ing between all their interior coatings,
their exterior being also united, they may be charged and discharged as
one jar.

The discharge of the battery is attended by a considerable report, and if
it be passed through small animals, it instantly kills them; if through
fine metallic wires, they are ignited, melted, and burned; and gunpowder,
cotton sprinkled with powdered resin, and a variety of other combustibles,
may be inflamed by the same means.

Why is the fireside an unsafe place in a thunder-storm?

Because the carbonaceous matter, or soot, with which the chimney is
lined, acts as a conductor for the lightning.

Why is the middle of an apartment the safest place during a
thunder-storm?

Because, should a flash of lightning strike a building, or enter at any
of the windows, it will take its direction along the walls, without
injuring the centre of the room.

Combustion.

Why does amadou, or German tinder, readily inflame from flint and steel,
or from the sudden condensation of air?

Because it consists of a vegetable substance found on old trees, boiled
in water to extract its soluble parts, then dried and beat with a
mallet, to loosen its texture; and lastly, impregnated with a solution
of nitre.---Ure.

Why is a piece of paper lighted, by holding it in the air which rushes
out of a common lamp-glass?

Because of the high temperature of the current of air above the flame,
the condensation of which is by the chimney of the glass.

We do not quote these specimens in the precise order in which they occur
in the work, or to show the consecutive or connected interest of the
several articles. In many cases we select them for their brevity and
point of illustration.

[6] Consolations in Travel; or, the Last Days of a Philosopher. 1830.

* * * * *

THE GATHERER.

A snapper up of unconsidered trifles.
SHAKSPEARE.

* * * * *

SHIP-BUILDING.

To give an idea of the enormous quantity of timber necessary to
construct a ship of war, we may observe that 2,000 tons, or 3,000 loads,
are computed to be required for a seventy-four. Now, reckoning fifty
oaks to the acre, of 100 years' standing, and the quantity in each tree
to be a load and a half, it would require forty acres of oak forest to
build one seventy-four; and the quantity increases in a great ratio, for
the largest class of line of battle ships. The average durat