are, first, the great facility with which it is acquired; secondly, its intimate connexion with the Lavoiserian theory; and thirdly, the extreme irregularity and difficulty of the nomenclature that it superseded. When the new chemical terms were introduced, a few old ones were suffered to remain, because the substances that they represented were of such frequent use and occurrence,and therefore the names so familiar, that the reformers chose rather to violate their system than subject themselves to the charge of wanton innovation. Thus water was preferred to oxyd of hydrogen; borax to sub borat of soda, &c. For the same reason, Mr. Kirwan pleads for Epsom (salt) and glauber (salt) instead of sulphat of magnesia and sulphat of soda. On this subject we happen to differ entirely from the learned president, and are of opinion that the concessions made by Lavoisier and his associates to public prejudice, have materially injured his system of nomenclature. Thus water, ice, and steam, express the same chemical substance, but in peculiar states of aggregation; and neither the vulgar nor scientific language of chemists affords a term to denote this substance generally, which oxyd of hydrogen would do, and therefore should be allowed of, for the same reason that Mr. K. tolerates the word suphuret, and confines it to the general expression of sulphur combined with any other substance. Mr. Kirwan objects to the term pot-ash, because it is also the common and commercial appellation of a very impure alkali. In this instance, as well as in the general principle, we perfectly agree with him, and on the same grounds ob ject to the use of epsom, because the salt procured by the evaporation of the epsom water is not pure sulphat of magnesia; and because the epsom salt of commerce is always mixed with sulphat of soda. But even allowing Mr. K. the use of the term epsom, instead of sulphat of magnesia, how does he justify the expressions nitrus epsom and marine epsom, in which epsom is synonimous with magnesia, instead of sulphat of magnesia? If he uses selenite for sulphat of lime, with what propriety does he call nitrat of lime nitrous selenite! Mr. K. objects to the term oxide, because it cannot in pronunciation be distinguished from ox-hide (the hide of an ox) he therefore proposes to substi.

tute the word oxat or oxidat. He forgets, however, that the termination at is appropriated to the salts of the acids in ic, and as he writes sulphat, &c. not sulphate, there can surely be no objection to oxyd instead of oxide. After all, we did not expect a pun to be advanced as a serious argument, and if oxide can ever be mistaken for the hide of an ox, Mr. K's own new term Hep tules may be confounded with a heap of tools.

We coincide with the author's observations relative to the absurd and unnecessary new mineralogical nomenclature of Hany; and of the expediency of distinguishing by name, mineral sub stances from their analogous chemical compounds. But we cannot sympathise in the reasons that induced him to substitute phosphorite for apatit, more especially on account of the great probability of confounding this with phospholite.

7. Description of an Apparatus for impreg nating Water and other Subtances strongly with carbonic Acid. By the Rev. GILBERT AUSTIN, M.R.I.A.

That part of the apparatus in which the compression is made, being of glass, requires an unusual thickness, in proportion to its capacity, in order to secure it from bursting, and after all, the water cannot with any safety be charged with more than its own bulk

of carbonic acid. The brass pipe and syringe, as Mr. A. himself observes, communicate to the water a strong coppery flavour: hence the use of the apparatus in its present state is wholly unadvisable. We doubt much, whether it is possible to construct it entirely of glass, and even if this was effected, it would still remain infinitely inferior in practical utility to many that are in common use. The great difficulty consists in transferring the impregnated water into bottles and other vessels with out allowing the greatest part of the gas to escape, and many contrivances have been invented for this purpose; but in the apparatus before us, this main object has not even been taken into con

sideration.

These are monthly meteorological tables, containing the variations of the barometer, thermometer, rain, and wind.

12..

Observations on Calp. By the Hon.
GEORGE KNOX, M. R. I. A.

Mr. Kirwan was the first mineralogist who gave a description of the calp, or black quarry-stone of Dublin: in addi. tion to which, we learn from the present paper, that the calp quarries are situated in the neighbourhood of Lucan, and exhibit the following appearances.

Immediately under the vegetable mould is a thin bed of limestone gravel, beneath which, to a considerable depth, are strata of dark limestone, separated from each other by beds of argillaceous schistus. The deeper the quarry is dug, the nearer the limestone seems to approach to the nature of calp; to which it at length arrives by a gradual and scarcely perceptible transition. Upon analysis it afforded

68

2

Carbonat of lime. Oxyd of iron.

modesty forms a most striking contrast with the disingenuousness and grasping assertions in which the French chemists have of late indulged themselves, at the same time that the clearness and accuracy of the experiments recorded, and the importance of their results, evince that successful and well-directed zeal in scientific investigations, by which Mr. Chenevix is most honourably distinguished.

