SCIENCE AND ART. employed than on the time that has elapsed since the vaccination was performed.-Athenæum. VACCINATION-Report on the premium for the best paper on Vaccination. The questions to be treated upon in the prize papers were:-1. Is the preservative virtue of vaccination absolute or MODE OF COLORING DAGUERREOTYPE PICtemporary?-2. Has the cow-pox a more certain TURES.-By C. G. Page, Prof. Chem., Columbia preservative and durable value than the mat- College. In the month of December, 1842, 1 inter already employed in successive vaccinations? stituted a course of experiments to determine the -3. Supposing the matter to lose a portion of its effects of oxidation upon the surface of Daguerrevirtue by keeping, by what means is it to be re-otype pictures; and arrived at some beautiful restored?-4. Is it necessary to vaccinate the same sults in fixing, strengthening and coloring these person more than once, and if so, how many impressions Numerous and arduous duties of a years must elapse before the operation is repeat- public nature have prevented me from investigated? The portion of the report read at this sit- ing the subject as I wished; and I therefore preting referred only to the two first questions. Af sent the facts, for others to adopt as the basis of ter some general considerations on the causes what promises to be a most interesting course of which have recently given great interest to the study and experiment. First, a mode of fixing questions put by the Academy, the reporter states and strengthening pictures by oxidation :-The that vaccination, as compared with other reme-impression being obtained upon a highly polished dies, is a highly preservative process. Before its discovery the small-pox made frightful ravages, for it carried off one in fourteen of the population. The deaths annually from this disease in Europe were 400,000. In one of the prize papers it is shown that in France, between 1816 and 1841, there were 10,434 cases of small-pox in persons who had not been vaccinated. Of the non-vaccinated patients 1,682 died; of the others only 65. In general the small-pox attacks persons who had been vaccinated years before, and respects those who had been recently vaccinated. The conclusion come to by the Committee is, that the preservative value of vaccination is absolute during a period of five or six years, and generally up to the eleventh year, but that beyond that time persons are liable to take the small-pox. In the greater number of cases, however, vaccination is a preservative for life. As regards the second question, says the Committee, it appears from the facts recorded in some of the prize papers, that the preservative value of vaccination is not proportioned to the intensity of the local symptoms, and that vaccination by the cow-pox is more certain than that by the old virus. Less, however, depends on the activity of the matter plate, and made to receive, by galvanic agency, a very slight deposit of copper from the cupreous cyanide of potassia, (the deposit of copper being just enough to change the color of the plate in the slightest degree,) is washed very carefully with distilled water, and then heated, over a spirit-lamp, until the light part assumes a pearly transparent appearance. The whitening and cleaning up of the picture by this process, is far more beautiful than by the ordinary method of fixation by a deposit of gold. A small portrait fixed in this way more than a year since, remains unchanged. As copper assumes various colors, according to the depth of oxidation upon its surface, it follows, that if a thicker coating than the first mentioned can be put upon the plate without impairing the impression, various colors may be obtained during the fixation. It is impossible for me to give any definite rules concerning this last process; but I will state, in a general way, that my best results were obtained by giving the plate such a coating of copper as to change the tone of the picture, that is, give it a coppery color, and then heating it over a spirit lamp until it assumes the color desired. I have now an exposed picture treated in this way at the same time with the Heaven prosper them, and enable them to complete a geographical survey honorable to the character of the greatest naval nation that ever existed on the face of the earth!-Literary Gazette. CHINESE TRIAD SOCIETY.-The Triad Socie two above mentioned; and it remains unchanged It is of a beautiful green color, and the impression has not suffered in the least by the oxidation. For pure landscapes, it has a pleasing effect; and by adopting some of the recent inventions for stopping out the deposit of copper, the green color may be had wherever desired. In some pictures a curious variety of colors is obtained, owing to the varying thickness of the deposit of cop-ty has excited some interest from its ostensible per, which is governed by the thickness of the deposit of mercury forming the picture. In one instance, a clear and beautiful ruby color was produced, limited in a well defined manner to the drapery, while all other parts were green. To succeed well in the first process, viz., that for fixation and the production of the pearly appearance, the impression should be carried as far as possible without solarization, the solution of