boats navigate the ocean, which affords them every thing they need. The sea furnishes them the materials for their boats, their houses, and their clothing; food, arms and fuel, by the capture of whales, walrusses, and seals. The Reindeer Tchoukches traverse the continent with their numerous herds; they differ both in language and manners from the others. They are far more warlike, but carry on in an amicable manner the intercourse and trade between the Russians living on the Kolyma and elsewhere, and the tribes dwelling on the coasts, the produce of whose fishery is absolutely necessary to them. There is no difference between the two tribes, either in external appearance or in dress. The intercourse with the Russians is indispensable to both, partly to obtain iron and copper goods, and partly, and indeed chiefly, for tobacco, of which both sexes are passionately fond. For a few leaves of Russian tobacco and some needles, any thing may be obtained from them. Thick fogs prevented them from continuing their operations on the coast. After cruising about a long time, they at length cast anchor, on the 27th, at the entrance of the Bay of Metschigmenski, intending, as it was then late in the day, to enter the port next morning; but a very violent wind blowing from shore would not permit it; and after losing a whole day, they found it necessary to abandon the attempt, and steer to the south, having little time to spare. In lat. 64° 47′ they came to an apparent inlet, which had been already observed by Clarke. They immediately sent out boats to look for a harbour, in which they succeeded. The following day the naturalists made an excursion, and convinced VOL. LXXI.

themselves that what had hitherto been taken for a part of the continent, was in fact an island.-On the 29th they changed their anchoring-place, and perceived, from the hills, that they were in a considerable channel, formed by two large islands and the continent of Asia. This channel, which contains a number of excellent harbours, received the name of Siniävin Strait; and in the time that intervened to the 6th of August, it was accurately surveyed by the captain and the officers. Cape Mertens forms the southern entrance of this channel, which, ever since the time of Cook, has been taken for a bay. Here they left Behring's Straits, sailed on the 9th of August round Cape Ischakotzk, and were again in the Sea of Anadir.-On the 14th they were off a cape where Behring had been exactly a hundred years before, on the same day at noon; for which reason captain Lütke called it Behring's Cape.-On the 16th they reached the great, and hitherto undescribed, bay of the Holy Cross, where they remained till the 5th of September, and made an accurate survey of it; from which it appeared, that it extended farther to the north than East Cape in Behring's Straits, and reached the polar circle. Here, however, the winter overtook them with all its northern terrors-violent storms, heavy snow, and thick fogs; and they were compelled, to their great regret, to leave these dangerous coasts, on which they had remained longer than any preceding navigators. It was not till the 23rd that they arrived in the harbour of St, Peter and St. Paul. They intended to put to sea again on the 28th of October, to survey some of the western Carolines, and then return to Eu2 N

rope by the way of Manilla and the Straits of Sunda. Not a single man had died on board the Siniävin during this long voyage.

Ascent of the Jungfrau.-On the 10th of September, 1828, the summit of the Jungfrau was reached by seven hunters or shepherds of the village of Grindelwald, named Peter and Christian Roth, Peter and Christian Baumann, Ulrich Widmer, Peter Moser, and Hid. brand Bürgner. On the 8th, furnished with pikes, ropes, ladders, and a red and white flag, they be gan to ascend the glacier, which is situated between the Grand Eiger and Mettenberg; then turning to the right they rested all night under an arch of rocks, on the southern side of the Grand Eiger. On the 9th, they crossed the summits of the Viescherhorn, then descended again upon the glacier of Aletsch, and slept behind some rocks, which have fallen from the Twisteraarhorn, having the Mönch to the right. On the 10th, still turning to the right, they scaled and followed the ridge which descends from the Jungfrau towards the Breithorn. There they found several wide crevices, which they crossed with the assistance of a ladder. The ice was so steep in this place that they were obliged to cut steps in it for two hours. At length, about four o'clock, they arrived on the plane of the highest summit, and in half an hour more had ascended the small conical rock which crowns it. There they planted their flag, to the depth of two feet, in the ice, where it was still seen several days after from the village of Interlaken. The same evening they returned to sleep at the rocks of the Finsteraarhorn, on the glacier of Aletsch, and on the 11th at noon, returned to Grindel wald.

