230 Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 



ten days numerous rhomboidal crystals, resembling those of the cave: 

 in order to ascertain whether light had any influence in the process, 

 he tried it again in a dark cellar, and produced similar crystals in six 

 days, with one fourth of the voltaic power. He had repeated the 

 experiments a hundred times, and always with the same results. He 

 was fully convinced that it was possible to make even diamonds, and 

 that at no distant period every kind of mineral would be formed by 

 the ingenuity of man. By a variation of his experiments he had 

 obtained green and blue carbonate of copper, phosphate of soda, and 

 20 or 30 other specimens, 



Mr. Crosse having also observed in a cavern in the Quantock Hills 

 near his residence that the part of it which consisted of slate was 

 studded with crystals of arragonite, while the limestone part was 

 covered with crystals of ordinary carbonate of lime, or calcareous 

 spar, subjected portions of each of these substances in water to long- 

 continued galvanic action, and obtained from the-, 



r -:^n 



Slate Limestone 



I I 



Crystals of Arragonite. Calcareous Spar. 



Itwas mentioned to the Section on the followingday, that although 

 no doubt could be entertained of the independence and originality 

 of Mr. Crosse's experiments, yet that he had been anticipated, in 

 the artificial production of many of the crystallized bodies which he 

 had formed, by M. Becquerel, and some other French chemists. 



AURORA BOREALIS OBSERVED IN THE ISLE OF WIGHT, ON 

 AUGUST 10th. 



An aurora borealis was observed at Ryde, Isle of Wight, on the 

 night of Wednesday the lOth instant (August), which for its inten- 

 sity, its occurrence so far south, and at such a time of the year, is 

 worth recording. It was first observed about half-past eleven 

 o'clock. There was the usual dark band upon the horizon under 

 the magnetic north, and to some distance right and left of that point : 

 at intervals of time the space above this became luminous, like a glow 

 of twilight, and this broke out into columns, nearly upright, but in- 

 clining above to the east, and, as far as could be judged by the eye, 

 parallel to each other, and not convergent to the zenith or any other 

 point in the heavens. They were gradually transferred by a slow mo- 

 tion from west to east, and generally ended by assuming a fine red co- 

 lour. The appearance continued for an hour or more, but about 

 one o'clock all had resumed the ordinary state. The stars were out, 

 twinkling very much, and falling stars were observed frequently on 

 that and the three or four preceding evenings. M, F. 



ON the reducing powers of arsenious acid. 

 BY g. bonnet, ornshagen, pomerania. 

 When arsenite of copper is put into a solution of caustic potash 

 or soda the colour of the mixture turns to a yellowish brown. This 

 effect takes place at ordinary temperatures, quicker or slower ac- 

 cording to the strength of the alkali; upon application of heat the 

 process is hastened and perfected. The same effect also occurs 