the hyposulphate of soda should be pure and free from the traces of sulphur, the plate should be carefully washed with distilled water, both before and after it receives the deposit of copper,-in fact, the whole experiment should be neatly performed, to prevent what the French significantly call taches upon the plate, when the copper comes to be oxidized. Silliman's Journal. object of overthrowing the foreign family which the true Chinese dynasty which, two centuries now occupies the imperial throne, and restoring ago, was dispossessed by the Manchoo race. Once during the late war with China they offered to co-operate with our armies, and to turn against the Manchoos, and those of their countrymen who supported them. This was at the occupation of Chapoo, in whose garrison many of the soldiers were members of this body. The offer was rejected, but they created a disturbance in the city, and left the army, probably in search of plunder, which is believed to be the real object of the association, though covered by a cloak of pa triotism. Translations by Mr. Gutzlaff of documents belonging to the body found at Hong Kong, were read. They consisted of songs used at the introNEW ARCTIC EXPEDITION.-The return of Sir duction of new members, of the oath taken by the John Franklin from his government of Van Die- novice, and of an account of the origin and proman's Land has given it a new impulse, and the gress of the society as given by themselves. Acsailing of the expedition under his command has cording to this account they take their beginning been finally determined. After communications from a war between the Manchoos and the Sefrom the first Lord of the Admiralty (the Earl of loos, towards the close of the 17th century, in Haddington), Sir J. F. has undertaken this oner- which the government was materially aided by ous enterprise; and, with the experienced and an association of 1200 bonzes of Fokien, whose able Capt. Crozier (who is daily expected from success and consequent reward so excited the the continent) as his second, will forthwith pre-envy of the courtiers, that their establishment was pare for the service. Both the Erebus and Ter-burned to the ground, and all the body destroyed, For returned from their arduous southern voyoge with the exception of five, who fled from the cruin as perfect condition as when they started from elty of their treacherous persecutors. They were Chatham. Their strength and capability of re- soon joined by the youthful son of the late Chisistance have indeed been well tried and thus, nese emperor; and afterwards by many other for skill in their commanders, and the requisite persons who were well affected to the old dynasqualities in themselves, we have every reason to ty. For several years they maintained a bold augur hopefully of the results. These vessels struggle with the usurping government; but in have been towed up to Woolwich, where there is 1736 they were compelled to disperse into varito be a small steam-power attached to each ship, ous parts of the empire, having previously agreei so as to help them by means of the screw to push upon certain signs by which they might be known their way through the ice. Sir J. Franklin has, to each other, until the great day of vengeance we learn, visited them this week in company with should arrive, when they would all march to his gallant companion and friend Sir James Ross, Nanking, and establish upon the throne the famwhose advice must be so invaluable on such an ily of their ancient sovereigns. From that time occasion even to the most experienced of polar-sea to the present they have maintained a secret ornavigators, and given directions for commencing ganization, like the freemasons of Europe, divided their equipment. The expedition is appointed to into lodges, and connected by certain signs unsail about the first week in May, and ought on derstood only by themselves; the manner of plano account to be later. The ships being in first cing the cups and dishes on the table, of pouring rate order, will not require the least repair. The out tea, of eating and drinking, of putting on a only alterations necessary will be for the purpose garment, and the words in which the commonest of applying the small steam-power and a screw-question is put, will immediately inform a mempropeller to assist them in light winds or calms, ber of the presence of another of the body, alwhich greatly prevail amongst the ice in Baffin's though the signs of recognition are based upon Bay. This can soon be done. The officers, we such trifling differences as would escape the most believe, are not yet, but will of course be imme-inquisitive eye uninitiated in the secret. The diately appointed. The intended route is through association is said to be extending; it embraces Barrow Straits, between Cape Walker and people of all classes, chiefly of the more disrepuBanke's Land, and thence to the continent of table, though some inferior mandarins and people America to the westward of Woollaston Land.attached to the police are among them. They They will still be able to take two years' provisions; though the steam-apparatus and coals will not admit of their taking three years' complete, as on former Artic voyages, hold frequent meetings, at which they renew their oath of fidelity towards each other, denounce traitors, and resolve upon the best and most secret mode of punishing them. They afterwards mingle their blood before an altar of incense in token of eternal fidelity, and usually conclude with a drunken debauch. Mr. Gutzlaff states, in conclusion, that the power of the society is increasing; and he speculates on the probability of their joining the political societies forming in every part of the country, with the object of upholding the celestial empire against all barbarian encroachment.