and sent to Boston via the Grand Trunk Railroad, and Portland. No preparations have yet been made for dressing the poorer portions of the ore, of which a large amount is accumulating.-Mining Magazine.

Stephanite-Brittle Silver Ore-from Washoe.-In commercial samples of the silver ores from the Washoe mines sent to New York, I have found fine specimens of brittle silver ore, or Stephanite, in imperfect crystals, weighing from one to three ounces. Before the blowpipe it gives a large globule of silver, and decided reactions for antimony, arsenic, and copper. This mineral contains about sixty-eight per cent. of silver, and is probably the principal form in which the silver occurs with the other minerals of the vein. In most of the massive specimens of the ore where galena is the principal mineral visible, small filaments of virgin silver may be seen in the cavities, or ramifying through the mass. silver probably proceeds, in part at least, from a change in the Stephanite. This species is found, with other ores of silver, in the principal silver mines of Europe, at Zacatecas in Mexico, and in Peru. This is the first time it has been observed within the limits of the United States.-W. P. Blake-Mining Magazine.

This

Origin of the Albert Coal of New Brunswick.-At one of the recent meetings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, Professor W. B. Rogers communicated the result of observations which he had made within the last year on the structural and geological relations of the Albertite, or so called Albert Coal of New Brunswick.

An examination of the mine afforded, as he thought, convincing proof that this remarkable accumulation of asphaltic material could not have formed a part of the regular carbonaceous deposits of the region-that it is not, and never has been, a true bed or stratum, but that it should rather be regarded as a mass collected within an irregular fissure of subsequent formation, by the distillation or infiltration of asphaltic matter from the surrounding bituminous shales.

The principal features of the deposit pointing to such an origin are,— the very limited extent of the mass longitudinally traced-its sudden and great irregularities of thickness and trend-and the yet more striking fact of its transverse direction in many parts of its course, as compared with the bedding of the adjacent rocks. In the lower level, at a depth of about four hundred and sixty feet, where the combustible material has been removed almost entirely from end to end, the slaty rocks are seen in many places abutting against the sides of the mine at a steep angle, presenting frequently a jagged surface, such as would result from a transverse fracture and a gaping of the strata. The Albertite was seen adhering to these irregular surfaces, as well in the cavities as on the projections, affording, even in hand specimens, excellent examples of the discordance of the mass as to position with the stratification of the contiguous rocks.

It

It is worthy of note that the material thus adhering to the walls of the mine has none of that intermixture with earthy sediment which so often marks the contact of regular coal seams with the enclosing strata, but maintains the same remarkable purity as in the midst of the mass. is, moreover, quite free from the carbonaceous and rocky debris, and other marks of mechanical violence which it must have presented had it originated in the dislocation and displacement of a coal seam originally conformable with the stratification of the neighbourhood.

These evidences of the nature and origin of the deposit are confirmed by the statement that, in the progress of the mining, several large fragments of the vertical wall-rock have been found detached and embedded in the midst of the Albertite, and on one occasion a mass of unusually great dimensions could be traced by correspondence of form to a cavity

in the wall at some distance above, from which it would seem to have fallen, while the contents of the fissure were still but imperfectly

solidified.

The conclusions of Professor Rogers as to the origin and nature of this remarkable deposit are thus completely in harmony with those which Professor Leidy has maintained on the ground of a microscopic examination of the material.-Mining Magazine.

Petroleum Wells, or Oil Springs of Western Pennsylvania.—According to letters received by Professor R. E. Rogers, it appears that some of the Petroleum wells of Western Pennsylvania had already begun to show a diminished yield of oil. This fact is in confirmation of an apprehension which he had expressed at a former meeting of the Academy, that when Artesian borings became more numerous in the favourite localities, there was a probability of such a result. Professor Rogers regards the circumstance of even a small reduction in the supply of the oil from any of the wells at this early stage of the enterprise in that region as very significant, and suggestive of the fear that, remunerative as these wells may at present prove to be, it may not be prudent to base permanent calculations upon them.-Proceedings Penn. Acad. of National Sciences, May 1860.

