1826.] Scientific Notices'— Miscellaneous. 153 



It consists essentially of the following parts : a Sun-dial, which 

 being affixed to a magnetic needle suspended in the usual way, 

 in such a manner as to allow for the effect of the variation, 

 adjusts itself in every position of the instrument, and the divi- 

 sions of the hours and their fractions on which are carried on to 

 an additional exterior circle correspondently divided ; and a 

 Fixed Circle, around the dial, on which are inscribed the names 

 of a number of places in every quarter of the world. By this 

 arrangement, the shadow of the gnomon, whilst it gives the 

 time at the place of observation, also gives it for any other place 

 required ; and a series of tables contained in an explanatory work 

 accompanying the instrument, extends its application to most 

 places of consequence on the globe. A rule is also given for 

 determining the longitude in degrees from the time. 



We like the plan of constructing introductory pieces of appa- 

 ratus like this, as they tend to habituate those who use them to 

 instrumental observation ; and we are convinced it may be much 

 and usefully extended. Whilst thus expressing our approbation 

 of such means of teaching the principles of science, we wish to 

 impress the minds of those persons who may bring them forward 

 with the necessity of taking up the subjects to be taught in their 

 most accurate form, — with every modern correction. Popular 

 science in this country is for the most part antiquated, and much 

 below the standard of the present day ; and this has arisen from 

 the erroneous and mischievous idea that it is unnecessary, for 

 such purposes, to notice the modern refinements, and sufficient 

 to give the "broad outline," as it is called : — but they who think 

 so, forget that the minute investigations of the present 

 century have, in many cases, materially altered the form of that 

 outline. We do not observe, however, any neglect of this kind 

 in the construction of the Pantochronometer ; and indeed its 

 adjustment for the variation of the needle is an instance of the 

 attention we recommend. 



8. French Voyage of Discovery. 



The Paris Academy of Sciences, in its sittings on Monday, 

 received a letter from the Minister of the Marine, announcing 

 that the corvette L'Astrolabe, Capt. Dumont de Durville, was 

 about to sail on a voyage of discovery, and requesting the 

 Academy to appoint a Commission to prepare such instructions 

 as might be judged expedient. The object of the expedition is 

 to explore certain parts of the globe, which are not sufficiently 

 well known, and particularly the coasts of New Guinea, and 

 those of New Zealand. A Commission, consisting of Messrs. 

 Cuvier, Arago, Delaplace, Desfontaines, Dulong, and Aubrone 

 de Rossel, was appointed in consequence. — Galiguani's Mes- 

 senger. 



