394 Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 



but, on examination, it proves, by its form and angles, to be the Hv- 

 drolite of De Dice, or Gmelinite of Sir D. Brewster. The analysis of 

 Vauquelin gives silica 50, alumina 20, which agree nearly with the 

 proportions of the Nova Scotia mineral. Vauquelin, it is true, found 

 21 of water instead of 8.58 ; but as, perhaps, water may turn out to 

 be isomorphous with both lime and phosphoric acid, the two analyses 

 may, when expressed symbolically, appear to agree with each other 

 and with the theory; or there may be some error in one of the ana- 

 lyses. — Edit. ■ 



THE LATE THOMAS TREDGOLD, CIVIL ENGINEER. 



The application of the practical sciences to the manufacturing and 

 commercial interests of the empire — forming so remarkable a feature 

 in its appearance — has given to the present age a command over the 

 material world unparalleled in the history of mankind. For the advan- 

 tages attending this gigantic power, in the use of which this country- 

 is so preeminently distinguished above all other nations, the British 

 public is deeply indebted to a " self-created set of men" called into 

 action by the progressive changes in its political condition — the Civil 

 Engineers of Great Britain — the constructors of those "grand and 

 varied works" which, for boldness of design and skill in execution, 

 will be had in remembrance even when the traces of their existence may 

 have been done away. 



The exercise of a profession in a country sensible of its importance 

 has generally been attended with emolument proportionate, at least, 

 to the magnitude of the works which its followers have been called 

 upon to construct ; but when the engineer has been employed in the 

 investigation of principles forming the basis or tending to the improve- 

 ment of his practice, the pecuniary remuneration thence resulting 

 has too frequently been very inferior, not only to the value of his la- 

 bours, but even to the time which they have occupied. 



From this cause, the personal friends of the late Mr. Tredgold, a 

 once valuable member of this body, are desirous of making more ex- 

 tensively known the merits of a man whose writings are of such interest 

 in his profession, but whose early death has left his family in a state 

 bordering upon destitution. The testimony of approbation which his 

 works have received from the most able engineers and scientific pro- 

 fessors here, and in America, where they are well known and much 

 valued, and also in Fr.ince, where many of them have been translated 

 and published, conduces powerfully to support an appeal, founded on 

 the justice due to talent on the one hand, and to the discernment and 

 disposition of those to whom it is addressed on the other, and made 

 with the conviction that they will be as ready to relieve, as they are 

 able to appreciate, the difficulties and distresses of " unassuming 

 worth." 



The life of an individual endowed with the spirit of scientific in- 

 quiry, but prevented by circumstances from indulging it, except in 

 the hours when nature calls for repose, is usually too deficient in 

 incident to be generally interesting. The following brief account is 

 therefore presented to the reader, in the hope that it may excite his 

 sympathy. If the subject of it be known to him, his indulgence is 

 asked for its brevity ; if otherwise, it is requested for its length. 



