are, he supposes, two currents, the one of positive, the other of negative electricity, moving in spiral and opposite directions; and an effect is supposed to take place in the wire and around it, dependent on the union of these electricities, to which he gives the name of the electric conflict. By this conflict, all non-magnetic bodies appear to be penetrable, while, magnetic bodies, or rather their magnetic particles, resist its passage, and are therefore, moved by the impetus of the contending powers. All the effects on the north pole of the needle may be understood by supposing that negative electricity moves in a spiral line bent to the right, propelling the north pole, but not acting on the south pole. To positive electricity a contrary

motion is ascribed, and a power of acting on the south pole, but not on the north. This theory requires, therefore, that there be two electric fluids: but in the opinion of Dr. Wollaston, which on every obscure topic of science is entitled to the greatest deference, the phenomena may be equally well explained by a single electro-magnetic current, passing round the axis of the wire, in a direction determined by the position of the voltaic poles. The assumption of such a current is, it must be confessed, altogether gratuitous; but, without such a supposition, it is not easy to conceive any adequate cause for the motions that are observed in the magnetic needle, when brought within the influence of the uniting wire.

ASTRONOMY.

Remarks on Professor Struve's Observations to determine the Parallax of the fixed Stars. By J. Pond, Esq. Astr. Royal, (From Brande's Journal.)

Of the various attempts to discover the parallax of the fixed stars, the observations of Professor Struve must be regarded as among the best and most judicious. [Obs. vol. ii. iii]

His object is, by means of an excellent transit instrument furnished with seven wires, to determine the sum of the paral

Parallax of the Fixed Stars.

247

Taxes of several fixed stars, differing nearly 12 hours in right ascension from each other.

The results which he obtains seem to verify a remark which I have often had occasion to make; that in proportion as any improvement takes place either in our instruments or our processes the resulting parallax becomes proportionally less.

Of fourteen sets of opposite stars thus compared, Mr. Struve finds seven, which give the parallax negative; this circumstance alone should suggest great caution in attributing to the effects of parallax the small positive quantities that are derived from the remaining seven. Mr. Struve however is inclined to assign 0. 16 of space as the parallax of Ursa Minoris, and 0". 45 for the sum of the parallaxes of a Cygni, and‚ Ursæ Majoris. His learned coadjutor, M. Walbeck, who, it ap pears, has undertaken the calculations, is disposed to attribute the greatest portion of this parallax to the smaller star; a circumstance so improbable requires very strong evidence for its support.

But whatever reasonable doubt we may entertain as to any one given result relating to such extremely minute quantities, yet the mean of the whole must be admitted to deserve very great confidence; and it is to this view of the subject (omitted by the learned author,) that I wish to direct the attention of Astronomers.

If we take the mean of the fourteen results as relating generally to stars from the 1st to the 4th magnitude, it will appear that the mean sum of the parallaxes of two opposite stars is equal to 0". 036 of space, or the parallax of a single star equal to 0". 018.

If any reliance can be placed on these observations, every attempt to determine the parallax of these stars in declination must be entirely hopeless; since in this case we can only mea

It should be remembered, that in a series of observations, it generally happens that some results will be erroneous by a greater quantity than the mean probable error.

248

Voyage of Discovery-Irritability of the Tongue.

sure the shorter axis of the ellipse, and the uncertainty of re fraction must amount, at least, to twenty times the quantity we are in search.of.

Voyage of Discovery.

Capt. Otto von Kotzebue is again about to circumnavigate The present "the world, having already been twice round it. expedition is appointed by the Russian government, and is well furnished with every thing that can promote its object. The object is rather to make accurate surveys than new discoveries, but an astronomer, mineralogist, and naturalist, from the University of Dorpat go with it, as well as other scieutific men. The instruments are by Troughton and Jones, of London. Brande's Journal. Jan. 1824.

Blumenbach on the Irritability of the Tongue.

