220 



Scientific Intelligence, 



[March 



There is reason to believe that the variation westward has now 

 nearly reached its limit, and that it will very soon begin to move 

 eastwards again, it would have a tendency to throw considerable 

 light upon the subject, if it were ascertained that this change 

 begins TO take place in all parts of the earth's surface at the same 

 time. Now, therefore, is the period to draw the attention of 

 philosophers to this curious point. Those situated at some con- 

 sideiabie distance from London will be enabled to make the most 

 decisive observations. North America is well situated for the 

 purpose; and so is Sweden and Russia. We hope that this 

 in^portant opportunity, which is not likely to recur again these 

 300 years, will not be allowed to escape without at least adding 

 one fact to the little that we do know about magnetism. 



IX. Ulmin, 



I am informed by Mr. Smithson that some parts of my account 

 of his paper on ulmin (s6e p. "JS) are not accurate. He did not 

 fiod tlie solution of olmin to redden vegetable blues ; but he 

 found the solution of the substance separated from ulmin by 

 acids to do so, though it retained none of the acid by which it had 

 been obtained. It is not the ulmin itself which Mr. Smithson 

 considers as related to extractive, but this same substance which 

 acids separate from it, and whose solubility in water, as well as 

 alcohol, &c. prevent it from being considered as a resin. 



X. Register of the Rain that fell {in Inches) in Scotland^ 









for 1812, 











Edin- 



Rothwell 









Gordon 





burgh. 



Cabtle. 



Glasgow, 



Greenock. 



Largs. 



Castle. 



Jan. 



1-475 



1-462 



1^352 



1-828 



2^412 



1-32 



Feb. 



3-592 



2-460 



1-424 



3-416 



4-280 



1-70 



March 



3-103 



2-320 



1-865 



2-904 



2-412 



2-53 



April 



1-095 



•974 



•842 



1-294 



1-366 



]'64 



May 



2- too 



1-475 



1-443 



2-140 



2-230 



3^62 



J 11 Uc 



2-235 



2-630 



1-802 



1 -448 



2-480 



2^33 



July 



1-340 



1-759 



1-531 



;2-656 



2-173 



3^08 



Aug. 



3-403 



2-510 



2-166 



3-733 



3-394 



1-48 



Sept. 



1*082 



1*712 



2-342 



2-254 



2778 



1-35 



Oct 



2-822 



3-549 



5-345 



3-944 



■ 5-381 



6-83 



Nov. 



3-975 



3-990 



2-452 



4-539 



5-257 



3-72 



Dec. 



•890 



•156 



•246 



•720 



1-049 



1-17 



Total 27-112 



24-997 



22-810 



30-876 



35-212 



30-77 



In 1811,32-64 33-099 27*801 

 1810, .... 25-010 21-433 



56-597 31-34 

 38-714 25-89 



