Scientific Intelligence, 209 



As far back as 1791, a Society was instituted at Albany, for the pro- 

 raotion of Agriculture, and the useful Arts, three volumes of whose 

 Transactions now lie before us, containing instructive and interesting 

 papers. Among the contributors to the Transactions of the Institute, 

 we observe with pleasure, names which give the assurance that the 

 work will not be permitted to languish, especially under the Presidency 

 of a gentleman whose love of science and useful practical knowledge, 

 is equalled only by the munificence with which he sustains its interests.* 

 Indeed it is with great satisfaction that we observe the fine region of 

 which Albany is tlie centre, becoming not less remarkable for its in- 

 stitutions, tending to promote knowledge and virtue, than for its great 

 advantages, as an emporium of both foreign and inland trade ; we trust 

 that Albany and Troy will become still more what they already are in 

 so great a degree, both a focal and a radiant point of intellectual light. 



We present, from No. 1, of the Transactions of the Albany Insti- 

 tute, the following short paper, which has appeared to us particularly 

 interesting. 



" On the luminous appearance of the Ocean, by Lieut. Thomas R. 

 Ingalls, U. S. Army, corresponding member. — Read March 26th, 

 1828. — This beautiful phenomenon, which once bore the poetical 

 title of " phosphorescence of the ocean," has more recently, I be- 

 lieve, rested between two solutions : that it is caused by animalculae, 

 or by the ovula of fishes. A writer in a recent foreign periodical, 

 inclines to the former opinion, viz. that the luminous appearance of 

 the ocean is caused by animalculae. As I have been for some time 

 inclined to tlie opposite view of this subject, I am induced to submit 

 an account of some observations made a few years since in the hum- 

 ble pursuit of science. 



" In the practice of sea bathing at night, in a southern latitude, I 

 had of course noticed and admired the beautiful sparkling of the 

 water when agitated or resisted — but the myriads of bodies of what- 

 soever sort which emitted these corruscation, were alike invisible and 

 impalpable. On one occasion, however, I struck my arm against a 

 small soft mass, which immediately emitted a flash of two or three 

 inches in diameter. But the mass eluded my attempts to secure it, 

 as it was invisible the moment it parted from its accidental contact 



* Witness the geological survey on the Erie Canal ; the still greater surrey of the 

 slate of New York, &c. which is now in hand; and the Rensselaer school at Troy 



Vol. XVIL— No. 1. 27 



