440 Miscellaneous Intelligence. 



ship, too, so universal throughout the ancient world, may be traced in 

 the remains of the Mississippi valley, as well as many coincidences, as 

 interesting as they are remarkable. Dissertations on these will accom- 

 pany the work. We cannot close our remarks without speaking of the 

 gentlemen who are engaged in the work. Dr. Davis has, for fifteen 

 years, been a resident of Chillicothe, during which time he has been a 

 close observer, and has collected many valuable relics from the mounds. 

 Mr. Squier removed to the same place a few years since, when a more 

 thorough system of survey and examination of the earth-works was 

 commenced. A number of laborers were employed, and when the 

 weather permitted, these gentlemen were in the field with their spades, 

 surveying instruments, and sketch-book. For three years they have 

 been incessantly engaged in their work. From a personal acquaintance 

 with Mr. Squier, we do not hesitate to say that the exploration and sur- 

 vey of our ancient remains could not have fallen into better hands. 

 Combined with a perseverance in the undertaking, and enthusiasm for 

 the subject, he is an accomplished draughtsman and surveyor; an evi- 

 dence of which may be seen in the splendid and numerous surveys and 

 drawings with which his portfolios are filled. 



11. Prospectus of the Publication of a New Series of the Journal 

 of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, (issued by the 

 Acad.) — The publication of this Journal having been unfavorably sus- 

 pended for several years, it is now proposed to resume it in a New 

 Series, to commence about the middle of the present year. 



The first part containing about eighty pages in quarto form, will be 

 issued in September, and the work will be continued thereafter semi- 

 annually, so that two parts will appear each year, or four in two years, 

 which will form a volume. 



The work will be printed on fine paper, with ample lithographic and 

 other illustrations, at $5 per volume, or $1 25 for each part. 



The printed Proceedings of the Society will be distributed to sub- 

 scribers to the Journal free of charge, during the period of their sub- 

 scription. 



12. On the Discovery of Gun- Cotton; by Professor Schcenbein, 

 (Archives des Sciences Phys ; ques et Naturelles; L., E. and D. Phi . 

 Mag., vol. xxxi, p. 7.)— The su 1 stance to which I have given m Ger- 

 man the name of schiesswolle, and in English that of gun-cotton, 

 having excited a lively curiosity, it may be interesting to the scu f nti r 

 world to become acquainted with some details of the way in wnicn 

 was first led to its discovery. f , 



The results of my researches on ozone led me in the course ot 

 last two years to turn my attention particularly to the oxyds of m r^ 

 gen, and principally to nitric acid. The numerous experiments I a ^ 

 made on this subject have led me, as I have stated in detail in |* jp e 

 dorfFs Annalen, to adopt a peculiar hypothesis on the so-called hy ra 

 of nitric acid, sulphuric acid, &c, as well as on the normal nitra i 

 sulphates, &c. f m . 



For a long time I had entertained doubts as to the existence ot ^ 

 pound bodies of this nature, which cannot be isolated, and wn»c ^ 

 stated to be capable of existing only in combination with ce f lal V j n . 

 substances ; for a long time also I had come to the notion that 



