An Essay on the Preparation of Phosphoric Æther. By M. BOUDET. Having prepared some pure phosphoric acid, by decomposing nitric acid with phosphores, M. BOUDET mixed it with alcohol, and distilled with a Woulfe's apparatus. He obtained, 1st. an acid liquor slightly coloured, which had a disagreeable odour; 2dly. a very pale yellowish oil, which swam on the former liquor.-On examination, he found the first product to be alcohol, but the second possessed the characters of phosphoric ether. Notice, concerning Oxide of Iron. By M. ROARD.-The experiments made by this chemist were intended to ascertain the best and most economical method of removing iron-moulds from linen, &c.-The acidulous oxalate of pot-ash (salt of sorrel) has been commonly employed for this purpose, and M. ROARD compared its effects with the aciduloas tartrite of potash (cream of tartar) and with very dilute sulphuric acid. Having stated the results of his comparative experiments, he says; In consequence of the different trials to which I have subjected the substances capable of acting on oxide of iron and on ink, we see that acidulous oxalate of pot-ash does not exclusively possess this property; since the acidulous tartrite of pot-ash, and very dilute sulphuric acid, may be employed for the same purpose with very considerable advantages, not only on a large scale, but also in every other case in which the oxalate of pot-ash has hitherto been used.' Memoir on the Gum contained in the Bulb of the Hyacinthus non Scriptus. By M. LEROUX.-In our account of the 39th vol. of these annals, we noticed a letter from M. Deyeux to the editors, giving an account of this discovery of M. LEROUX.-In the present paper, this gentleman first describes the various processes by which the gum may be extracted. but, as this is essentially performed by pounding the root, by infusing the pulp in water, by occasionally subjecting it to pressure, and by evaporation, we need not enter into minute particulars. He then states the proportion of the principles of the hyacinth, recently taken out of the earth, to be nearly as follows.Water-73,4 Gum-18, Vegetable fibre-7,{ 100,0 The memoir is concluded by some remarks on the culture of the plant, and the utility of the gum. Experiments concerning the Analysis and Synthesis of the Alkalis and Earths, announced by M.AL. Guyton and Desormes. By M. DARRACQ DARRACQ.-M.M. Guyton and Desormes having published, in the 3d vol. of the Memoirs of the Institute of France*, an account of some experiments, from which they asserted that the composition and decomposition of the two fixed alkalis and of some of the primitive earths had been effected, M. DARRACQ was induced to repeat these experiments; and, having described the mode which he adopted, together with the results, (which certainly appear to be decisive,) he thus concludes. If the experiments which I have described in the course of this memoir be exact, and if I have properly observed the phænomena afforded by them, the result must be that the facts announced by M.M. Guyton and Desormes, although for the greater part correct, do not lead to the conclusions which they have inferred, on account of the nature of the substances employed by them ;-that at least for the present, the alkalis and earths must remain in the class of simple or undecomposed bodies ;-that the experiments of these philosophers do not prove that pot-ash is formed of lime and hydrogen ;-that magnesia and azote produce lime ;--that alumine and azote constitute magnesia; and, in short, that magnesia and hydrogen form soda.—I do not, however, assert that these are simple substances, but only that the facts lately brought forwards are not competent to prove the contrary.' Observations on the Existence of Phosphorus in Sugar. By M. BOULLAY.-This chemist had occasion to prepare sulphureous acid, by distilling a mixture of sulphuric acid and sugar; and he says that he obtained a considerable quantity of phosphorated hydrogen gas. He has not, however, been able to discover phosphorus, nor any of its combinations, in sugar. Reply to the Remarks of M. Dartigues, &c. &c. concerning Barytes and Strontites. (See p. 522,3.) By M.PAISSE.-This reply evinces that its author persists in his former opinion: but we do not deem it necessary to transcribe the particulars of the paper. On the Electricity called Galvanism. By M. VOLTA.-This excellent paper contains the author's system of the theory and doctrine of galvanic electricity: but we must refer our readers to the original, because an abridgement of it cannot be brought within the limits necessarily prescribed by the nature of our work. Memoir on Medicinal Spirituous (alcoholiques) Tinctures. By M. PARMENTIER. Instead of the medicated wines which are sold by the druggists, and, which often become spoiled, or which are of unequal qualities, M. PARMENTIER recommends tinctures to be made with diluted alcohol; so that, by the addition of these tinctures to wine, any of the medicated wines See p. 519. of this Appendix. may may be immediately prepared, and, by a due observance of the proportions of the tincture, their medicinal quality will always be uniform. An Examination of different Kinds of Pot-ash, with simple Methods of ascertaining the Proportion of Alkali and of other Salts which they may contain. By M. VAUQUELIN.-M. V. ascertains the quantity of alkali by the proportion of nitric acid required to effect saturation: but, previously, the density of the acid must be determined, as well as the degree of it which is necessary to saturate any given quantity of pure potash. The proportion of sulphuric acid in sulphate of pot-ash is determined by nitrate of barytes, and that of the muriatic in the muriates which may be present, by nitrate of silver. The author then states the proportion of the various substances contained in six species of pot-ash, as follows: [Pot-ash of Russia. Real Sulphate Muriat Insoluble Carbonic Acid and Water. A Letter from M. VAN MARUM to M. Volta, containing an Account of some Experiments made with the Electrical Pile.