Plurane, a new metal discovered in the Platina of the Oural Mountains. By Mr. Osann.~ The platina, decomposed by aqua regia, and remaining insoluble in that acid, is treated by potash, and then dissolved in water. By repeating this operation three times, a residue is obtained no longer exhibiting a metallic appearance. Precipitated by nitric acid, and reduced to one half by distillation, it gives long prismatic crystals, of a white colour, inclining a little to red, and remarkable for their great brilliancy. Exposed on charcoal to the flame of the blow-pipe, they are speedily decomposed; one part sublimes, whilst the other is reduced into a metallic globule. By adding a little muriatic acid to the aqueous solution, and plunging in a bar of zinc, the latter is soon covered with a dark grey pellicle of reduced metal. Heated in a glass tube closed at one end, these crystals sublime in small brilliant needles, without leaving any residue. These crystals form the new metal to which the author has given the name of plurane.

Optical Discovery.-Dr. Fors ter has discovered a very curious method of discriminating between original and reflected light. He found, in trying some experiments with imperfectly achromatic re fracting telescopes, that when the object glass was made to vibrate in such a manner as to change perpetually and rapidly the inclination of its plane with respect to the celestial object viewed, a separation of the prismatic colours was the consequence. When such a gyrat ing motion was given to the glass, as to occasion the star viewed to appear like a circle of light, the said circle was also divided into alternate dark, white, and coloured

portions of arcs, making a sort of parti-coloured ring. In the star Sirius, the white and the blue, colour prevailed, and the dark interstitial spaces were small; in Lyra, Aquila, and Spica Virginis there appeared still more blue, while the vermillion preponderated in Betalgeus and Aldebaran, and the orange in Arcturus. Capella had much yellow light. remarkable is, that in the spectrum of the planets no colours were refracted by this method; notwith standing their colours were separated when a prism was fixed to the eye-glass of a telescope, as has been before described.

What is

Silk a protection against Mal aria. A silk covering, of the texture of a common handkerchief, possesses the peculiar property of resisting the noxious influence of malaria, and of neutralizing its effects. If, as is supposed, the poisonous matter is received through the lungs, it may not be difficult to account for the action of this very simple preventive. It is well known that the nature of malaria poison is such that it is easily decomposed by feeble chemical agents. Now, it is probable that the heated

gas which proceeds from the lungs, forms an atmosphere, within the gause veil of silk, of power sufficient to decompose the miasma in its passage to the mouth; although it may be true that the mechanical texture of the silk covering may act as a non-conductor, and prove an impediment to the transmission of the deleterious substance.

Vesicular Calculus in a Horse. -The lateral operation of lithotomy has been recently performed with complete success, at the Royal Veterinary College, by the assistant professor, W. Sewell, esq. The operation took place on the 26th of February, and occupied twenty minutes. The calculus is of the mulberry kind, very rough, of a depressed oval form, weighing three ounces: it is composed principally of carbonate of lime, some phosphate of lime, and a little phosphate of magnesia. The horse became tranquil and cheerful immediately after the operation; and in three weeks was exercised daily and fit to be discharged. Only three operations of this kind had been performed previously to this case, and they had uniformly failed.

W. Parr, Union-place, City-road, and J. Bluett, of Blackwall, for a new method of producing a reciprocating action, by means of a rotatory motion, to be applied to the working of all kinds of pumps and other machinery, in or to which reciprocating action is required, or may be applied.

G. Rodgers, Sheffield, J. C. Hobson, of the same place; and J. Brownill of the same place, for improvements on table-forks.

O. H. Williams, North Nibley, Gloucester, for improvements in the paddles

and machinery for propelling ships and other vessels on water.

