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SIR,-In your Number of the Imperial Magazine for September last, there is a philosophical piece on "The Agents by which the World is supplied with water," upon which I shall venture a few remarks.

The author does not appear to have a sufficient knowledge of modern chemistry, to enable him to write correctly on the subject; and he has consequently comImitted several blunders in the course of his essay, on which I shall take the liberty to animadvert.

In page 415, the writer says, (referring to oxygen gas,) "Another peculiar and marvellous property of this gas is, that no substance, how inflammable soever it be, can be made to burn without its presence; and, consequently, it is the means of our being able to produce that effect which we call fire." This is an unguarded assertion; as it is well known to chemists, that chlorine gas is, in an eminent degree, a supporter of combustion. Phosphorus inflames in it spontaneously. Many of the metals burn in it vividly, presenting a beautiful appearance, and throwing off sparks. Iodine and bromine will also maintain combustion.

In page 416, where hydrogen gas is spoken of, the writer says, that "miners have given it the very expressive name of fire-damp." And immediately after,"Most people are now also acquainted with it, from the attention it has attracted of late years, by being employed as a substitute for oil-lamps, in lighting streets, shops, taverns, &c." Then again,-"It is also pretty generally known to be that same gas employed for filling balloons, being, as it is, one of the lightest substances in nature; thirteen gallons of which, when pure, not being heavier than one of common air." Here the writer exhibits great confusion of ideas, in giving the name of hydrogen (which is a pure gas) to the compound gases known as the miners' fire-damp, and the common coal gas used in lighting our shops and streets. Water, which is compounded of oxygen and hydrogen, may with as much propriety be called hydrogen, because that element forms a component

part of its substance. The above-named gases contain hydrogen as a component part only, and it is not a sufficient description of them to say, that they consist of hydrogen in a mixed or impure state. These gases (the fire-damp and coal gas) are, in reality, a chemical compound of hydrogen gas and carbon (or charcoal;) in which the hydrogen gas is condensed into half its natural bulk, and combined with three times its own weight of carbon. They are, also, at least eight times heavier than pure hydrogen gas. Hence, you may perceive the glaring impropriety of confounding these gases with pure hydrogen. They are very rightly called carburetted hydrogena term significative of its compound nature. But coal gas is not even pure carburetted hydrogen, being contaminated with a variety of impurities.

In the same column, continuing his remarks upon hydrogen, the author says"That it exists copiously in metallic substances, may be inferred from its being derived very abundantly and purely by the decomposition of iron by sulphuric acid." In what chemical work does the writer learn that "iron" is a "compound substance?" The efforts of the alchemists through centuries of laborious exertion, and the utmost skill of modern philosophers, have not effected the decomposition of any metal; and the probability is, that they are simple substances. But the writer has inferred it from experiments, which we proceed to examine. Sulphuric acid is diluted with water, and iron or zinc filings are added; hydrogen gas is then produced in abundance. The real source of the hydrogen in this experiment is the water used in diluting the acid. The oxygen of the water abandons its hydrogen, and combines with the metal, forming with it an oxide. The liberated hydrogen escapes from the water, and the sulphuric acid combines with the metallic oxide, producing a sulphate of iron or zinc. Thus we see the hydrogen is derived from the water, and not from the metal.

My concluding criticism is upon a passage in page 417, where it is asserted, that "actual combustion is the means of interflux of the two ethereal essences, oxygen gas and hydrogen gas, in the precise relative proportions that convert them into water; it is thus that every drop of water ever produced in the world has been generated!"

It is very true that philosophers know of no other mode of effecting the combination of the two elements, oxygen and hydrogen, so as to produce water, than by the combustion of the two gases. But the

Almighty Creator is not to be limited by the feeble conceits and circumscribed powers of Man; and your readers may well be filled with amazement at the presumption of this expression, which boldly asserts, that it is thus that every drop of water ever produced in the world has been thus generated!

The inaccuracies exposed above are so very glaring, that I think you should not suffer them to pass without correction; for which purpose you are welcome, if you please, to publish these strictures, and I remain, Sir, with much esteem, your constant reader and well-wisher,

J. D. 39, Tavistock St., Covent Garden, Sept. 26th, 1832.

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS.

