. MERCADIER.

On the Theory of the Receiver of the Electro-magnetic
Telephone.--By E. MERCADIER.

Frew's Improved Pyrometer.--With engraving.

Dew.--Abstract of a paper read before the Royal Society of
Edinburgh.--By Mr. AITKEN.--Source of dew.--Observations of the
temperature of the ground.--Experiments.--Effects of
wind.--Excretion of drops of liquid by plants.--Radiating power of
different surfaces at night.

V. ASTRONOMY.--Meteorites.--The Dhurmsala Meteorite.

Telescopic Search for the Trans-Neptunian Planet.--By DAVID P.
TODD.

VI. ARCHITECTURE.--The New "Burgtheater" in Vienna.--With
full page engraving.

The New German Bookdealers' Exchange in Leipzig.--With engraving.

VII. MISCELLANEOUS.--Notes on Manual Spelling.--By JAS. C.
GORDON.--Origin of Finger Spelling.--Finger alphabets.--With
engraving of American alphabet.

Fruits and Seeds for Dress Trimming.--Origin of the use of
Fruits and Seeds.--Preparation by MR. COLLIN.

VIII. BIOGRAPHY.--Hon. Hiram Sibley.--The founder of the Sibley
College of Mechanic Arts of Cornell University.--With portrait.

* * * * *

HON. HIRAM SIBLEY.

Hon. Hiram Sibley, of the city of Rochester, a man of national reputation
as the originator of great enterprises, and as the most extensive farmer
and seedsman in this country, was born at North Adams, Berkshire County,
Mass., February 6, 1807, and is the second son of Benjamin and Zilpha
Davis Sibley. Benjamin was the son of Timothy Sibley, of Sutton, Mass.,
who was the father of fifteen children--twelve sons and three daughters;
eight of these, including Benjamin, lived to the aggregate age of 677
years, an average of about seventy-five years and three months. From the
most unpromising beginnings, without education, Hiram Sibley has risen to
a postion of usefulness and influence. His youth was passed among his
native hills. He was a mechanical genius by nature. Banter with a
neighboring shoemaker led to his attempt to make a shoe on the spot, and
he was at once placed on the shoemaker's bench.

At the age of sixteen he migrated to the Genesee Valley, where he was
employed in a machine shop, and subsequently in wool carding. Before he
was of age he had mastered five different trades. Three of these years
were passed in Livingston County. His first occupation on his