54 
amount to eight, and has even calculated 
their feveral diftances from the’ planet. 
According to WuRM, the two fatellites 
firft difcovered by HeERSCHELL, are the 
fecond and third, in the order of diftance. 
Fhe rollowing table exnibits WuRm’s 
fyftem, with the period of their feveral 
circumvolutions, as computed by Major 
Von Zacu, of Weimar. 
BVe. of Satel- | Diftancein fe- | Period of circum- 
lites. mi diameters volition. 
\ of the planet. | 
ir. Bea 32 days. 
i. 9.85 32 
ELE: 13.6 132 
IN, -20.7 254 
¥: 40.2 632 
Vi 70.8 1602 
VII. 129.9 3982 
VIL. 261.1 1126 
Mr. FaBRani has difcovered, that a 
yuiee exprefled from the leaves of the 
focotorine aloe yields, by iimple expofure 
to the air, a very deep and lively violet- 
purple dye, which is not aéied upon by 
acids, alkalies, or oxygen gas. Je 
thinks it may be highly uteful in form- 
ing a pigment for miniature painting ; 
and alfo, diflolved in water, for dying 
filk, which it will effect without the uie 
of a mordant. ‘Though this aloe is a 
Rative of a trepical climate, it is tuppoled 
that it might be readily cuitivated ‘im the 
fouth of Italy. ; 
- From the relation of the late embafly 
ef the Dutch Eaft India company to the 
Emperor of China, publifhed by Van 
BRAAM, it appears that the court of 
Pekin has not in the leaft relaxed in its 
jealoufy towards Europeans, fince the 
embafly of Lord MacarTNEy. The 
Dutch were, if poflible, more elofely 
watched than the Englifh. ‘Phe account 
given of the origin of this jezloufy is, 
that a former Emperor of China, con- 
verfing with a Spanith jefuit, who was 
deficient in the craft of his order, ex- 
preffed his aftonifhment at the vait ac- 
quifitions made by the king of Spain in 
South America; on which the jefuit in- 
formed him, ‘‘ that the Spaniards having 
gained a footing in the country, fent 
miffionaries in ordey to convert the people 
to the catholic faith; after which their 
fubjugation followed of courfe.”” Englifh 
and Dutch mifficnaries are a more harm- 
lefs kind of people; but Lord Ma- 
CARTNEY’s light infantry and artillery 
might well appear as formidable :to the 
Chinefe as a company of barefooted friars. 
From a report made to the council of 
the mmes in Spain by D. FERNANDEZ, 
Literary and Philofophical Intelligence. 
their infpector, concerning a new dying 
wood from Guiana, named paraguatan, _ 
it appears to poflefs a fuperiority over 
brazil and logwood in producing fhades 
of red of a more durable nature. Its 
botanical] fpecies is not yet afcertained ; 
but the knowledge of the wood feems to 
be extending. The barkis the part moft 
valuable in dying. 
Citizen BauDIN, fent on a voyage of 
difcovery by the French government, has 
returned from America with the richeft 
collection of living exotic plants ever 
brought into.Enrope. The number is 
eftimated at 3500, among which are trees 
25 feet in height, and from 12 to 15 
inches diameter. On his attempting to 
enter the port of Havre, he found the 
Englifh f{quadron blockading it. The 
Esglith commander, however, though his 
order would not permit him to fuffer any 
veffel to enter Havre, very handfomely 
.dire&ted Citizen BAUDIN to proceed te 
the neareft place in the channel not under 
blockade. What pity that two fuch na- 
tions fhould be involved in perpetual 
hoftilities through the pertinacity of their 
rulers! Decade Philofophic. . 
Dr. Barton, of Philadelphia, in his 
*¢ Collections for an Effay towards a Ma- 
teria Medica of the United States,” gives 
the following account of two articles of 
food, hitherto little known, the produéts 
of North America: 
‘¢ There grows upon the river Mobile a 
fpecies of palm, which is but little known 
to naturalifts, but which promifes to be an 
important article of food to man. It has ne 
ftalk or ftem above ground. The leaves 
fpread regularly all round, and when fully 
expanded are flabelliform. In the centre of 
thefe leaves is produced the receptacle of the 
fruit, which is of the form and fize of a 
common fugar-loaf. This receptacle confifts 
of a vaft number of drupes, or berries, of the 
fize, and fhape of common plumbs: each is 
covered with a fibrous, farinaceous, pulpy 
coating of confiderable thicknefs. This fub- 
ftance is faid to refemble manna in texture, 
colour, and tafte; or, perhaps, it ftill more 
refembles moift brown fugar, with particles- 
of loaf-fugar mixt with it. It is a moft de- 
licious and nourifhing food, and is diligently 
fought after in the places where it grows. 
Upon firft tafting it, it is fomewhat bitter 
and pungent *, 
<¢ The large tuberous roots of the Smilax 
China afford our fouthern Indians a nourifh- 
ing tood. The frefh roots are well macerated 
in wooden mortars. The mafs is then put 
into veffels nearly filled with clear water,” 
* From the information of Mr. WiLLIAM 
Bartram. MS penesme. Vol, 4 
where 