Diamond Deposits of India.-In a notice of a recently issued volume of the "Memoirs of the Geological Survey of India," the Athenæum gives the following abstract of descriptions of the mode of occurrence of diamonds:

The great majority of the diamond diggings are diluvial. Against the sides of the outlaying ledges there are deep deposits of "kunkurry" and chloritic clay, in which great pits are dug in order to get at the layer of coarse subangular cherty gravel, in which diamonds are to be found. The most interesting of the diluvial mines are those of Udesma and Sakeriya. The former are in active work; but water often finds its way into the pits. Here, the best material is a stiff unctuous clay with quartz gravel dispersed through it. There are other diamond workings in the gorge of the Boghin, which must be alluvial, as the entire excavation is to be attributed to the action of a river. The natives remove some twelve feet of dark brown clayey sand to get at the boulder bed, in the base of which diamonds are found; but both here and below the narrow gorge the gravel at the surface of the river bed is much worked. Hereabouts, some twenty years ago, a European made an attempt at mining on a large scale, but with what success is yet to be discovered, although the remains of his wash-pits and picking-floors still testify to his enterprise. The author says little to encourage future undertakings of this kind, and, in fact, it is difficult to say how far the sagacity of the natives may have rightly determined the precise limits of the diamond rock. Within certain areas the ground is almost exhausted, and the natives never attempt rock diggings beyond these areas, probably for sufficient reasons. Yet it seems warrantable to infer that not a few gems "of purest ray serene" are distributed over this pebbly conglomerate, and mingled with the diluvium and alluvium of the neighbourhood. The limits of the rock-deposit should be traced, as in this part of India the rock diggings for diamonds are the most valued.

OBITUARY.

Obituary of Mr Espy-At a recent meeting of the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, U.S.A., Professor Bache made the following remarks:

James P. Espy, one of the most original and successful meteorologists

of the present time, died in Cincinnati, Ohio, on the 24th of January 1860, in the seventy-fifth year of his age, after an illness of a week, at the residence of his nephew, John Westcott.

The early career of Mr Espy as an instructor was marked by the qualities which led to his later distinction in science. He was one of the best classical and mathematical instructors in Philadelphia, which at that day numbered Dr Wylie, Mr Sanderson, and Mr Crawford among its teachers.

Impressed by the researches and writings of Dalton and of Daniell on meteorology, Mr Espy began to observe the phenomena, and then to experiment on the facts which form the groundwork of the science. As he observed, experimented, and studied, his enthusiasm grew, and his desire to devote himself exclusively to the increase and diffusion of the science finally became so strong that he determined to give up his school, and to rely for the means of prosecuting his researches upon his slender savings and the success of his lectures, probably the most original which have ever been delivered on this subject. His first course was delivered before the Franklin Institute of Pennsylvania, of which he had long been an active member, and where he met kindred spirits, ready to discuss the principles or the applications of science, and prepared to extend their views over the whole horizon of physical and mechanical research. As chairman of the Committee on Meteorology, Mr Espy had a large share in the organisation of the complete system of meteorological observations carried on by the Institute under the auspices and within the limits of the State of Pennsylvania.

Mr Espy's theory of storms was developed in successive memoirs in the Journal of the Franklin Institute, containing discussions on the changes of temperature, pressure and moisture of the air, and on the direction and force of the wind and other phenomena attending remarkable storms in the United States and on the ocean adjacent to the Atlantic and Gulf Coast. Assuming great simplicity, as it was developed and founded on the established laws of physics and upon ingenious and well-directed original experiments, this theory drew general attention to itself, especially in the United States. A memoir submitted anonymously to the American Philosophical Society of Philadelphia gained for Mr Espy the award of the Magellanic premium in the year 1836, after a discussion remarkable for ingenuity and closeness in its progress, and for the almost unanimity of its result.

Mr Espy was eminently social in his mental habits, full of bonhomie and of enthusiasm, easily kindling into a glow by social mental action. In the meetings and free discussions in a club formed for promoting research, and especially for scrutinizing the labours of its members—and of which Sears C. Walker, Professor Henry, Henry D. Rogers, and myself were members-Mr Espy found the mental stimulus that he needed, and the criticism which he courted, the best aids and checks on his observations, speculations, and experiments. But there was one person who had more influence upon him than all others besides, stimulating him to progress, and urging him forward in each step with a zeal which never flagged-this was his wife. Having no children to occupy her care, and being of high mental endowment and of enthusiastic temperament, she found a never failing source of interest and gratification in watching the NEW SERIES.-VOL. XIII. NO. I.-JAN. 1861.