-Lit. Gaz. The words being absolutely identical; and in all probability many of the rest, though illegible from indistinctness in the copy, and in many cases from injury to the face of the rock, which had been much damaged by falling from a higher locality. But the new document was not merely a copy: it comprised more than the Girnar rock. Mr. Norris had not had time to look into details; but he had examined with much interest that portion which contained the names of the kings of the West, and had been gratified to find it in a Complete state, giving clearly the names of Antiochus, Ptolemy, Magas, Antigonus, and Alexander. These names are decisive as to the age of this interesting monument, though there are some chronological difficulties which he had not been able to look into, having been barely enabled to prepare a succinct account of the discovery, and a reduced copy of a part of the inscription, with a new alphabet, in time for the meeting. He hoped to be soon able to prepare a complete copy of the whole for publication in the Society's Journal, which would probably be accompanied with the readings of persons more able than himself to follow up the path he had had the good luck to be instrumental in opening. Much interest was excited among those present at the announcement of the discovery; and Professor Wilson, the director of the society, remarked upon the singular fact of an inscription being found in a language of Hindu origin written in a Semitic alphabet, evidently allied to the Hebrew, and written from right to left, unlike all other Indian alphabets; and said that it was, on the whole, fortunate that the new discovery was a version of an already known inscription, as it would be a means of more certainly recovering the value of the characters trian coins. We understand from Mr. Norris that he has read some of the reverses on those coins that had not been before ascertained; and that he had discovered several new letters, and changed the values of some supposed to be known. He also stated, in conversation, that he had seen in an old legendary tale the name of a monarch hitherto known only by being found on those coins, where he is designated Gondopherres; in the tale he was called Gondoferus, king of India. on the Bac CLOTH IMPRESSION OF AN INSCRIPTION AT KApur-di-Ghari.—We noticed, in a recent number, the presentation to the Asiatic Society, by Mr. Masson, of a cloth impression of a large inscription at Kapur-di-Ghari, between thirty and forty miles north of Pesháwer, engraved on the rough face of a rock, in the characters used on the Bactrian coins, most of which were deciphered a few years ago by the lamented James Prinsep. The impression was taken upon calico, by smearing the face of the rock with the common country ink, and pressing the calico upon it by the palm of the hand. In some parts the ink has run into the spaces where letters should have been; and in consequence of the rough state of the surface, it does not appear at all in many places. inscription, moreover, covered a surface of above 150 square feet; and Mr. Masson had no other aid than what he could get from the inquisitive natives who gathered round him. Fortunately that gentleman also made a copy of the inscription by the eye, which contains much that is obscure on the cloth; and it was hoped that, by a careful examination and comparison, enough might be fairly copied out on paper to admit of attempts at deciphering. Mr. Norris, the assistant-secretary of the society, had undertaken to get this done; and he now proceeded to lay the result before the meeting. A large copy, on an immense sheet of paper, nearly thirty feet long, was placed against the wall of the room; and a reduced fac-simile of as much as could be completed laid on the table. Mr. Norris then stated that he had succeeded in ascertaining what the inscription was, and in reading a considerable part of it. He had been led to the discovery by seeing a word repeated several times, which, though containing three doubtful letters, he thought looked like Devanpiya; and the guess was confirmed by finding the same word beginning a separate tablet en graved on another part of the rock, followed by piyasi, erroneously put for Piyadasi,-the two words forming a designation of the Buddhist monarch of India, who had erected so many monuments in that country in the third century before the Christian era. He communicated this first step to his friend Mr. Dowson, to whom he had previously given a copy of the separate tabDr. Wilson also stated that he had made conlet, and who had paid much attention to the ancient alphabets of India. That gentleman com- siderable progress in deciphering the Himyaritic pared this copy with the well-known Girnar inscriptions; and that he hoped soon