ji84 Population of Greenland^ 



If the quantity of electric fluid be very great, contact 

 nth the wire is not requisite. In one instance magnetism 

 "was communicated at fourteen inches distance from the 

 conducting wire. It was also communicated through plates 

 of glass and even when the bars or needles were immersed 

 in water. These experiments were made both at the Roy- 

 al and London Institutions. At the latter, the electrical 

 batteries used, were from eighteen to seventy cubic (square) 

 feet. The voltaic troughs of four inch plates, mounted 

 with double copper agreeably to Dr. Wolloston's plan. 



Phil. Mag. for Nov. 



44. French Translations from the Arabic. 



The French literati are occupied at this time in a work 

 of some importance, preparing translations of Plutarch, 

 Salust, Tacitus, Aristotle, Hippocrates, &;c. from the Ara- 

 bic MSS. into which languages many or all the best Greek 

 and Roman authors are known to have been translated. 



The French Ambassador at Constantinople, M. Giardin, 

 has lately sent to Paris fifteen valuable MSS. in Arabic, from 

 the Imperial Library there, among which are the complete 

 works of Plutarch and Heroditus. — Ibid. 



45. JVew Alkali. 



Pelletier and Caventon have, it appears detected another 

 alkali in the seeds of the veratrum sabadilla, or meadow 

 saffron. It has been named veratrine. It is white, pulveru- 

 lent, without smell, but excites violent sneezing; it is very 

 acrid, but not bitter, producing violent vomiting in so small 

 doses, that according to some experiments, a few grains 

 may cause death. It is but little soluble in cold water, 

 boihng water dissolves about yJott part, and acquires an 

 acrid taste. It is very soluble in alcohol. The super sul- 

 phate alone appears to form crysiah.— Ibid. 



46. Population of Greenland. 



The whole population of Greenland, according to the last 

 report of the missionary board, consists of three thousand 

 five hundred and eighty-six. individuals, spread through 



