204 Scientific Intelligence. [May, 



southward, will always be found more southerly by a mile or perhaps 

 two. 



I think there is little doubt, but that we need some correction for 

 the mutability of the horizon at sea, and that probably its amount might 

 be ascertained by a series of observations with the dip sector, and a close 

 attention to the state of the atmosphere : my own experience leads me 

 to the conclusion, that equal altitudes observed by the horizon of the 

 sea without this check on board ship, are always subject to errors of an 

 irregular nature. 



VIII. — Scientific Intelligence. 



1 Mr. Alexander Ksoma de Koros. 



The Viceroy and several noblemen of the Hungarian dominions, having 

 learnt that Mr. de Koros, their countryman, was travelling in the East for the 

 prosecution of researches connected principally with the origin of the lan- 

 guage and people of Hungary, voluntarily subscribed ,£140 for the furtherance 

 of his enterprising object. The money has just been received through a mercantile 

 house in Calcutta, along with a handsome letter from the Baron Niumann, 

 Secretary of the Austrian Legation at London. Mr. de Koros however has declined 

 accepting it in the shape of pecuniary assistance to himself, and has been only 

 induced to retain it, on the persuasion of his friends, for the purchase of Oriental 

 manuscripts for the library of one of the principal universities of his native 

 country. 



2. — Huglt Ice Manufactory. 

 It may not perhaps be uninteresting to some of your readers to know the 

 result of the experiment for keeping ice, and the reason of the late sudden failure 

 of the supply. This is in part to be explained by the last having been an 

 unfavourable season for the manufacture, so that although great preparations 

 were made, the quantity obtained was by no means commensurate with the 

 money expended ; and so peculiar are the agents to be provided against, in this 

 hot climate, that in our present state of knowledge, experience alone can guard 

 against their influence. That experience in a certain degree may be supposed 

 to have now been obtained, and next year it is hoped, from additional preparations 

 for its production, and precautions for keeping it, a supply of ice may be expect- 

 ed during a much longer period than has hitherto been known in Calcutta. 

 The advantage that ice affords for cooling water, wine, &c. and the simplicity 

 of the means to be employed for obtaining its full effect, must be already known 

 to most of your readers ; but I suspect the cheapness of the luxury has not been 

 properly appreciated, from the ignorance or carelessness of servants to whom its 

 management is too often left. I have frequently had opportunities of observing 

 this, and even the possibility of its not always accomplishing the object becomes 

 apparent, when I have found servants, who had observed that it ought to be kept 

 ■warm, (surrounded with blankets), thrust it into warm water, the better to 

 insure the keeping of the precious deposit. If care be taken to have it kept 

 in a hard lump, and surrounded with blankets, it keeps very well for 12 hours, 



