the voltaic circuit, and the oxygen at the positive surface. The professor denominates the metals obtained from the alkaline earths, barium, strontium, calcium, and magnium.

The professor next tried a number of experiments on the other earths, which were not alkaline, and from the general tenor of these results, and the comparison between the different series of experiments, there seems very great reason to conclude that alumne, zircon glucine, and silex, are like the alkaline earths metallic Oxides. He admits, however that the evidences of decomposition and composition are not of the same strict nature as those that belong to the fixed alkalies and alkaline earths; for it is possible that in the experiments on which silex, alumine, and zircon appeared to separate during the oxidation of the potassium and sodaum, their bases might not actually have been in combination with them, but the earths themselves, in union with the metals of the alkalies, or in mere mechanical mixture.

The strong attraction of potassium, sodaum, and the metals of the alkaline earths for oxygen, led Mr. Davy to examine if their de-oxydating power could not be made to produce the effect of the amalgamation of ammonia, independently of the agency of electricity; and he found, that, when mercury, united to a small quantity of potassium, sodaum, barium calcium, was made to act upon moistened muriate of ammonia, the amalgam rapidly increased to six or seven times its volume, and the compound seemed to contain much more ammonaical basis than that procured by electrical powers.

or

The amalgain from ammonia, when formed at the temperature of 70° or 80°, is a soft solid, of the consistence of butter; at the freezing temperature it becomes firmer and a crystallized mass, and its specific gravity below 3. When exposed to air, it soon becomes covered with a white crust, which proves to be carbonate of ammonia,

"The more," says Mr. Davy, "the properties of the amalgam, obtained from ammonia, are considered, the more extraordinary do they appear. Mereury, by combination with about the

1756 part of its weight of new matter is rendered solid, yet its specific gravity diminished froin 13. 5 to less than 3, and it retains all its metallic characters; its colour, lustre, opacity, and conducting powers, remaining unimpaired. It is scarcely possible to conceive, that a substance which forms with mercury so perfect an amalgam, should not be metallic in its own nature; hence it is denominated ammonium."

From the preceding facts, the following questions have occurred: On what do the metallic properties of ammonium depend? Are hydrogen and nitrogen, both metals in the aeriform state, at the usual temperature of the atmosphere, bodies of the same charac. ter as zinc and quicksilver would be in the heat of ignition? Or, are these gasses in their common form, oxides, which become metallized by de-oxidation? Or, are they simple bodies, not metallic in their own nature, but capable of composing a metal in their de-oxyginated, and an alkali in their oxygenated state?

Assuming the existence of hydrogen, in the amalgam of ammonium, its presence in one metallic compound evi dently leads to the suspicion of its combination in others. And in the electrical powers of the different species of matter, there are circumstances that extend the idea to combustible substances in general. Oxygen is the only body which can be supposed elementary, attracted by the positive substance in the electrical circuit; and all compound bodies, the nature of which is known, that are attracted by the surface, contain a considerable proportion of oxygen. Hydrogen is the only matter attracted by the negative surface, which can be considered as acting the opposite part to oxygen; "may not then," says the Frofessor, "the different inflammable bodies contain this as a common element ?"

Should future experiments prove the truth of this hypothesis, still the alkalies, the earths and the metallic oxides, will belong to the same class of bodies. From platina to potassium there is a regular order of gradation as to their physical and chemical properties, and this would probably extend to ammonium, could it be obtained in the fixed

form. Platina and gold, in specific gravity, degree of oxydability, and other qualities, differ more from arsenic, iron, and tin than these last do from barium and strontium. The phenemona of combustion of all oxydable metals, are precisely analogous. In the burning in air, potassium forms an alkali, and calcium an earth; in a manner similar to that in which osmium forms a volatile and acrid substance by absorption of oxygen, does the amalgam of ammonium produce the volatile alkali? and, if we suppose the ammonia is metallized, by being combined with hydrogen, and freed from water, the same reasoning will apply to the other metals, with this difference, that the adherence of their phlogiston of hydrogen, would be exactly in the inverse ratio of their attraction for oxygen. In platina it would be combined with the greatest energy; in ammonium with the least; and if it be separable from any of the metals, without the aid of a new combination, we may expect that this result will be afforded by the most volatile and oxydable, such as arsenic, or other metals of the fixed alkalies, submitted to intense heat under electrical polarities, and having the pressure of the atmosphere removed.

