SCIENTIFIC NEWS. ^39 



a compound of wax and tallow, with lamp-black, will probably 

 be found amongst the most useful, if laid on before the fire, in 

 order that the pores of the leather may be closed ; but the 

 aqueous compound will be preferrable, where the mere ap- 

 pearance is regarded. 



SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 



Asiroiiomy. 



JL HE friends of astronomy will learn with pleasure, that the SeebersObser- 

 observatory of Seeberg, founded by the late duke of Saxe- ^^tory, 

 Gotha, will not much longer remain in the deserted state it has 

 languished in since the death of (hat prince. M. de Zach, 

 who directed it, and had retired under the protection of the 

 Dowager Duchess, will attend that princess into Italy. Con- 

 sequently, he will resign his place of astronomer, which, it is 

 hoped, will be given to the celebrated Dr.Olbers. The ob- 

 servations of Seeberg, after a short interval, will be renewed 

 with new zeal, and will continue to add to the treasures of 

 astronomy. 



Beavers in Westphalia. 

 A German Tournal informs us, that beavers exist in West- BearersinGcr- 

 phalia, on the banks of the Lippe, where they mamtain their 

 situation, notwithstanding the efforts of the inhabitants to de- 

 stroy them. It is easy, say the narrators, to prove their exist- 

 ence, by the great number of felled trees on the banks of tke 

 river. Ought we to conclude from this remark, that the beavers 

 of this district hve in society ? The fact is of sufficient conse- 

 quence to have deserved a more ample detail. 



Letter from the J?er. Peter Roberts, A. M. 



Wrexham, Denbighshire, Dec. 0.1, 1805. 

 Sir, 

 In looking back over the numbers of your interesting Magar 

 zine, I find, at the end of that for January last, a notice given 

 of " An invention laid before the Celtic Academy, of a mode 

 " of corresponding with men, whose language is unknown, 

 *' with expedition, without previous study, any expence, 



•' the least trouble, or the smallest Jabour of the mind." 



The 



