5S4 
P?GCcedmgs of Learned Sodciies, [J^n. 1# 
of Preservfng nil Kinds of x^nlmal and Ve¬ 
getable Sabstances, and we give it place 
the more readily, because an Enslish 
translation has lately appeared in Lon¬ 
don ; and we are, by its means, enabled 
to avail ourselves of the knportaut dis- 
coverres of M, Appeet. 
“ My Board of Arts and Manufactures* 
has reported to me, sir, the examination it 
has made cf your process for the preservation 
of fruits, vegetables, meat, soup, milk, &c. 
and from that report no doubt can be enter¬ 
tained of the success of such process. As 
the preservation of animal and vegetable 
substances may he of the utmost utility in 
sea voyages, ia hospitals, and domestic eco¬ 
nomy, I deem your discovery worthy an 
especial mark of the good will of the go¬ 
vernment. I have, in consequence, acced¬ 
ed to the recommendation made me by 
council, to grant you a recompence of 12,000 
francs. In so doing I had in view the as¬ 
signing you the reward due to the inver.tions 
of useful processes, and also the indemnify¬ 
ing you for the expences you have been 
obliged (0 incur, either in the forming your 
establishment or in the experiments necessaiy 
to establish the success of your process. 
You shall be immediately informed when you 
miy repair to the public treasury and receive 
Published at 5s. by Messrs, Black and 
Parry. 
the 12,000 francs. It appears to me of im¬ 
portance, sir, that you should spread the 
knowledge of your preserving process. I 
desire therefore,' that, agreeably to your own 
proposal, you will digest a detailed and exact 
description of your process. This desciiption, 
which you will remit to my Board of Aits 
and Manufactures, shall be printed at your 
expence, after it shall have been examined. 
You will then transmit me 200 copies. The 
transmission of these copies being the only 
condition I iippose on you for the payment 
of the 12,000 francs, I doubt not you will 
hastea to fulal it. I desire, sir, you will 
acknowledge the receipt of my letter.”—* 
Montalivet.- 
On the road from Chauraont to Pa.'-is, 
a new cai rmge is set up, which is moved 
and directed by mechanism, and acts at 
the pleasure of the traveller, 
ITALY. 
Captain Ladorini, ot Florence, lias in¬ 
vented a cloak with which a person may 
cross the most rapid rivers without dan¬ 
ger; and he has made the experiment in 
the presence of the Grand Duchess, and 
a great concourse of spectators. He 
several times passed and repassed the 
Arno, the broadest river in Tuscany ; and 
ventured, without fear, into the deepest 
parts of tile river, thougli he cannot 
swim. 
PROCEEDINGS OF PUBLIC SOCIETIES. 
KOYAL •SOCIETY. 
Acccmnf of a Vegetable If axfroia Frazil; 
by \\h T. Bf.ande, c&q. F.R.S. 
vegbta'ile wax, dtbciibed in tins 
S paper, was given to the president 
by Lord Grenville, with a wish, on the 
part of ills lurdship, that its properties 
should be iiu escigaced, in the hope that 
it rnitiht prove a substinUe for bees’-wax, 
«nd constitute a new article ut commerce 
between the Brazils and this country. It 
is said to be the production of a tree of 
slow grow'th. called bv tiie natives Cav' 
itauba, which produces a gum used as 
food for man, and anoilier substance em- 
pioved for fattening poultry. If this 
ai tide can be procured in abundance, it 
may become a valuable addition to the 
comforts of mankind, by reducing the 
price and improving the quality of can¬ 
dles, flambeaux, &c. In the state in 
which it was sent to Lord Grenville it re¬ 
sembles much that described by Hum¬ 
boldt as the produce of the ceroxi/lon au 
Gtccluy but it iS not likely to be the same 
as Humholdi’s wax is collected from a 
stately palm which grow'S^on high moun¬ 
tains. The Brazilian plant is described 
as a slow growing tree, but not as a large 
one. By the analysis of Vauquelin the 
ceroxylon consists of two-thiids resin, 
and one-third wax; but the Brazilian 
article is entirely wax, and aftbrds not 
the smallest trace of resin. 
The wax, in its rough state, is in the 
form of a coarse grey powder, soft to the 
touch, and mixed witli various impurities 
w inch, w hen separated by a sieve, amount 
about 40 per cent. 
It has an agreeable odor, somewhat 
resembling new liay,but scarcely any taste. 
At 206“^ of Fahr. it enters into perfect 
fusion, and may then be further purified 
by passing it through fine linen. It ac¬ 
quires a dirty green color, and its p&cui- 
liar smell becomes more evident; when 
cold is moderately hard and brittle; spe¬ 
cific gravity 980. 
Water exerts no action on the wav, 
unless boiled with it for some hours. 
Alcohol 
