Skip to main content
Museum of Freemasonry

Masonic Periodicals Online

  • Explore
  • Advanced Search
  • Home
  • Explore
  • The Freemasons' Magazine
  • April 1, 1798
  • Page 38
Current:

The Freemasons' Magazine, April 1, 1798: Page 38

  • Back to The Freemasons' Magazine, April 1, 1798
  • Print image
  • Articles/Ads
    Article SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE. ← Page 4 of 4
Page 38

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Scientific Intelligence.

some seconds , there was an explosion like a lengthened clap of thunder , or the loud report of a cannon . This meteor diffused such a light , that ( lav seemed to have returned , and people in dark apartments could see each other . ' This g lobe wis at such a distance , that it could be seen , at the same time , in places seven or eight leagues asunder . A description of : ii was sent to me by citizen . Riboud . at josseranancl citizen Langeron

, , at Tlmrsey . Had it been at a greater distance , it would have appeared only like those failing stars which are observed so frequently . The common cause of these phenomena appears to be hydrogenous gas , set on fire , by some means , in the atmosphere . '

NATURAL HISTORT . A short time before his decease , the King of Poland presented to the Emperor of Russia a curious stone , about the size of a large pea , and of an ash colour , which had received the name of the Mineral Polypus . What is wonderful in this stone is , that though opaque , and having no transparent part , after being laid in water , it begins , in less than six minutesto appear shining af the edgesand to communicate

, , to the water a sort of luminous shade , of the colour . of yellow amber ; it afterwards passes from yellow to the-colour of an amethyst , and from thence successively to black , white , and a cloudy colour , and , as it were , surrounded with smoke . At last it appears quite brilliant , entirely transparent , and of a very beautiful ye . llosv amber , colour . Taken out of the water , it returns to its former opaque state , after being

coloured successively , ancl in a retrogade order , with the same dyes it had before assumed in the water . I'his stone is probably the same which M . Andrew Cnoffelius , one of the physicians of the court of Portugal informs us , that he purchased , many years ago , of a famous lapidary of Thorn , and its remarkable properties he describes in the Ephemerides of the curious . The Doctor concludes his account of the stone with observing , that it is natural ; and not a production of art ; and that it may be regarded as a proof of the existence of a formal light in nature .

METHOD OF TANNING WITHOUT OAK BARK . THE German counsellor Wekrs having paid great attention to this subject , assisted by Mr . Foehlman , an ingenious tanner , has communicated the result of theirexperimeiits . They commenced theirjoint experiments upon the Sumach ( rbus coriaria ) with which Germany abounds . The result has exceeded their most sanguine expectations .

The tanners and cordwainers have found , that calf-skin , prepared in this manner , equals the best English leather ; and are eager to purchase it at two florins per pound weig ht ; whereas , formerly , ihe best homemanufactured leather would not fetch more than one florin per pound . It is in great request for shoes aud boots : aud Mons . Foehlman is prosecuting his experiments on various other kinds of trees and plants ,

under the direction of M . Wekrs . This is not the only discovery for which the arts are indebted to the latter gentleman . The hats , manufactured from vegetable substances , which are worn at Lunenburg , and which are remarkable for durability and lightness , are his invention .

“The Freemasons' Magazine: 1798-04-01, Page 38” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 24 May 2025, django:8000/periodicals/fmm/issues/fmm_01041798/page/38/.
  • List
  • Grid
Title Category Page
Untitled Article 1
Untitled Article 2
LONDON: Article 2
TO CORRESPONDENTS, &c. Article 3
THE SCIENTIFIC MAGAZINE, AND FREEMASONS' REPOSITORY,. Article 4
PROCEEDINGS OF A GREAT COUNCIL OF JEWS, Article 5
HAWKESWORTH ON ROBERTSON'S HISTORY. Article 10
COLVILLE. Article 12
THE LIFE OF XIMENFS, ARCHBISHOP OF TOLEDO. Article 18
WISDOM AND FOLLY. Article 26
LONGEVITY. Article 30
ORIGIN OF THE LAND-TAX PLAN. Article 31
HORRID EFFECTS OF DISSIPATION. Article 32
RULES AGAINST SLANDER. Article 32
THE STORY OF APELLES. Article 34
SISTER OF MR. WILKES. Article 34
SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE. Article 35
THE COLLECTOR. Article 39
THE FREEMASONS' REPOSITORY. Article 42
A SERMON; Article 45
MASONIC INTELLIGENCE. Article 49
REVIEW OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. Article 50
POETRY. Article 58
REPORT OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT. Article 60
MONTHLY CHRONICLE. Article 64
OBITUARY. Article 69
Page 1

