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Scientific Intelligence . — Geography . 
intercourse between both nations. Several plants foreign to 
this part of the Arctic Flora were met with, probably imported 
by the Norwegian settlers, such as the Sorbus aucuparia . In 
reference to the destruction of the colonists, our author remarks ; 
“ All the ruins of Norwegian houses were surrounded by im- 
mense masses of rocks, probably precipitated from the summits 
of the adjacent mountains, and heaped together iri the most 
fantastic groups. Places of desolation of this kind are fre- 
quently met with among the mountains, connected with the sea 
by waterfalls, which are precipitated with tremendous velocity 
from the rocks, covered with glaciers. I have no doubt that 
such changes, caused by the bursting of glaciers, and the subse- 
quent inundations, have produced these scenes of desolation ; 
and that perhaps the Norwegian settlers perished, and were 
buried in the ruins occasioned by such destroying powers. 1 ’ 
6. Edinburgh Geographical and Historical Atlas. — It is 
intended in this work to exhibit, by means of numerous maps, 
and four octavo volumes of letter-press, a view of the present 
state of our knowledge, in regard to the physical, political, and 
statistical geography of this globe. To ensure its wide circula- 
tion the publisher announces that it is to appear in monthly 
parts, and to be sold at a comparatively low rate. 
CHEMISTRY. 
7. Evolution of Light during Crystallisation. — It is known, 
through the experiments of M. Buchner of Mayence, that ben- 
zoic acid and acetate of potash emit light during their crystal- 
lisation. Berzelius, in his lately published Annual Report of 
the Progress of Science, tells us, that Herman observed sulphat 
of cobalt to give out light during crystallisation, and that a 
similar phenomenon was observed during the crystallisation of 
fluat of soda. Wohler mentions a striking display of this pro- 
perty he noticed in the laboratory of Berzelius, where, during 
the crystallisation of sulphat of soda, light was given out for 
two hours. Even masses of the salt taken in the hand continued 
to shine in the dark, and when pieces were rubbed together the 
light became stronger. When the solution was stirred with a 
glass-rod, or a glass-rod was drawn across the crust of crystals 
under the solution, the whole streak was luminous. 