-The facts detailed in this long letter are numerous, but not very striking. We shall therefore refer our readers to the original. Report made to the National Institute on the Experiments of M. Volta-In this paper, the principles of M. Volta's theory of the Galvanic Electricity are stated. Observations on the Combination of the Tartarcous Acid with the Salifiable Bases, &c. &c. By M. THENARD. We noticed a report report on this memoir in our last Appendix, p. 491. in an article on the Chemical Annals. Memoir on a nerv Combination discovered in Zaffre, which M. Brugnatelli has supposed to be Cobaltic Acid. By M. DARRACQ.M. Brugnatelli, in a memoir printed in vol. xxxiii. p. 113. of the Chemical Annals, gave an account of some experiments on the grey oxide of Cobalt, commonly called Zaffre; from which he inferred that this substance contains a peculiar metallic acid, and which he therefore has denominated cobaltic acid. M. DARRACQ, however, on repeating these experiments, has discovered that the acid substance, which combines with ammonia and with water, is not (as M. B. supposed) cobalt converted by oxygenation into an acid, but an arseniate of cobalt rendered soluble by an excess of the arsenical acid. In order to prove this in the most evident manner by synthesis, M. DARRACQ dissolved oxide of cobalt in arsenic acid, evaporated to dryness, and treated the residue with distilled water; after which, this solution was found to possess all the properties of the pretended cobaltic acid. Extract of a Letter from M. VAN MARUM to M. Berthollet. M. VAN MARUM here relates that he has produced effects similar to those of the electrical pile of M. Volta, as far as the decomposition of water is concerned, by passing a current of electrical fluid from a common machine through a tube containing water. He employed, for this purpose, very fine iron wire inserted in thermometer tubes, which were introduced and fixed at a proper distance in the opposite extremities of a larger tube containing the water.-This discovery of M. VAN MARUM, however, has been anticipated by the ingenious experiments of Dr. Wollaston, published in the Phil. Trans. for 1801, p. 427, which we noticed in our late review of that volume. The only difference is, that the wire employed by Dr. Wollaston was of gold, while the experiments of M. VAN MARUM were made with iron wire. Description of a Stove on the Principle of the Swedish Fire-place, with Registers to admit warm Air. By M. GUYTON. This paper cannot be understood without the plate. Observations on the Proof of Pot-ash, by the Administrators General of Gun Powder and Salt Petre.-Nitrate of lime has been hitherto employed for this purpose, but nitrate of strontian is found to answer much better. For the particulars, the original memoir must be consulted. Observations on Dying with Madder; and a simple and certain Mode of obtaining, with the greatest Beauty and Solidity, the Colour See Rev. for March last, p. 300. called called Adrianople Red. By M. HAUSSMANN.-This paper may perhaps be perused with advantage by dyers, and others who are engaged in similar pursuits. Extract of a Report on the Oxides of Manganese, which may be employed in the Arts. By M.M. CORDIER and BAUNIER.-This investigation was undertaken to ascertain which of the different kinds of manganese, found in the territories of the French Republic, was most proper to be employed in the fabrication of oxygenated muriatic acid. 1 Exposition of a new Method of separating the Silver which is alloyed with Copper in base Coin. By M. NAPIONE.-The usual mode hitherto employed for this purpose has been liquation with lead, but in many cases it has been found very inadequate. The writer of this paper, therefore, having reflected that sulphur has a greater affinity for copper than for silver, conceived hopes that, by the addition of this substance, the greater part of the silver would become concentrated in a portion of the copper; so that it might be immediately subjected to cuppellation: while the other part, or matt, being less rich, might undergo the process of amalgamation.-He then relates his experiments; from which it appears that this method may be employed on a large scale with much advantage, and that the expense attending it will not amount to one fifth of the cost of ordinary liquation. Report made to the National Institute, on the Establishment formed by M.M. ANFRYE and LECOUR to extract the Copper and Tin from the Scoria of Beli Metal.-These scoria had been abandoned as absolutely useless, and were therefore only employed to repair roads, &c. until M. ANERYE discovered a method. in the dry way, by which from 30 to 40 pounds of tin and copper may be separated from a quintal of the scoria. The process appears to be very simple, nothing more being required to separate the tin from the copper, than to promote the oxidation of the former; and this oxide is afterward separated from the copper by washing. The oxide of tin is then mixed with one-eleventh part of powdered charcoal, and is reduced in a wind furnace. Note on the Hydro sulphuret of Seda. By M. VAUQUELIN.— Having washed a large quantity of soda, in order to extract the carbonate, M. VAUQUELIN observed, at the end of a few weeks, a white salt at the bottom of the mother liquor. This salt was in the form of tetraedral rectangular prisms, terminated by four-sided pyramids; and some were of an octaedral figure. The flavour at first was acrid and caustic, but afterward became extremely bitter, with a slight smell of sulphu rated |