Simple bodies

merely on account of their levity. I feel no repugnance to call those new bodies metals, be they hydrurets or not; but I should be far from inferring, that the other metals are also hydrurets. With respect to the resemblances between the new metals and sulphuretted hidrogen, &c., they certainly are many and striking; so are their resemblances to the metals; I do not undertake to decide which are most numerous. I apprehend a piece of brass or other alloy has as many properties resembling the metals as potassium and sodium; yet no one allows the former to be simple substances. This argument is at least sufficient to show, that classed toge simple and compound bodies may have so many points of resemblance, as to be fairly arranged in the same class. I do not consider the discovery of the new metals less valuable and important for being compound rather than simple bodies; and though there may be several facts and experiments, which seem to point them out as simple substances, yet till the preceding facts are controverted, the others can do little more than excite doubts on the subject.

and compounds may have resemblances

enough to be

ther.

Combustion of potassium in muriatic acid no proof, that it does not

gen.

Your correspondent, adverting to the combustion of potassium in muriatic acid, argues, that the hidrogen is derived from the acid, and not from the potassium; and as a support of the opinion adduces Mr. Davy's experiments, in contain hidro- which a mixture of equal parts of oximuriatic acid and hidrogen is by the electric srk converted into muriatic acid. Granting the truth of the last deduction, the argument amounts to this, that, if two bodies, one of which is known to contain hidrogen, by their mutual action develope that gas, it follows, that the other may not contain hi❤ drogen. But the principal aim of introducing this subject into the discussion on potassium and sodium seems to have been, to defend the notion of oximuriatic acid being a simple substance, and muriatic acid a compound of it and hidrogen. It is to this object that his calculation is directed, on which I have animadverted at the commenceThe nature of ment of this letter. The experiments alluded to on, oxioximunatic muriatic acid and hidrogen I consider of the most difficult execution, and if Mr. Davy has succeeded in obtaining to lerable approximations to accuracy in his first trials, great merit is undoubtedly his; still we want a more accurate

acid not yet ascertained.

aud

and trust-worthy table of the specific gravity of muriatic and oximuriatic acid gasses before the value of the experiment can be duly appreciated; and it should be farther ascertained what proportionate condensation of volume is produced upon muriatic acid gas by admitting to it of its weight of water. It is curious to observe, that your correspondent was fully persuaded, and probably continues to be, of the "incontrovertible argument" the above experiments afford to Mr. Davy's opinions in regard to oximuriatic acid, though he did not know at the time he wrote, whether the specific gravity of muriatic acid was 14, or 1'9, but took it at 17; and he now adopts 1.258; and of the specific gravity of oximuriatic acid he makes no mention whatever; neither of the condensation or contraction of volume which a very small portion of water produces on muriatic acid gas; yet it is impossible to ascertain the bearing of the experiments, till these three data are all of them pretty accurately investigated. If your correspondent wish to institute his calculus anew, I shall give him all the information I can respecting oximuriatic acid: its specific gravity by my own experience is 2.34; by Mr. Davy's, 2:45; by Thenard and Gay-Lussac's, 2-47; and by Dr. Thomson's, (in a letter to me) 2.71. If the last estimate should be true, he will find, that, adopting Mr. Davy's notions and estimate of muriatic acid, there should arise nearly 24 measures of muriatic acid gas from a mixture of 1 of oximuriatic acid and 1 of hidrogen.

There is one opinion on which we all concur; that it is Specific gravery desirable the specific gravities of the various gasses vtill a desideravity of gasses should be ascertained within narrower limits. From what is tum of im stated above, it appears, we have a range from 13 to 1g portance. for muriatic, and from 2.3 to 2.7 for oxi:nuriatic acid. Would it not be a proper object for the Royal Society to depute a committee of its members to undertake the investigation? As long as it is left to individuals, each one finds a result differing from that of another; and one authority is deemed as good as another; so that it will, if no such step is taken, be a long time before a general agreement respecting these points is likely to be obtained.

VIII.

Table of the Rain, that fell in various Places in the Year 1810, by the Rev. J. BLANCHARD, of Nottingham; with a
Meteorological Table for the same Year, by Dr. CLARKE, of that Town.

RAIN TABLE, by the Rev. J. BLANCHARD, of Nottingham.

The Barometer is firmly fixed to a standard wall, on an elevation of 130 feet; and the Pluviameter is placed in a garden, 140 feet from the level of the sea.

IX.

IX.

On the Use of Iron Pipes for conveying Water, and Mode of securing their Joints. In a Letter from Mr. JOSEPH T. PRICE.

To W. NICHOLSON, Esq.

Esteemed Friend,

IF the enclosed facts should appear to thee likely to be

of any service to those, who may want a supply of water conveyed from any distant source, thou art welcome to give them to the public in thy Journal.

Neath Abbey,

I am,

Thine very sincerely,

J. T. PRICE.

14 Feb. 1811.

Water-pipe of Mr. H. B. Way, of Bridport, had occasion, in 1805, to iron, lay down between eight and nine hundred feet of iron pipe, in lengths about 6 feet each, and 3 inches in the bore. At every 50 feet was a joint with flanches and screws; the other pieces were put together spigot and faucet fashion. To make these tight, he wrapped round the spigot end some canvas well saturated with white lead mixed with oil to a proper consistence, and drove it into the faucet end as leaking at the tight as possible. When a length of 120 feet was laid down, joints, the end was plugged up to try the joints; and it was found, that two thirds of them leaked considerably. Being informed by a neighbouring mason, that a linen manufacturer had completely stopped the leaks in his bleaching cisterns, in which lie both cold and boiling was used, by means of secured with a Parker and Wyatt's Roman cement, he procured some of luting of Ro this, and luted every joint with it. In 12 or 14 hours the pipe was tried, and found to be perfectly water-tight at the joints; but one of the pipes had a crack in it, which leaked, and this was as effectually stopped by the cement.

man cement,

which also

stopped a crack in it,

and in a leaden

pipe.

The lead pipe, used in the house, had also a leak in it,