Subscription papers will be presented in a few days, when the subscribers flatter themselves, the University of Pennsylvania will be supported in its efforts to form this establishment, which has long been desired, and which, if accomplished, will be of permanent utility to the city.

Extract from the Act of the Legislature.

"That the sum of three thousand dollars, be, and the same "is hereby granted to the Trustees of the University of Penn"sylvania, for the purpose of enabling them to establish a "Garden, for the improvement of the Science of Botany; and "for instituting a series of experiments to ascertain the cheap"est and best food for plants, and their Medical properties and "Virtues."

William Rawle,
Benjamin Chew,
Edward Burd,

James Gibson,

Horace Binney.

Committee of the Board of Trustees.

Philadelphia, April 10, 1816.

Transactions of the Literary and Philosophical Society of New-York.

A quarto volume of the Transactions of the New-York Literary and Philosophical Society has lately been published. It contains a learned and copious introductory discourse, by the President, Dewitt Clinton, L. L. D.-a Memoir on Comets, by the corresponding Secretary, Hugh Williamson, M. D. and L. L. D.-a Tract on the Laws of Contagion, and the application thereof to Contagious Diseases, by David Hosack, M. D. one of the vice-presidents-Directions for making and registering Meteorological Observations, by John Griscom, Esq. a counsellor of the society-an Analysis of the Mineral Waters at Schooley's Mountain, in New-Jersey, by professor William J. Mac Neven, M. D.-Cases of Morbid Anatomy, with plates, by John W. Francis, M. D. one of the recording secretaries. This volume also contains a

Memoir on the North-American Earthquakes of 1811, 1812, and 1813, and the cotemporaneous commotions in other parts of the world, by Samuel L. Mitchill; and the Description and Classification of nearly one hundred and seventy species of Fish, found in and around New-York, by the same. This ichthyological paper is illustrated, by Dr. Mitchill, with the figures of sixty species of fishes; the principal of which are supposed to be unknown to naturalists; and which may serve to make inquirers somewhat better acquainted with the variety and abundance found in the market of New-York. In this interesting publication, likewise, will be found, a letter of Dr. Clinton to Dr. Mitchill, containing remarks on the fishes of the western waters of the state of New-York; and a letter from James Mease, M. D. to Dr. Hosack, concerning the history, haunts, and manners of the Rock-fish, Striped Basse or streaked Perch, of the United States.

Mineralogy and Geology.

There is now in the press of Cummings and Hilliard, of Boston, an elementary treatise of Mineralogy and Geology, in one volume, of between six and seven hundred pages, by Professor Cleaveland of Bowdoin College. The work will be accompanied with plates, illustrating the structure and actual forms of crystals, and a geological map of the United States.

The work is more especially designed for pupils, for gentlemen attending mineralogical lectures, and also as a companion for travellers; for which purpose, particular attention has been devoted to the designation of all the localities of minerals in the United States. A work of this kind is much wanted, for the assistance of those who are disposed to engage in the study of this useful and interesting science. From the abilities and application of Professor Cleaveland we have no doubt that this work will be executed in a manner to merit the public patronage, which it may be hoped will remunerate him for the study. and labour it has required.

Speedily will be published in 2 vols. 8vo. the Institutes and Practice of Medicine, founded on the basis of anatomy, healthy and morbid; and on the well known Laws of the Animal Economy; by Lyman Spalding, M. D. President of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of the University of New-York, for the Western District.

Phosphorus internally used as a Tonic and Stimulant Remedy.

Monsieur D. Lobstein, of the Faculty of Medicine of Paris, has published an historical essay on the discovery of the physical and chemical properties of phosphorus, which is by him now classed among the articles of Materia Medica, with the doses, medical effects, and formula.

He attributes the unfortunate experiments formerly made of that substance in the human body, to the improper mode that was resorted to for its exhibition in pills, electuaries, &c. in which it could not be sufficiently divided or diluted. But its solution in vitriolic æther, with the addition of some distilled aromatic oil, is an equally safe and convenient medicine, to be taken at the dose of a few drops at first, to be gradually augmented as the circumstances may require. As a powerful tonic, it becomes eminently useful in asthenic diseases, in which it is desirable to diffuse a momentary, but intense stimulating action. He mentions dangerous cases of typhus and other asthenic fevers, thus radically cured by the use of phosphorus. His reviewers express a regret that the association of that ingredient with different auxiliaries, should make it difficult to determine upon its true efficacy. They, however, think the subject highly interesting, and well deserving further experiments. Journal de Medicine de Paris, May, 1815.

OBITUARY.

Lancaster, Penn. April 6, 1816. Died on the 1st instant, DR. FREDERICK KUHN, in the sixty-ninth year of his age.

He was born in this borough, on the 24th of August, 1748. He was early instructed in the principles of the christian religion, which he professed through life, and adorned by his conduct.

He obtained a polite and liberal education, went through the regular gradations of the schools, graduated as Doctor of Medicine, and rose to a degree of eminence in the profession, to which a sound judgment and uncommon application alone can elevate.

At the opening of the revolutionary war, he engaged in the service of the United States, and therein continued almost throughout the war, among the most eminent and respected of his profession in the army.

When he withdrew from the public service, he made the place of his birth his place of residence and medical practice.

After the establishment of the present Constitution of this Commonwealth, he was appointed one of the judges of the county; and served in that capacity for a number of years, to the satisfaction of the community.

In the practice of Medicine, he was eminent and fortunate. He was universally respected and beloved. His tenderness of the character of others, ensured him the friendly regard of his professional brethren. His diligent attention to those who committed their health to his care, his charity to the poor, his kindness to the afflicted, the amiableness of his disposition, together endeared him to all his neighbours.

Note on the Remarks of the Editors' friend, respecting the Self-Registering

Thermometer.

As the scale of the Thermometer must necessarily be adjusted under the "general attraction of magnetism," the only effect on its accuracy will be the variation of the force of this general attraction, which, since its quantum cannot be measured by the nicest experiments, will, I apprehend, be too inconsiderable to sensibly affect its accuracy.

In the experiments I made, the small hands G. G., were not used, but their place was supplied by a very small wire ring, which moved with such ease as to produce no apparent resistance; from this circumstance, if the magnetic needle come nearly in contact with the glass tube, and the iron ball be about four lines in diameter, I think very delicate hands will journey so as to answer the same E. C.

purpose.

ERRATUM, in pages 250, 251, & 252, for index,' read scale.

Observations on the Application of Coal Gas to the Purposes of Illumination. By WILLIAM THOMAS BRANDE, F. R. S. L. and E. Prof. Chem. R. I. &c.

[From the Journal of Science and the Arts, No. I. 1816.]

THE employment of the gases evolved during the destructive distillation of common pit coal for the illumination of streets and houses, is a subject of such intrinsic and increasing importance, as to render some account of its progress and improvement a proper subject of discussion in this Journal.

That coal evolves a permanently elastic and inflammable aeriform fluid seems first to have been experimentally ascertained by the Rev. Dr. Clayton, and a brief account of his discovery is published in the Philosophical Transactions for the year 1739. The following is an extract from his paper. "I got some coal, and distilled it in a retort in an open fire. At first there came over only phlegm, afterwards a black oil, and then likewise a spirit arose, which I could no ways condense; but it forced my lute, or broke my glasses. Once when it had forced my lute, coming close thereto in order to try to repair it, I observed that the spirit which issued out caught fire at the flame of the candle, and continued burning with violence as it issued out in a stream, which I blew out and lighted No. 23.

VOL. VI.

2 M