ba 2 a i 
* 
of course upon its distance from the eye. Now it is well known that 
_ expected to cross the Atlantic had sailed on the day before his arrly’ 
ok oe me 
es 
300 = =©Notices of Emment Men deceased in Great Britain. 
since the specific gravity of watery vapor (at common temperatures) is 
less than that of the air, it will ascend from the surface of the earth, 
until the decrease in the density and temperature of the atmosphere 
causes it to remain suspended in equilibrio; and this it may do too, in 
quantities insufficient to destroy the azure of thesky. From these facts, 
we very naturally conglude that (the medium of the atmosphere 
representing the glass,) the refraction caused by the particles of water, . 
suspended at a great distance in the air, will produce all the sa sek 
ances indicated by experiment. 
And it may be observed further, that the size and brightness of * 
“the halo will depend upon the distance of the vapor from the arly 
-and the quantity of it suspended in the air. 
a ae 
Art. XIT.—WNVotices of Eminent Men deceased in Great Britain. 
1. J. S. Minrer,* A. L.S. Curator of the Museum of the Bris 
tol Philosophical Institution, was a native of Dantzig, the only son 
of truly respectable parents. He was designed by his father for 
commercial pursuits, and served an apprenticeship with M. Dennies; 
amerchant of his native town. He came to England in 1801, with 
a full resolution of proceeding to America, and with letters of, ait gr. 
commendation to persons in that country. The vessel in which - 
_and being thus detained in Bristol, he formed connections by W# 
. s finally induced to‘alter his purpose and to fix his abode in 
: ‘this. city. Here he endeavored to establish himself in mercantile | 
business, but his effort re unsuccessful ; and it happened, sd 
tunately for his prospects ‘in life, that Dantzig was at this period ove 
run and pillaged by the French. His father’s property shar ee be 
common fate ; and of fifteen hundred pounds which had been left 
to Mr. Miller, nothing ever came into his possession except 2 cme 
valuable coins, which was concealed during two years in a an ‘| 
-and a very inconsiderable sum of money. He now devoted himse | 
entirely to scientific pursuits, for which he had shown a strong incli- 
nation from his early youth, and he soon acquired very extensive iD 
* Phil. Mag. for igor 1831. 
: : 