S. Gritton, Pentonville, Middlesex, for an improved method of constructing paddles to facilitate their motion through

water.

F. Neale, Gloucester, for a machine for propelling vessels.

W. Taft, Birmingham, for improvements in, or additions to, harness and saddlery, part or parts of which improvements or additions are applicable to other purposes.

A. Robertson, Liverpool, for improve

ments in the construction of paddles for propelling ships, boats, or vessels on

water.

J. Deakin, and T. Deakin, Sheffield; for methods of making from horns and hoofs of animals, various articles ; namely, handles of knives, handles and knobs of drawers, and other parts of cabinet and household articles, curtain-rings, bell-pulls, door-handles and knobs, keyhole escutcheons or coverings, and door and window-shutter finger-plates, knobs and handles; all or any of which articles are to be so made of one or more pieces of horn or hoof, of any shape or device, plain or ornamental, or inlaid or conjoined with any kind of metal or other material.

J. Dickinson, Nash Mill, Abbots Langley; for a new improvement in the method of manufacturing paper by machinery, and also a new method of cutting paper and other material into single sheets or pieces, by means of machinery.

T. Smith, Derby, for an improved piece of machinery, which, being combined with parts of the steam-engine or other engines, such as pumps, fire-engines, water-wheels, air-pumps, condensers, and blowing-engines, will effect an improvement in each of them respectively.

J. C. Hewes, Manchester, for various improvements in the form and construction of wind-mills, and their sails.

J. Udny, Arbour Terrace, Commercial Road, for improvements on the steam-engine.

W. E. Cochrane, Regent-street for an improvement in or on paddle-wheels, for propelling boats and other vessels.

J. M. Ross, Symond's Inn, for an improved tap or cock for drawing off liquids.

J. H. Caney, Clerkenwell, for improvements in the construction of umbrellas and parasols.

J. Fraser, Limehouse, for a new arrangement of a flue or flues to communicate with the various parts of culinary apparatus, such as steam, soup, or water boilers, oven or ovens, hot plate or plates, hot closet or closets, and stewing stove or stoves, to render them more compact, and to appropriate part of the said apparatus to effect other useful purposes.

J. Braithwaite, and J. Ericsson, Newroad, Fitzroy-square, for a mode or method of converting liquids into vapour

or steam.

R. Parker, Hackney, for an improved drag apparatus, which is applicable to stage coaches, and other wheel carriages, and whereby the motion thereof may be retarded or stopped when required.

J. Rayner, King's-square, St. Luke, Middlesex, for improvements in apparatus and machinery for conducting heat, and applying the same in the operation of washing, scouring, cleansing, fulling, dressing, dyeing, and finishing woollen cloths, and in calendering, staining, glossing, polishing, and finishing silks, cottons, linens, woollens, and all other goods, to which the same may be applicable.

J. Humphrey, Tally hill, Worcester, for improvements in steam engines, and machinery connected therewith, to propel steam-boats and other vessels, some parts of which improvements are applicable to other purposes.

A. Daninos, Leman-street, Goodman's-fields, for improved hats, and bonnets in imitation of Leghorn straw hats and bonnets (communicated to him by a foreigner.)

J. Burgis, Maiden-lane, Covent Garden, ornamental paper manufacturer, for a method or methods of gilding or silvering certain woven fabrics, in burnished, or burnished and dead or matted gold, or silver, and which fabrics may be used as gold, or silver, and laced bor-. derings, and for other purposes.

R. Green, Blackwall, for improvements in the construction of made masts.

W. H. Kitchen, High-street, Bloomsbury, and A. Smith, York-terrace, Westminster, for improvements in the construction of window-frames, sashes, or casements, shutters, and doors designed to afford security against burglars, as well as to exclude the weather.

E. Heard, Devonshire-street, Lambeth, for improvements in illumination, or producing artificial light.

S. Walker, Beeston, Leeds, for an improved apparatus which he denominates "an operameter," applicable to machinery for dressing woollen or other. clothes.