THE mean temperature of September, was 587 degrees of Fahrenheit's thermometer. The maximum of 66 degrees occurred on the 30th, with a southerly wind. The minimum, which was 48 degrees, took place on the 20th, when the direction of the wind was south-westerly. The range of the thermometer was 18 degrees, and the prevailing wind south-west. The direction of the wind has been south-westerly 93 days; north-westerly 73; westerly 4; south-easterly 23; north-easterly 2; southerly 2; northerly 13, and easterly 13.

Rain has fallen on 9 days, and 5 have been accompanied with wind. Thunder

occurred on the evening of the 6th heavy dew fell on the nights of the 11th and 22d, and on the evenings of the 4th and 5th the clouds were tinged with a beautiful pink and red hue. From the 23d to the 29th the weather was particularly fine, the thermometer rising considerably during the middle of the day, and the four first days being cloudless, nothing occurred but a mistiness, which was principally observed towards the north: the prevailing wind during this period was south-west.

GLEANINGS.

Gas in London.-The Gas which lights London, is calculated to consume 38,000 chaldrons of coal per annum lighting 62,000 lamps in shops, houses, &c., and 7,500 street lamps. In 1830 the gas pipes in aud round London were above 1,000 miles in length. Gas lights of half an inch in diameter supply a light equal to 20 candles; of one inch in diameter, equal to 100; two inches, 420: three inches, to 1,000.

Gin, versus Life.-At the late meeting of the Temperance Society, in London, the Rev. G. Evans called the attention of the Meeting to a Bill which had been put into his hands for that purpose; it was sent by a publican to a tradesman, and demanded the sum of £3. 6s. 8d., for gin supplied to his wife during the last thirty-three days of her life, by which it appeared that the unfortunate woman had drunk three half-pints of gin daily during that period, and so killed herself.-Herald.

Ancient Practice in Churches.-The following extract from Bishop Grindall's episcopal injunction, will show, at least, what had been the practice in churches. That no pedlar should be permitted to sell his wares in the church porch in time of service. That parish clerks should be able to read. That no lords of misrule, or summer lords and ladies, or any disguised persons, morrice-dancers, or others, should come irreverently into the church, or play any unseemly parts with scoffs, jests, or ribald talk, in time of divine service."

A Curious Watch.-There is at this time in the possession of Mr. Thackwell, watch-maker, of this town, a very curious antique watch, which is said to have belonged to Lady Jane Grey. The case is of crystal, very curiously cut and set in gold, with a gold dial. It was made long before the invention of fusee chains, a piece of fine cat-gut being used instead. It has no pendulum spring, or minute hand; and, though near three hundred years old, is in as perfect a state as when it came from the maker, and is even now a very elegant article and a great curiosity. It is enclosed in a black leather case, lined with red velvet, and studded with gold. Monmouthshire Merlin.

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Beaumont and Fletcher-Those who are amused by the discovery of what are termed "curious coincidences," will think it worthy of notice, that the Rev. J. E. Beaumont and the Rev. A. Fletcher were lately associated in the task of preaching on behalf of a chapel recently built at Chingford, Essex; and will probably be of opinion, that their combined talents were more usefully employed than those of the ancient dramatic firm of the same name.

Law and Physic.-In the State of New York there are two thousand five hundred and eighty regularly licensed physicians, one thousand nine hundred and sixteen practising attorneys, and three thousand and eighty-nine justices of the peace, to a population of 1,913,500 souls.

More Cats than Mice.-At the late Exeter sessions, there were six prisoners, forming four cases; during the forenoon fifteen barristers dropped in!

Imprisonment for Debt.-" In 1829 there were committed to Whitecross-street prison on process, out of the Court of Requests, for debts under 40s. 1563 persons, the amount of whose debts were £2071, and costs £746. To Horsemonger Lane, there were committed in the same year 932 persons, whose debts amounted to £1900, and costs to £574.”—The Legal

Observer, February, 1831.

Debtor Laws in England.-The fraud, impoverishment, and desolation, resulting from the administration of the debtor laws, are almost incredible. From returns of affidavits of debts, it appears, that in two years and a half, 70,000 persons have been arrested in and about London, the law expenses of which amount to no less than half a million sterling.

William the Fourth.-It is rather a singular fact, that our present Majesty should be at one and the same time King William the First, Second, Third, and Fourth. As King of Hanover, he is William the

First; that country, giving the title of Elector only to

its rulers, previously to George the Third. As King of Ireland, he is William the Second, for that kingdom was not added to the British crown until the reign of Henry the Second, and consequently William the Conqueror and William Rufus were not sovereigns of Ireland; and, as there were no native kings of that name, William the Third of England was the First of Ireland, and our present monarch is of course William the Second. As King of Scotland, he is William, the third; the only monarch of that name, previously to James the First, (who united the two kingdoms,) being the celebrated William the Lion. And as King of England, he is William the Fourth.-Crosby's Life and Times of George the Fourth.