Mr. Davy concludes by hoping, that the new facts which he has discovered, may admit of many applications, and explain some phenomena in nature. "The metals of the earths," he says, "cannot exist at the surface of the globe; but it is very possible that they may form a part of the interior; and such an assumption would offer a theory for the phenomena of volcanoes, the formation of lavas, and the effects and excitements of subterraneous heat; for let it be granted that the metals of the earths and alkalies, in alloy with common metals, exist in large quantities beneath the surface; then their accidental exposure to the action of the air and water must produce the effect of subterranean fire, and a product of earthy and stony matters analogous to lavas.

"The luminous appearance of those meteors, connected with the fall of stones is one of the extraordinary circumstances of these wonderful phenomena. This effect may be accounted

for, by supposing that the substances which fall, come into our atmospi.ere in a metallic state, and that the earths of which they principally consist are the results of combustion."

At the meeting of the Royal Society, Feb. 2, a most curious and interesting paper, by Mr. Davy, was read, giving an account of various experiments on the action of potassium on ammonia, from which it appears, that a considerable quantity of nitrogen an be made to disappear, and can be regerated. When it disappears, nothing can be ob tained in its place but oxygen, and hy drogen; and when it is formed, its ele mentary matter is furnished by water.

For the Belfast Monthly Magazine,

N the tale of "the Cottagers of

He

served notice is taken of David Manson, who so long and so successfully filled the respectable situation of instructor of youth in the town of Belfast. may be considered the precursor of Lancaster, in facilitating the modes of instruction. I would be highly gratified if any of your readers would furnish, through your Miscellany, a sketch of his life, and particularly of the modes of instructing and managing youth, which he so advantageously practised.

As biography may be made so very useful in conveying lessons both to young and old, I wish to see many of your pages filled with interesting accounts of persons eminent in their respective lines. They who have been residents in your town or province, have peculiar claims on your notice; the memoirs of such might have a good effect in stimulating others to follow virtuous examples.

For the Belfast Monthly Magazine.

ON THE DECOMPOSITION OF THE EARTHS.

K.

24

not altogether unknown, though the changes m the properties of matter could not but attract attention, we find it entirely neglected in the time of the Romans, at a period when their language and some of the arts had arrived at an unrivalled state of elegance and perfection; for, if we except some observations on metallurgy, few traces of this engaging science can be seen in their works. The art of dying had indeed made so he progress, and Pliny seems to be quainted with the method of making glass; it does not seem that the attended even to alchemy, which promised so many advantages, nor is it sooner than the time of Constantine the Great, that we find two authors, Julius Maternus Firmicius, and Eneas Gazeus writing expressly on this subject; but their works, as might be expected, are full of fanciful projects and chimerical ideas. The doctrine of the elementary bodies, which prevailed for many centuries, is most completely overturned; their four simples, fire, water, earth and air, have been gradually converted into compounds, the properties of which are now nearly developed by sober investigation and philosophical research.

Fire, the first element of the ancients, is composed of light and caloric; air, of azote and oxygen; water, which was also thought to be an unchangeable clement, till the time of Van Helmont, was about thirty-three years ago proved to be formed of oxygen and hydrogen, by Macquer, and Sigoud de la Fond; and five years afterwards Watt Cavendish and Lavoisier, both by synthesis, and analysis, fully verified the truth of the discovery.

Earth, in the acceptation by which it was distinguished as an element, is comprised of no less than nine different substances, commonly called earths; these are,

1. Lime, which has been known and used in medicine, since the earliest ages.

2. Magnesia, discovered about a hundred years ago, and described in succession by Valentini, Frederick Hoffman, Dr. Black, Margraff, Bergman and Butini.

