1829.] 
Scientific Intelligence. 
311 
finding 1 or 2 per cent. + or — of any ingredient, into a crime similar to that of 
feloniously and burglariously entering the houses of any of the King’s lieges. 
We consider Dr. Thomson's attempt to prove that all bodies combine in weights 
which are multiples of hydrogen, to be useless, if not mischievous ; and for this 
simple reason, that as from the imperfection of all human science and experiment, 
and the smallness of the unit (hydrogen,) every determination must necessarily 
come within such a quantity as the lover of hypothesis thinks may he neglected — may 
Ik: in fact added or subtracted — nothing is gained ; while if the addition or subtrac- 
tion be made in the direction of the actual error, something is lost, and the accu- 
racy of chemical research impaired. Lord Bacon says, “Homo natures minister et 
interpres; tantum fucit et intettigit , quantum rle natures online re vel /nettle observave- 
rit ; nee amp tins scit ant potest." It may be said, however, that there is an advantage in 
having the numbers on the hydrogen scale, whole numbers, which is unquestionably 
true. But we may satisfy ourselves with using the nearest whole number without 
necessarily adopting the doctrine, aud we may retain the more correct determinations 
to refer to w hen required. A Mr. Rainy, a pupil of Dr. Thomson's, has in some 
former numbers of the “ Annals,” stated well grounded objections to Dr. Thomson’s 
fundamental experiments on the proportionate weights of hydrogen and oxygen, 
showing that they by no means warranted the conclusion of these weights being 
in the exact ratioassmned. The course hitherto found best suited to the cultivation of 
science, has been first to accumulate a mass of correct experiments, and then to 
theorise. By pursuing this course astronomy has become what it is, a monument 
of the sagacity of man. By pursuing an opposite course, geology has till lately 
been a bye word and term of reproach amongst, all men of judgment. Let the 
chemist make his analyses unfettered by any hypothesis, and the theorist may 
then speculate on them with safety : but to attempt to establish the first principles 
of chemistry, by running after fanciful notions, which it is impossible to prove, 
and which if proved, are of no use, is to say the least a waste of labour. X. 
3. Overflowing Springs. 
It has long been understood, that two sheets of water, capable of furnishing 
constant springs of wholesome water, rising above the soil, flow under the basin 
of Paris. The one is between the chalk and green sand, and furnishes gushing 
springs wherever it is allowed to escape, provided it be in a place in which the two- 
thirds which enclose it, remain intact. The other sheet of water, lower than the 
first, is, nevertheless, capable of rising higher. It is equally wholesome, and is also 
capable of furnishing constant springs. Its position, however, has not been ascer- 
tained until lately ; but it has been at length found by labourers working at the 
wet-dock of Saint Owen. The water rose in the first instance with great noise, 
and, after several applications of the pump, was brought to the level of the soil, 
on which it flowed impregnated with a great quantity of green sand. In a short 
time, however, it became pure, and eventually threw up a jet of considerable 
height and consisting of a large quantity of water. It has been recommended to 
bore for this water in the least elevated parts of the French capital ; such as the 
Hotel tie Ville, the Palais Royal, the Janlin ties Plantes, Sec. 
A well has been bored in the Dnke of Northumberland’s grounds at Sion, to 
the depth of 535 feet. The first twenty feet bored through, consisted of loose gra- 
vel and sand ; to this succeeded strong blue clay, to the depth of 410 feet ; next ten 
feet of green sand, and the. n between thirty and forty feet of loose chalk ; and final- 
ly very firm and hard chalk, to the depth. A strong spring was found in the green 
sand but it was not powerful enough to rise higher than thirty feet from the sur- 
face ’ The next spring was found in the solid chalk, and the two springs united, 
now rise to the height of five feet above the surface, and the water flows over at 
the rate of five gallons per minute, of a temperature of 55.* Fahrenheit. 
3— New Patents. 
1. Patent Metallic Caissons. 
[Messrs. Buckland and Smith, 3 Furnival’s Inn, London ■] 
The Caisson is a hollow metallic box, open generally both at the bottom and 
top, the thickness of the, sides proportioned to the strength and gravity requir- 
ed, and the mode of uniting being by dovetail. It is proposed that each caisson be 
seven feet in length, five feet in height, and from two to five feet in width, accord- 
