Miscellanies. 201 



in the same manner. The instruction will be conducted by the pro- 

 fessors and assistants of the school, and will consist of lectures and 

 examinations on the following subjects ; viz. Mineralogy, Geology,* 

 Botany, Zoology, Chemistry, Experimental Philosophy and Practical 

 Mathematics, particularly Land Surveying, Harbor Surveying and 

 Engineering. Applications will be made, by direct inspection of 

 rocks and minerals in place, plants and minute animals in their native 

 localities, the works of the engineer in actual operation, the labors of 

 the agriculturist, he. One of the largest boats belonging to the flo- 

 tilla is to be furnished with a suitable chemical and philosophical ap- 

 paratus, and cabinets in mineralogy and geology ; a reading room, 

 also, is intended to contain such scientific books as are deemed re- 

 quisite for the course. Students of the course will be taught the 

 method of procuring specimens in natural history, and required to 

 make collections of whatever is interesting upon the route. 



16. Production of Hydro-cyanic [Prussic] acid, under uncommon 

 circumstances. — A. A. Hayes. — Wishing to decompose some nitric 

 acid containing about one third its weight of dry acid, it was subjected 

 to distillation, with one third of its weight of raw sugar ; the distilla- 

 tion was attended by the production of vapors of nitrous and hypo- 

 nitrous acids, as is usual in the decomposition of nitric acid. The 

 fluid in the receiver was slightly acid ; it was therefore returned to 

 the retort, still containing the residue of the first operation, and 

 gentle heat applied ; the strong and peculiar odor of hydro-cyanic 

 acid was developed, in such a quantity, as to render the atmosphere of 

 a small room irrespirable. After cooling the apparatus and decant- 

 ing the distilled fluid, a few drops of ammonia were added, and the 

 alkaline fluid, mixed with a solution of proto-sulphate of iron, and a 

 few drops of acid, deposited a bulky precipitate, which, on exposure, 

 became of a fine blue color. 



Roxbury Laboratory, March 16, 1830. 



17. Dr. Morton'' s pa'per. — The conclusion of Dr. Morton's Sy- 

 nopsis of the Organic Remains of the sand formation, would have 

 appeared in this number, had not the arrival of the MS and drawings, 

 which were finished in season, been accidentally delayed : they will 

 appear in the July number. 



* Prof. Eaton has recently published irr.proved editions of his chemical and geo- 

 logical text books. 



Vol. XVIIL— No. 1. 26 



