Foreign Literature and Science. 379 



ever so little aside, so as to touch the plumbago in its com- 

 mon state, or even that which has been ignited, without be- 

 ing fused, a vivid spark will instantly pass. This fact is the 

 more remarkal)le, because it is equally true of the intensely 

 black globules which are sensibly magnetic, and therefore 

 contain iron, as of the light colored and limpid ones, which 

 are not attractable. 



The globules of melted anthracite are also perfect non- 

 conductors. This may appear the less remarkable, because 

 the anthracite itself is scarcely a conductor; at least, this 

 is the common opinion, and it certainly is strictly true, 

 of that of Wilkesbarre and of that of Kilkenny ; for, 

 when both poles are tipped with those substances, there is 

 only a minute spark, which is but little augmented when 

 charcoal terminates one of the poles. But the fact is re- 

 markably the reverse with the Rhode-Island anthracite; 

 (his conducts quite as well as plumbago, and I think even 

 better, giving a very intense light, and bright scintillations. 

 I have now no doubt, that the deflragrator will melt it, but 

 have not had time to complete the trial. 



If it should be said that the conducting power of the R. I. 

 anthracite may be owing to iron, we are only the more em- 

 barrassed to account for the fact, thatits black melted globules 

 are insensible to the magnet, and are perfect non-conductors. 



It will now probably not be deemed extravagant, if we 

 conclude that our melted carbonaceous substances approx- 

 imate very nearly to the condition of diamond. — Ed. 



April 23, 1 823. 



17. JVezt) Journal. — The first No. of the Boston Journal of 

 Philosophy and the Arts will be published in the month of 

 May. 



18. Ittro Cerite. — Col. Gibbs has discovered the Ittro 

 Cerite at Franklin in New-Jersey. 



II. Foreign. 



1. Stereotype Edition of Newton's Principia. — A very el- 

 egant stereotype edition of the " Principia"* has made its 

 appearance from the University Press at Glasgow, conduct- 



*0f which a copy is now in our hands. 



