Mr Adie’s Descriptim (yf a New Hygrometer, 8S 
tiess. The lower end of the glass tube, instead of being merely- 
inserted into the top of the bag, may pass through it, the quick- 
silver in the bag communicating with that in the tube by one or 
more openings made through the sides of the tube. By this 
means, the bag is supported by the glass, and prevented from 
being injured by any slight accident ; and the instrument is also 
less affected by any change of temperature. 
A convenient portable hygrometer may be made, by employ- 
ing a slip of this membrane, and attaching its extremities to the 
end of a lever, somewhat like the small pocket metallic ther- 
mometers. The external appearance of one of these instru- 
ments is shewn at the bottom of the Patent Sympiesometer, 
represented in Plate II. Fig. 2. 
Although this membrane is not entirely free from the change 
to which all animal and vegetable substances are liable, yet hy- 
grometers made of it possess a considerable degree of uniformity 
amongst themselves ; and, in point of sensibility, this membrane 
exceeds every other substance that I have met with. 
Art. V. — Account qf an Excursion to Thehes, and of the Anti- 
quities recently discovered in that City. In a Letter from 
a Scotch Gentleman in Cairo* 
Cairo, August 11. 1818. 
JC INDING- that I -was to be detained here for some time, you 
will not be surprised that I undertook an excursion to the city 
of a hundred gates.” I considered a sight of its temples, &Cc 
as forming an era in a person’s life ; and a more favourable op- 
portunity for visiting them, could not possibly occur. As soon 
as I had determined upon the journey, I was favoured by 
Mr Salt with letters for several people established near my route, 
and having a Firman from the Pacha, which I afterwards 
found was qiiite unnecessary, as the peasantry are every where 
anxious to serve and to oblige, a caxja.^ or pleasure-boat, was pro- 
cured, which cost us little more than a palanquin hire in India* 
We left Cairo on the 25th June 1818, and made very rapid pro- 
ven. J. NO. I. JUNE 18l9. 
c 
