Miscellaneous Intelligence. 459 



m Inch on the '28th of April, 1828, fell io with five icebergs in latitude 37" 31'S , 

 longitude 18° 17' E. of Greenwich. Thev had the appearance ot church 

 Steeples, of a height from 250 to 300 feet; and the sea broke so violently 

 against these enormous masses, that it was at first suspected they might be 

 fixed on some unknown shoal, until, on sounding, no bottom could be dis- 

 covered. 



It is remarkable, that, in general, icebergs seem to he met with in low 

 latitudes nearly at the same period of the year, namely, in April or May, in 

 hoth the northern and southern hemispheres, although the seasons are 

 reversed in these two divisions of the globe. In order to account for the 

 origin and accretion of the southern icebergs, the author thinks it probable, 

 that there exists a large tract of land near the 20th degree of east longitude, 

 whence these icebergs have been carried in a IS. and N.E. direction, by the 

 united forces of current, wind, and waves, prevailing from S.S.W. and S.W. 

 Bouvet's and Thompson's islands are not of sufficient magnitude ; and 

 Sandwich land and Kergueliu's island are too remote to be the source of the 

 icebergs lately observed in the vicinity of the Cape. From their unprece- 

 dented descent during the last two years, it is most probable that the dis- 

 ruption of these masses of ice from the places qf their formation, was the 

 effect of some powerful cause, or rare occurrence, such us au earthquake or 

 volcano, which has burst forth and convulsed the inaccessible regions of 

 the south; leaving no other testimonials of the event, than gome few frag- 

 ments of ke, scattered at a distance in the Indian Ocean,— ('apt Hw-Oiiryh, 

 Royal Society, London, 



ASTRONOMY. 



" Within these few days has arrived, a first series of standard transit ob- 

 servations made by Mr. Fallowes, at the Cape Observatory. They are as 

 yet unpublished. Knowing, however, intimately as I do, and having wit- 

 nessed his early Astronomical career, I may be permitted to felicitate you 

 on their arrival, confident that whatever comes from him will be honorable 

 to his country, for it will be worthy of himself." — ('Speech of the President 

 of the Astronomical Society, London, Feb. 12, 1830J 



A simple and ingenious method of determining the mass of the Moon, by 

 observing the right ascension of the bright limb of Venus, has been proposed 

 by Professor Airy, with a request, that the society would use their influence 

 in obtaining for it, an extensive circulation. Copies have accordingly been 

 forwarded to every public and private Observatory in Europe.— fKcport of 

 the Astronomical Society for 1829J 



Approach of Stars to the Moon. — Numerous and excellent observations 

 of Aldebaran, have already been communicated. In some instances the star 

 appeared instantaneously after the bisection of its disc by the moon's limh, 

 while in others the projection lasted nearly six seconds. It does not appear 

 I hat a sensible diminution of brightness was perceived previous to immer- 

 sion. When a sufficient number of well-attested appearances has been coL 

 lected, it may be possible to accoftnt for the anomalies which have hitherto 

 been so perplexing. The attention of Astronomers towards this interesting 

 phenomenon is earnestly requested during the present year. Neither should 

 the predicted occultations of other stars be nej-lected by observers. It is 

 from them that the most accurate determinations of longitude are in the 

 generality of cases to be obtained.— lb. 



MEDICINE. 

 Mr. Leroux has discovered in Willow-bark (of Salix helix), a crystalizablc 

 principle, possessing the febrifuge property to such a degree, as to approach 

 that possessed by the sulphate of Quinine, — announced as one of the most 

 important discoveries lately made in therapeutics.— Acad. Sciences, Paris. 



Siamese Youths.— They are both of the same height, namely, five feet 

 two inches; and their united weight is one ISO lbs. They have not the broad 

 and flat forehead so characteristic of the Chinese race'; but they resemble 

 llic lower class of the people of Canton in the colour of their skins and the 

 form of their features. Their bodies and limbs are well made. The band of 

 union is formed by the prolongation and junction of the ensiform cartilagi s 

 of each, which meet the middle of the upper part of the band, and form 



