1809.] 
The Rev. Joun Kemruane, will spee- 
dily publish a sélect portion of the 
Psalms, from various authors, arranged 
according to the year. 
The works of the pious and learned 
Dr, Townsenp will soon be’ published, 
in two octavo volumes, with a Life of the 
author, by Mr. Cuvrton. 
A second volume of Sermons, trans- 
lated from French authors, and adapted 
to the English pulpit, by the Rev. S. 
PartridGe, will soon make its appear- 
ance. ; 
Mr. Merrick has in considerable 
forwardness, a History of the. County of 
Cardigan. 
Dr. Epmonston has in the press, a 
View of the ancient and present State of 
Shetland, in twe octavo volumes. 
Memoirs of the Life and Writings of 
Atrrerr, the celebrated Italian drama- 
tist, will appear in the course of the pre- 
sent month. They are written by him- 
self, and interspersed with anecdotes of 
several distinguished modern characters 
of this country. 
_._ & new Romance, from the pen of 
Mrs. Norris, author of Julia of England, 
will shortly be published, under the title 
of Euphronia. 
An Italian work, with a French trans- 
lation, for the purpose of facilitating the 
acquisition of those languages, is in the 
press. It isentitled i/ modo di Piacere 
an Compagna, and consists of Conversa- 
tions ona variety of subjects, expressly 
written for the instruction of youth of both 
sexes, in the art of pleasing 1 in company, 
on their introduction into the world. 
The author of the Young Mother, or 
Albini, has in the press, Rosa in London, 
and other Tales, in four volumes. 
A correspondent of Nicholson’s Jour- 
~nal, has discovered a process for obtain- 
ing trom ginger, an acid, which he pro- 
poses to call zingiberic. One ounce of 
the best white ginger was infused two or 
three days, in six ounces of nitf@us acid ; 
after which, rather more than 4” equal 
quantity of water was added, *)*%% the 
whoie was kept at the heat of 219°, ad- 
ding water to supply the loss by evapo- 
ration, till the nitrous smell had disap- 
peared. Carbonate of lead was then 
added to saturation, and the solution 
filtred ; after which the lead was preci- 
pitated by sulphuric acid, and a second 
filtration was made, By evaporating 
the filtred liquor, an acid similar in ap- 
pearance to short white pieces of raw | 
siik, was obtained. which oxidates zine 
and iron, and dissolves potash, seda, and 
Menruy Mas. No. 429 
Literary and Philosophical Intelligences 
309 
ammonia, barsitee, étrontian, lime, mag= 
nesia, and the oxides of zinc, iron, lead, 
and copper. The zingiberic acid differs 
from the sulphuric, sulphurous, carbonic, 
oxalic, tartarous, citric, mucous, suc 
cinic, and camphoric acids, in forming 
a soluble salt with baryres and lime; 
from the nitric, nitrous, muriatic, acetic, 
acetous, sebacic, malic, and prussic, 
by remaining in the solid form at O12? 
from the: benzoic, and suberic, by its 
greater solubility 5 and it does not, hke 
gallic acid, precipitate Epypen ate brown 
colour. 
Mr. Wriiram Curtis, of the Borat 
Garden, Brompton, has been rewarded 
by the Society of Arts, for his valuable 
application of the Long White Moss of 
the Marshes (Sphagnum palustre, 
Liny.) to the packing of young trees 
for exportation. This is done- by 
squeezing out part of the moisture from 
the' moss, and laying courses of it about 
three inches thick, interposed with other 
courses of the trees (previously shortened 
in their branches and roots) stratum . 
above stratum, till the box is filled, when 
the whole must be trodden doce and 
the lid properly secured. 
will want no care, even during a voyage 
of ten or twelve months; the moss being 
wonderfully retentive of moisture, and 
seeming to possess an antiseptic property, 
which totally prevents fermentation, or 
putrefaction. In fact, vegetation actus 
ally proceeds during the time the trees 
remain inclosed; shoots being formed 
both from the branches and roots, which, . 
however, are blanched and tender, for 
want of light and air, to which the trees. 
consequently require to be gradually ine 
ured. This moss is very common in 
most parts of Europe and America, which 
renders the application more-easy, and 
‘the discovery more important. 
The existence of Mermaids, hitherto 
supposed to be fabulous, seems, in some 
degree, to be established, by the evidence. 
of the following letters, which were lately 
transmitted to Sir John Sinclair. 
No. I.—Lerter from Miss Mackay, daughter 
of the Rev. David Mackay, Minister of 
Reay, to Miss Innes Dowager, of Sandside. 
Reay Manse, May 25, 1809... 
Mapam.—To establish the truth of what 
has hitherto been considered improbable and 
fabulous, must be at all times a difficult task, 
and I have not the vanity to think that my 
testimony alone would be sufficient for this . 
purpose; but when to this is added that of 
four others, I hope it will have some effect in 
removing the doubts of those who may sup- 
pose that the wonderful appearance I reported 
QR | having 
The trees _— 
