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\ Nov. 3, 1881] NATURE 17 
THE eminent Italian geodesist, General Marquis J. Ricci, of 
Genoa, died at Novara on September 27, at the age of seventy 
years. The geodetic methods of Gauss, Bessel, and Baeyer were 
introduced into the geodetic work of Italy in great part through 
General Ricci, who was one of the original members and for 
long president of the Italian Commission for measuring the 
European degree. 
Ir is stated that Mr, Robert Hart, C.B., Inspector-General of 
Chinese Customs, is getting a series of elementary science works 
translated into Chinese. Many foreign books have already been 
translated into that language, but they have been intended either 
for the higher officials or for the students at the free Government 
schools. Mr. Hart however intends, it is said, to endeavour to 
have the present translations circulated amongst all classes of 
the people ; and his high official position would doubtless give 
him facilities for this purpose not possessed by any other foreign 
servant of the Chinese Government. It was, we believe, owing 
to the enlightened exertions of this gentleman that the Tungwe7, 
or Foreign College of Peking, was extended so as to embrace a 
scientific curriculum, as well as to train interpreters in foreign 
languages, which was its original aim. From a recent calendar 
it appears that this institution now has nine foreign professors, 
besides numerous native tutors, and is attended by 102 students. 
One department of the College is devoted to the preparation of 
books for the diffusion of scientific and general knowledge. 
This is said to haye been kept in view as a prominent object 
from the beginning. Among the scientific subjects taught we 
find chemistry, natural history, mathematics, animal physiology, 
and astronomy. Students who display conspicuous merit are 
entitled to the first step of the nine degrees of official rank. 
They are then appointed to the discharge of official functions in 
connection with some leading department of the Government, 
but they are required to continue their studies at the College 
as “‘resident graduates.” A complete course lasts for eight 
years, the first three of which are given exclusively to foreign 
languages, and the remainder to the acquisition of scientific 
and general knowledge. Most of the students, moreover, as 
they are intended for a special service, receive a stipend varying 
with the length of their study, but which never exceeds about 
3/.a month. This is certainly a good sign of the value attached 
‘by the rulers of China to Western knowledge; but everything 
does not present the same roseate hue in that country. We read 
that the line of telegraph erected from Soochow to Shanghai is 
being opposed by the agriculturists, who are placing all manner 
of obstacles.in the way of the workmen employed. They pull 
up and destroy the poles, thinking that they act against the 
Fheng-shui, or geomantic influence, and are likely to lead to 
spiritual complications. Troops are stated to have been de- 
spatched to protect the line. Doubtless in time these deeply- 
‘rooted prejudices, which stand so much in the way of real 
internal improvements in China, will pass away ; at present it 
must be acknowledged with regret that they are as living and 
active as ever. We notice that telephonic communication is 
about to be extensively employed in the large foreign settlement 
at Shanghai. 
Lovers of Japanese porcelain will be glad to hear, on the 
authority of the Consul-General of the United States in Japan, 
that the moderna productions will in time, if indeed they do not 
already, far surpass the older manufactures of Satsuma, Owari, 
Imari, and Kutani wares. The chief want of Japanese porcelain 
is regular symmetry in the pieces, and uniformity in a set or 
number of pieces, The absence of these is due, he says, to the 
fact, that machines or forms for moulding are not used, and the 
ovcns are so. defective that the heat is not evenly distributed. 
The native manufacturers are now manifesting much interest in 
the improvement of their wares. At one place the clay pits are 
said to have been worked fo: two thousand years or more, and 
the deposits seem scarcely more than scraped. Cobalt, used in 
colouring, is found in the same hills. The total value of the 
earthenware and porcelain exported from Japan to foreim 
countries during last year was valued at nearly one hundred 
thousand pounds sterling. 
WitH the Bilderschriften des Ostindischen Archipels und der 
Siidsee, Dr. A. B. Meyer begins the first part of a serial publica- 
tion, which promises to be of great value to anthropologists. 
The distinguished curator of the Dresden Zoological Museum 
has undertaken, with the assistance of the Department of the 
Arts and Sciences, to issue a series of fac-similes, photographic 
or otherwise, of the most important objects in the extensive col- 
lection entrusted to his charge. This first part of the compre- 
hensive project is devoted to the pictorial writings from Malaysia 
and the Pacific Islands, of which either the originals or exact 
copies are preserved in the Dresden Museum. As a detailed 
account of the series will be given on its completion, it will 
suffice here to state that the present number contains six folio 
photographic plates of the curious and hitherto undeciphered 
hieroglyphics or pictorial writings from North Celébes, the Pelew 
Islands and Easter Island. These are accompanied by eight 
folio pages of letterpress full of extremely interesting matter. 
For although no direct attempts are made-at interpreting the 
texts, all previous essays of any value are collected, as well as 
such local myths or legends as may be likely to suggest a key to 
the interpretation of the writings. These are partly on wooden 
tablets, partly on prepared bast, partly also on the lintels and 
doorposts of the native houses that have been brought bodily to 
Europe. That they are all true writings, and not merely so 
much conventional ornamental work, a careful study of these 
plates will convince the most sceptical. Both the illustrations 
and the letterpress are produced in the sumptuous style charac 
teristic of such publications in Germany. 
Tue Committee on Photometric Studies appointed by the 
Board of Trade, have issued their report. Among other things 
they recommend that, for the determination of the illuminating 
power of coal gas, the use of the sperm candle should be dis- 
continued, and that, for the future, Mr. Harcourt’s air-gas flame, 
as defined in the appendix to the report, should be employed 
instead, as a means of affording with constancy the light of one 
average sperm candle. And in the event of any other mode of 
measuring the illuminating power of coal gas, such for instance 
as some modification of Messrs. Keates and Sugg’s lamp or 
Mr. Methven’s limp being resorted to on account of its practical 
convenience, this other mode of measurement should be stan- 
dardised, and from time to time checked, by comparison with 
Mr. Harcourt’s air-gas flame, which should alone be taken as 
the official standard. The details of the experiments and 
evidence, on which the recommendations are based, are given 
in an appendix, These experiments were mostly conducted 
under the Cominittee’s direction by Mr. Harold B. Dixon, the 
secretary to the Comniittce. 
A JAMAICA correspondent writes that Mr. Maxwell Hall, 
M.A., F.R.A.S., has succeeded, with some aid from the Local 
Government, in establishing a regular system of meteorological 
observations throughout the island, and a summary of these is 
published monthly in the famaica Gazette. A daily telegram is 
also sent round the island, giving results of readings at the chief 
stations, and any premonitory hints that may be considered 
necessary in view of telegraphic information from the United 
States signal stations at Key West and Cuba. Thus both 
shipping and agri-ultural interests are well prepared for any 
storms or hurricanes that may be expected. ‘‘Mr, Maxwell 
Hall’s work,” our corresponde it writes, ‘‘ though not yet fully 
recoznised by the Government, is carried on in a most com- 
mendable spirit, and there is no doubt that wheu the benefits of 
regular and trustworthy meteorological observations areapparent, 
