216 Effects of burning on Limestone or Chalk, quantity of fuel be converted into quick lime and M. Vicat considers this opinion as supported by the experiment above. It appears to result, M. Vicat says, that pure calcareous matter, as chalk or marble for instance, may be brought by fire into an intermediate state, being neither lime nor carbonate, and that in this state it has the property, when pulverised and made into a paste, of setting under water. : Chalk converted into lime, and slaked in the usual way, yields a hydrate, which, made into a paste, will not harden in water but the same lime left to fall into powder by long exposure to the air, and then made into a stiff paste with water, will solidify very scusibly after immersion. The action of the air, here occasions the formation of a compound analogous to that afforded by imperfectly burnt chalk, being like that, neither completely lime or completely carbonate; and it enjoys. the same hydraulic properties. Ten equal portions of finely-powdered chalk were taken, and a plate of cast iron being heated red hot, they were placed upon it; one portion was allowed to remain three minutes, another six, a third nine, and so on, and during the time they remained on the plate they were continually stirred, that all parts might be equally calcined. These portions were mixed up, with a small quantity of water, into pastes of equal consistency, no signs of slaking were observed; the first portions gave the ordinary odour of moistened chalk, the latter portions gave the alkaline odour belonging to lime, and were decidedly alkaline. After twenty-four hours of immersion in water all the numbers, except the first had set, as hydraulic lime would have done, and became harder daily, whilst the first remained soft. When, after some time, the comparative hardness of the second and the tenth were tried, no apparent difference could be perceived. Viewing these substances as mixtures, in various proportions of lime and carbonate of lime, M. Vicat thought it probable they might be imitated, but no mixture made by adding lime and carbonate of lime, to each other, gave the least signs of solidification under water.-Brande's Journal. Asiatic Entelligence, CHITTAGONG.-Extract of a letter from Mr. Johannes, dated 14th June, 1824:-"You are no doubt anxious to learn how we are getting on, after the fears that have been entertained of our safety; all is quiet now, and nothing further to be feared. The inha bitants are returning to their respective habitations, and with them, I am happy to add, some of my children if not all. "Most of the boys are at Chittagong now. They are yet unsettled and undecided in mind. The rains are heavy and incessant; this is the time for them to plough their fields; and sickness prevails. These, with other unavoidable circumstances, have kept them away: however before the rains are over, they will all attend. Since this month the attendance has been from ten to thirty. The newly formed female schools have likewise been considerably thinned. The one which contained thirty-four, is now reduced to twenty-four girls. The other has fourteen in attendance." In another letter of the 15th June, Mr. J. says, "The Mug Christians are here now, and as they are so greatly distressed I wish to know, whether we can at all ameliorate their wretched condition. They have been deprived of all their property, and they have not even a morsel for their subsistence now; all they brought with them, they have spent. They cannot obtain employment here, and they came to me yesterday, expressing a wish to proceed to Serampore, to apply to the brethren for assistance. Cannot a collection be made for them? Any small sums given will greatly relieve them in this distressing season. Do let us attend to their cry. They are destitute; they are our brethren. assist them, who will? and whither can they go but to us? They have never made any such request before, but have always manifested a spirit of independence, and at this critical emergency, when they are compelled to be under obligation to brethren, shall we not administer to their wants out of our little? We ought certainly to distribute to the necessities of saints, remembering what Christ has said; " In as much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Bb If we do not POOREE. In a letter lately received from Mrs. Peggs, she gives the following interesting recital:-"Since we have been at Pooree, there has been a suttee, a short distance from the bungalow. We were not apprized of it until the poor woman was almost burnt to a cinder; but several spectators affirmed that, instead of going round the pile three times, as is usual, she went round but once, and then hastily threw herself into the flames. Her husband was a very respectable landholder, and proprietor of one of the largest estates in this district; he was between sixty and seventy years of age. He had been labouring under a paralytic affection for the last two years, and finding it likely to terminate fatally, he came here two or three months before his death, that he might obtain the reward promised to all who die in this holy place. His wife, aged about sixty, followed him a short time after, with the avowed determination of burning herself. "Instead of a funeral pile, as in Bengal, the funeral fire is placed in a small pit, into which the body of the husband is first put, and the fire lighted. The widow, after certain ceremonies, walks thrice round the flaming pit, and then throws herself into it. The bodies are not, however, allowed to be entirely consumed in the pit, but are dragged out while still distinguishable, and consumed in separate fires on the brink. The use of the pit instead of the pile is common all through Orissa, but the practice of removing the bodies seems to be peculiar to Pooree. The