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A, represents a frame, on which a bed or mattress is laid for the reception of the patient. That this mattress or bed may alway be ready for use, it ought to be furnished with an oil-cloth cover, which will repel the vapour to be included. A blanket is placed on the mattress or bed, the patient is to be placed on the same, wrapped up in a blanket. B, is the frame of the vapour-bath, suited to the frame A. In the frame B, longitudinal openings, defended by iron plates, admit iron turning-pins, C, which spring from the frame, B; these being admitted and turned across the frame, the frames A and B will be firmly united. The cloth of the vapour-bath, in shape of a wagon-top, is firmly united to the margin of the frame B. Hoops of whalebone, D cane, or any other bending substance, are passed through loops E, by which means a complete cavity is presented for the effusion of vapour. The end F is drawn carefully around the neck of the patient G like a purse, the head is placed on the pillow H. A tea-kettle I, filled with boiling water,

placed on the fire, has a nozzle K annexed to it, from which a leather tube L is sent off; this tube is inserted by a similar nozzle into the end of the bath M, which ought to enter at the top, that the vapour may not come too suddenly in contact with the body of the patient. A thermometer O may be inserted into an aperture, by which the temperature is determined.

The nozzle ought to be inserted into a tin plate cylinder, perforated, and traversing the bath in its longitudinal direction, to transmit the vapour-perhaps a tin plate six inches broad, continued along the course of the tube, would be serviceable, in preventing injury of the cloth, from the heated vapour in its first entry to the bath.

If it is required to render the frames more portable, they may be held together by iron in the manner of a parallel ruler, by which means, they fall together, or may be brought to right angles at pleasure.

New-York. Washington-Hall,
Sept. 27th, 1817.

ART. 9. TRANSACTIONS OF LEARNED SOCIETIES.

NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY,

nature as to cause convulsions in the smaller and more sensitive animals, such as birds, mice, &c. He mentioned seveAlexander Garden of ral instances in which men had been

Sitting of Sept. 9.

MAJOR affected by this effluvium.

member, read a memoir on the subject of the fascinating power of Serpents, detailing some facts which he had collected and communicated to the Literary Society of Charleston. He attributed this phenomenon to an effluvium, which the serpent voluntarily exhales at those times when it feels the desire of food, and this effluvium is of so deleterious a

He had been informed by the late Col. Thomson, of Belle-ville, that whilst riding over his estate, he came suddenly upon a snake of enormous size, at which, the moment he could sufficiently collect himself, he fired. He killed the reptile, but was at the same instant assailed by an overpowering vapour, which so bewildered him that he could scarce

ly guide his horse home-that a deadly sickness at the stomach ensued, and a puking more violent than he had ever experienced from an emetic. He had been told by a lady that the overseer of one of her plantations being missed was sought for by his family, and found in a state of utter insensibility. On recovering, he stated that he was watching for a deer, when he heard the rattle of a snake, and that before he could remove from the threatened danger, he perceived a sickening effluvium, which deprived him instantly of sense. From John Lloyd, Esq. he had learned another case. A negro, working in his field, was seen suddenly to fall, uttering a shriek: on approaching him it was found that he had struck off the head of a very large Rattlesnake, the body of which was still writhing. On recovering, he said that he had shrieked with horror on discovering the snake, and at the same instant had been overpowered by a smell that took away all his senses. Mr. Nathaniel Barnwell, of Beaufort, had a negro who could, from the acuteness of his smell, at all times, discover the rattlesnake, within a distance of 200 feet, when in the exercise of his fascinating power, and when traced by this sense, some object of prey was always found suffering from this influence. To these facts Major Garden added some anecdotes, collected from Valliant's travels and other sources, corroborating his theory. When gorged with food the serpent is supine. It is only when under the stimulous of hunger that he exerts this facinating faculty. The cases mentioned by Mr. Pintard, at the last meeting of the society, are among the many evidences of the existence of the power in the serpent to influence birds to approach it; maugre their dread, and the circumstances related by him do not militate with the hypothesis of Major Garden.

A portrait of the Honourable Robert Morris, Financier of the United States, during the Revolutionary War, copied by J. W. Jarvis, from the original by Stewart, was presented by his son Thomas Morris, Esq. Marshall of the U. S. for the District of New-York.

Sitting of Oct. 7th, 1317. Samuel L. Mitchill, M. D. laid on the table several teeth of the Mammoth, lately discovered by Judge Haring, of RockJand County, in this State.