Y

development of Mr Espy's scientific ideas, the progress of his experiments, and the results of his reading and studies; the collection and collation of observations of natural phenomena in the poetical region of the storm, the tornado, and of the aurora. Mrs Espy's mind was essentially literary, and she could not aid her husband in his scientific inquiries or experiments: her health was delicate, and she could not assist him in his out-door observations; but she supplied what was of more importance than these aids—a genial and loving interest ever manifested in his pursuits and successes, and in his very failures. Alere flammam was the office of her delicate and poetical temperament. Younger than Mr Espy, she nevertheless died several years before him (in 1850), leaving him to struggle alone in the decline of life without the sustaining power of

her devoted and enthusiastic nature.

Having in a great degree matured his theory of storms,-having made numerous inductions from observations, and having written a great deal in regard to it,-Mr Espy took the bold resolution, though past middle age, to throw himself into a new career, laying aside all ordinary employments, and devoting himself to the diffusion of the knowledge which he had collected and increased, by lecturing in the towns, villages, and cities of the United States. This proved a successful undertaking, and by its originality attracted more attention to his views than could have been obtained, probably, in any other way. He soon showed remarkable power in explaining his ideas. His simplicity and clearness enabled his hearers to follow him without too great effort, and the earnestness with which he spoke out his convictions carried them away in favour of his theory. The same power which enabled him to succeed in his lecturing career, procured subsequently for Mr Espy the support and encouragement of some of the leading men in Congress, and especially in the Senate, and also in the executive departments. Their attention was arrested by the originality of his views and his warmth in presenting them, and he imparted so much of his conviction of their truth as to induce many of our statesmen and official persons to exert themselves to procure for him, under the patronage of the government, continued opportunities for study, research, and the comparison of observations. To the consistent support of his scientific friends, and particularly of the Secretary of this Institution, Mr Espy owed also much in obtaining the opportunities of keeping in a scientific career. His reports to the Surgeon-general of the Army, to Congress, and to the Secretary of the Navy, are among his latest efforts in this direction.

The earnest and deep convictions of the truth of his theory in all its parts, and his glowing enthusiasm in regard to it—perhaps, also, the age which he had reached-prevented Mr Espy from passing beyond a certain point in the development of his theory. The same constitution of mind rendered his inductions from observation often unsafe. His views were positive and his conclusions absolute, and so was the expression of them. He was not prone to examine and re-examine premises and conclusions, but considered what had once been passed upon by his judgment as finally settled. Hence his views did not make that impression upon cooler temperaments among men of science to which they were entitledobtaining more credit among scholars and men of general reading in our country than among scientific men, and making but little progress abroad.

Feeling that his bodily vigour was failing, and that his life must soon close, the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution induced him to reexamine the various parts of his meteorological theories of storms, tornadoes, and waterspouts, and to insert in his last report, while it was going through the press, an account of his most mature views. I trust that the Secretary will, in one of his reports, give us a thorough and critical examination of the works and services of this remarkable contributor to a branch of science, the knowledge of which the Smithsonian Institution has already done so much to advance and to diffuse.

On the motion of Professor Bache, the following resolutions were adopted:

Resolved, That the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution have learned with deep regret the decease of James P. Espy, one of the most useful and zealous of the meteorologists co-operating with the Institution, and whose labours, in both the increase and diffusion of knowledge of meteorology, have merited the highest honours of science at home, and have added to the reputation of our country abroad.

Resolved, That the Regents offer to the relatives of Mr Espy their sincere condolence in the loss which they have sustained.

On the motion of Mr Pearce, it was resolved that the remarks of Professor Bache be entered in the Proceedings.

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

Experiences of Forty Years in Tasmania. By HUGH M. HULL, Esq. -From the Publishers.

First Report of a Geological Reconnoissance of the Northern Counties of Arkansas. From the State of Arkansas, through the Smithsonian Institution.

Description of a Deformed Fragmentary Human Skull, found in an Ancient Quarry-Cave at Jerusalem. By J. AITKEN MEIGS, M.D.-From the Author.

Transactions of the Academy of Science of St Louis. Vol. I., No. 3. 1859. From the Academy.

Smithsonian Report for 1858.-From the Smithsonian Institution. Report of the Geological Survey of the State of Iowa. Vol. I., Parts 1 and 2.-From the State of Iowa.

Report by the Superintendent of the United States Coast Survey for 1857.-From Professor Bache.

Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, No. 2, 1860.-From the Editors.

The Canadian Naturalist and Geologist. August and October 1860.From the Society.

Baxter on Organic Polarity.-From the Author.