_Chromate of Iron._
Is used in painting, dyeing, and calico-printing; and its value is so
great, the proprietor of a serpentine tract in Shetland, where chromate
of iron was found by Professor Jameson, cleared, in a few years,
8,000l.--_Dr. Murray_.
_Temperature of Springs._
In those situations where the cold is not sufficient to hinder the
circulation of water, the temperature of perennial springs is almost
identical with the atmosphere. Thus, in the vicinity of Edinburgh, the
temperature of the perennial springs agrees with the mean temperature of
the atmosphere. The same is the case in the whole of Atlantic Europe,
and also to a great extent in Southern Europe. The temperature of
springs in northern regions, when the surface water is frozen, is higher
than the mean temperature of the superincumbent atmosphere; and in the
countries from the south of Europe to the Tropic, the temperature of
springs is lower than that of the medium temperature of the atmosphere.
_Humboldt's Journey to Siberia._
Humboldt, although now past his 60th year, will leave Germany in the
spring, accompanied by Professor G. Rose, for Siberia. He will probably
extend his researches to the high land which separates India from the
Russian empire.
_Egyptian Manuscript relative to the History of Sesostris._
At the sitting of the Aix Academy, on the 3rd of August, M. Sallier read
a report of some very important discoveries in Egyptian history, made at
his house, and amongst his Egyptian papyri, by M. Champollion, jeune.
The latter gentleman was on his way to Egypt with M. Rosellini, and
stopped two days with M. Sallier previous to proceeding to Toulon for
the purpose of embarking. During this short period he examined ten or
twelve Egyptian papyri, which had been purchased some years ago, with
other antiquities, from an Egyptian sailor. They were principally
prayers or rituals which had been deposited with mummies; but there was
also the contract of the sale of a house in the reign of one of the
Ptolemies; and finally three rolls united together and written over with
fine demotic characters, reserved, as is well known, for civil purposes.
The first of these rolls was of considerable size, and to M.
Champollion's astonishment contained a _History of the Campaigns of
Sesostris Rhamses_, called also _Sethos_, or _Sethosis_,
and _Sesoosis_, giving accounts the most circumstantial of his
conquests, the countries which he traversed, his forces, and details
of his army. The manuscript is finished with a declaration of the
historian, who, after stating his names and titles, says he wrote in
the ninth year of the reign of Sesostris Rhamses, king of kings, a lion
in combats, &c.
M. Champollion has promised, that, on his return from Egypt, he will fix
the manuscript on cloth for its future preservation, and give a complete
translation. The period of the history is close to the time of Moses;
and apparently the great Sesostris was the son of the king who pursued
the Israelites to the borders of the Red Sea; so that a most important
period in ancient history will be elucidated.
On the same MS. commences another composition, called _Praises of the
great King Amemnengon_. There are only a few leaves of it, and
they form the beginning of the history contained in the second roll.
This Amemnengon is supposed to have reigned before Sesostris, because
the author wrote in the ninth year of the reign of the latter. M.
Champollion had not time to enter into a particular examination of
these rolls.
The third roll relates to astronomy or astrology, or more likely to both
these subjects. It has not been far opened; but will probably prove of
the utmost interest, if, as it is expected, it contains any account of
the system of the heavens as known to or acknowledged by the Egyptians
and Chaldeans, the authors of astronomical science.
A small basaltic figure was purchased with the MSS., and it is
supposed found with them. On the shoulders of the figure is written in
hieroglyphic characters the name, with the addition of _clerk and
friend of Sesostris_. It did not occur to ascertain, until M.
Champollion was gone, whether the name on the figure was the same with
any of those mentioned in the rolls as belonging to the historian, or
to others.--_From the French_.
* * * * *