Foreign Literature and Science. 383 
XIX. New Work on Geology.—Mr. John Finch purposes to 
publish by subscription, sir Thirodtiction to thee Stad of 
Geology, containing some account of the Coal Mines of 
Pennsylvania, with a Geological Profile of the country be- 
tween Philadelphia and Sunbury on the Susquehanna. 
work is to be comprised in an octavo volume of between one 
m9 bie hundred pages: price to subscribers one dollar in 
voards, 
Il. FOREIGN. 
1. Foreign Literature and Science, extracted and translated 
by Prof. J. Griscom. 
1. Electricity. Ponderable matter transported by the 
electric currents. —A variety of experiments were made by 
M. Fusinienrt, to ascertain whether any portion of the mat- 
ter from which the electric discharge proceeds, is conveyed 
by the current. The discharge of two large jars was 
between balls of silver, gold, brass, &c. over polished disks 
of different metals. By the spots which appeared upon the 
disks, and also upon the balls, after each discharge, it was evi- 
dent there is a real transport of ponderable matter by the 
electric spark. This matter is reduced to such a state of 
division, that it assumes the character of volatile substances. 
Even the gold, which was deposited in the form of an ex- 
tremely thin and continuous leaf or coating, began in a few 
minutes to become more rare, and totally di d in the 
course of a few days. It appears therefore probable, that the 
light of the spark is due to the pressure of ponderable mole- 
ich the electricity detaches from the hardest bodies. 
This may also account for the various colours of the spark, 
with the nature of the body, the rea- 
gon of which has not before been stated. ~The light, even 
in a vacuum, between the poles of a voltaic pile, is owing, 
to the solid particles, forced along by the elec- 
The odour diffused by the electricity of our 
machines, and by the thunder of the clouds, is but the odour 
