406 



If the wax be spread thin upon glass and exposed to the action of 

 light, its colour is rendered paler ; but the author has not yet suc- 

 ceeded in bleaching it effectually. 



Sulphuric acid changes the colour of the wax to a pale brown ; and 

 if heat be applied, the decomposition usual with such substances 

 takes place, with extrication of sulphurous acid gas, and decompo- 

 sition of charcoal. 



Though cold acetic acid has very little action on it, yet when boiled 

 upon it for a very long time, it appeared to have rendered it nearly 

 white ; but when the wax was afterwards washed with water and 

 fused, it resumed its former colour. 



When it is fused in oxymuriatic gas, muriatic acid and water are 

 formed, and charcoal is deposited. 



Though Mr. Brande's attempts to bleach this wax have not hitherto 

 completely succeeded, yet since it has been rendered nearly white by 

 the usual method of exposure to light after the action of nitric acid 

 upon it, there seems no reason to suppose that it might not be per- 

 fectly bleached by exposure for a sufficient length of time. 



With respect to its combustion in the form of candles, the author's 

 trials have been very satisfactory. When the wick is duly propor- 

 tioned, the combustion is as perfect and uniform as that of any other 

 wax ; and when about one sixth or one tenth of tallow is added to 

 it, the brittleness which this wax has in its natural state is removed, 

 without communicating to it any unpleasant odour, or impairing the 

 brilliancy of the flame. 



Astronomical Observations relating to the Construction of the Heavens, 

 arranged for the Purpose of a critical Examination, the Result of 

 which appears to throw some new Light upon the Organization of 

 the celestial Bodies. By William Herschel, LL.D. F.R.S. Read 

 June 20, 1811. [Phil. Trans. 1811,^. 269.] 



Dr. Herschel, having repeatedly re-examined many of the nebu- 

 lous appearances which he has formerly described, finds that these 

 objects may be arranged in a certain order of regular succession, so 

 as to be viewed in a new light ; and in consequence of these views, 

 his opinions respecting the inferences to be drawn from the pheno- 

 mena have undergone a gradual change, especially with regard to the 

 possibility of resolving many of them into stars, as he had formerly 

 supposed might be done by telescopes of higher power than he had 

 yet employed. 



His present arrangement begins with the appearances of diffused 

 nebulosity. Of these he has determined the positions and magnitudes 

 of 52 in number, the aggregate extent of which amounts to 150 square 

 degrees ; and since the depth of each may be supposed nearly equal 

 to the length or breadth, the total amount of luminous matter con- 

 tained in the small proportion of infinite space which we see, exclu- 

 sive of that which is too dilute to be visible, exceeds all calculation. 



Of these nebulous diffusions, the intensity of the light is not 