A letter was received from his ExcelJency De Witt Clinton, Chairman of the committee for the collection of Manu

scripts, stating that he had been acquainted with an intelligent and well educated young Indian, who has studied the antiquities of his own country, and is preparing a collection of Indian Speeches for the press. The young man asserts that he has in his possession the Manuscript Journal of a French Officer who was with the party that destroyed Schenectady. Gov. Clinton describes him as 'a Catechist, Schoolmaster, and lay-preacher among the Oneidas.'

A letter was received from Mr. Hicks, inclosing some manuscripts, relating to early measures of the revolution in this country, left by his father, Whitehead Hicks, Esq. formerly Mayor of the City of New-York.

A letter was received from Gen. Ebenezer Stevens, accompanying an original portrait of the Marquis de la Fayette, a Major General in the revolutionary armies of the U. S. which he offered to the acceptance of the Society.

The Recording Secretary, J. Pintard, Esq. read a paper, refuting a charge which appears in Chalmer's new General Biographical Dictionary,' article Washington, Vol. 31. p. 204. Where it is asserted that Genl. Washington insultingly erected in the view of the unfortunate Major Andre, several days before his execution, the gallows on which he was to be hung, also an allegation that he claimed from Lord Cornwallis his sword at the surrender of YorkTown, contrary to the usages of war.

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LYCEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY.

Sitting of Sept. 15.

Dr. Mitchill, President of the Society, presented a specimen of a species of Sea Serpent, or marine Snake, from Guadaloupe, also of a new and remarkable species of Crab from Long-Island; a new species of molluscous animal of the genus ascidia, caught in Spermaceti Cove, near Sandy Hook, and a perfect specimen of the Cistus Caradensis, or frost weed, from Queen's County, Long-Island. These specimens were accompanied by a memorandum containing the Presi dents remarks on them.

In behalf of Dr. Wharry, the President presented specimens of encrinites and other fossils, from Shawagunk, Ulster County.

The President also read a letter from E. Suffern, Esq. of Rockland, giving information of the discovery of certain teeth of great size, apparently the grind

ers of an Elephantine animal, at New Antrim, on the south side of the Fishkill mountains,

Mr. Rafinesque presented a Fossil Shell of the genus griphea; and Dr. Eddy deposited some beautiful specimens of Chrystallized Sulphate of Lime, or gypsom, from Nova-Scotia.

Sitting of Sept. 22.

Mr. Rafinesque, made a report on three of the animals referred to him, on the sitting of the 8th of September, which he pronounced to be new species.

Mr. Torrey reported in regard to several aquatic insects presented by Mr. Clements at the last meeting, most of which being new species, he described at length.

Dr. Akerly presented specimens of two Corallines of our waters.

Mr. Maxwell presented an animal of the Lizard family from Rockland County.

Mr. Clements presented an aquatic insect, and a specimen of the crustaceous animal called fish louse. Mr. C. also presented a needle found in the gizzard of a fowl, where it had remained surrounded by a Cyst, without causing any apparent injury or inconvenience to the animal. Dr. Akerly observed that Dr. King, present at the meeting, had extracted from the thigh of a lady, a pin which she had swallowed a considerable time before.

Mr. Rafinesque read an interesting paper on the Osage Apple, mentioned by Pursh in his preface, but not described. Mr. R. gave it the name of oxyton pomiferum.

Sitting of Sept. 29. Mr. Rafinesque made a report, in which he described a new species of titurus, or newt presented by Mr. Maxwell, and a new species of Cymothoa, or fish louse, presented by Mr. Clements.

Mr. Baudoine presented several specimens of Sponges and Zoophytes.

Dr. Townsend presented various specimens of minerals from Patterson, and Morris County, New-Jersey.

Dr. Akerly presented specimens of colunmar basalt from the Island of St. Thomas, and specimens of load-stone from Patterson, New-Jersey.

Sitting of Oct. 6.

The president, in behalf of Mr. L. F. Swift, presented the lapheus gibbus, a fish from Nantucket.

Mr. F. D. Porter presented specimens of petrefaction from Greene County, New-York.

Mr. Paulding presented a specimen of
VOL. II.-No. 1.

8

geode, from Mr. John Van Nostrand of Long-Island.

Dr. Stevenson, from the committee to whom was referred several species of animals from Demarara, made a report describing and classing them.