reason of the removal is, to preserve a small portion of the ashes of father and mother to be thrown into the Ganges. Oh when will these abominable murders cease!" RANGOON. We doubt not all our readers participate in our anxiety respecting our Missionary friends in the Burman Empire, and will rejoice in perusing the following affecting statement of past deliverances. Of course no danger need now be apprehended at Rangoon; but at Ava we know not what to anticipate. It is some ground of consolation, that more desperate circumstances can scarcely be conceived, than were those of our friends at Rangoon, and yet they were saved. It would be a hard and impious heart, that did not, in such a situation, acknowledge the merciful interposition of God: and now we have past and recent experience, on which to rest our hopes for the future, The letter we now pub lish is written by Mrs. W. It will speak for itself. Its first date is May 20th. "From the time we left Bengal we received no letters from any part, and concluded from appearances here, that there was no prospect of war. But imagine our surprise, when on the evening of May 10th, we heard that the English fleet had arrived. At first we did not credit the report, but within two hours we were constrained to realize its truth, by our husbands being taken, by the Governor's order, and confined with all the English residents in the King's godown. That they were Americans, was of no avail. The order was issued, to seize every person that wore a hat. When we learned that our husbands could not get released, we sent them a note, begging to be permitted to share with them the prison, and all that might follow. They assured us that it would be impossible for us to get to them, as the town was crowded with Burman soldiers. “Mrs. H. and myself sat down in silent horror, expecting every moment to hear the Burmans come to rob the house, and decide our fate. About twelve o'clock, we heard that several ships had reached the town, and were assured by our Christian Burmans, that when the first gun was fired, every white man would be immediately massacred. One of the Christians alone remained with us. He tried to comfort us, saying God was able to deliver them, and bowed upon the floor and offered a most fervent prayer on their behalf. I trust he prayed in faith; it was a season I shall never forget. "At length this long night wore away, and we learned that no ship had yet reached the town. We sent breakfast, and private notes to our husbands, but could get no answer. The servants said they did not eat, and looked greatly distressed. Mrs. H. addressed a note to Mr. S. an Armenian gentleman, who has formerly had great influence with the Burmans; but he returned an answer, saying, that he had made every exertion to relieve the Foreigners, but in vain In this dreadful suspense the morning hours passed away, when we resolved to prepare dinner, and carry it to our husbands, let the danger be ever so great. Soon after we had formed this desperate resolution, the report of cannon assured us that the engagement had commenced. Of the distress, the deep despair of that moment, you can form no idea. I am sure I was quite insensible of my own danger, until all our servants fled, begging us to leave our house, saying, that the Burmans would search for us. Our faithful christian M-S-, with a few foreign servants, remained with us. At length we concluded that we would go to the Portuguese Church, at a little distance, where we learned that many females had taken refuge. But the priest would not admit a person into his church; and when we went into his house, he bade us immediately go out. We then put on Burman clothes over our own, and sat down in a verandah with other females, hoping to pass unnoticed. soon informed, however, that the Burmans were in search of us, when we fled to a small house. Here we soon beheld our dear husbands, with the English prisoners, led away, almost naked, in chains towards the common place of execution. We were "My first impulse was to follow them; but a moment's recollection convinced me that my presence must necessarily add a thousand pangs to the dying moments of my husband, and I sunk upon the floor, feeling that I could rise no more. Mrs. H. Jay near me pale as death, while all were wringing their hands, beating their breasts, and screaming with fear. We were soon however roused from this state, by being again turned out of doors. We next took refuge in an old wood-house, and were again informed that the Burmans were near in search of us. The firing still continued. and grew heavier, the balls falling around us, and we had every reason to expect they would pass through the house. At this trying moment, I think I truly realized this promise, "my grace is sufficient for thee;" I felt perfectly composed, took my Bible, which was almost the only thing I had brought away from our house, and I think its precious contents were never before so sweet. I looked upon immediate death, and thought it disarmed of terrors. seemed nothing but to exchange earth for heaven. It "At length the firing ceased, and we soon heard the most welcome sound of the English bugle! We immediately threw off our Burman disguise, left our hiding place, and ran into the street. A company of the English troops soon came up, and gave us protection. But all my composure fled when I found myself restor ed to life, and had every reason to suppose that all that could ever make life desirable was now no more! The Officers treated us with all that delicate respect and attention so necessary to soothe our distracted senses. We were kindly conducted to our house, which had not been plundered, but as a guard could not be spared for us, we were conducted into town, and placed under the protection of an Armenian gentleman. Soon after dark, to our great |