G. Haden, Fronbridge, Wilts, for improvements in machinery for dressing · cloths.

W. Storey, Morley, York, and S. Hirst, of the same place; for materials which when combined, are suited to be employed in scouring, milling, or fulling, cleansing, and washing of cloths

and other fabrics, and by the employment of which material considerable improvements in those purposes are effected.

R. Hall, Plymouth, for a composition applicable to certain fabrics or substances from which may be manufactured boots, shoes, and various other articles.

J. W. Wayte, Drury-lane, Middlesex, for improvements in printing machinery. W. Church, Bordesly Green, Warwick; for improvements in buttons, and in the machinery or apparatus for manufacturing the same.

W. Madeley, Yardley, Worcester, for an apparatus or machine for catching, detecting, and detaining depredators and trespassers, or any animal, which he denominates the human snare.

J. Lambert, Liverpool-street, London; for an improvement in the process of making iron applicable at the smelting of the ore, and at various subsequent stages of the process up to the completion of the rods or bars, and for the improvement of the quality of inferior iron.

W. Prior, Albany Road, Camberwell, for improvements in the construction and combination of machinery for securing, supporting, and striking the topmasts and top-gallant masts of ships and other vessels.

J. Lihou, Guernsey, for an improved method of constructing ship's pintles, for hanging the rudder.

B. Cook, Birmingham; for an improved method of making rollers or cylinders of copper and other metals, or a mixture of metals, for printing of calicoes, silks, cloths, and other articles. J. Wright, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, soap-maker; for improvements in condensing the gas or gases produced by the decomposition of muriate of soda, and other substances, which improvements may also be applied to other purposes.

P. Pickering, native of Frodsham, Cheshire, and now domiciliated in Dantzic, and W. Pickering, of Liverpool; for an engine or machinery to be worked by means of fluids, gases, or air, on shore or at sea, and which they intend to denominate Pickering's Engine.

J. Davis, Lemon-street, Middlesex; for improvements in the condenser used with the petitioner's apparatus for boiling sugar in vacuo, for which a patent was granted to him the 29th day of

March, 1828, entitled "an improvement in boiling or evaporating solutions of sugar and other liquids." (communicated by a foreigner.)

H. R. Palmer, of the London Docks, Middlesex; for an improvement or improvements in the construction of warehouses, sheds, and other buildings. intended for the protection of property.

G. W. Lee, Bagnio-court, Newgatestreet; for improvements in machinery for spinning cotton, and other fibrous substances (communicated by a foreigner.)

H. Bock, Ludgate Hill; for improvements on machinery and apparatus for embroidering or ornamenting cloths, stuffs, and other fabrics (communicated by a foreigner.)

J. Dutton, jun., of Wotton-underEdge, clothier; for improvements in propelling ships, boats, and other vessels or floating-bodies, by steam or other power.

M. Dick, Irvine, in the county of Air, N. B.; for an improved rail-road, and method of propelling carriages thereon by machinery, for the purpose of conveying passengers, letters, intelligence, packets, and other goods, with great velocity.

T.R.Williams, Norfolk-street, Strand; for improvements in the making or manufacturing of felt, or a substance in the nature thereof, applicable to covering the bottoms of vessels, and other purposes.

T. Arnold, Hoxton, Middlesex; for a new or improved machine or guage, for the purpose of denoting the quality or strength of certain fluids or spirituous liquors, and for measuring or denoting the quantity of fluids or spirituous liquors withdrawn from the vessel or receptacle in which the same are contained, and which machine or guage may be so constructed as to effect either of the above objects without the other, if required.

W. Poole, London; for improvements in machinery for propelling vessels, and giving motion to mills and other machinery.

C. T. Sturtevant, Hackney, Middlesex; for improvements in the process of manufacturing soap.

J. C. Daniell, Limpley Stoke, Bradford; for certain improvements in ma chinery applicable to dressing of woollen cloth.

R. Winans, Vernon, Sussex, and New Jersey, North America, resident in