"To the Editor of the Register of the Arts and Sciences, &c. "SIR, "I am a subscriber to your ingenious and excellent work, which induces me to take the liberty of making this enquiry: I have a quantity of black ink by me, which is of bad colour; if you could propose any way its black colour may be restored I should feel obliged. And am, "113 Holborn Bars. "9 August, 1825. .. Sir, yours, &c. "JOHN VAUGHAN." We insert the foregoing letter, as the evil complained of not only concerns the writer, but every body else; and as it would be very desirable that some better means of preserving common writing ink should be discovered; than those at present employed. As a point of economy, our advice to Mr. Vaughan would be to throw his pale ink away, for it is very probable that the mucilaginous matter introduced into the liquid to keep the black particles suspended, has undergone a fermentation; and the liquid being thereby rendered not sufficiently viscous to support the colouring matter, it has subsided to the bottom of the vessel. If gum or sugar be added to supply the place of that which has been decomposed, fermentation will recommence in a short time, and boiling the liquid would perhaps only make it last a little longer. There are, however, numerous other causes by which the change of colour may have been produced, a knowledge of which is necessary previous to attempting a remedy. We are convinced that the making of really good and durable writing ink has yet to be discovered, and we shall be happy to give insertion to the suggestions of our intelligent correspondents on the subject. PROPOSAL FOR A NEW SCIENTIFIC PERIODICAL "To the Editor of the Register of the Arts and Sciences, &c. "SIR, "The information you have communicated to the public in your 41st number page 269, must be highly gratifying to 'every person who is interested in the improvement of mankind in general, and of his countrymen in particular. The establishment of such an institution will realize the anticipation of the French orator, it will "make Science stoop to enter the poor man's door." "The object I have in view in addressing you, is to direct your attention to an undertaking which I am persuaded would be attended with the most important advantages; and for which no combination of talent would probably be more eligible than that which will be called into operation for the accomplishment of the important objects contemplated in the establishment of the "British Philotechnic Society." "In the year 1794, the first periodical publication of a scientific cast that was generally accessible," the Repertory of Arts, &c." made its appearance. Nicholson's Journal of Philosophy, &c." commenced in 1797; since that time other works of a similar description have successively been published: and a corresponding increase in the number of Foreign Journals has no doubt taken place. But while knowledge is thus abundantly scattered, the individuals tho enjoy the means of access to its various sources are compara tively very few; it may, indeed, be questioned whether all the scientific periodicals meet the eye of any individual. To collect these scattered rays of kuowledge, and bring the focus within the vision of every enquirer, would, I conceive, be attended with the most beneficial consequences and in order to accomplish an end so truly desirable, I beg leave, with all deference, to propose, that all original papers, memoirs, &c., to whatever branch of knowledge they may refer, that appear in the various Scientific Journals published either in Great Britain or abroad should be reprinted in a cheap form, in order that persons of all descriptions, and especially the operative classes, may be put in possession of knowledge to the greatest extent at the least possible expense. If in any case it should be deemed expedient to abridge a memoir, such abridgement should not extend to the omission of any fact therein recorded on the ground of its being comparatively unimportant; for though in the estimation of the person employed to prepare an article for publication, some particular fact should appear trivial, yet probably it might be highly interesting to many readers, to whose pursuits it might bear an important relation. To afford purchasers an opportunity of selecting memoirs on subjects connected with those branches of knowledge to which their attention was more particularly directed, the papers might be classed; those, for instance, relating to Chemistry, Mineralogy, Electricity, Magnetism, &c. might be sold together; in the same manner those which treated of Anatomy, Medicine, &c. By adopting this arrangement the chemist would not be compelled to purchase astronomical papers; nor the botanist mathematical ones. I am aware it will be objected that such a work would interfere with the existing journals, and occasion a diminution in the sale of them; but I think this would prove a groundless apprehension, as the work I propose might be published once or twice a year only, and few persons who are in the habit of perusing the works of this kind now before the public would like to wait such a length of time for information. Much might be said in favour of the undertaking to which I have taken the liberty of directing your attention; but you will anticipate all I can urge in its behalf, and I have already perhaps been sufficiently tedious. "I am, Sir, MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. ADULTERATION OF Sugar.—Some cases of a fraudulent adulteration of sugar, by intermixing with it a considerable proportion of common salt, have recently been discovered. As a convenient means of detection, it has been recommended by Mr. Clark, of Apothecaries Hall, to place some in a' tea-cup, and pour on it a little spirit of wine, which will dissolve the sugar only, leaving the common salt at the bottom. GREEN FRUIT IN WINTER.