There were a thousand futile attempts to answer the query on
      the part of the most illustrious mathematicians, and when at
      length, an undeniable solution was discovered, men found that the
      wings of a bird had given it with absolute precision ever since
      the first bird had traversed the air. (*17) He observed a flock of pigeons passing betwixt Frankfort
      and the Indian territory, one mile at least in breadth; it took
      up four hours in passing, which, at the rate of one mile per
      minute, gives a length of 240 miles; and, supposing three pigeons
      to each square yard, gives 2,230,272,000 Pigeons.—“_Travels in
      Canada and the United States,” by Lieut. F. Hall._

      (*18) The earth is upheld by a cow of a blue color, having horns
      four hundred in number.”—_Sale’s Koran_. (*19) “The _Entozoa_, or intestinal worms, have repeatedly been
      observed in the muscles, and in the cerebral substance of
      men.”—See Wyatt’s Physiology, p. 143. (*20) On the Great Western Railway, between London and Exeter, a
      speed of 71 miles per hour has been attained. A train weighing 90
      tons was whirled from Paddington to Didcot (53 miles) in 51
      minutes. (*21) The _Eccalobeion_

      (*22) Mäelzel’s Automaton Chess-player. (*23) Babbage’s Calculating Machine. (*24) _Chabert_, and since him, a hundred others. (*25) The Electrotype. (*26) _Wollaston_ made of platinum for the field of views in a
      telescope a wire one eighteen-thousandth part of an inch in
      thickness. It could be seen only by means of the microscope. (*27) Newton demonstrated that the retina beneath the influence
      of the violet ray of the spectrum, vibrated 900,000,000 of times
      in a second. (*28) Voltaic pile. (*29) The Electro Telegraph Printing Apparatus. (*30) The Electro telegraph transmits intelligence
      instantaneously—at least at so far as regards any distance upon
      the earth. (*31) Common experiments in Natural Philosophy. If two red rays
      from two luminous points be admitted into a dark chamber so as to
      fall on a white surface, and differ in their length by 0.0000258
      of an inch, their intensity is doubled. So also if the difference
      in length be any whole-number multiple of that fraction. A
      multiple by 2 1/4, 3 1/4, &c., gives an intensity equal to one
      ray only; but a multiple by 2 1/2, 3 1/2, &c., gives the result
      of total darkness. In violet rays similar effects arise when the
      difference in length is 0.000157 of an inch; and with all other
      rays the results are the same—the difference varying with a
      uniform increase from the violet to the red. “Analogous experiments in respect to sound produce analogous
      results.”

      (*32) Place a platina crucible over a spirit lamp, and keep it a
      red heat; pour in some sulphuric acid, which, though the most
      volatile of bodies at a common temperature, will be found to
      become completely fixed in a hot crucible, and not a drop
      evaporates—being surrounded by an atmosphere of its own, it does
      not, in fact, touch the sides. A few drops of water are now
      introduced, when the acid, immediately coming in contact with the
      heated sides of the crucible, flies off in sulphurous acid vapor,
      and so rapid is its progress, that the caloric of the water
      passes off with it, which falls a lump of ice to the bottom; by
      taking advantage of the moment before it is allowed to remelt, it
      may be turned out a lump of ice from a red-hot vessel. (*33) The Daguerreotype. (*34) Although light travels 167,000 miles in a second, the
      distance of 61 Cygni (the only star whose distance is
      ascertained) is so inconceivably great, that its rays would
      require more than ten years to reach the earth. For stars beyond
      this, 20—or even 1000 years—would be a moderate estimate. Thus,
      if they had been annihilated 20, or 1000 years ago, we might
      still see them to-day by the light which started from their
      surfaces 20 or 1000 years in the past time. That many which we
      see daily are really extinct, is not impossible—not even
      improbable. Notes—Maelstrom

      (*1) See Archimedes, “_De Incidentibus in Fluido_.”—lib. 2. Notes—Island of the Fay

      (*1) Moraux is here derived from moeurs, and its meaning is
      “fashionable” or more strictly “of manners.”

      (*2) Speaking of the tides, Pomponius Mela, in his treatise “De
      Situ Orbis,” says “either the world is a great animal, or” etc

      (*3) Balzac—in substance—I do not remember the words

      (*4) Florem putares nare per liquidum aethera.—P. Commire. Notes — Domain of Arnheim

      (*1) An incident, similar in outline to the one here imagined,
      occurred, not very long ago, in England. The name of the
      fortunate heir was Thelluson. I first saw an account of this
      matter in the “Tour” of Prince Puckler Muskau, who makes the sum
      inherited _ninety millions of pounds_, and justly observes that
      “in the contemplation of so vast a sum, and of the services to
      which it might be applied, there is something even of the
      sublime.” To suit the views of this article I have followed the
      Prince’s statement, although a grossly exaggerated one. The germ,
      and in fact, the commencement of the present paper was published
      many years ago—previous to the issue of the first number of Sue’s
      admirable _Juif Errant_, which may possibly have been suggested
      to him by Muskau’s account. Notes—Berenice

      (*1) For as Jove, during the winter season, gives twice seven
      days of warmth, men have called this element and temperate time