1800. | 
The METHOD of dying LEATHER of a 
SAXON GREEN. By COUNT BORCH. 
Sourn. de Phyf. xvi. 114. 
The fkins, atter being prepared in the 
ufual way to receive the dye, are dipped 
and foaked feveral times in a ftrong de- 
cotction of the wood of the barberry (Ber- 
beris vulg. Lizz.) By this means they 
acquire a deep and permanent yellow, they 
-are then dried, and afterwards dipped in 
a bath of Saxon blue till they become of 
the defired tint of green. 


Proceedings of Public Societies. 
167 
N. B. The bath of Saxon blue is nothing 
more than a dilute folution of fulphat of in- 
digo, prepared by digefting indigo in ftrong 
vitriolic acid, aflifted by a gentle heat till it is 
diffolved ; in this ftate the jiquor is black ; but 
by largely diluting it with water, it becomes 
of a beautiful blue, called the Saxon blue. 
The tint of this is far more vivid than can be 
produced in the common indigo vat, but it has 
the difadvantage, when ufed by itlelf, of 
being much lefs permanent. 4 
/ 
NTT NE | 


PROCEEDINGS OF PUBLIC SOCIETIES. 

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF 
FRANCE. 
(Continued from page 63.) 
CLASS of GENERAL LITERATURE. 
ITIZEN LANGLES has been able, 
by his refearches into Arabian Hil- 
tory, to prove that the tradition fupported 
by the authority of Aboul Faradje,concern- 
ing the deftruction of the Alexandrian Li- 
brary, dates froma very high antiquity. 
Abdellarkif, a very refpectable writer, and 
at leaft a century anterior to Aboul- Faradje, 
and other till more ancient writers,quoted 
by C.Langles, in a fecond memoir on Alex- 
andria, concur in proving that Amrou did 
really confume a library, which in 741 
ftill cecupied a magnificent edifice, called 
the Palace of Science. C. Langlés thinks 
however, tiat this library, was not that 
which was originally founded by the La- 
gides ; nor that which, eftablifhed by Se- 
rapion, and increafed by the firft Roman 
emperors, muft have been difperfed in 
391, under the reign of Theodofius I. but 
one which was formed fince that period, 
and was principally compoled of the works 
of the fifth and fixth centuries. 
C. Laprorte pu TueEit has added 
fome oblervations to the Fragmeuts of the 
Eligies of Callimachus, a work edited by 
the late Valckenaer, particularly relating 
to the Latin verfion which Catullus has 
given of the Elegy of Callimachus oz ihe 
Hair of Berenice metamorphofed into a Con- 
fiellation, and has endeavoured to afcertain 
the year in which the celebrared aftrono- 
mer Conon mult have diicovered this 
confiellation. 
Cit. RepouTeE has brought from Lower, 
Egypt a variety of defigns taken from the 
bas-reliefs which cover the different monu- 
ments. Some of them are the following ; 
1. From the Ife of Philea. A group in 
bas-relief placed at the fide of the interior 
of the Temple, reprefenting three figures, 
one of whom is ftanding, and making an 
offering. a 
2. Ile of Elephantina. A bas-relief 
occupying the lett fide of the firft hall in — 
the Temple. It reprefents a fhrine refting 
on a pedeftal, and carried in a boat. See 
veral perfons in the boat are in a pofture 
of adoration before the fhrine; in front 
and out of the boat, isa priet, who is 
making a Jibation, burning incenfe, and 
offering different kinds of tood. 
3. Koum Ombas. A bas-relief of four 
figures, one of whom is ftanding, .and of- 
fers a ferpent.in facrifice, in the prefence 
of Harpocrates, who is feated upon the lo- 
tus flag. 
4. Edfout.. A bas-relief, reprefenting 
feveral perfons in a boat, one of whom is 
piercing with a lance another figure ftand- 
ing out of the boat. 
5- Enfch. Reprefents a figure in a 
reclined pofture, carried by fix men with 
heads of different. animals; above is a 
pricft on his knees making an offering of 
four rams; below are two women carrying 
various Kinds of food on a ftand. 
6. Arment. Thiree figures, one of 
whom fuckles a child 3 the two others, 
placed behind her, each prefent to her a 
crofs with a handle, 
7. Medinet Abou. A large bas-relief, 
reprefenting the triumph of an Egyptian 
conqueror. He is feated in his car, and 
before him are led the prifoners, tied three 
by three: fome men are employed in count- 
ing the heads and genitai parts of the per- 
fons flain on the field of battle. 
The ACADEMY of SCIENCES af BERLIN. 
Among the fecieties of learned men 
eftabiifhed in various parts of Europe, 
that of Berlin deferves to be highly dif 
tinguifhed. It boafts rot only a great 
number of members of eminence and 
talents, but its premiums render its utili- 
ty univerfal. It poffefles the advantage of 
having its tranfactions publifhed in the 
French language. 
The 
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