310 Progress of Invention. 



these globular-shaped capacious anaphoras are not common. An 

 instance of one used, probably like this, for inclosing the ashes of the 

 dead, was found at Colchester some years ago. In a grave in the 

 Roman cemetery at Cirencester (Goriniwni) an urn receptacle 

 was found, which appeared to have been one of the stones of a 

 cylindrical column, sawn in two, a hole made in the centre to receive 

 the urn, and then the two parts united again. In the middle of 

 this cemetery opened at Barton- on- Soar was found a square area 

 covered by a rubble floor, which no doubt served some important 

 purpose connected with the burial place. 



While speaking of Roman interments, we may state that two 

 Roman leaden coffins have recently been discovered near Milton- 

 next- Sittingbourne in Kent, one containing the skeleton of a female, 

 the other that of an old man. It is said that, when first opened, a 

 white beard, descending to the breast of the latter, was distinctly 

 visible. One earthern and two glass vessels were found accompany- 

 ing it. These leaden coffins of the Roman period are found rather 

 frequently in Britain. Perhaps they belong to a rather late date, 

 as, in at least one instance, an interment in a leaden coffin, evidently 

 in the Roman manner, has been found in an Anglo-Saxon cemetery, as 

 though the practice had continued after the close of the Roman 

 period. T. W. 



PROGRESS OF INVENTION. 



New Source of the Tanning Principle. — Notwithstanding all 

 our improvements in arts and manufactures, it may still be said, 

 with truth, that "there is nothing like leather." This valuable 

 substance has often been imitated, but it has never been superseded, 

 and probably never will. To facilitate and cheapen its manufacture 

 is, by consequence, a matter of considerable importance. The 

 tanning principle obtained from vegetables is more or less limited 

 in supply, and therefore costly ; and a, natural attempt to economize 

 it results but too often in the production of an inferior leather. 

 Artificial tanning has been proposed, but as it has hitherto been 

 best obtained from resin, it also is expensive. Recent experiments 

 have shown that it may be formed with great facility, and at a 

 trifling cost, from bituminous coal or lignite ; the latter answering* 

 best on account of its permeability by liquids, a property of some 

 importance from the nature of the process employed. This consists 

 merely in heating the coal or lignite for a considerable time with 

 nitric acid, and then evaporating to dryness. The residuum, .a dark 

 brown substance, is entirely soluble in alcohol, ether, concentrated 

 sulphuric acid, the alkalies, and their carbonates ; but it consists of 

 two portions, one of which only is soluble in water, the solution 

 having an acrid and bitter taste, and being capable of precipitating 

 albumen and gelatine. Should it be found an efficient substitute 

 for the tanning principle of vegetables, which is not unlikely to be 

 the case, the cheapness and abundance of the source whence it 

 may be obtained will considerably affect the economic production 

 of leather. 



