_The Molten Sea._--In 1835, Captain J. B. Jervis, of the Bombay Engineers,
published at Calcutta an essay, entitled _Records of Ancient Science_, in
which he endeavours to reconcile the discrepancy between the 1 Kings, vii.
23. 26. and the 2 Chron. iv. 2. 5. by proving that a vessel of oblate
spheroidal form--of 30 cubits in the periphery, and 10 cubits in the major
axis--would (according to the acknowledged relation of the bath to the
cubit) hold exactly 2,000 baths liquid measure, and 3,000 baths when filled
and heaped up conically with wheat (as specified in Ezekiel, xlv. 11.).
I do not possess any means of criticising this explanation of the
difficulty, and having searched in various modern commentaries for a notice
of it without success, I venture to submit it in your columns to the
attention of others.