32 
Notices of European Science. 
[Jan. 
It is obvious, that whatever the angle or inclination of the float, when placed to 
the north of the circle, it will have the same inclination when removed to the 
south, so that the rationale of the operation consists in measuring on the circle the 
inclination of a line on opposite sides, which is known in each position to be 
equally inclined to the horizon. 
Even in his first rude trials, Captain Kater found the limit of error not to exceed 
b rT , and on an average to be less than 3". But with improved instruments, and more 
practice, these limits have been greatly reduced. Dr. Brinkley, of Dublin, has given 
the apparatus a very full trial, and speaks of its performance in the highest terms. 
A desideratum still remained ; to apply it to a zenith instrument. This difficulty 
lias been recently surmounted by the inventor, who has published in (we believe) 
the last Vol. of the Philosophical Transactions, a description of his zenith collimator. 
We shall resume the subject in our next number, and give some idea of this paper. 
2. — All Nature Alive. 
The accounts which have been recently published, of the supposed existence of ac* 
tive molecules in every kind of matter, whether organic or inorganic, have involved 
admissions so contrary to all our usual experience, that it required, we will venture 
to assert, a good deal of faith, not to say, credulity, to believe them in all their ex- 
tent. It is foolish to say, that because people require full evidence in an extraordinary 
case of this kind, their theories anticipate the laws of nature.” It is precisely be- 
cause they have no theory— nothing but experience to guide them, that they doubt. If 
they have misunderstood the facts of that experience, or if they have judged too hastily 
and partially, m supposing their facts to contradict this discovery, it is not the less 
evident, that they are right in asking for every evidence on the subject, before they 
admit this conclusion, inasmuch as observers with the microscope are fully as liable 
mistaken. Observations made with very high powers are notoriously decep- 
tive, and with low powers the facts cannot be observed. Then if the prejudice of pre- 
vious bias is on one side, there is the eagerness to make a discovery o n J the other so 
't*'" 11 things considered, we really think the sceptics were, on this occasion Is com! 
pletelyj ust died in reason, as it now appears they are in fact. ’ 
In the March number of the Magazine of Natural HiVnrv . 
ject by Mr. Bakewell. Mr. Bakewdl is known fa™“CtoiTn^ irb* 18 ^ 
gical writings, which are distinguished for the simnle intelliHld,! i by sgco o ‘ 
™ws they contain, in opposition to the^iS^ 
thing 4 
present paper. He shows we fhinl . asounety ot philosophising marks the 
the supposed discovery of active molecules Fs LrtaiX* S a ° f even ^ believers, that 
and probably as regards vegetable matter, entirely illusOTv TlJin*" 5 ",’ or 8' an, ?> 
butes chiefly to the water, which it is difficult 1 !. s °5 y ‘ r rilt fusion he attn- 
water should be used for These cxnerimenl ? ft et ; frora Animalcule. No 
When this precaution was taken there still 1 &S bas been recently boiled, 
the agitation of the support. The late Mr W Nirok m ° tlon > but it was referred to 
ble to avoid the effects of vibration in Londi! a n .i° b ^ rVed ’ that * is impossi- 
seen in a basin of mercury, the surface of whirl anf ^ act ma ) r be convincingly 
evident, that if the fr ° m disturbance, if i 
evident, that if the particles of dust, which float L Z e ° m disturb anee. It is 
powerful microscope, they would appear to h avP its surface, were brought under a 
particle of water. Mr. “°««n. So with the 
Communicated motion to the particles In fact a, 1 . ng hls hand on the table, 
tion required in this case, from Lewenho/k J ud S e of the extent of 
tion required in this case, from Lewtmhoek’s estiT^tJ^Zi 11 '^ 6 ° f the extent o{ m °- 
whose motions so much surprised him never travail i' Ht SO , nie the Animalcules 
readth. On using, for his support, the* stand of a t 1 °° nu,c ^ tarther than a hair’s 
elude vibration, and taking all othef precautions h. £ SC T’, made purposely to ex- 
cease after a time, when the drop might be supposed t lC5e . supposed motions 
He concludes, then, that we cannot, without ha T e stained a state of rest. 
He concludes, then, that we cannot, without furtlwf h f T attained » state of rest, 
these new views. But if, as he says contra™ To hu „ Pr °°I’ ^ 8atisfied of d >e truth of 
‘° b . e ' vhat new ™ws of nature 3l ,| b S n eXpeCtatlon > «>ey should turn out 
t^" d f ’:‘‘ ke , those on our Hampstead Heath are mlv ? ry un / old - Beds of siliceous 
and the ’ to , be . aw akened into life, hy the torrent th ' va ‘ tl . I ;S a f| mther process of bri- 
bedded i ge ° v S i 1St ’ whlle he contem Plates the oriran^ * ? hall . bear the . m into the ocean ; 
in lu b ct^f rocks ’ must regard the rocks ~tL° f p^r 5 S2E z 
by a Mr BywatethT^c^Ucianl^Liverpool'lI 8 . 111 ^ 6 ’ “ Mr - B - asserts, ten years ago 
The active molecule L ve . r P° ol > but no notice i years ago, 
„ .. J wpucian or Luvernoni «wer 
acuve molecules, in vegetable subLn^Vaveten 
of it at the time, 
observed. 
