1817.) Scientific Intelligence. 165 
empire, should in a mineralogical point of view be still almost un- 
known. There is every reason to expect that this defect will now 
be remedied. Sir John Malcolm has taken with him to India Mr. 
Laidlaw, a gentleman educated as a civil engineer, and an excellent 
practical mineralogist and geologist, with the avowed intention of 
examining the country. We may anticipate from the labours of 
this gentleman numerous discoveries, which cannot but prove inte- 
resting to the scientific world, and of great importance to our Indian 
empire, from the new sources of wealth which they may disclose. 
XV. Queries respecting a Mode of stopping Fermentation. 
(To Dr. Thomson.) 
SIR, Bath, Jan, 4, 1816. 
I have been very frequently applied to by some friends (in the 
cider counties) for a method by which the fermentation of liquors 
may be stopped at pleasure. Being no chemist myself, I venture 
to address this question to you: should there be no such method at 
present known, it might be a subject worthy the attention of some 
of your chemical correspondents. A discovery of this nature would 
(if not too expensive) be of infinite value in the cider counties, as 
thousands of hogsheads might be saved, which are now annually 
spoiled by the fermentation proceeding too far. I believe one of 
the most common expedients now in use for checking it, or, to use 
the country phrase, for preserving the sweets, is to rack it repeat- 
edly from one cask to another, and to suspend a lighted rag, pre- 
viously dipped in sulphur, ina barrel half full of the cider, and by 
means of agitation to impregnate the liquor with the smoke arising 
from it; but this method is at least very uncertain and imperfect, 
and requires more attention (particularly in the racking) than can 
generally be spared to it. 
I have long wished to call the attention of some of your corres- 
pondents to this subject, but have hitherto been deterred, from the 
fear of troubling you with what, perhaps, might be beneath your 
notice. Ihave, however, ventured to write this; and can only 
say that, should I be thought troublesome in so doing, I must plead 
ignorance, anda wish to do good to a numerous class of individuals, 
as my excuse. 
I beg also you will do me the honour to insert this letter either 
in your Annals, or into your fire, as may appear to you to be its 
most proper destination. 
I have the honour to remain, 
Sir, your most obedient humble servant, 
E. S. Srranewayes. 
XVI. Queries respecting New Holland. 
(To Dr. Thomson.) 
SIR, 
In consequence of reading in the Times newspaper an account of 