Rum Sellers, look at this.-We have good authority for stating, that in a town in Massachusetts, the following affecting incident occurred. A grocer visited his own brother, on his dying bed, and arousing him from the lethargy of death, said, Brother, do you remember me! The dying man opened his eyes, and, fastening them attentively upon him, answered, "Yes, I remember you, I shall always remember you and your store, where I contracted habits which have ruined me both for this world and the next: and when I am dead and gone, and you shall have taken from my widow and fatherless ones the shattered remains of my property, to satisfy my rum debts, they too will remember you. Yes, brother, we shall remember you to all eternity." - Con. Observer.

Portsmouth, July 25.-A person has obtained the sanction of the Admiralty, to descend, by means of air pipes, to the wreck of the Boyne, late of ninetyeight guns, which, it may be in the recollection of many, caught fire, by accident, at Spithead, on the

1st of May, 1795, at eleven in the morning, drifted from her moorings, and finally blew up, about six in the evening of the same day, opposite Southsea Castle. At low water, the wreck is approached at about two or three fathoms. A ladder of sufficient length reaches the wreck from a vessel moored over. The person descends, his head enveloped in a large leaden mask, with glass eyelets, protected by small brass bars, his body covered with an Indian rubber dress, leaving his hands perfectly free, as also his legs and feet. By this means he traverses the wreck, and has been able to suspend a few twenty-four pounders, which were hoisted into the vessel above. This afternoon he discovered what it is supposed was the captain's (the late Sir George Grey, Bart,) wine store. He first brought up one bottle, then two; he then took down a basket, which he filled, and finally brought up twenty-one bottles-claret and port, which of course have been immersed in salt water for the last thirty seven years. He refused, on the deck of the vessel, twenty shillings a bottle for it, but handsomely tapped one by way of taster for the by-standers. His agreement with government is to have all he causes to be brought up, except the copper, which is to be deposited in the Dock-yard, for which he will be allowed the usual salvage. An immense number of boats, chiefly filled with ladies, attend every day. The bottles are covered with immense barnacles.

Pyramids of Egypt.-The pyramids of Egypt always ranked among the wonders of the world. Three of them still remain, at the distance of a few leagues from Grand Cairo; where the ancient Memphis stood. It has been calculated by a French engineer, that the stone in the largest of the three, called the great pyramid, is six millions of tons; and would be sufficient to build a wall round the whole of France (about eighteen hundred miles,) ten feet high and one foot broad. It forms a square, each side of whose base is seven hundred and forty-six feet, and covers nearly fourteen acres of land. The perpendicular height is about five hundred and sixty feet. The summit, which when viewed from below appears a point, is found to be a platform, each side of which is eighteen feet long. The stones with which this enormous edifice is built, are thirty feet long. These stupendous works of man were originally designed as tombs for their kings: from which we may infer the grandeur and resources of the nation.-Companion to the Bible, p. 86.

Schools in France.-It appears that the present number of elementary schools in France is 30,796, of which 29,618 are Catholics, 904 Protestants, and 62 Jewish. The aggregate number of children instructed, is stated to be 1,372,296 in winter, and 681,005 in summer.-Nat. Gaz.

The Oldest Sunday Scholar.-At the coronation of his present Majesty William the Fourth, twenty thousand Sunday-school children graced the celebration. Among the banners, in the procession at Manchester, one bore the inscription, "The man who follows this banner, was one of Mr. Raikes' scholars, in the first Sunday-schools ever established." The man above referred to was a fine-looking old man, above seventy years of age. He was greeted by the populace, had the pleasure of shaking hands with many highly respectable individuals, and greatly enjoyed the proceedings of the day.

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Part XXI. of Baines's History of Lancashire, is enriched with a superb Engraving of the Earl and Countess of Derby, from a Painting by Vandyk

Portrait Gallery, Part XLIII.; Duchess of Kent; Bishop of Gloucester; and Marquis of Londonderry. The Lives of the Reform Ministers, 1 Vol. 8vo. is ready for delivery.

The Reform Act, Boundary Act, &c. for England, Ireland, and Scotland-a bulky law book condensed into an 8vo. pamphlet.

