558 
Four ladies and three children have 
alveady been burnt to death within the 
present winter, owing to inattention 
to the known means of preventing the 
fatal effects of such accidents. Reason. 
ing on the principle of the ascent of heat 
and flame, Sir Recnarp Pniiurps lately 
provided himself with two separate pieces 
of muslin, and made with them tie fol- 
Jowing decisive experiment. He set fire 
to one of them held in an upright posi- 
tion, and it was consumed in half a mi- 
nate, the flames rising with yreat inten- 
sity’ to the height of two feet. LHe then 
set fire to the other piece, laid hollow in 
an horizontal direction, and it was nearly 
ten minutes before it burnt from one end 
af the piece to the other; the flame never 
rose half an inch in height, and might at 
any instant have been extinguished by 
the thumb and finger, or by drawing the 
hand over it. In short, it is evident, 
that a perpendicular female dress as 
high as the Monument, would burn out 
with a destructive flame in less time than 
2 single yard of the same material laid 
in an horizontal direetion. It results, 
therefore, from the above experiment, 
that as soon as a lady’s or child’s dress is 
discovered ta be on fire, she should lie 
down, and she may then either extin- 
guish the flame with her own bands, or 
may leisurely call for assisitance, aud no 
fatal veffects can happen even in the 
worst event, 
RUSSIA. 
A peasant named Joun Semzow, has 
discovered a method of making paper 
sioppers for botiles so expeditiousiy, 
that one man may make near 7000 ia an 
hour, In consequence, a thousand corks, 
which some time since sold for 65 rubles, 
have fallen to 8, and it is expected, that 
should the conpetina continue, they 
wil be so low as halfa ruble per thou- 
sand, which is the price of the paper 
substitutes. 
GERMANY 
M. Baprr, Counsellor of Mines at 
Numch, in Bavaria, has invented what 
he terms an aquatic sledyé, coustructed 
en such a principle that it may be im- 
pelied and gaided en the water by the 
rider himself without any other aid. 
he first public €xpernnent was made 
w ake this machine op the 29th of Aucust 
last, before the royal family at Myelin 
burg, with complete suceess. It consists 
of two hollow cauoes, or pou! oons, eight 
feet lone, made of sheet copper, died 
ou all sides, jomed to,each other ina 
paraliel direction, at the distance of six 
fect, by a light wooden frame. hus 
Luterary and Philosophical Zntelligence. 
[Jan. ly: 
“joined, they support a seat resembling an 
arm-chair, in which the rider is seated,. 
and impels and steers the sledge by 
treading two large pedals before him. 
Hach of these pedals is connected with 
a paddle, fixed perpendicularly, in the 
pre ae of the machine behind the 
seat, and in the interval between the two 
pontoons. . In front of the seat stands a 
small table, on which the rider may read, 
write, draw, or eat and drink. His 
hands being at perfect liberty, he may 
even play an instrument, load and fire 
a gun, or do whatever he pleases. - Be- 
hind. the seat is a leathern bag, to hold 
any thing he may want in his excur- 
sion, It..is evident that this machine 
must be admirably calculated for the pur- 
pose of taking sketches of aquatic SCe= 
nery,°as also for the diversion of shooting 
water-fowl, in whieh ease the sportsman 
conceals himself behind a slight skreen of 
branches, or rashes, so-as to approach 
the birds unperceived. ‘This vehicle is 
far safer than a common boat, the centre 
of gravity being constantly in the middle 
of a very broad base; a circumstance 
which renders upsetting, even in the hea- 
viest gale, absolutely im possible, It is 
moreover so contrived, that it may be 
taken to pieces ina few minutes, packed 
in a box, and put together again in a very 
short time. It is not improbable that - 
this highly original invention may m time 
be applied to more importabt purposes 
than mere diversion. 
‘The finen and woollen manufactures of 
Prussian Silesia have beem for some years 
on the decline. Previous to 1798, the 
former produced on an average twenty 
millions of livres a-year. Of woollen 
cloth, above 120,000 pieces were annue. 
ally made, and two-thirds of that quan- 
tity were exported. In 1788 the exports 
amounted to 72,620 pieces dressed, and 
17,200. andr essed. The cloths made 
here are common in quality; and on these 
manufactures the whole papain de. 
pends for: a subsistence. The province 
has a few manufactories of ' cotton ang 
stuffs mixed of silk and thread, but of 
small consequence. The tanneries ate 
of more importance; they are numerous, 
but neglected, either from, prohibitions 
wh et restrain luidustry or pe, want of 
Bi: ; 
4, ERASER ap 
a Chamber of Arts has presented to 
AM. Appert a premium of 42,000 franes 
for nis recent invention for preserving 
fruits, vegetables, meat, and all kinds of 
animal and) even- vegetable substances 
several years, ull condition that his me- 
thoi 
