1 40 Cryophorus. 



cap. 62) notices this festival, and that it extended throagh- 

 out the country, and the lamps were kept burning during the 

 whole night. 



In th-efestum encceniorum, or the feast of the dedication 

 •of the temple, which was celebrated in December, and last- 

 ed eight days, lamps were also lighted. In Greece and 

 Rome such illuminations were common, and mostly in hon- 

 orof Minerva, Vulcan, Prometheus, Bacchus, &c. Such were 

 he lampadaria and lamptericeoeof the Greeks and Romans. 



Among the oriental nations, there is even at the present 

 day a celebration in which lamps are lighted. In China, 

 in particular, it is general throughout the whole empire, and 

 the celebration is conducted with great splendour. 



While noticing this subject, we may remark also, that, as 

 the now common practice of lighting the streets of cities was 

 not in use some few centuries since, Caligula caused the 

 streets of Rome to be illuminated on certain occasions, as 

 when games were exhibited. After Cataline's conspiracy 

 had been defeated, and Cicero was returning home, lamps 

 and torches were lighted in honor of that great orator. The 

 emperor Constantino caused the city of Constantinople to be 

 illuminated with lamps and wax candles. The primitive 

 christians, either dictated by policy, or compelled by authori- 

 ty, often illuminated their houses on idolatrous festivals in 

 a more elegant manner than the heathens. On birth days, 

 the ancients illuminated their houses by suspending lamps 

 from chains. These facts show, that illuminations are of 

 great antiquity, and celebrations in that way not a modern 

 practice. With regard, however, to fire works proper, if 

 we judge correctly, the ancients were very deficient for the 

 principal reason, that they were unacquainted with gun 

 powder. 



West Point, Dec. 31, 1822. 



Abt. XVII. — Cryophorus of Dr. Wollaston. Editor. 



We procured this instrument, with the balls one inch 

 and a half in dianieter, and the connecting tube fifteen inch- 

 es long ; the water was in such quantity, as to fill full half 

 of one of the balls. The empty ball was immersed in snow, 

 and diluted nitric acid; a distillation of aqueous vapor took 