Mr. Rafinesque presented a new species of grapsus, the grapsus limonus. Mr. Clements read a very important paper on the disease of neat cattle, with the modes of cure.

Sitting of Oct. 13. Dr. Kissam reported that the bird presented at the last meeting by Mr. Cumberland, is the oriolus icterus.

The following specimens were presented. By Dr. Kissam, six species of shells, and a species of tortoise from South America. By Dr. Mitchill, in behalf of Mr. Robinson, the jaws of the delphinus phocana or porpoise, a species of tetradon taken from the belly of a shark, &c. By Mr. Cuming, five species of snakes, a species of lizard, and the larva of the insect which destroys bees, all from Chatham, N. Y. By Dr. B. Akerly, limestone from the Island of St. Thomas, perforated by shells of the genus pholas, illustrating the nature and habits of these animals; also large specimens of the torpedo navalis, and in behalf of Dr. B. A. Akerly, petrified madrepores, and a large petrified oyster from Ontario County. By Mr. Knevels, specimens of three rare aquatic plants from Fishkill, N. Y.; one of them an undetermined species of vallisnania. The society adopted resolutions, expressing their regret for the loss of their late respected associate Dr. James Mc Bride of Charleston, S. C.

LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL So

CIETY OF NEW-YORK.

Sitting of Oct. 9, 1817. A communication entitled a Third Supplement to the Memoirs of C. S. Rafinesque on the Sturgeons of North America, was read by the author. In this paper, Mr. R. adds to the facts and opinions contained in his former essays, laid before the society, concerning the Sturgeons of the American waters.

Mr. Rafinesque also communicated to the society, an elaborate paper, entitled a Dissertation on the cubic size of organized beings, or animals and plants. Whereupon on motion, the papers of Mr. R. were referred to the counsellors.

The recording secretary communicated to the Society a letter addressed to Dr. Francis, from Olinthus Gregory, L. L. D. of the Royal Military Academy of Woolwich, near London, acknowledging

his deep sense of the honour the society had conferred on him, in electing him an honourary member.

A letter of a similar nature was presented by Dr. Hosack, from Ashbell Green, D. D. President of Nassau Hall.

Several valuable donations for the library were received by the society from Dr. Albers, of Bremen, through the hand of Vice-President Mitchill.

Dr. Hosack presented to the society, as a donation from Sir James Edward Smith, the distinguished President of the Linnean Society of London, Hortus Gramineus Woburnensis, or an account of the results of experiments on the produce and nutritive qualities of different grasses and

other plants, used as the food of the more valuable domestic animals; this work is in one volume, large folio, and illustrated with dried specimens of the plants, upon which these experiments instituted by the Duke of Bedford were made. Whereupon, on motion of Dr. Francis, it was resolved, that the thanks of this society, be voted to Dr. Smith, for his very valuable and acceptable donation.

At this meeting, C. A. Busby, Esq. architect, and Wm. Marret, mathematician, were elected resident members; and, as honourary members, Robert Brown, F. R. S. F. L. S. F. A. S. London, and George Currir, of the Royal Institute of France, F. R. S. &c. &c.

ART. 10. LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL INTELLIGENCE.

GREAT BRITAIN.

In the London Gazette some extracts have been published of the journal of Lieut. Kotzebue, dated at Talcaguma on the coast of Chili, the 3d of March, and at Kamschatka the 10th of July, 1816. Lieut. K. is the navigator despatched by Count Romanzoff, to penetrate through Beahring's Straight into Baffins Bay.

Mr. Ogilvie is delivering his orations in London. He is spoken of in terms of commendation.

The late Richard Lovell Edgeworth has left memoirs of his life which will be given to the public.

Professor Jameson of Edinburgh is preparing for publication, in two vols. octavo, a treatise on Geognosy and Mineral Geography.

Miss A. M. Porter, author of the Recluse of Norway, &c. &c. is preparing for publication the Knight of St. John, a Romance.

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and artists, in her suite to that country. Among these gentlemen are DR. MIRON, M. GATTERER, M. ENDUS, M. SCHETT, Professor POHL, &c. M. SCHREIBER director of the Imperial Cabinet of Natural History is appointed to write the history of the voyage. Mess. SPIX and MARTINS, members of the Academy of Sciences at Munich, have joined the expedition.

