ICakch 20, tS8i.]
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��of Feb. M, in Utilude 37" north, longitude ITIP 15' etM, the captain was aroused by the mate, and went on decic to find the iky cbangin; to a Ger; red. All St once a large mass of fire appeared over the TesMl. completelf blinding the spectators; and, as it fell into Ibe sea some fifty yards to leevard, it caused a biasing sound, vbich was beard nbove the blast, and uikde the veasel quiver from stem to stem. Hardly bad lliii disappeared, when a lowering niass of white fontn w»a aeen rapidly approaching the vessel. The noise from the advancing volume of water Is de- scribed a« deafening. The bark was struck flat aback; but, before there was time to touch a brace, the sails hod filled again, and the roaring while sea had passed ahead. To increase the horror of the eitaation, another ' vast sheet of flanie ' ran down the miizen-maat, and ' poured in myriads of sparks ' from the rigging. The strange redness of the sky remained for twenty minutes. The master, an otd and expe- rienced mariner, declares that the awfulness of the sight was beyond description, and considers that the ship had a narrow escape from destruction.
— A series of experiments has recently been con- ducted at Spezzia to ascertain the effect of torpedoes on a keel vessel of the type of the Iron-clad Italia. Her steel plates were displaced and bent, and the water entered the compartments, but she maintained her position. The result is regarded as showing that the effect of torpedoes is overrated, and that they are inaufflcient tor the defence of forts.
— The U.S. naval bureau of ordnance is experi- mentiog with the megaphone in order to determine its usefulness in delecting the approach of hoalile ves- sels and torpedo-boats while they are yet some dis- tance off. It is thought, also, that by the aid of this Instrument it may be possible to communicate be- tween vessels by means of steam or other sound- signals at considerable distances.
— A cablegram received March 10, at the Harvard- college observatory, from Dr. Pallsa, announces the probable discovery of Pogson's lost planet. Position, March 0^.3533, Oreenwich mean time; right as- cension, h. 44 m, 41.7 s. ; declination, 28° Iff 1". And a message from Dr. Enieger, received March IS, announced the discovery of an asteroid by Dr. Lu- ther. Position, March 14 d. 10 b. SO m. 52.8 b., Oreenwich mean time; right ascension, II h. 48 m. 48 B.; declination, -|- 5° 13'; eleventh magnitude. No motion mentioned.
— The preparations for the Inventions eibibltlon at South Kensington are proceeding briskly. The literature of the exhibition will differ considerably from that of the two other exhibitions. No hand- books are to t>e prepared, but the papers which will appear in the catalogue will to a large extent supply their place. The catalogue will contain twenty- three prefaces written by authorities upon the par- ticular subjects intrusted to them. Amongst those who have already consented to contribute are Sir Henry Nugent, on ' Fire-arms and explosives; ' Blr E. G. Eeed, on 'Naval architeclure;' Capt. Douglas Galtoa, on 'Railway plant;' Capt. Abney,
��on 'Photography;' Professor Unwln, on 'Machine- ry;* Professor Armstrong, on ' Physical and chemi- cal apparatus;' Professor Vernon Uarcourt, on ■Gas;' Mr. G, Mattbey, on 'Fuel;' Dr. Hugo Miller, on ' PB|ier and printing.' The first part of the catalogue Is already in the hands of the printers.
— We leam from ^Vature that the Geological society of London has just awarded the Woliaston medal to Mr. George Busk, for his researches on fossil polyzoa and on pleistocene mammalia; the Murclilson medal to Professor Ferdinand Roemer. the eminent paleon- tologist of Breslau; the Lyell medal to Prof. H. G. Seeley, for his long-continued work on fossil saiu'ians ; and theBigsby medal to Mr. Renard of the Brussels museum, on account of bla petrographlcal reaearebes.
— Li ourJHe'e journal is in future to lie published quarterly to avoid the fragmentary publication of important mathematical papers.
— The original lectures delivered by Harvey at the College of physicians are to lie published in autotype from the manuscript in the British museum, accom- panied by a tranacripC
— Tbe Cambridge (Eng.) tiniversity press has jnst decided to publish Mr. Charles N. Doughtj's account of his extensive travels in the interior of Arabia, dur- ing which he discovered in the Harras lieds of lava similar to those in the Zcjah or Argob of the Hauran district, south of Damascus. The maps are already compleUd : so there will be little delay In the pub- lication.
— The iicudeiny announces the preparation, by Prof. O. Stoli of Innsprucli, of ' Voriesungen fiber allgemeine arithmetik,' intended to present in a form suitable to learners the results of modern researelies on the science of number. The first pari, now in press, contains an introduction on the con- ception of magnitude, treated la accordance with the views of Grassmsn; also chapters on the theory of Irrational nitmbers, powers, roots, and logarithms, the theory of functions and of infinite series. The investigations of Hankel, Du Boia-Reymoud, Can- tor, Cauchy, Aliel, Dirichiet, and other eminent mathematicians, have been carefully studied. The second part of the work will treat of the arithmetic of complex numbers, and some of Its geometric ap- plications.
— Mind in nature, a popular journal of psychical, medical, and scientific information, is announced to be published the first of every month, by the Cosmic publishing company, Chicago.
— Tbe Journal of the Iron and steel institute notices some experiments recently made by Reinau (ijnnaies tTidustrfeJJes) to determine the strength of iron as affected by different temperatures. It was found that the strength increased up to 554° F., at which temperature it attained a maximum, being thir- ty per cent stronger than at fiS" F. Between 5.540 F. and 826° F., the decrease was very little, but the strength rapidly diminished after the last limit was passed. At 800" F. the bar broke under a load of only thirty per cent of the rupture load at 68° F.
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