to be able rock inscription of the same monarch, published to communicate the results of his investigations. in 1837 by Mr. Prinsep, in which each division-Lit. Gaz. begins with the words Deranampiya Piyadasi; and he found that the tablet was in substance the same as the seventh division of the edict, which recommends union among all persons, and submission to religious control. On this Mr. Norris proceeded to collate the whole inscription with that on the Girnar rock; and he found that the two were in substance the same, above half the | Lit. Gaz, A beautiful fac-simile of the Girnar inscribed rock, taken by Dr. Wilson of Bombay, was opened for comparison, to the great surprise of that gentleman, who was accidentally present He had for some years lost all traces of this val uable document, having sent it to Calcutta to the late Mr. Prinsep, when engaged in deciphering these monuments; and he was very happy in making over to the society any claim he might have upon it. T. HOOD, ESQ-A very interesting likeness of Hood, from an admirable bust, embellishes the last No. of his magazine. We lament to state that his illness receives no alleviation; but, on the contrary, that his strength is gradually wasting, and he is becoming more and more feeble. mine. From this circumstance was drawn the Mr. Shaw then proceeded to describe experiments PHOTOGRAPHIC PHENOMENA.-Mr. Shaw On some Photographic Phenomena '-The main object of Mr. Shaw's discourse was to communicate details of original investigations pursued by him for the purpose of isolating and determining some of the conditions which either accelerate or retard the decomposition by light of the salts of silver generally. Mr. Shaw first described the known process of the Daguerréotype, taking occasion to notice that the film of iodide of silver, formed on the silver plate, may have its sensitiveness to light greatly increased by exposure to the vapor of bromine or chlorine,-bromine being the most effectual agent for this purpose. The quantity of bromine, however, which communicates the greatest degree of sensitiveness is extremely minute, and excess of it destroyed the photographic character of the plate, by inducing a change, which was subsequently described. The difficulty of ascertaining this quantity is removed by exposing the plate to the vapor of a mixture of iodine and bromine, until it receives a violet hue. Mr. Shaw then described the subsequent stages of the operation: the placing the plate in the camera obscura to receive the image, its subsequent exposure to the vapor of mercury, where the pic-trate of silver or iodide of potassium-is in excess. ture first developes itself, the subsequent removal of the film of iodide of silver, by hypo-sulphite of soda, and, finally, the fixing the picture by a film of gold. The chemical and physical changes accompanying these processes were adverted to. Mr. Shaw then stated, that if an impressed Daguerréotype plate, after removal from the camera, and before introduction into the mercury box, be exposed to the vapor of chlorine, iodine, or bromine, however largely diluted with atmospheric air, the nascent picture is obliterated, so as to be no longer capable of development by the vapor of mercury. This fact, according to Mr. Shaw, has long been known, though a satisfactory ex-bining under these circumstances with the replanation of it has hitherto been wanting. To duced metal. On being again submitted to day. obtain this explanation, Mr. Shaw directed his light, the chloride was again darkened, and again researches to the condition of the sensitive sur- bleached by being placed in the dark and Mr. face of the plate after the impression had been Shaw proved that this alternate effect might be thus destroyed. By exposing some impressed repeated indefinitely, without diminishing the plates, half covered by a metallic screen, to the sensitiveness of the salt. From this curious prop. vapor of bromine, and then placing them in the erty of chloride of silver, Mr. Shaw was led to mercury box, he found that both the covered the construction of a photometer. In the course and uncovered portions remained unchangd, of his researches, Mr. Shaw arrived at another but that an intensely white stain occurred in important discovery. He ascertained that some a line corresponding with the edge of the screen. gases and vapors have a specific action on the This Mr. Shaw referred to the effects of light in- chemical agency of light without reference to sinuating itself in the small space purposely left their colors. He observed that rays of light between the screen and the portion of the plate passing through a stratum of bromine had more which it covered. From this experiment he es- influence on the chloride of silver than when tablished the fact, that when an impressed Da- they passed through an equal stratum of chlorine, guerreotype surface is exposed to either of the notwithstanding the far deeper color of the former vapors already spoken of, the virtual impression gas. Mr. Shaw concluded by describing anis on the one hand destroyed, and, on the other, other photometer, which, being constantly exthe sensitiveness to light is restored. As to the posed to light, exhibits, by the change produced degree in which chlorine, iodine and bromine are in it, the relative intensity of the light at the time capable of restoring the original character of the of the observation. This instrument consists of Daguerreotype surface, it was ascertained that, a wedge-shaped glass vessel, filled with chlorine, after the development of the picture in the mer- and furnished with a long strip of glass, in the cury box, the plate, if exposed to bromine, is middle of which is a band of chloride of silver, again ready to receive an impression of light, the strip of glass being of an uniform grey color. even on the surface on which the mercury has When this instrument is exposed to light, the darkcondensed; so that a succession of pictures mayening commences on the lower end of the band of be superimposed on each other on the same plate. Mr. Shaw also ascertained that full daylight is incapable of exciting any action on a sensitive surface in the presence of chlorine, iodine or bro chloride of silver, and gradually progresses upwards until the effect of the light is wholly counter acted by the retarding power of the gas through which it passes, and its contact with the salt.--Ath. THOMAS F. BUXTON-Our obituary notice for | esteemed individual had followed in the footsteps of his father, to whom the literature of Scotland the present week is heavy with a more than ordinary amount of melancholy interest. On the 19th inst., died, at his seat in Norfolk, aged 59, Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton-one who must not be allowed to pass away from amongst the living generations, for whose moral and material advancement he labored with a singleness of purpose which his political enemies have never questioned, without a word of grateful and reverential regard. For nearly twenty years during which Mr. Buxton sat in Parliament, as member for Weymouth, he took an active and persevering part in all such debates as had for their object to ameliorate the sufferings or enlarge the immunities of his fellow-men; nor were his labors in the cause confined within the walls of St. Stephen's. Questions of prison-discipline amendment, criminal law, the immorality of state lotteries, the abolition of Suttee in our Indian Empire, and of slavery all over the world, found in him an earnest, intelligent and unwearying advocate, from DEATH OF THE MOTHER OF THE LATE ALLAN the day when, at thirty years of age, he wrote on CUNNINGHAM.-Died at her house, Albany-Place, the first, till that when failing health warned him of his coming grave. In mere party politics or the common-places of political life, he took no share;-to the passions of party he was an utter stranger. For years, he was considered, in the House of Commons, as the successor of Wilberforce, in the leading of that body who are known as the Philanthropists; and amid the talking birds and singing waters of that bewildering re-esting experiments, and above all as the cradle of gion, he passed steadily on to his own high pur- steam navigation. The deceased had attained the poses, unseduced by its temptations and undivert- age of ninety-five, and though long a widow, who ed by its clamors. When, in 1837, Mr. Buxton in her latter years went little abroad, her pilgrimlost his seat for Weymouth, he retired from Par- age was cheered by the talents, worth, and unliamentary life; and thenceforth, confined his ef- wearied attentions of her family. She was the forts mainly to the furtherance of that great ob- mother of Allan Cunningham, whose name is as ject, the destruction of the traffic in slaves, which familiar to the ears of Scotsmen, at home and he had so long defended within its walls. He abroad, as a household word, and of his brother was, as our readers well know, by his pen and by Thomas, who might have wooed the muse with his influence, the great promoter of the unfortu- equal success had not his attention been profesnate Niger Expedition; and though many have sionally engrossed by the science of mechanics. found in the calamitous issue of that affair ground A third son, Peter, who still survives, a surgeon for impeaching his wisdom, it has been his good in the Royal Navy, is also well known to the pubfortune never to have his motives impugned.-lic by his writings on Australia, and other subjects Athenæum. on Saturday, the 2d ult., Elizabeth Harley, relict of Mr. Cunningham, overseer at Dalswinton in the time of the celebrated P. Miller, Esq., and his assistant in not a few of the improvements effected on one of the most beautiful estates on the Nith waters from its source to the sea. Apart from the song and fame of Burns, this domain has been long celebrated as the scene of many inter of national importance. The remains of old Mrs. Cunningham, as she might be well called, an excellent matron, and allied by birth to families of distinction, were interred on Friday in Kirkmaho churchyard in presence of many mourners, mostly ALEXANDER BLACKWOOD, ESQ.-On the morn-in carriages, whose numbers were augmented ere ing of the 21st, at his residence in Edinburgh, they reached the cemetery of a parish, which aldied Alexander Blackwood, the eldest son of the though his ashes rest not there, is endeared to late William Blackwood, and at the early age biography as the natale solum of Allan Cunningof thirty-nine years. This worthy and much-nam.-Dumfries Courier. |