According to Fourcroy, 100 parts of sulphuric acid contain 71 sulphur and 29 oxygen. And by the experiments of Lavoisier, sulphat of barytes contains 33 per cent. of acid. Hence every 100 parts sulphat of barytes hold 23.43 sulphur. The results, however, of Mr. Chenevix's analyses of pyrites, leading him to suspect the proportions assigned by the two French chemists, he was induced to institute a series of experiments for this express purpose. 100 parts of pure sulphur were put into a tubulated retort, with a quilled receiver connected with a Woulfe's apparatus, upon which was poured some strong nitric acid. Heat was applied, and all the liquor that came over was returned upon the sulphur till it was completely dissolved. None of the sulphur was volatilised, nor was any sulphureous acid produced. Nitrat of barytes being then added, afforded a copious precipitate of sulphat of barytes; from comparing the weight of which with the sulphur employed, it appeared that 100 parts of sulphat of barytes contain 14.5 of sulphur instead of 23.43 according to the French calculations.

Mr. C. then prepared sulphat of lime by adding sulphuric acid to a solution of pure lime in muriatic acid, and then driving off every thing but the earthy salt, by long continued heat in a platina crucible, the result of this process gave him, in 100 parts, Lime

57

Real sulphuric acid 43

100

This sulphat of lime being dissolved in oxalic acid, and then decomposed by muriat of barytes, afforded 183 sulphat of barytes. Hence as 183 sulphat of barytes contains as much sulphuric acid as 100 sulphat of lime, sulphat of barytes contains 23.5 per cent. of acid But by the first experiment, 14.5 sul phur, when acidified by nitric acid,

form that portion of sulphuric acid con tained in 100 parts sulphat of barytes, therefore 100 of real sulphuric acid contain 61.5 sulphur, and 38.5 oxygen.

15. Meteorological Observations made at Londonderry in the Year 1800. By WILLIAM PATTERSON, M. D. and M. R. I. A.

After the tables of meteorological phenomena, occur several interesting remarks on the weather of the year, and on the climate of Ireland in general.

16.

On the Variations of the Atmosphere. By RICHARD KIRWAN, Esq. &c. This is by far the longest and most important paper in the volume: being, in fact, a treatise on meteorology, which, in the hands of an author less economi cal of words than the able president, might easily be expanded into a quarto volume. We regret that the limits to which we are confined by our plan, will not allow us to do more than take a very cursory view of a 'memoir on every account deserving of serious study.

The first chapter is on evaporation, as influenced by heat, by chemical affinity, by wind, and by electricity and light. Chapter 2, treats of the state of vapours subsisting in the atmosphere, of the quantities of vapour at different barometrical heights, and of clouds. Chapter 3, is on the temperature of the atmosphere, on the different altitudes at which congelation takes place in different latitudes, on the mean temperature of the atmosphere, on the temperature of the summer and winter months, on the origin of the trade winds and vari able winds, and the succession of winds, Chapter 4, relates to the density of the atmosphere, and the method of ascertaining heights by the barometer. Chapter 5, is on precipitations from the atmosphere of atmospheric electricity, dew, rain, and the great haze of 1783. The 6th chapter treats of prognostics of the weather. To the whole is added an appendix on the manner of taking observations on the hygrometer. Interspersed through the memoir are many very valuable tables, forming altogether so large a mass of information on this interesting subject, and collected from such various sources, as hardly any one, except Mr. Kirwan, possesses industry to accumulate, and discrimination to arrange.

17. On determining innumerable Portions of a Sphere, the Solidities, and spherical Superficies of which Portions are, at the same Time, algebraically assignable. By the Rev. J. BRINKLEY, &c.

The object of this paper is to show, that "there are innumerable constructions by which portions of a sphere may be obtained, so that the spherical superficies, and solidity of each portion, are accurately assignable." To give an analysis of it is impossible.

The class of polite literature contains two memoirs by W. Preston, Esq, M. R. I. A. The first is on the Choice of Subjects for Tragedy. Mr. P. considers the stage as one of the great engines of public instruction, and instead of confining it to the representation of ancient or foreign events, would allow the dramatic poet to select modern incidents, and even the political topics of the day. "The genius of a free government," says he, "requires that every mode and form of addressing the public feelings, and enlightening the public mind, should not only be permitted but encouraged, provided they confine them

selves within the bounds of decorum and moderation."

The second paper is on the peculiar Style of the fashionable German Authors, and the Tendency of their Productions In this the author exposes, in a spirited and striking manner, the bad taste, and licentious morals, of the German ballads, novels, and plays, by which the British public was a short time ago so strangely infatuated, but which now seem happily to be in a great measure superseded by native productions, superior, for the most part, in literary worth and moral tendency.

The two antiquarian articles that conclude the volume, are not valuable either for their novelty or importance.

It would be worthy of the Royal Irish academy to set an example to the literature of the island, more useful, indeed, than splendid, by emancipating their transactions from the stigma of incorrectness in the printing, which has long been characteristic of Irish typoThe volume before us is graphy. shamefully faulty in this respect.

THE value of a work like the present, depends entirely on that of the separate memoirs of which it is, composed. As we shall give an account, more or less particular, of all these, it is only necessary for us here to express our satisfaction at finding, that this dignified and respectable society continues to fulfil the high expectations of the public, by devoting itself to the zealous investigation of every branch of the mathematical and experimental sciences.

