"No. 216.] 337 



Mr. I. D. Williamson remarked that he had noticed the same ef- 

 fects, for a distance of five or ten miles up the Hudson, and men- 

 tioned a particular instance where a quantity of vines were entirely 

 ruined — the leaves being almost eaten up. In this case, a heavy 

 shower had occurred at the time of the ignition of the kiln, when 

 the greatest quantity of gas was evolved; the effect on the plants, 

 was that they were riddled, as though the gas had dropped immedi- 

 ately through them. 



Mr. Aycrigg described the process of burning lime with coal, 

 practiced very extensively in Pennsylvania, and no evil perceived; 

 he could hardly imagine that anthracite coal would have that effect; 

 although it may be, he merely wished to mention the fact that the 

 inhabitants of the region to which he referred, had never perceived 

 any injury. 



Col. Clark explained this by saying, that some coals do not con- 

 tain sulphur, it is distilled off during the transformation from bitu- 

 minous to anthracite coal. 



Mr. Meigs here read some papers from M. Vattemare, addressed 

 to the American Institute, relative to still another international ex- 

 change, that of the new inventions of both hemispheres. Mr. Meigs 

 stated the object of these exchanges; defining it as an interchange 

 of valuable works between different nations, without the least refer- 

 €nce to their respective value. 150 volumes, on all matters pertain- 

 ing to agriculture and rural economy, have been presented by M 

 Vattemare, to the American Institute alone; and for this all that is 

 asked in exchange, is a set of the transactions of the Institute. And 

 now the French government announces its intention to exchange, 

 through the same gentleman, models of all the new inventions and 

 discoveries of Europe and America; and has reduced the price for 

 patents down to $20, and thus endeavors to induce all nations to 

 adopt the plan. 



Agency of International Exchanges. ) 

 New- York, October 7, 1847. ) 



To the President of the American Institute : 



Dear Sir — Enclosed please find a copy of a letter written by M. 

 Vattemare to you concerning International Exchanges — and he de- 

 sires me to say that it was his intention to have left for Albany on 



£Am. Inst.J W 