I had the tongue of a four year old ox which had been kill. éd in the common way, by opening the large vessels of the neck, cut out in my presence while yet warm; and at the same time the heart, in order that I might compare the oscillatory motion of this organ, which is by far the most irritable that we are acquainted with, with the motion of the tongue; and, when I excited both viscera at the same time, by the same mecha**nical stimuli, namely, incisions with a knife and pricks of a needle, the divided tongue appeared to all the by-standers to survive the heart more than seven minutes, and to retain the os-cillation of its fibres altogether for a quarter of an hour; and so vivid were the movements when I cut across the fore part of the tongue, that the butcher's wife compared them to those of an eel in similar condition, quite in the way that Ovid has compared them to the motions of the tail of a mutilated snake. -Edin. Phil. Jour. viii, 263.

..

Asiatic Entelligence.

SERAMPORE.-Span and Rut'h Jattra.-As on former years, we availed ourselves of the opportunities presented by these festivals, of making known the gospel. Occasionally a few of the brethren mingling with the crowd, entered into conversation with individuals, and distributed tracts. But in general they confined themselves to the small chapel in the Bazar. Several of the services there were peculiarly interesting, and none more so than that on the evening before the Snan Jattra. It was a delightfully serene and mild moon-light evening. The little chapel was quite filled with the native Christians, and the Christian students of the College. The service was commenced by singing a hymn, which produced a pleasing effect, from the number present, and the music (purely native) being well conducted. Many of the people who were passing were attracted by it, and stood still in front of the chapel, but it was continued so long that they all passed on, before opportunity was taken to address them. The brethren then leaying the chapel, took up a station on the side of the road, sung another verse, and soon found themselves surrounded by a large company, to whom they addressed the word of God. The first speaker was a Bengalee christian converted about seventeen years ago. On his conversion he endured much persecution with Christian patience; and ever since, his life has been irreproachable, and his piety and intelligence eminent. His name is Pran Krishnoo. Around him were a number of his fellow-christians and countrymen of various ages, and, peculiarly worthy of notice, nearly twenty youths connected with the College, on whom our hopes rest for future years. It was an interesting group: and we envy not the man who could have looked upon it without gratitude for the past, and hope for the future; nor him who could perceive no heroism in these poor men, who can both singly and collectively, in the face of multitudes abjure the idolatrous and obscene rites of their country, and avow themselves the disciples of the Cross; nor him who could scorn the circumstances and place in which they sought the lost and ruined sinner with the hope of bringing him to the Saviour-it was under the canopy of heaven, illumined by the glorious lamp of heaven. A more splendid cathedral, truly, than the hand of man has ever raised.

Ff

During the Ruth Jattra, the little chapel was continually open. In the earlier part of each day, several brethren were in attendance, conversing with a continued succession of visitors, and bestowing such tracts as were thought most suitable to their respective characters. From 4 to 7 in the evening, public addresses were generally given: and again later in the evening, there was another meeting, more or less public according to circumstances. About six thousand tracts and gospels were distributed. were many pleasing occurrences, and very few indeed of an opposite description.

There

As we paid considerable attention to the ceremonies of the festivals, we shall endeavour to give some account of them in our next number, adding some affecting particulars respecting the celebration of the same anniversary in Orissa, which have been communicated to us by our esteemed friend, Mr. Peggs.

Death of a Native Christian.—It is with unfeigned grief we record the death of our beloved young friend Komul, the senior Christian student in the College. He was a youth of superior abilities, of exemplary diligence in his studies, and, what was of infinitely greater importance, of fervent piety. We believe there was no ⚫ individual in our church, who secured to himself more general and warm attachment. Long labouring under bodily affliction, he seemed ever to have in view his departure to another world. By the blessing of God, it made him heavenly-minded, not morose or melancholy. He died almost suddenly on the 17th July, and was buried the next evening. While the funeral procession moved slowly along, the corpse of our deceased brother being borne by his native fellowChristians, and accompanied by the brethren of the Mission then - at home, as well as by his fellow-students, many a weeping eye bore testimony to his worth, and at his grave more than two bundred natives stood with fixed attention, while brother M. pointed them to the source of his deceased Christian brother's excellence of character, and of his joyful hope in death, and contrasted it with the vain hope their delusions give. There were sorrowing hearts, and no listless indifference there. There was humble adoration of the gracious Disposer of all events, and not the horrible insult of living sacrifices. Even heathens could not fail to nrark the difference between the Christian and the heathen funeral, the one decent and - solemn, full of joyful hope, and tender sympathy; the other with