194 Miscellanies. 
a summary of our knowledge upon the subjects of electricity, gal- 
vanism, electro-magnetism, &c. by Mrs. Somerville. If the antici- 
pations of some of the journalists appear extravagant ; the summary 
of Mrs. Somerville, replete as it is with the most interesting and 
astonishing facts, may well account for the strength of impression 
produced on the minds of observers by the inexplicable movement 
of a machine, whirling around with vast rapidity, while there is no 
obvious cause, and the real cause when pointed out appears so in- 
adequate to the effect. 
We rather regret that this interesting application of electro-mag- 
netism is attempted to be sustained by an appeal to the hope of 
immediate profit. Surely there are not wanting men, and we trust 
they are numerous, who will cheerfully pay, and, if necessary, cheer- 
fully lose, the comparatively small sums, whose considerable aggre- 
gate will carry forward this interesting research, until the ratio and 
the extent of its power are ascertained ; and, if it should prove that 
the limit is far beyond the demands of practical application, so much 
the better; but neither the ratio nor the extent can be learned with- 
out persevering experiments, the expense of making which and of 
sustaining all who are concerned in making them, will be, we trust, 
cheerfully borne by the public. 
6. British Association for the Promotion of Science.—Extract of 
a letter to the Editor. 
Philadelphia, August 30th, 1837. 
My Dear Friend—On the 16th of this month, I sent to the ven- 
erable and celebrated Dalton, as chairman of the chemical section 
of the British Association, a letter, of which I now send you an ex- 
tract. My motive for publishing this extract in your Journal, is my 
impression that I owe it to you and others of my scientific country- 
men to communicate the facts which | have stated to men of science 
in the mother country, and that I owe to the latter a more public 
acknowledgment than I have yet made, of the grateful recollection 
which I entertain of the kindness with which I was received at their 
meeting at Bristol. This 1 am convinced, was intended as a mark 
of regard, not merely to me as an individual, but to American cul- 
tivators of science in general, of whom I was considered as a repre- 
sentative. 
The Marquis of Northampton, who presided, stated to me that if 
there were others of my scientific countrymen present, he wished to 
