Foreign Literature and Science. i93 
translated into many languages. Notwithstanding his great 
age, M. Breislak never ceased to communicate to the insti- 
tute of Milan his various memoirs. By direction of the gov- 
ernments, he published in 1822 his beautiful Geological de- 
scription of the Province of Milan; and he was engaged in 
a similar work upon the country between the Verbano and 
the Lario, when death interrupted his researches. A mine- 
ralogical cabinet, formed by this philosopher, has excited the 
admiration of all amateurs who have seen it, and of the Em- 
peror himself. It was granted by M. Breislak to the illustri- 
ous house of Borromeus.—IJdem. 
12. Preservation of Walls from Dampness.—In a recent — 
memoir by D’Arcet and Thenard, it is satisfactorily shown 
that a composition of one part of wax and three parts of oil 
boiled with a tenth of its weight of litharge, spread over the 
wall in a melted state, is a durable and effectual 
then more effectually absorbed. Surfaces of plaster, or gyp- 
If the cost of wax is an object of importance, resin may be 
used as a substitute. One part of drying oil, and two or 
t parts of rosin, form a suitable composition. They 
may be melted together in an iron or earthern vessel, taking 
care to manage the heat soas to prevent boiling over. 
Statues of plaster may be safely exposed to the weather, if 
VOL. XIL. NO. 1. 25 
