Scientific Intelligence. 
was so powerful, as to be palling and unpleasant. He could 
not perceive any difference in the strength of the odour at diffe- 
rent intervals, but during the whole evening its intensity seem- 
ed to be equable. He has subsequently noticed, that the smell 
from the flower is most diffused in the light, but he has not 
again observed the singular electric phenomenon, though he 
has nightly and attentively looked for it. During the time 
of the appearance of the flashes or sparks, he was anxious to 
know whether their emission were attended by a crackling or 
snapping noise, as is the case when the electric spark is elicited 
from a charged jar ; but though he was most attentive, he was 
not conscious of hearing the least noise. The Daphne Pontica^ 
a hardy evergreen, originally brought from the Levant, but 
now common in our gardens, is another “ Nightingale of the 
vegetable race,” which, when in bloom, is very fragrant in an 
evening, especially when the air is moist ; indeed, a humid state 
of the atmosphere seems favourable to the emission of their 
effluvia by different plants; hence we find that mignonette 
(Reseda odorata ), wall-flowers ( Cheiranthns cheiri J, kc, are 
peculiarly sweet after showers. 
IV. GENERAL SCIENCE. 
38. Proposal to winter in Spitzhergen, — It is much to be re- 
gretted, that hitherto no scientific account has been published of 
the winter climate of Spitzbergen ; and this seems to have been 
owing principally to the circumstance of the persons who winter- 
ed there at different times being uneducated and unprovided 
with instruments for makinic observations* One of our scien- 
tific correspondents, who has visited Spitzbergen, writes to us, 
“ It is to be regretted, we have not a regular register of a win- 
ter in Spitzbergen. I think, if properly gone about, it might 
be accomplished with little hazard, notwithstanding the direful 
accounts given by those who have passed a winter there. It is 
an undertaking which I would join in with very great pleasure.” 
The gentleman who makes this proposal, we know, is well qua- 
lified for such an undertaking. 
39 . Russian Expedition into the Frozen Ocean, hy Lieute- 
nant Lasarew yin the year 1819.— The Russian Lieutenant La- 
