or discovery of a new alloy of metal, which exactly resembles fine gold, and is denominated Ormolu, or Mosaic gold, for which the inventor obtained a patent as above. We had considered this metal to be only a superior quality of brass, presenting a fine gold colour, and it now turns out that our notions were right.

The patentees state in their specification that great care and experience is necessary to the perfecting of this alloy, as the same materials will not, under different circumstances, produce similar results. They make use of equal quantities of copper and zinc, melted at the lowest temperature that copper will fuse, and having stirred them together, so as to produce a perfect admixture of the metals, they then add a further quantity of zinc in small portions, until the alloy in the melting pot becomes of the colour required.

If the temperature of the copper is too great, a portion of the zinc will fly off in vapour, and the result will be, that alloy commonly called spelter or hard solder; but if the operation is carried on at as low a temperature as possible, the alloy will first assume a yellow colour, as brass, and then by the addition of small portions of the zinc, the colour will change to a purple or violet hue, and ultimately become perfectly white, which is the appearance that the proper alloy should assume when in a fused state. This alloy may be cast into ingots, or in any forms required, and when cold will have the appearance of an alloy of fine gold and copper. But it is difficult to preserve its character when re-melted, as the zinc is very apt to waste by flying off in evaporation, by raising the temperature above that point at which copper begins to fuse.

The patentees are aware that a variety of alloys of copper and zinc have been made, and that they cannot

maintain the exclusive right of mixing alloys of those metals abstractedly; but having after great labour and observation discovered the precise proportions of the two metals, and the modes of treatment which will produce an alloy resembling fine gold, they claim the exclusive right of mixing an alloy of copper and zinc, consisting of from fifty-two to fifty-five parts zinc out of a hundred.

Inrolled May, 1826.

Novel Enventions.

On the Rectification of Spirituous Liquors without Heat, By M. E. Pajot Decharme.

HITHERTO alcohol, in liquors or spirits, could not be rectified, or raised from an inferior to a higher degree, and consequently be brought to a superior state of purity and strength, except by distillation; an operation which could only be effected by an alembic, and some heat.

The mode of rectification here treated of, can be performed in the cold, and consequently, without the aid of an alembic, or of combustibles. The following, in general, is the method of proceeding :

On the one part, there is poured into a vessel with a flat bottom, a given quantity of the spirits, which is desired to be rectified, whether it be small spirits (petites eaux,) proof spirits of Holland, or spirits of a higher degree.

On the other part, one of the most deliquescent salts is to be dried, either muriate of lime, or muriate of manganese; the first is preferable in point of economy, and the superiority of the second gives it a claim to be chosen, but it is less common, and not so easily obtained.

In another vessel of a large surface, and placed on three or more feet in the vessel which contains the spirits, is to be put the muriate of lime, dried and pounded.

This disposition being made, the vessel which holds the spirits is to be closed up completely, or its edges are to be secured with bands of paper pasted over them, and the whole is to be left in this state for four or five days. After this time, the vessel holding the spirits is opened, and that containing the muriate is taken out. This salt is then found to be more or less dissolved, according to the quantity of water which it has attracted. The degree of strength of the spirits is then examined, and it is found to be increased 5, 6, or 8 degrees, according to the fineness of the grain of the dry muriate: it ought not, however, to be too fine, to prevent its becoming pasty, and to make its surface more extensive. The vessel holding the muriate is then cleaned, a new portion of the dry muriate is spread on it, and it is put back into its place, and then the vessel containing the spirits is again shut up, in the same manner as before the insertion of this second dose of deliquescent salt.

By operating successively in this manner, highly rectified alcohol is obtained, and weak spirits, of 10 or 15 degrees (of Beaumé's areometer) are raised to 40 or 42 degrees.

It may be conceived that this method may be applied to the concentration of various saline fluids, acids, &c. and that by a particular disposition of the factory, basins,

&c. it would be easy to establish a rotation (of the pro. cesses), which, in a given time, would afford, at pleasure, daily products of all degrees of concentration.

M. Decharme is, at present, employed in trying to give to this process, by the aid of mechanism and natural philosophy, all the regularity, precision, and perfection, desirable for a work on a large scale.-Annales de Chemie.

Impressing Steel Plates.

M. Hollunder has given the following method of making impressions in steel plates, in his Metallurgico, technological Journal.

A mould (he says) is made of the object to be imprinted, and a mixture of one pound of brass, and five ounces of pewter, in a state of fusion, is poured into it. The piece of steel on which the impression is to be made, is then rubbed with turpentine; it is afterwards covered with blotting-paper, and the whole is enveloped with earth, in order to preserve the polished surface of the steel from the action of the air, and by this means prevent oxydation. The piece of steel is then made red hot; as soon as it arrives at this state, it is taken out of the fire, the earth is taken off, and the composition cast above mentioned, is imprinted in it by means of strong pressure (applied as occasion may require.) Impressions in brass, or any of the metals, can be executed in the same manner, and the impression of any subject can with much ease be obtained.

Polytechnic and Scientific Entelligence.

ROYAL SOCIETY.

(Continued from page 159.)

Dec. 8. A paper was read before the Society, entitled "Additional Proofs of the Source of Animal Heat being in the Nerves." By Sir E. Home, Bart. V. P.

Dec. 15.-The president announced to the Society his Majesty's munificent foundation of two annual prizes, consisting each of a medal, valued at fifty guineas, to be bestowed as honorary rewards to the authors of such new discoveries as the Society might deem worthy. Dr. J. R. Johnson was admitted a Fellow. The Croonian Lecture was read by Sir E. Home; Subject," The Structure of Muscular Fibre."

Dec. 22.-Gideon Mantel, Esq. was admitted a Fellow. A paper was read on the poison of the common toad, by J. Davy, M. D. and F. R. S. The popular belief in the venomous nature of the toad, though of great antiquity, has now been rejected, as a vulgar prejudice, by most of the modern naturalists, particularly by Cuvier; but like many other long received opinions, it is really founded in fact, and the denial of it by modern philosophers arises from superficial examination. Dr. D. found the venomous matter to be contained in follicles, chiefly in the cutis vera, and about the head and shoulders, but also