3. Alumine, which was long known in a compound state, but its properties were not ascertained sooner than the

year 1727, when Geoffry Junior show. ed that it constituted a part of clay; it was afterwards described by Margraff, Morveau, Macquer, Bergman, Scheele and Saussure.

4. Barytes, discovered by Scheele, in 1774.

5. Strontian, first analysed in 1793, by Dr. Hope, Klaproth, and Mr. Kir

wan.

6. Yttria, the properties of this earth were demonstrated about twenty years ago, by Geyer and Rinman, and afterwards by Gadolin, Ekeberg, Klaproth and Vauquelin.

7. Zirconia, analysed in 1789, by Klaproth, and afterwards by Guyton Morveau and Vauquelin.

8. Glucina, discovered in 1798, by Vauquelin, and described afterwards by Klaproth and others.

9. Silica, which seems to have been known to Pott, Geoffry and Beaumé, but not described in a satisfactory manner, till analysed by Scheele, Cartheuser and Bergman.

These nine earths and the two fixed alkalies, were, till very lately classed by most writers among the simple or elementary bodies; it was reserved for the industrious and indefatigable Davy to decompose and demonstrate, in the plainest manner, by means of Galvanism, that the earths are metallic oxides. The object of this paper how ever is not to show how these curious researches were conducted (as that may be seen in the elaborate accounts of the author) but to remind the reader, that while Mr. Davy is deservedly extolled with enthusiasm, while his industry and assiduity are looked up to as exemplary, and while a portion of success crowns his exertions, which seldom falls to the lot of any individual, we are not to forget that the justly celebrated Lavoisier, with his usual sagacity, had concluded from several circumstances that the earths were metallic oxides, and that several other philosophers appear to have been quite confident of the fact. We even find that about nineteen years ago, some experiments were made in the laboratory of the Academy of the Mines at Chemmitz, in lower Hungary, by Messrs. Tondi and Ruprecht, in which they were certain of having decomposed lime, magnesia, and barytes

by means of charcoal, and to have procured the metallic bases, by causing their oxygen to combine with that substance. An account of these experiments is given in a description of the cabinet of Madamoiselle Raab of Vienna, by Baron Born, and in the third and fourth edition of Lavoisier's elements of chemistry by Mr. Kerr, the translator. Baron Born, in this account, remarks that he expects soon to learn that the siliceous and argillaceous earths, are likwise metallic orides. Mr. Kerr has also some very just and curious remarks on this subject, in which he refers hydrogen and azote, carbon, sulphur, and phosphorus, to

the metallic class.

The following are the most striking analogies which exist between the earths and metallic oxides:

1. The earths may be reduced to white powders which form coloured = salts with acids.

2. They are precipitated by prussiate of potash and tincture of galls.

3. None of the earths are combustible, and of course none of them are capable of combining with oxy

gen.

4. They are soluble in acids+ without decomposing either water or the acid, to acquire oxygen, and consequently without effervescence; so are all metallic oxides, for no pure metal is soluble in an acid, unless it either decompose the acid or water, that it may be converted into an oxid, it was this circumstance that induced the great, but unfortunate Lavoisier to observe, that, "since oxygen is the bond of union between acids and metals, so it is between carths and acids, and that the earths are metallic orides, with which oxygen has a stronger affinity, than with carbon."

Now, if it added so much to the glory of Sir Isaac Newton, to have

*In these experiments they must have been deceived; for though charcoal at a high temperature, has such an affinity for oxygen, as to be able to decompose water and most metallic oxides, yet it is certain that the earths cannot be decomposed by its means, since their base has a greater affinity for oxygen than charcoal has at any temperature we can produce,

acid.

