Miscellanies. - Sr 
in this instance formed an alliance so friendly, that to our consternation 
as well as amusement, we were pursued to the very banks. We however 
escaped with but a slight scorching. We soon found means, however, to 
repeat the experiment with perfect impunity. This was done by selecting 
a position where the water was three or four feet deep, lying on our backs 
with our legs extended, and allowing no part of our persons to touch the 
bottom except the feet, over which the gas might be inflamed, and would 
continue to burn as long as the leaves were stirred beneath. In this way 
we could cause the flame to follow us several rods. By raising the feet 
at pleasure it would expire. Z; 
With this experience, we determined to repeat the experiment in the 
presence of the scholars. Their next visit to the pond was deferred till- 
evening, that darkness might render the phenomenon more imposing. 
The boys were simply informed that “ Master Moses was a going to set 
the river afire,” and that their assistance would be necessary to the sat- 
isfactory performance of the experiment. The usual preparation for 
bathing being made, some fifty of the less timid entered the water, with 
the injunction to step as lightly as possible till the pond was discovered to 
be on fire, when all would be at liberty to proceed as would best suit their 
inclinations. We soon came to a favorable spot, and the gas beginning 
to come up pretty freely, a lighted taper was brought near the surface, 
when in an instant a lambent flame played upon our unprotected bodies, 
and cast a gloomy light upon the surrounding forest, disclosing here and 
there amid the thick underbrush the pale faces of their shouting com- 
ions who remained upon the bank. In the hurry the injunction to 
step lightly was forgotten, and the general stir of the leaves which took 
place extricated the gas in such abundance that the flame rose several feet 
above our heads. As they separated from me I raised my feet from the 
bottom, and found it much more difficult to suppress my laughter than to 
extinguish the flames. ee — : ae c= : = oe 2 PES 
29. French Exploring Expedition to the Antarctic Regions—We 
are indebted to the polite attentions of J. Balestier, Esq., U. S. Con- 
sul at Singapore, for a copy of the “Singapore Free Press,” of July 
11, 1839, containing a translation of a sketch of the movements of 
the French Antarctic Expedition, under D’ Urville. The sketch was 
prepared by Commodore D’Urville for the Society of Arts and Sei- 
ences of Batavia, and was read June 19, 1839. 
The corvettes L’ Astrolabe and La Zelée sailed from Toulon, Sept. 
7, 1837, on the expedition above mentioned. They arrived at the 
Straits of Magellan, Dec. 12, where they remained twenty-eight 
days employed in*surveying, and in ethnographical investigations, 
and in making collections in natural history, and observations in nat- 
ural philosophy. Afterwards they*explored the entire eastern coast 
Vol. xxx1x, No. 1.—April-June, 1840. 26 