Page 1

1 Article
Page 2

Page 2

2 Articles
Page 3

Page 3

1 Article
Page 4

Page 4

1 Article
Page 5

Page 5

2 Articles
Page 6

Page 6

1 Article
Page 7

Page 7

1 Article
Page 8

Page 8

1 Article
Page 9

Page 9

1 Article
Page 10

Page 10

1 Article
Page 11

Page 11

1 Article
Page 12

Page 12

1 Article
Page 13

Page 13

1 Article
Page 14

Page 14

1 Article
Page 15

Page 15

1 Article
Page 16

Page 16

1 Article
Page 17

Page 17

1 Article
Page 18

Page 18

1 Article
Page 19

Page 19

1 Article
Page 20

Page 20

1 Article
Page 21

Page 21

1 Article
Page 22

Page 22

1 Article
Page 23

Page 23

1 Article
Page 24

Page 24

1 Article
Page 25

Page 25

1 Article
Page 26

Page 26

1 Article
Page 27

Page 27

1 Article
Page 28

Page 28

1 Article
Page 29

Page 29

1 Article
Page 30

Page 30

2 Articles
Page 31

Page 31

2 Articles
Page 32

Page 32

3 Articles
Page 33

Page 33

1 Article
Page 34

Page 34

2 Articles
Page 35

Page 35

1 Article
Page 36

Page 36

1 Article
Page 37

Page 37

1 Article
Page 38

Page 38

1 Article
Page 39

Page 39

1 Article
Page 40

Page 40

1 Article
Page 41

Page 41

1 Article
Page 42

Page 42

1 Article
Page 43

Page 43

1 Article
Page 44

Page 44

1 Article
Page 45

Page 45

2 Articles
Page 46

Page 46

1 Article
Page 47

Page 47

1 Article
Page 48

Page 48

1 Article
Page 49

Page 49

2 Articles
Page 50

Page 50

1 Article
Page 51

Page 51

1 Article
Page 52

Page 52

1 Article
Page 53

Page 53

1 Article
Page 54

Page 54

1 Article
Page 55

Page 55

1 Article
Page 56

Page 56

1 Article
Page 57

Page 57

1 Article
Page 58

Page 58

1 Article
Page 59

Page 59

1 Article
Page 60

Page 60

1 Article
Page 61

Page 61

1 Article
Page 62

Page 62

1 Article
Page 63

Page 63

1 Article
Page 64

Page 64

1 Article
Page 65

Page 65

1 Article
Page 66

Page 66

1 Article
Page 67

Page 67

1 Article
Page 68

Page 68

1 Article
Page 69

Page 69

1 Article
Page 70

Page 70

1 Article
Page 71

Page 71

1 Article
Page 72

Page 72

1 Article
Page 73

Page 73

1 Article
Page 38

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Scientific Intelligence.

some seconds , there was an explosion like a lengthened clap of thunder , or the loud report of a cannon . This meteor diffused such a light , that ( lav seemed to have returned , and people in dark apartments could see each other . ' This g lobe wis at such a distance , that it could be seen , at the same time , in places seven or eight leagues asunder . A description of : ii was sent to me by citizen . Riboud . at josseranancl citizen Langeron

, , at Tlmrsey . Had it been at a greater distance , it would have appeared only like those failing stars which are observed so frequently . The common cause of these phenomena appears to be hydrogenous gas , set on fire , by some means , in the atmosphere . '

NATURAL HISTORT . A short time before his decease , the King of Poland presented to the Emperor of Russia a curious stone , about the size of a large pea , and of an ash colour , which had received the name of the Mineral Polypus . What is wonderful in this stone is , that though opaque , and having no transparent part , after being laid in water , it begins , in less than six minutesto appear shining af the edgesand to communicate

, , to the water a sort of luminous shade , of the colour . of yellow amber ; it afterwards passes from yellow to the-colour of an amethyst , and from thence successively to black , white , and a cloudy colour , and , as it were , surrounded with smoke . At last it appears quite brilliant , entirely transparent , and of a very beautiful ye . llosv amber , colour . Taken out of the water , it returns to its former opaque state , after being

coloured successively , ancl in a retrogade order , with the same dyes it had before assumed in the water . I'his stone is probably the same which M . Andrew Cnoffelius , one of the physicians of the court of Portugal informs us , that he purchased , many years ago , of a famous lapidary of Thorn , and its remarkable properties he describes in the Ephemerides of the curious . The Doctor concludes his account of the stone with observing , that it is natural ; and not a production of art ; and that it may be regarded as a proof of the existence of a formal light in nature .

METHOD OF TANNING WITHOUT OAK BARK . THE German counsellor Wekrs having paid great attention to this subject , assisted by Mr . Foehlman , an ingenious tanner , has communicated the result of theirexperimeiits . They commenced theirjoint experiments upon the Sumach ( rbus coriaria ) with which Germany abounds . The result has exceeded their most sanguine expectations .

The tanners and cordwainers have found , that calf-skin , prepared in this manner , equals the best English leather ; and are eager to purchase it at two florins per pound weig ht ; whereas , formerly , ihe best homemanufactured leather would not fetch more than one florin per pound . It is in great request for shoes aud boots : aud Mons . Foehlman is prosecuting his experiments on various other kinds of trees and plants ,

under the direction of M . Wekrs . This is not the only discovery for which the arts are indebted to the latter gentleman . The hats , manufactured from vegetable substances , which are worn at Lunenburg , and which are remarkable for durability and lightness , are his invention .

  • Prev page
  • 1
  • 37
  • You're on page38
  • 39
  • 73
  • Next page
  • Accredited Museum Designated Outstanding Collection
  • LIBRARY AND MUSEUM CHARITABLE TRUST OF THE UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1058497 / ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2025

  • Accessibility statement

  • Designed, developed, and maintained by King's Digital Lab

We use cookies to track usage and preferences.

Privacy & cookie policy