Silica excepted, soluble only in fluoric

concluded from the strong refracting power of water, that it contained a combustible body, though he was ig norant of its component parts; and if Vauquelin was led to the true analysis of the beryl, by the intimation he received from the discerning Huay, who concluded from mineralogical considerations, that it was formed of the same ingredients as the emerald, though he was unable to decompose it. If Huay was deservedly praised for this, what share is due to those who not twenty years since were almost satisfied of the metallic nature of the earths, though they were not acquainted with the means of demonstrating that fact by experiment? Or, in analyzing a mineral, or compound of any kind, with what ease might we proceed, if previously informed of what elements it consisted?

Let us then, in congratulating Mr. Davy on his unexampled success, impartially reflect on what was effected by those who went before him; let us weigh the distinct merits of each, and bestow on each a proportionate share of approbation.

Reddere cuique sua, est aqui bonique

hominis.

Belfast, May 12, 1809.

J. M. S.

To the Editor of the Belfast Magazine

SIR,

S the Review of my Introduction to the Irish Language, published in your Magazine, for March last, which tend directly (though, I am persuaded unintentionally) to mislead a person who is not a judge of the subject; I request, and expect of your partiality, the insertion of the following explanations.

there are some expressions, in

I rest my pretensions to originality upon the conviction that at least nine tenths of my work, consist of matter that was never before published. A coincidence with other writers, in some things, must appear, even where there was nothing borrowed.

The number of moods, modes or manners of expression, is not greater than what is inarked out by manifest differences. And the tenses are simply, past, present, and future, with the addition of the consuetudinal, a tense of the most expressive use in the Irish language. Nor will it appear strange that the Irish regu

when

lar verb, which undergoes eleven in flexions, besides the personal terminations should be conjugated Carough five moods, and four team; it is considered that many of the ablest grammarians, inflect the hng. lish verb through five moods, and sir tenses, though it undergoes only three variations. The very different forin assumed by several verbs, when used affirmatively, negatively, and interrogatively, suggested the propriety of exhibiting them at large. Indeed copious ss has been object thghout; as I conceived it niore useful to publish a book which a man might consult, than one that a child might get by rote. I believe

the scheme of Iri h verbs exhibited at pages 62, and 60. is more concise, and complete than any thing published before on the same subject. But the most singular sentence in the review is the following. «The work also contains some familiar dialogues which will be useful to the student, and a translation of the songs of Deardra, from the death of the three sons of Usna. If these were intended for an exercise to learners, they are too loosely translated.”

Whether the incorrect punctuation here be intentional or not, ! cannot determine; but it certainly implies that the translation of the dialogues, &c. (comprising 84 pages, on a variety of subjects) and that of the three songs is equally free. This is incorrect. The former are translated with great closeness; the latter with that freedom which is observed in the most elegant translations.

The standard of orthography, which I have always followed, is the Irish Bible, published nearly 130 years ago, by bishop Bedel. When a better shall be invented, I shall readily adopt it; in the mean time, it is sufficient to observe that the ancient manuscripts afford no one such standard I am sir, yours &c. W. NEILSON.

Dundalk, May 5, 1809.

P.S. I forbear to make any remarks upon the anonymous grammar recently published; as I think the compiler of one grammar not the most proper person to review the similar

work of another.

For the Beifust Monthly Magazine.

ON THE COMPARATIVE STRENGTH OF

fair.

BARILLA AND POTASH.

AM pleased to find that your Magazine gives an account of the new discoveries in chemistry, and thus may serve as a literary journal of the progress in the sciences and the arts, after the model of the most respectable British Magazines-a line hitherto very seldom attempted in Ireland, but in which I trust you will persevere. You must frequently borrow from brother Journalists, who live nearer to the sources of intel ligence; but when you candidly ac knowledge your obligations, all is Practical communications subjects relating to the staple manufacture of Ireland, particularly that part of it so closely connected with chemistry, might be very serviceable. To contribute my share, and in hopes of drawing forth similar contributions from others, I send an account of some experiments lately made at my bleach-green on the comparative of barilla and potash by means of the alkaline hydrometer, graduated so, that 0 stands for water and 3 for to 4 denotes the strength used the ley in bleaching. An equal weight of the following alkalies, dissolved in similar quantities of water, produce the following results: