THE CHEMIST'S POWER OVER MATTER.

THE CHEMIST'S POWER OVER

MATTER.

343

closed in a casket of Ferula, because after a universal medicine, And of its lightness. The body of the then how remarkable are the casket being made of this plant, was changes in the sensible properties covered with rich stuff or skin, of an organic compound, and in its adorned with ribs of gold, and relations to animal life, which are studded with pearls and precious produced by a very small alterastones. (Journal of Botany.) tion in its chemical composition ! It is sufficiently striking that the union of combustible hydrogen gas with fire-supporting oxygen should From the power over matter, produce the fire-extinguishing fluid, with which existing progress has water; and that salutary common already invested man, how won- salt should contain, mollified and drously interesting are the results disguised by its combination with and substances which he can pro- a metal, sixty per cent. by weight duce at will! One of these sub- of suffocating chlorine. But these stances takes fire, and glows bril- combinations, water and common liantly when simply exposed to the salt, consist of equal atoms of each air-another starts into flame when constituent, which may readily be it is touched with water or with supposed, by their union, greatly to ice—a third shines in the air with modify the properties of one ana paler and more lambent but al- other. In organic compounds, howmost perpetual light—and the smell ever, containing many molecules of a fourth is too nauseous to be united together, it is more surprisendured. One gas, when diffused ing that the addition of a single through the air, in absolutely inap-molecule more should often entirely preciable proportion, affects those alter their properties and relations who inhale it with violent catarrh to life. Benzoil, for example, conanother, when inhaled, exhilarates tains twenty-one atoms-fourteen with a happy but fleeting intoxica- of carbon, five of hydrogen, and tion—a third, if breathed but once, two of oxygen—and yet the addisuddenly arrests the current of life. tion of one of hydrogen to these A single drop of one fluid, if swal- twenty-one forms the high-flavoured lowed, will produce instant death and poisonous oil of bitter almonds; -of another, will set in motion or one of oxygen added in its stead the whole contents of the alimen- forms the well-known solid benzoic tary canal while the vapour of a acid, to which our pastilles owe so third will produce speedy insensibi- much of their agreeable odour. In lity. One solid substance, if merely cinnamyle, again, there are pretouched, will crumble to powder sent twenty-seven atoms, and yet and change its colour-another by one of hydrogen added to these gentle friction will explode with a forms oil of cinnamon, and one of terrific detonation - while others oxygen, a solid substance called again change by a single gleam of cinnamic acid. How very incomthe brilliant sun, and produce the prehensible to us as yet are all such wonderful pictures of Talbot and molecular changes! — (Edinburgh Daguerre. Again, other substances Review.) are enriched with healing, balsamic, and salutary virtues assuaging, exhilarating, or strengthening at the experimenter's will-realizing, in a somewhat different sense, the aspirations of the latter alchemists

ILLUSTRATIONS OF HOLY WRIT.

Travelling in this desert of Bayiouda, the pleasantest part of our desert journey, and, as Dairch informed us, the most like the deserts

could exclaim with the Psalmist,
"He maketh me to lie down in
green pastures; He leadeth me be-
side still waters ;" and, as a Bedouin
in advance of us called his servant,
who was walking before him with his
sandals, that he might put them on
before he reached the village, we
remembered that John the Baptist
did not deem himself worthy to
unloose the latchet of our Saviour's
shoes. (Melly's Kkartoum and the
Niles.)

ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN AT KEW-
LONDONERS' LOVE OF FLOWERS.

in Syria, we were continually struck suddenly upon the broad river, with the resemblance to places de- winding through the rich green scribed in the Bible, or to manners of the durra-covered banks, we and anecdotes related there. Every day brought some new scene, which explained some passage we had hardly understood, or gave force to some other one, which we had scarcely appreciated. One day we met a Bedouin, rich in herds, who was pursuing a single sheep, or camel, across the sandy wastes, tracking the animal by its footsteps; the next we might come on the ninety and nine left without their shepherd. We have felt the disappointment of arriving at a well and finding the waters bitter. And the cup of cold water cannot be fully appreciated except in a The Royal Botanic Garden at country like this, where the water, Kew is a favourite resort of all rare to get at any time, can hardly strangers visiting London, and ever be obtained, even tepid, and shares with Richmond, Hampton generally has a taste of the skin Court, and other suburban attracit is kept in, which would disgust|tions, in affording a grateful relief any but the most thirsty. Our on a summer day from the swelterLord's command is still obeyed by ing heat of its crowded thoroughthese people, indeed, throughout fares. To the student of science it the East, and you may always drink presents attractions which are not any quantity of water, whoever it to be found in any other similar may belong to. I was surprised institution in Europe or the world. once at seeing a Bedouin walk up Kew is situated about seven miles to my camel and drink a whole above London, and is approached bottle of water, my supply for the either directly by the South Western day; and I have often, when out Railway, or by the river steamers, shooting, gone into a hut or tent the latter being much the pleasanter and asked for water, which the poor route, as it gives you an opportunity people have had to carry a great of leisurely surveying the upper distance. Not only have I never reaches of the river, as you ascend been refused, but my offer of a piastre or two was never accepted; they gave it to me, as a Nubian woman once beautifully expressed it, "for God's sake." One of our guides told us how he was ruined last year; for, intrusting his flocks to a "hireling," they were all eaten by a wolf (hyena), and scattered over the desert, while he was away leading some merchants over the sandy plains. When, after a march of ten days over stony hills and arid plains of deep sand, we camel

"To where the silver Thames first rural grows,"

and where its banks are skirted with woods and gardens, interspersed with suburban villas, the residences of the magnates of the metropolis, and villages of inviting aspect, frequented by the citizens when holiday-making. Kew was long a favourite residence of the Royal Family, in whose possession it remained for a century. The botanical collection was commenced about the year 1730, and under the

KEW AND COVENT GARDEN.

345

auspices of George III., who was a appropriated to scientific purposes zealous and munificent patron of is 75 acres, to which are added the the object, and aided by the exer-pleasure-grounds and arboretum, tions of that distinguished natural-consisting of 176 acres of wood and ist, Sir Joseph Banks, it speedily lawn. The gates of the Botanic acquired importance and celebrity. Garden are thrown freely open to The Gardens were successively en- the public every day of the week. riched with the contributions of An institution so well adapted Sir Joseph himself, who accom- to gratify the prevailing taste of panied Captain Cooke when he cir- the Londoners, could not fail to cumnavigated the globe,_by_those grow in popularity. Their passion of Captain Flinders and Mr. Robert for flowers is proverbial, and durBrown, and travellers and collectors ing the season the market-garin Australia, Brazil, the Cape of deners drive a profitable business Good Hope, and other foreign in ministering to it. One is led to countries. During the reigns of wonder where all the roses and George IV. and William IV. the posies he sees in the streets can Gardens were allowed to languish ; possibly come from; till some fine and the conviction was pressed summer morning he wends his way upon the public mind, about the to Covent Garden market, the cencommencement of the present reign, tre from which both Flora and that the institution should either be Pomona dispense their daily bounabandoned altogether, or rendered ties over the ample domain of Cockcommensurate with the advance of neydom. The vast quantities of science, and placed upon a footing flowers and fruits brought in from worthy of a great national institu- the country during the night, extion. In the year 1840, her Majesty posed for sale, and scattered far Queen Victoria, in the most liberal and wide amongst the retailers, spirit, relinquished her title to the while the city is sound asleep, is garden and pleasure-grounds, which one of the curious sights of the were accordingly transferred to the metropolis, but one seldom witcare of the commissioners of Woods nessed by those who prefer "hearand Forests, to be by them applied ing the chimes at midnight," with to the public benefit. In the course Master Shallow, to enjoying the of improvement which was now re- "sight so touching in its majesty" solved upon, the first important described by the meditative Wordsstep was the appointment to the worth, as he took his station, at office of director of Sir Wm. Jack-early dawn, on Westminster Bridge, son Hooker, then Professor of and saw Botany in the University of Glasgow. Under the fostering care of the commissioners, and the enlightened zeal of the director, the Gardens have already become unrivalled as a school of horticulture and botany, more especially since the foundation of the Museum of Practical or Economical Botany, to commence which Sir William Hooker generously devoted his own valuable collections. The great Palm-house is without a parallel in the world. The extent of ground,

66

The City, like a garment, wear The beauty of the morning; silent,

bare,

Ships, towers, domes, theatres, and
temples, lie

Open unto the fields, and to the sky;
All bright and glittering in the smoke-

less air.

Never did sun more beautifully steep
In his first splendour, valley, rock, or
hill;

Ne'er saw I, never felt, a calm so deep!
Dear Heaven! the very houses seem
The river glideth at his own sweet will,

asleep,

And all that mighty heart is lying still!"

The most delicate and costly exo- | there is no end;" and Seneca comtics are to be found in the flower-plained, that ": as the Romans had stalls of Covent Garden market; more than enough of other things, and even some of the rarer and so they had also of books and bookmore beautiful of the native wild-making." But Solomon and Seneca flowers, such as the bee-ophrys, lived in an age when books were not unfrequently appear in the considered as a luxury, and not a market, to which they are sent by necessary of life. The case is now local collectors, to whom the bota- altered; and though, perhaps, as nist owes a grudge for despoiling Dr. Johnson observed, no man gets the cherished and familiar stations a bellyful of knowledge, every one of his favourite plants. has a mouthful. What would Solomon say now, could he see our monthly catalogues, or be told that upwards of a dozen critical machines were kept constantly at work, merely to weigh and stamp publications."

DOCTOR YOUNG.

One day as Dr. Young was walking in his garden at Welwyn, in company with two ladies (one of whom he afterwards married), the servant came to acquaint him that a gentleman wished to speak with him. "Tell him," says the doctor, "I am too happily engaged to change my situation!" The ladies insisted he should go, as his visitor was a man of rank, his patron, and his friend; but, as persuasion had no effect, one took him by the right arm, the other by the left, and led him to the garden gate; when finding resistance in vain, he bowed, laid his hand upon his heart, and spoke the following words in that expressive manner for which he was so remarkable:

"Thus Adam look'd, when from the

garden driven,

And thus disputed orders sent from

heaven:

Like him I go, but yet to go am loth; Like him I go, for angels drove us both.

Hard was his fate, but mine still more

unkind:

His Eve went with him, but mine stays behind."

BOOK-MAKING.

La Bruyere, many years ago, observed, that "tis as much a trade to make a book as a clock; c'est un metier que de faire un livre, comme de faire une pendule." But since his day many vast improvements have been made. Solomon said, that "of making many books

ANCIENT VALUE OF BOOKS.

In the year 1471, when Louis XI. borrowed the works of Rasis, the Arabian physician, from the Faculty of Medicine, in Paris, he not only deposited in pledge a considerable quantity of plate, but was obliged to procure a nobleman to join him as surety in a deed, binding himself under a great forfeiture to restore it. When any person made a present of a book to a church, or a monastery, in which were the only libraries during several ages, it was deemed a donative of such value, that he offered it on the altar, pro remedia animæ suæ, in order to obtain the forgiveness of sins.-(Relics of Literature.)

DISCOVERY OF GALVANISM.

The discovery of the effects of electricity on animals, took place from something like accident.

The wife of Galvani, at that time professor of anatomy in the University of Bologna, being in a declining state of health, employed as a restorative, according to the custom of the country, a soup made of frogs. A number of these animals, ready skinned for the purpose of cooking, were lying, with

NEWSPAPERS.

NEWTON'S ABSENCE OF MIND.

347

that comfortable negligence com- ! that he feared if he carried such a mon both to French and Italians, message to so violent a man as which allows them without repug- Francis, it might cost him his nance to do everything in every head. "Never fear, man," said place that is at the moment most the king, "if Francis were to cut convenient, in the professor's labo- off your head, I would make every ratory, near an electrical machine, Frenchman now in my power a it being probably the intention of head shorter." "I al I am much obliged the lady to cook them there. to your majesty,” replied the faceWhile the machine was in action, tious chancellor ; "but I much an attendant happened to touch doubt whether any of their heads with the point of the scalpel the would fit my shoulders." crural nerve of one of the frogs, that was not far from the prime conductor, when the limbs were thrown into strong convulsions. This experiment was performed in the absence of the professor, but it was noticed by the lady, who was much struck by the appearance, and communicated it to her husband. He repeated the experi- In a short time a boiled chicken ment, varied it in different ways, under cover was brought in for and perceived that the convulsions dinner; an hour passed, and Sir only took place when a spark was Isaac did not appear. The doctor drawn from the prime conductor, then ate the fowl, and covered up while the nerve was at the same time touched with a substance which was a conductor of electricity.—(Eloge de Galvani.)

BOOK COLLECTORS.

A library well chosen cannot be too extensive, but some there are who amass a great quantity of books, which they keep for show, and not for service. Of such persons, Louis XI. of France, aptly enough observed, that "they resembled hunch-backed people, who carried a great burden, which they

never saw.

SIR THOMAS MORE.

Henry the Eighth, and Francis the First of France, were both princes of a very warm temper, and the former having a design of sending an angry message to the latter, pitched on Sir Thomas More, his chancellor, for the messenger. Sir Thomas having received his instructions, told Henry,

Doctor Stukely one day by appointment paid a visit to Sir Isaac Newton. The servant said he was in his study, and no one was permitted to disturb him there; but as it was near his dinner-time, the visitor sat down to wait for him.

the empty dish, and desired the servant to get another dressed for his master. Before that was ready the great man came down; he apologized for his delay; and added, "Give me but leave to take my short dinner, and I shall be at your service; I am fatigued and faint." Saying this, he lifted up the cover, and without any emotion turned about to Stukely with a smile, "See," he said, "what we studious people are; I forgot that I had dined."

NEWSPAPERS.

Periodical papers were first used by the English during the civil wars of Oliver Cromwell, to disseminate among the people the sentiments of loyalty or rebellion, according as their authors were disposed.

We seem to have been obliged to the Italians for the idea; and perhaps it was their gazettas—from gazzera, a magpie or chatterer,