VARIETIES. 
467 
Manufacture  of  Chinese  Porcelain. — la  presenting  to  the  Academy  of 
Sciences  the  important  work  of  M.  Stanislas  Julien  on  Chinese  porcelain, 
a  work  mentioned  in  my  last  communication,  M.  Chevreul  gave  a  brief 
review  of  its  contents. 
The  art  of  making  porcelain  has  been  carried  back  to  an  exaggerated 
antiquity.  It  is  now  demonstrated  that  the  earliest  porcelains  were  made 
in  China  at  an  epoch  between  185  B.  C.  and  87  A.  D.  The  porcelain 
vases  found  in  the  tombs  of  Egypt  are  not  of  the  antiquity  attributed  to 
them.    M.  Julien  has  contributed  not  a  little  to  correct  this  error. 
The  Chinese  author  passes  in  review,  according  to  the  order  of  time  and 
place  of  fabrication,  the  different  porcelains  most  renowned  in  China.  A 
chart  of  that  empire  indicates  the  location  of  the  ancient  and  modern  manu- 
factures, adding  much  to  the  interest  of  the  text.  The  idea  of  this  is  due 
to  the  learned  translator.  The  processes  of  manufacture  are  described  with 
clearness  and  method,  and  fourteen  plates  are  reproduced  from  the  origi- 
nal work.  Finally  the  very  precise  notes  of  M.  Salvetat,  dissipate  the 
doubt  in  which  the  text  might  leave  the  reader. 
The  interest  of  the  book  is  not  limited  to  an  exhibition  of  the  manufac- 
ture of  Chinese  porcelain,  for  M.  Julien,  in  annexing  to  his  translation 
of  the  Art  of  making  Japanese  Porcelain,  has  done  all  which  depended  on 
him  to  render  his  book  useful  to  those  who  consult  the  book  from  an  in- 
terest in  the  history  of  the  art  or  in  the  ceramic  industry.  . 
M.  Julien  has  also  given  the  means  of  comparing  the  processes  of  China 
and  Japan  with  those  of  Europe  ;  a  task  entrusted  to  M.  Salvetat.  The 
analogies  and  differences  of  manufacture  could  not  be  shown  with  more 
clearness  than  is  here  done  by  the  skilful  chemist  of  Sevres.  The  Chinese 
paste,  like  the  European,  is  composed  of  a  variable  mixture  of  kaolin,  that 
is,  of  a  material  infusible  in  the  heat  of  the  porcelain  furnace,  and  of  ma- 
terial which  is  fusible  ;  the  glazing  is  of  fusible  material.  This  is  the 
analogy.  The  difference  is  that  the  fusible  material  mixed  with  the  com-, 
position  in  China  is  flint,  but  at  Sevres  it  is  composed  of  sandy  matter 
coming  from  the  washing  of  kaolin  and  chalk.  The  glazing  of  Chinese 
porcelain  is  flint  mixed  with  lime  and  frequently  with  frit.  The  glazing 
at  Sevres  is  of  pure  flint.  The  porcelain  of  China  is  less  resistant  to  fire 
than  that  of  Sevres.  The  Chinese  do  not,  like  the  Japananese  and  Euro- 
peans, apply  the  glazing  to  the  biscuit.  There  are  other  differences  in  the 
application  of  the  coloring  matters  and  in  the  composition  of  some  of  the 
varieties.  The  typography  of  this  work  does  honor  in  every  respect  to  M. 
Mallet-Bachelier. — American  Journal  of  Science  and  Arts. 
Peculiar  arrangement  of  a  Voltaic  Battery. — This  battery  is  designed  for 
medicinal  uses.  It  has  been  contrived  by  a  constructor  at  Paris,  M.  Breton, 
and  is  maintained  in  a  state  of  constant  moisture  with  chloride  of  calcium. 
For  one  of  the  poles  there  is  a  mixture  of  copper  filings  with  saw-dust,  the 
