by forced analogies and erroneous experiments ; but it af- 

 terwards occurred to me, that it would be better to show in a few 

 words, the real source of the chlorine in question, the evolution of 

 which from peroxide of manganese I had noticed, some time pre- 

 vious to the publication of Mr. Mac Mullin's paper. 



I procured first some common peroxide of manganese, a second 

 and pure specimen from Warwickshire, and a third crystallized va- 

 riety from Germany : these were reduced to powder, and on the 

 addition of sulphuric acid, chlorine was evolved from each. I then 

 washed separate portions of them with distilled water ; and on the 

 addition of nitrate of silver to the washings, chloride of silver was 

 immediately precipitated : sulphuric acid being poured upon the 

 washed peroxide, no chlorine whatever was evolved ; but being un- 

 willing to trust merely to my own observation, I added sulphuric 

 acid to an unwashed portion and to one which had been washed ; — 

 a by.stander immediately detected the odour of chlorine in the 

 former, but not in the latter case. 



To determine the nature of the salt from which the chlorine was 

 evolved, I evaporated a portion of the washings very low, in order 

 that, if any common salt were present, it might crystallize. I was, 

 however, unable to procure any of it; sulphuretted hydrogen indi- 

 cated no appearance of any metallic muriate, but oxalate of ammo- 

 nia showed that lime was present, and nitrate of barytes gave sul- 

 phate. I conclude therefore that the native peroxide of manganese 

 usually contains a small admixture of muriate and sulphate of lime. 

 — R. P. 



ARRIVAL OF MAJOR LAING AT TIMBUCTOO. 



We are happy to learn that letters have been received from 

 Major Laing, dated subsequent to his arrival at Timbuctoo ; but 

 by some oversight, the particular date is not inserted. The state 

 of this city, so much talked of, and so much sought after by Euro- 

 peans, together with the rivers and the country adjoining, will soon 

 be made known, and by a hand fully able for the work. We re- 

 gret, however, by these letters to learn that, instead of proceeding 

 down the river Niger, as he intended. Major Laing intends return- 

 ing home by way of Tripoli. What has occasioned this change in 

 his route, whether ill-health, or finding insurmountable obstacles to 

 his progress eastward and southward, we have not heard, and can- 

 not take upon ourselves to determine. — Glasgoui Courier. 



HYBERNATION OF THE BLACK ANT. 

 On the 18th of January a large elm-tree, to all appearance sound, 

 was cut down on the estate of Mr. Baden Powell of Lackington 



