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 XIX. Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 



SOUNDING RAPID CURRENTS. 



To the Editors of the Philosophical Magazine and Journal. 



Gentlemen, 



SEEING an account, which is making the tour of the newspapers, of 

 an attempt to sound the depths of Niagara, which failed in con- 

 sequence of the great velocity of the stream not allowing the plumb 

 to sink, it struck me that that which could not be accomplished by 

 main force might be done by a very simple contrivance. 



The principle on which a schoolboy's common kite mounts in the air, 

 overcoming the law of gravity, is well known ; and I should think that 

 an apparatus constructed on the same principle, and perhaps of a 

 like form but much smaller, and strongly made of iron, would by 

 the action of the current of water be forced to the bottom of the 

 river. All boys know that the stronger the breeze, the higher the 

 kite flies. The depth might be easily determined by the angle of 

 the detaining chain or wire with the surface of the water. I merely 

 throw out the hint, hoping it may perhaps lead to the invention of 

 some apparatus that will overcome the difficulty. 



I enclose a rough diagram, and remain. Sirs, 



Your obedient Servant, 



W. SOWERBV.. 



Surface of water 



A. Kite, strongly made of thick carrying the scale D, with a 



sheet iron. pointinp; needle weighted to 



B. Detaining chain or wire. keep perpendicular. 



C. Reel fixed at the end of bar E. Chain and hook to attach the 



apparatus to the shore or bridge. 



ON A FALL OF METEORIC STONES AT BREMEWORDE IN HANOVER. 

 BY M. WOHLER. 



On the 13th of May last, at 5 o'clock in the afternoon, a very 

 remarkable fall of meteoric stones was observed near Bremeworde, 