Part II. of Westmoreland, Cumberland, Durham, and Northumberland; containing eight Views; the four-shilling Part comprising sixteen Engravings, being benceforth to be divided into two, for the convenience of purchasers.

Drawing Room Scrap-Book for 1833: containing 36 superb Engravings.

No. IX. of the Nautical Magazine: for November.

Gorton's New Topographical Dictionary of Great Britain and Ireland, with Fifty-four Maps. 3 Vols. The Obligations of the Pastoral Office, and the Glorious Results of their Faithful Discharge. A Charge intended to be delivered at the Ordination of a Son. By the late Rev. W. Williams, of Norwood. The Sacred Musical Offering; the Poetry by Bernard Barton, Miss Caroline Bowles, Rev. J. Cunningham, Delta, Maurice Harcourt, Bishop Heber, Mrs. Hemans, James Knox, R. & J. Montgomery, Mrs. Opie, Miss A. M. Porter, Rev. J. Young, &c.-The Music by T. Adams, Beethoven, Dr. Carnaby, Gluck, W. H. Holmes, Mozart, Chevalier Neükomm, E. J. Nielson, C. H. & T. Purday, L. Spohr, E. J. & H. Westrop, C. M. Von Weber, &c.

A Portraiture of Modern Scepticism; or, a Caveat against Infidelity: including a Brief and Practical View of the principal Evidences which show the Scriptures to be a Revelation from God. Intended as a present to the young. By J. Morison, D. D. 12mo. Address at the Opening of the Medical Session in the University of London. By J. Elliotson. Gibbon's French, English, and Latin Vocabulary. Narrative of the Conversion of James Cook, the murderer of Mr. Paas. By Mrs. Lacklan.

Illustrations of Political Economy, No. IX. Ireland, a Tale. By Harriet Martineau.

The Worthies of Yorkshire and Lancashire, being lives of distinguished persons. By Hartley Coleridge. A Letter to Lord John Russell. By Captain Forman, R. N.

Daily Incense - Prayer and Praise. Religious Tract Society.

Initia Latina in Usum Scholæ Grammaticæ." Grammatical Exercises on the Moods, Tenses, and Syntax of the Latin Language. By G. Ferguson. A Letter to John Murray, Esq. from Lord Nugent. Essay on Tubercles. By Nathaniel Rogers, M. D. Advice to a Young Christian, &c. By a Village Pastor.

Daily Prayers and Promises. Religious Tract Society.

Daily Verses. Religious Tract Society.

Lives of British Reformers from Wickliffe to Fox. Religious Tract Society.

A Commentary on the Holy Bible from Henry and Scott-Job to Solomon's Song.

The Records of Providence; or, the Government of God displayed in a series of interesting Facts. By the Rev. John Young.

Gems for Christian Ministers. Religious Tract Society.

The Family Temperance Meeting.

The Reign of Grace, &c. By Abraham Booth. Society for Promoting Religious Knowledge.

The Travels of True Godliness, &c. By B. Keach. Society for Promoting Religious Knowledge.

The Elgin Annual for 1833. Edited by J. Grant, of the Elgin Courier.

The Comic Offering; or, Ladies' Melange. Juvenile Forget Me Not. Edited by Mrs. S. C. Hall. The Messiah. By R. Montgomery. A new edition.

In the Press.

My Village, versus Our Village. By the 'Author of Barney Mahoney.

The Second Series of "Traits and Stories of the Irish Peasantry;" in 3 vols. Post 8vo. By the author of the First Series.

The Life of Sir Walter Scott, Bart.; to be published in Monthly Parts.

The Elements of Plain and Spherical Trigonometry, and their Application to Astronomy, Dialling, and Trigonometrical Surveying. With Plates. By M. R. Abbatt, of Grove House, Tottenham.

By Mr. Curtis, Aurist to His Majesty, a Second Edition of his Essay on the Deaf and Dumb; also, a Treatise on the Diseases of the Eye,

Hints on Picturesque Domestic Architecture; in a Series of Designs for Gate Lodges, Game Keepers' Cottages, and other Rural Residences. By T. F. Hant, Architect, 4to.

A Periodical is about to appear in Edinburgh, under the management of Mr. Aitkin, late Editor of Constable's Miscellany," the "Cabinet," &c. &c.

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LONDON: PRINTED AT THE CAXTON PRESS, BY H. FISHER, SON, AND CO.

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