22S hitelligetice and Miscellaneous Articles. 



is an account by Mr. Wiseman of the formation of pyrites in tlie 

 Mere of Diss, a piece of water containing a vast quantity of mud de- 

 rived from the streets of the town, where it has been accumulating 

 for ages. Mr. Hatchett, who examined both the pyrites and the water 

 in which it was produced, remarks that " to Mr. Wiseman's obser- 

 vations we are much indebted, as they make known the recent and 

 daily formation of martial pyrites, and other ores, under certain cir- 

 cumstances. It is not to be supposed," he continues," that such effects 

 are local, or peculiar to Diss Mere ; on the contrary, there is reason 

 to believe that similar effects on a large scale have been and are now 

 daily produced in many places. The pyrites in coal mines have, pro- 

 bably, in great measure thus originated." Mr. Hatchett makes other 

 and similar observations, which it is not requisite that I should copy. 

 Another instance of the recent formation of sulphuret of iron from 

 solution is detailed by Mr. Pepys in the Transactions of tlie Geolo- 

 gical Society, vol. i. p. 399. Observing some oily matter and hairs on 

 the surface of a solution of sulphate of iron which had remained un- 

 disturbed for about twelve months, he poured off the solution, and 

 found " at the bottom of the vessel a sediment consisting of the 

 bones of several mice, of small grains of pyrites, of sulphur, of cry- 

 stallized green sulphate of iron, and of black muddy oxide of iron." 

 Instead then of. supposing that electricity had any share in the pro- 

 duction of this effect, I agree entirely with the observation of Mr. 

 Pepys, that " these appearances may with much probability be attri- 

 buted to the mutual action of the animal matter, and the sulphate of 

 iron, by which a portion of the metallic salt seems to have been en- 

 tirely deoxygenated." — R. P. 



SIR Hu:\rrHRY davy and dr. woli.aston. 



The following eloquent and accurate estimate of the powers of the 

 above-named illustrious and lamented philosophers, is given by Dr. 

 Henry in the Preface to the eleventh edition (just published) of his 

 excellent work. The Elements of Experimental Chemistry: — a work 

 which we again strenuously recommend to every cultivator of the sci- 

 ence of which it treats. 



" It is impossible to direct our views to the future improvement of 

 this wide field of science, without deeply lamenting the privation, 

 which we have lately sustained, of two of its most successful culti- 

 vators. Sir Humphry Davy and Dr. Wollaston, — at a period of life, 

 too, when it seemed reasonable to have expected, from each of them, 

 a much longer continuance of his invaluable labours. To those high 

 gifts of nature, wliich are the characteristics of genius, and which con- 

 stitute its very essence, both those eminent men united an unwearied 

 industry and zeal in research, and habits of accurate reasoning, with- 

 out which even the energies of genius are inadequate to the achieve- 

 ment of great scientific designs. With these excellencies, common 

 to both, they were nevertheless distinguishable by marked intellectual 

 peculiarities. Bold, ardent, and enthusiastic, Davy soared to greater 

 heights J he commanded a wider horizon ; and his keen vision pene- 

 trated to its utmost boundaries. His imagination, in the highest de- 

 gree 