The first article in the volume is

1. The Croonian Lecture. On the Power

of the Eye to adjust itself to different Distances, when deprived of the crystalline Lens. By EVERARD HOME, Esq.

F. R. S.

This paper is the continuation of a controversy between the author and Dr. Young, on the interesting subject of the power by which the eye adapts the point of perfect vision to different distances. The object of Mr. Home, in this place, is to bring some further experiments to shew, that this power does not reside in

the crystalline lens, by experiments made on person whose eyes had been deprived of this part of the organ of sight, in the operation of extraction of the cataract. Similar experiments had been brought by Mr. Home, in a former paper, to which Dr. Young had objected as inconclusive.

By Dr. Young's optometer (employ ed without the glass lens) Mr. Home found in himself that the range of distinct vision, from the nearest to the furthest point, was from 12 inches to 29, distant from the eye. In Sir Henry Englefield's eyes, the range was from 12 to 284. In the eyes of the person who has lost the crystalline lens, the range was from 8 3.10ths to 13 3-10ths, and, when fatigued, no more than from 11 2-8ths to 13 3-10ths. It must be confessed that this great difference of range would at first seem to prove the direct contrary to Mr. Home's inference, and would shew that the power of accommodating the eye to different distances, does reside in the crystalline lens, since it is so much impaired by the loss of this organ. But the determi

nation of this question would require a mach greater number of experiments on natural eyes of all kinds, and we cannot but think the paper before us much too loose and inconclusive.

2. The Bakerian Lecture. On the Theory of Lght and Colours. B THOMAS YOUNG, M. D. F. R. S. &c.

The difficulty of this subject is universally acknowledged. What is light? or what is the nature of its motion? The writer is anxious to sanction his opinions by the name of Newton, whose queries are a good clue to his doubts, ad proofs of the little satisfaction which he received in every hypothesis. The following hypotheses are the basis of the writer's opinion.

"A luminiferous æther pervades the universe, rare and elastic in a high degree. Undulations are excited in the æther, whenever a body becomes luminous. The sensation of different colours depends on the different frequency of vibrations excited by light on the retina. All material bodies have an attraction for the æthereal medium, by means of which it is accumulated within their substance, and for a small distance around them, in a state of greater density, but not of greater elasticity."

The following propositions give the nature and theory of the undulations.

"All impulses are propagated in a homogeneous elastic medium, with an equable velocity. An undulation originating from the vibration of a single particle must expand through a homogeneous medium in a spherical form, but with different quantities of motion in different parts. A portion of a spherical undulation admitted through an aperture into a quiescent medium, will proceed to be farther propagated rectilinearly in concentric superficies, terminated laterally by weak and irregular portions of newly díverging undulations. When an undulation arrives at a surface, which is the limit of mediums of different densities, a partial reflection takes place, proportionate in force to the difference of the densities. When an undulation is transmitted through a surface terminating different mediums, it proceeds, in such a direction, that the signs of the angles of incidence and refraction are in the constant ratio of the velocity of propagation in the two mediums. When an undulation falls on the surface of a rarer medium so obliquely, that it cannot be regularly refracted, it is totally reflected at an angle equal to that of its incidence. If equidistant undulations are supposed to pass through a medium at which the parts are susceptible of permanent vibrations somewhat slower than

the undulations, their velocity will be somewhat lessened by this vibratory tendency, and, in the same medium, the more as the undulations are more frequent. When two undulations, from different origins, coincide either perfectly, or very nearly in direction, motions belonging to each. Radiant light their joint effect is a combination of the consists in undulations of the luminiferous æther."

The importance of the propositions has led us to transcribe them, and it is easily seen in what the writer's theory differs from that of Newton. Our knowledge of undulations is very imperfect in the two fluids water and air, the one non-elastic, the other elastic. How difficult, then, must it be to form a true conception, when the number of

undulations in the luminous fluid is cal

culated at 463 millions of millions in a second. The subject merits, and will receive ample discussion.

3. An Analysis of a Mineral Substarce from North America, containing a Metal hitherto unknown. By CHARLES HATCHETT, Esq. F. R.S.

This accurate and indefatigable che mist has here added to the list of metals a new one, the ore of which has long lain in the British Museum, and is described, in Sir Hans Sloane's catalogue, as being sent, by Mr. Winthrop, from the province of Massachussets, in North America. Mr. H. with great propriety gives it the name of columbium.

The

ore is iron combined with columbium

in the proportion of 1 to 3. The title of columbium to its rank in the list of metals, is inferred by its habitudes with prussic acid, galls, and phosphoric acid. it to a reguline state. Mr. H has not yet succeeded in reducing

4. A Description of the Anatomy of the Ornithorhynchus Paradoxus. By EVERARD HOME, Esq. F. R. S.

This singular animal is a small amphibious quadruped found in the fresh water lakes in New South Wales, a country which seems to promise to the naturalist the most curious "varieties of untried being," and many valuable accessions to comparative anatomy. In external appearance its resemblance to the aquatic birds is strongly marked by a mouth in every respect similar to the bill of a duck. Anatomy shews other still more curious approaches to the