EEVIEWS — EEPOET OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 39 



tural mineral used to cost £75 per pound, and no more than four 

 pounds were used in Europe in a year ; now Europe manufactures 

 and consumes 5,000,000 lbs. per annum, at a cost of one shilling per 

 pound. One of the active principles in opium having been artificially 

 produced there is no doubt but that quinine and other valuable medi- 

 cinal agents will be prepared on a large and cheap scale in the labor- 

 atory. Vegetables may be prepared, for keeping by exposure to hot 

 air and powerful compression, so that 1200 lbs. of dried vegetables 

 may be packed into a space little exceeding a cube yard ; but 1200 lbs. 

 of dried vegetables represent 8000 lbs. in their natural condition, 

 which would require nearly forty cubic yards to contain them. The 

 allied armies in the Crimea were provided with vegetables thus pre- 

 pared to the extent of 42,000,000 rations. M. Coignet, of St Denis, 

 exhibited a stone consisting of coal ashes and quick lime ; or of sand, 

 small shingle and lime : it is run like grouting. We may here ob- 

 serve that this method of building has long been practised in Amer- 

 ca and even in the neighbourhood of Toronto. 



It is unnecessary to advert to the "Sketch of the Geology of Canada," 

 by Sir ~W. Logan and Mr. Hunt, or to the beautiful geological map 

 accompanying the sketch, which are together appended to Mr. 

 Tache's report, as these admirable and instructive illustrations of our 

 mineral wealth have already been noticed in the Canadian Journal 

 (new series, vol. i, p. 379.) We shall draw this brief summary of 

 Mr. Tache's report to a close with a quotation from M. Fresca's work 

 on the Exhibition ; deeming it more satisfactory to receive and accept 

 the testimony of a distinguished foreigner, than to express the favour- 

 able opinions of our great success at Paris which the perusal of Mr. 

 Tache's report create. 



"Canada," says M. Fresca, "is a land of hope not likely to be dis- 

 apointed. Active, intelligent, and enterprising beyond all other 

 nations, which equally abound in the elements of industral production, 

 she claims and demands our attention." 



H. T. H. 



The Tenth Annual Report of the Smithsonian Institution for the 

 year 1855. Washington, 1856. 

 To such of our readers as are unacquainted with the origin and 

 operation of this splendid establishment, the following brief notice 

 may not be unacceptable : 



