Experiments 17 and 18 confirmed expt. 16, by producing the prussiate of iron; the 19th expt. also confirmed this conclusion, by affording a succinate of iron.

The 20th expt. proves the non-existence of uncombined alkali; the 21st the presence of sulphur, according to Westrumb; and the 22d, that the substances present were soluble in this acid.

The 23d expt. also proves, that the solvent of the iron was a volatile, and not a fixed one; for, on the application of heat, the menstruum was carried off, and the iron deposited in the form of an oxyd.

Experiment 24 also confirms this conclusion.

The 25th expt. was instituted in order to ascertain the quantity of fixed ingredients which the water contained. Accordingly, on evaporating sixteen ounces, a residue, consisting of two and a quarter grains was left; after separating the saline matter, the remaining one and a half grains was the ferruginous oxyd.

Experiment 26th proved the presence of hepatic or sulphuretted hydrogen gas.

Considering these experiments and inferences as conclusive, as far as they have gone, it would follow, that this water is a chalybeate, (which has heretofore been proved,*) that the iron is dissolved wholly, or in part, by sulphuretted hydrogen, and that it is accompanied by an alkaline muriate, the muriate of soda.

Bath, March 25th, 1811.

See the experiments and observations of Dr. Rush, and Dr. de Normandie: the former in a treatise published in 1776, and the latter in the American Philosophical Transactions.

FOR THE PORT FOLIO-AMERICAN SCENERY,

THE artist who furnished us with the plate which accompa nies this article, as well as that of Burlington Bay on Lake Champlain, has made an attempt, at a mode of engraving, new in this country. As an encouragement to future exertion, we have been induced to give it a place in the present number, and shall endeavour, by the superiority of our next, to atone for the deficiencies of the present.

The rapids above the celebrated Falls of Niagara, form perhaps the most terrific part of the whole of that astonishing scenery. The river, for the last half mile immediately above the cataract, descends about 58 feet, 'presenting to the view a broad inclined plane, or declivity of waters, surging and foaming against the rocky channel, or silently rushing down, black and gloomy, to the verge of the tremendous gulf, into which they are instantly precipitated, and when fancy hurries the beholder, forlorn, helpless, hastening to destruction; till starting to himself, as if from a hurried dream, he rejoices to find it unreal.

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Notwithstanding the almost irresistible rapidity with which this torrent descends, and the inevitable destruction that would attend the slightest accident in the attempt, persons have been found, daring enough to pass from the American shore to Goat island, in the middle of the river, by means of long poles, with which they sustained themselves against the pressure of the current..

It is not easy to conceive an exploit where résolution and presence of mind, as well as muscular powers of body, are so essentially necessary to preservation; or an amusement more truly entitled to the epithet of mad fool-hardiness.

Which, when taken into the Lungs, produces Events the most singular and astonishing; "great Exhiliration, a rapid Flow of the most vivid Ideas, an irresistible Propensity to Laughter, and an unusal Fitness for muscular Exertion; which are in no Cases succeeded by Depression of Nervous Energy."

Spectatum admissi risum teneatis amici.-HOR.

IT has been with great justice and truth remarked, by the sagacious and profound Locke, that particular matters of fact are the undoubted foundation on which all our civil and natural knowledge rests; and that "the benefit the understanding derives from them, is to draw conclusions, which may be as standing rules of practice." The singularly curious gaseous substance, upon which we are about to submit the following remarks, is, comparatively, of very recent discovery. Its chemical properties, and relations to other gases, have been very faithfully traced by Mr. Davy, in his " Researches concerning the nitrous Oxide," or gaseous oxide of azote; and a number of very remarkable effects produced by it on the living body, in different individuals of eminence, have been also stated by him towards the conclusion of the work: still, as it is a power in a degree novel, and worthy of all the attention that can be bestowed upon it, we shall confidently hope, that the following observations will not be found impertinent, without use, or destitute of entertainment. Its medical powers have, in a number of instances, been acknowledged, and we have heard it asserted by those who have inhaled it, in the midst of rapture, that "it was the best boon the gods had lent to man." Yet there are those, who, from ignorance or heedlessness of the choicest gifts of Providence, suppose that this luxury should also be enumerated with the poisoned robe of Nessus, sent as a token of affection, but found, on experiment, to eat up the flesh and burn the vitals of him that wore it. It is attention to these novel and superior powers upon the animal system, which together with their sound and various acquirements, gives that superiority to the present race of Physicians, who are hence possessed of several rules of practice, of great importance, utterly unknown to the ablest practi