1803.) 
from it a matter analogous to refin, mixed | 
with adipofe-wax, or fatty, matter. 6. 
‘That concentrated fulphuric, muriatic, 
and oxigenated muriatic acids reduce it 
tocarbone, without diffolving it. 7. That 
with alkalis it forms a faponaceous com- 
pound. 8. That the fixed and volatile 
‘oils, ether, and alcohol are the proper 
folvents of ambergris. 9. And that 
with alcohol we obtain a feparation of its 
conftituent parts in the following propor- 
tions : 
Adipofe-wax, or fatty mat- 
ae ter * - 2,016 grammes 
Refin ~ - 1,167 
Benzoic Acid - 054.25 
Coally-matter = = 0,212 ——— 
3,820 
In the territory of Falcien, a village 
diftant two leagues from Nice, an im- 
menfe cavern has lately been difcovereds 
The entrance is very narrow; but in 
the interior of the cavern, of which 
neither the extent nor depth has yet 
‘been fully explored, there are large halls 
refembling temples, adorned with columns 
formed by the cryftallization of the water. 
A fingle hall would contain 400 perfons. 
Very little Jight is neceffary, as the reflec- 
tion from the walls produces a magnifi- 
sent illumination. 
Citizen LaBILLARDIERE has been 
making experiments for the purpofe of 
a{certaining the relative ftrength of a fpe- 
cies of flax which grows in New Zealand, 
and which Citizen Labillardiere obtained 
from the natives themfelves, when he vi- 
fited that country in the fhip fent in fearch 
of the unfortunate Peyroufe. It appears 
_ that the ftrength of the fibres of the aloe- 
pitte being 7, that of the common flax 
will be reprefented by 113 ; of hemp by 
16%; of the New Zealand flax by 233 ; 
and of filk by 34; with refpeét to ftretch- 
ing before they break, the proportions 
are different ; for if the extenfibility of the 
fibres of the aloe pitte be equal to 23; 
that of flax is found to be 4; of hemp 
1; of the flax of New Zealand 12; and 
of filk 5. tis thought this flax might 
be cultivated inthe fouthern provinces of 
France. 
The officers of the police lately confi f- 
cated at Paris, the Corre/pondance Poli- 
tique et Confidentiel de Louis XVI. or Po- 
litical and confidential! Correfpondence of 
Louis XVI. with his brothers and eminent 
perfons, during the laft years of his reign, 
publifhed by the celebrated Helen Maria 
» Williams. 
Literary and Philfophical Intelligence. 267 
zeites. 
ol 
Two living animals, entirely unknown 
to naturalifts, have been fent to Paris by 
Captain Baupin. Profeflor Gzorrrog 
calls them fafcolomes. They come from 
the weltern coaft. of New Holland ; their 
fur may be of fome utility ; and their 
fieth affords excellent food. Thefe ani- 
mals refemble the marmot in the fhape of 
the head, the number, the nature and ar- 
rangement of their teeth; and by the 
conformation of their fore-feet which they 
employ for burrowing in the earth :-— 
but they differ, by the exiltence of a bag 
under.the belly of the female, and by 
the organs of generation, which are like 
thofe of the /arique of Buffon. The 
hind feet alfo are formed like thofe of 
that animal, the thumb being feparated 
from the other toes, and deftitute of claws. 
The tailis fo fhort that it remains con- 
cealed among the hair, which is brown, 
tufted, and very long. They live under 
the earth, fleep in the day-time, and in 
the night go in queft of food. They 
feed on bread, milk, roots, and all forts of ~ 
herbs. 
Count Serci DE Romanzow, of Pez 
terfburgh, has lately inoculated all his 
flock for the feab, and out of 2300 fheep, 
which were fubjected to the procefs, not 
one died of the difeafe. 
Dr. JoserpuH Bartn, of Vienna, has 
invented an economical fire-place, fimple 
in its conftruétion, and requiring a very 
{mall quantity of fuel. ‘The Emperor 
has ordered a certain number to be made 
on this plan, and the defcription to be 
publifhed. 
M. Von DEmIpOFF, of Mofcow, has 
given a large landed eftate containing 3578 
peafants, anda capital of 300,000 roubles, 
to be applied towards the fupport and im- 
provement of the Ruffian {chools and unt- 
verfities. Toe the univerfity of Mofcow, 
in particular, he has prefented his valua- 
ble library, and cabinet of natural curio- 
fities and works of art, as likewife a 
moft extenfive collection of medals. ‘The 
Emperor Alexander has accepted this do- 
nation, and ordered that a medal fhall 
be ftruck with the head of Demidoff on 
one fide, and a fuitable infcription on the 
reverfe. ‘This medal is to be prefented to 
him in a meeting of the fenate of the 
univerfity of Mofcow, as a teftimony of 
the gratitude of his country for his pa- 
triotic liberality. His Petition to the 
Emperor, explaining to what ufes he 
wifhed toa have the money applied, has 
likewife been printed in the Ruffian Ga-. 
Mm 2 REVIEW 