-Let cherries, strawberries, raspberries, plumbs, peaches, or any succulent fruit whatever, be put into a vessel somewhat like that used by common confectioners for freezing ice creams, around which put salt and exactly as they do. The fruit will soon be frozen, when it should be carried to the icehouse, and placed in a hole dug out in the centre of the ice, and over the top of the hole a quantity of powdered charcoal should be placed, secured by a common watchcoat blanket. When the winter arrives, the containing vessel may be opened, and the fruit taken out in its frozen state: then place it in cold water to thaw, and it will be found as delicious as when first gathered. When salt and ice in the manner employed by the confectioners in general, shall be found inadequate to freeze some fruits hard enough, the mixture for producing an intense cold, as spoken of by Chaptal, the celebrated French chemist, of salt, saltpetre, and Glauber salts, will effectually freeze it very hard.-(From a Correspondent.) SILK THROWING.-A very considerable and important improvement has been made in the machinery for Throwing Silk, by a mechanic in the city, of the name of Fanshaw. We understand that Persons well acquainted with the trade, have declared it as there opinion that it will place our silk trade beyond the reach of the foreign manufacturer, and give that trade the same advantage in point of superiority of machinery that the cotton trade has so long possessed. MOTION OF THE SOLAR SPOTS.-Mr. Emmet has made many observations upon the motion of the solár spots, all of which tend to disprove the opinion, that they are hidden and in sight for equal times, and to support the observations of older astronomers, who state the times of appearance and disappearance to be different, Mr. Emmet makes out the time during which they are visible to be 12d. 8h. 30m. and that during which they are invisible to be nearly 15d. 3h. 30m. Ann Phil. INSENSIBILITY OF THE RETINA.-M. Majindie has stated to the Academy of Sciences, that he has ascertained the insensibility of the retina, in the eye of a woman suffering from cataract; no perceptible sensation being produced when the instrument was brought into contact with that organ. The person recovered sight immediately after the operation. Ann. de Chimie. CANALS.-There are 103 canals in Great Britain; the total extent of them is 2682 miles; (about the length, from the east to the west of the whole continent of Europe;) thirty millions sterling is the valuation of the cost. In the various canals there are fortyeight subterraneous, passages, forty of which have an extent of thirty-two miles. None of these works, important as they are, were projected prior to 1755, LIST OF NEW PATENTS. LOOMS.-To T. W. Stansfield, W. Pittchard, and S. Wilkinson of Leeds; for improvements in looms, and in the instruments connected therewith. 16th July. Six months. HORSE COLLARS.-To T. Musselwhite, of Devizes, for an improved construction of collars for horses and other animals. 16th July. Six months. NEW MECHANICAL POWER.-To M.I. Brunel, Esq. of Bridge Street, Blackfriars, for certain mechanical arrangements for obtaining powers from certain fluids, and for applying the same to various useful purposes. 16th July. Six months. SHEARING OF CLOTH.-To T. Sitlinton, of Stanley Mills, Gloucestershire, for improved machinery for shearing or cropping woollen cloth. 16th July. Six months. LAMPS.-To Joseph Farey, Esq. of Lincoln's Inn Fields, for certain improvements in lamps. 16th July. Six months. LANCETS.-To T. R. Williams, of Norfolk Street, Strand, for an improved lancet. 16th July. Six months. 1 CARRIAGES.-To T. Gook, of Upper Sussex Place, Kent Road, for improvements in the construction of carriages and harness thereto, whereby greater safety to the persons riding in such carriages, and other advantages will be obtained. 16th July. Six months. SPINNING.-To J. C. Dyer, of Manchester, for a new invented method of conducting to, and winding upon spools and bobbins, revings of cotton, flax, wool, or other fibrous substances. 16th July. Six months. SPINNING. TO W. Hurst and J. Carter, of Leeds, for an apparatus to give a new motion to mules and billies. 16th July., Six months. TOOTH DRAWING.-To J. P. De la Fons, of George Street, Hanover Square, dentist, for a new instrument for extracting teeth, and for a method of fixing teeth. 16th July, Six months. PUMPS.-To J. Downton, of Blackwall, for certain improvements in hydraulic machines or pumps. 19th July. Six months. TO READERS AND CORRESPONDENTS. The subject which we gave notice of to our readers in our last number, is unavoidably postponed for a month. S. N. B.'s future communications will be very acceptable. The" Tipton Mechanic" may rest assured we will do our best to meet his wishes, which, we are persuaded, are those of the public also. One or two of the inventions named will be given in the next number if possible. W. S.-A. P.-A Seaman-and Mechanicus, are received. T. H. will find an account of Mr. Perkins's Steam Engine, in No. 24, Vol. I.—The important improvements recently introduced will be described at the earliest opportunity. We have received several letters just as this number was going to press, which we have not time to notice; excepting that subscribed " A Visitor to your Atmosphere," (sent to us from the Dog-Star) of whom we beg to enquire whether his communication was really intended for our work. ̈ Published by JOSEPH CAPES, Bookseller, 111, Fleet Street, where all Communications for the Editor are requested to be addressed. Sold by GEORGE HEBERT, 88, Cheapside ;-SHERWOOD, GILBERT, & PIPER, Paternoster Row SIMPKIN & MARSHALL, Stationers' Hall Court; COWIE & STRANGE, 24, Fetter Lane; and may be had of all Booksellers in Town and Country. PRINTED BY T. H. COE, LITTLE CARTER LANE, ST. PAUL'S. No. 52.] SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1825. [Price 3d. CONTENTS: 50 52 53 54 $5 ib. 57 MISCELLANEOUS. Bell's Life Preservers, 61Waterworks at Primrose Hill, ib.--New Pyro phorus, ib.-Identigraphy, ib.-Water Travelling Balloon, ib.-New Machine, 62.-Mexican Mining Pump, ib.-Poisonous Plants, ib.--Sleep of Plants, ib.-Preservation of Wall Fruit, ib.-To revive faded Writing, 63.-To cure Damp Walls, ib.-To destroy Crickets and Beetles, ib.-To make incombustible Paper, ib.-To imitate OilPaintings, ib.-Valuable Properties of Chestnut Bark, ib.-Roman Cement, fb.-List of Patents, Correspondence, 64. |