The Dukes of Saxe-Weimar and SaxeGotha have considerably augmented the revenues of the university of Jena.

FREDERICK BUCHHOLтN edits a monthly publication in Berlin, entitled "Journal for Germany. The contents are historical and political. Its circulation is extensive.

RUSSIA.

The university of Dorpat, in Livonia, contains at this time 300 students. The library of this institution contains 30,000 volumes.

ITALY.

M. MICHELE LEONI has lately translated Goldsmith's Traveller into Italian verse. Mawe's Travels in Brazil have also lately been translated into Italian.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA..

C. Wiley and Co. of New-York, have in press, Florula Ludoviciana, or a Flora of the State of Louisiana, translated, revised and improved from the French of C. C. ROBIN, by C. S. RAFINESQUE, member of the Royal Institute of Naples, of the Literary and Philosophical Society of NewYork, &c. &c.

C. Wiley and Co. will soon publish the 'Balance of Comfort,' a novel by the author of Paired, not Matched.'

Kirk and Mercein. of New-York, have

in press, a Geographical and Statistical View of the United States of America, and of South America; to which will be added, the Emigrants' Travelling Companion to the Western Country, by William Darby, author of a Statistical Survey and Map of Louisiana.

Kirk and Mercein, of New-York, have in press, A sketch of the Military and Political Power of Russia, in the year

1817..

We have begun a review of this very interesting Political Essay, from an English copy, and shall probably introduce the subjects of which it treats to the consideration of our readers in our next number.

F. Nichols proposes publishing, by subscription, a large Collection of Algebraical examples and Problems, for the use of Students in Colleges, by the Rev. M. Bland, A. M. of the University of Cambridge in England. Subscriptions for the work are received in New-York by Kirk and Mercein, and D. D. Arden. Thomas R. Peters of Philadelphia,

Counseller at Law, is preparing for publication, a Biographical Memoir of the late Major General Anthony Wayne, Commander of the armies of the United States, &c.

"This work will be principally compiled from an extensive collection of original and hitherto unpublished documents, (committed, for the purpose, to Mr. Peters by Isaac Wayne, Esq. the son of the late General,) consisting of his correspondence with the most conspicuous characters of our Revolutionary War, and of other valuable papers relating to that interesting period of American History.

Mr. Peters solicits the communication of materials subservient to the design now announced, from those who, with him, regard it as a duty to rescue from oblivion and record in a permanent form every memorial of those illustrious men, to whom we are indebted for freedom and happiness, which may yet survive in the memory of cotemporaries, or be locked up in perishable manuscripts."

ART. 11, RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

GERMANY.

endeavours to promote peace and good

ATTEMPTSare now making through- will among the nations, are already

out Germany to unite the Lutheran and Reformed Churches into one Communion, which is to be denominated the Evangelic Church. The spirit of the times favours so important and desirable a mea

sure.

RUSSIA.

From the last report of the Committee of the Russian Bible Society, it appears that the Society, since its commencement, has published, or is engaged in publishing, forty three editions of the Sacred Scriptures, in seventeen different languages, forming a total of 196,000 copies.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. The Rev. Noah Worcester, corresponding Secretary of the Massachusetts Peace Society, having addressed a letter to the Emperor of Russia in reference to the objects of that association, has received the following reply to his communi

cation.

SIR-Your letter in behalf of the Massachusetts Peace Society, with the books accompanying it, were received., The object which this philanthropic institution has in view, the dissemination of the principles of peace and amity among men, meets my cordial approbation. My

known; and the power and influence which Almighty God has committed to me shall ever be employed, I trust, in striving to secure to the nations the blessings of that peace which they now enjoy.

Considering the object of your Society, the promotion of peace among mankind, as one so eminently congenial to the spirit of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I have judged it proper to express these my sentiments respecting your labours, in answer to your communication to me on this subject. ALEXANDER.

To Rev. Noah Worcester, Sec'ry
of Mass. Peace Society.
St. Petersburg, July 4, 1817.

On Wednesday, the 17th of September, the Rev. David M. Smith was ordained at Lewiston, to the work of the gospel ministry, by the Presbytery of Niagara, and installed Pastor of the Presbyterian congregation in that place.

The Rev. Calvin Colton was ordained as an Evangelist, by the Presbytery of Niagara, at the same time and place.

On the 1st Oct. the Rev. Stephen Bailey was installed over the Congregational Church in Raymond, (N. H.,

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