Scientific Intelligence. — Natural Philosophy. 357 
NATURAL PHILOSOPHY. 
4. Experiments on the Compression of Air and of Gases.— 
These experiments were made by M. Oersted, with the assist- 
ance of M. Suenson. The most powerful compressions were 
made in the breech of an air-gun, in which they succeeded in 
compressing air to the 110th part of its original volume. It was 
found that Mariotte’s law was preserved in these high pressures. 
In their next experiments, which were made on gases, they suc- 
ceeded in establishing the existence of the same law, even when 
these gases were about to be converted into liquids. M. Oer- 
sted remarks, that, in liquids, the compressions equally follow 
the proportion of the compressing force, and that it is extreme- 
ly probable that solids are subject to the same law. He there- 
fore concludes, that this simple law, That the diminution of vo- 
lume is proportional to the compressing force, holds in each of 
the three classes of bodies. He adds, that this law can only be 
admitted on the supposition that the caloric developed by com- 
pression has been permitted to escape before the measurement 
is made . — Dublin Philosophical Journal. 
METEOROLOGY. 
5. Magnetizing Power of Light . — Mrs Mary Somerville, 
one of the most highly gifted and accomplished females of our 
time, has lately communicated to the Royal Society of London 
a memoir on the magnetizing power of the more refrangible rays 
of light. From the beautiful experiments detailed in* the com- 
munication, Mrs Somerville infers, that the more r frangible rays 
of light have the property of imparting magnetism. 
6. Daniel on the Barometer .— r From a memoir of this distin- 
guished observer, lately read before the Royal Society of Lon- 
don, it appears that he has established the following facts : 1. 
That air gradually insinuates itself into the best made barome- 
ters of the common construction. 2. That this does not take 
place from any solution of the air by mercury. 3. That the 
passage of the air is between the mercury and the glass. 4. That 
the gradual deterioration of barometers may be prevented by a 
ring of platinum cemented to the open end of the tube. 
