^j^ Miscellanies. .175 



which this was formed was a large one, and it burned with violence ; 

 the hay was all herds-grass, which you know has much silex in its 

 epidermis." 



Mr. Button was so kind as to hand to us specimens of this glass. 

 It is of a light grey color, porous, vesicular, and inflated like scoriae 

 of furnaces and glass-houses, and like the upper scum of lava ; its 

 lustre is highly vitreous ; it is tasteless, and very harsh between the 

 teeth ; it scratches window glass with great energy, and has every 

 appearaAce of having undergone a perfect fusion, doubtless by the 

 aid of the alkali and salts contained in the hay. The resemblance 

 between it and that described in this Journal, in the case cited by 

 Mr. Button, is very striking, and, as the statement is supported by 

 credible testimony, there can be no reasonable doubt as to its origin. 



5. JVew England Asylum for the Blind. — Br. Howe, the cele- 

 brated historian and active friend of the. Greek revolution, is at the 

 head of this interesting institution, and we have read with pleasure 

 and instruction, a discourse of his in relation to this subject. It is 

 replete with important and gratifying facts respecting similar institu- 

 tions in Europe, and affords the best ground of confidence, that suc- 

 cess will attend the New England asylum, especially in such a com- 

 munity as Boston, and under the able and zealous direction of Br. 

 Howe. We were particularly impressed with the mechanical facili- 

 ties afforded to the blind, by the sense of touch, which enables'them 

 to read by means of letters raised by stamping the paper, and even 

 maps and diagrams are in the same way rendered intelligible. 



It would appear, from the exhibition recently made at Salem, 

 Mass., by pupils of this institution, that their attainments in reading, 

 writing, arithmetic, geography, music, and various mechanical arts 

 were of a high order, and called forth, in their favor, not only be- 

 nevolent feeling and admiration, but very liberal pecuniary aid. 



6. Philosophical apparatus. — The earlier cultivators of physical 

 science in this country, encountered great inconvenience from the 

 want of apparatus, and much expense and delay resulted, from their 

 being obliged to send to London or Paris for almost every article. 



Professors and teachers, who are still on the stage, can answer for 

 the truth of this statement. Now, however, the case is happily re- 

 versed. Ingenious artists and good collections of apparatus are found 

 in most of our cities, and many of our native artists are able to con- 

 struct new instruments to order, and with accuracy, neatness, and 



