314 



Scientific Intelligence. 



[Oct 



RAIN. 



VI. Scientific Establishments in Ireland. 

 It is with great satisfaction we notice the successful exertions 

 which are made, even in the provincial cities of Ireland, to culti- 

 vate intellect, and advance and diffuse knowledge. For these 

 purposes, there have been already created in Cork three public 

 establishments : a chartered institution, with library, lecturers, 

 apparatus, laboratory, museum, botanic garden, &c. &c. ; also a 

 public library, containing many thousand volumes in every 

 department of literature, science, and the arts ; but the esta- 

 blishment which indicates more than either of these the 

 increasing intellectual excellence of that city, is " The Cork 

 Philosophical and Literary Society," the members of which have 

 frequent meetings for the purposes of reading and discussing the 

 topics contained in essays written by some of their own body. 

 The only subjects excluded are party-politics and religious con- 

 troversy. It is evident that the Institution and the Library have 

 sown the seed which is now bearing such luxuriant fruit in the 

 Philosophical and Literary Society, the excellent papers of which, 

 and the animated, interesting, and learned discussions they pro- 

 duce, will be alike beneficial and honourable to the citizens of 

 Cork, and soon to the people of Ireland. 



VII. Volatility of Oxide of Lead. 

 I am not certain whether chemists are aware of the great 

 ' volatility of the protoxide of lead. I find that 1 can sublime it 



and extending to the E. The height included an angle of nearly 40° from the 

 earth. The columns moved regularly but slowly to the N.E. when the close of 

 evening prevented further observation. On inquiry, the following morning, of 

 some persons who lived in the direction of the cloud, I found it had been accom- 

 panied with heavy rain, a rushing sound like a waterfall, and a grayish mist, 

 which, however, soon passed off. 



