This important, and almoft decifive experiment (for which we are indebted to the able chemists above-mentioned), was carefully repeated by Mr Davy. He fired the two gafes, in an exhausted receiver, by the electric fpark, and always obtained muriatic acid. gas, and a flight condensed vapour, with a diminution of th or th of the volume. When the gafes were carefully dried, by expofure to muriate of lime, the condenfation was diminished; and it did not exceed th of the volume. When highly dried, fulphuretted hydrogene was used, with oxymuriatic acid. In this cafe, fulphur, flightly tinged with oxymuriatic acid, was depofited on the fides of the veffel: no vapour was depofited; and the gas which remained, confifted of muriatic acid, and about th of an inflammable gas.

If to thefe facts we add the experiments by which the French chemists have proved, that, in the cafes where oxygene is procured from oxymuriatic acid, water is always prefent, and muriatic acid gas is formed; and a variety of experiments by Mr Davy and his brother, in which hydrogene and oxydes were procured, by exhibiting metals to muriatic acid gas, exactly fimilar to the oxydes obtained by burning the fame metals in oxymuriatic gas; we fhall be prepared to go further than merely to doubt the exiftence of oxygene in oxymuriatic, and of water in muriatic acid gafes; and may probably be difpofed to adopt our author's conclufion, that Scheele's view, however obfcured by the language of an unfounded theory, comes much more near to the facts than the more fpecious and plaufible doctrine of the antiphlogific fchool. Instead of confidering oxymuriatic acid as the muriatic acid in an oxygenated state, we shall then confider it as a more fimple fubftance, which, when united with hydrogene, forms common muriatic acid. Should future inquiry justify this conclufion, and explain away the whole of the antiphlogistic doctrine upon this point, we fhall be obliged, no doubt, to rejoice at the progrefs of fcience; but our joy will be mixed with trembling, when we reflect on the precarious tenure by which chemical truth is holden; for it may, after this, be most reafonably doubted, whether future difcoveries fhall not utterly deftroy the merits of the later improvements in pneumatic chemistry, and bring us back to the doctrine of phlogifton, with the fingle exception of the pofitive levity of that body;-perhaps the only part of Stahl's theory (or rather of the changes made upon it by his followers) to which no enlargement of knowledge can reconcile us.

But it may be afked, why we hefitate in believing that our author's refutation of the common opinion is complete? An experiment is given, which appears at first fight conclufive.-Hydrogene and oxymuriatic acid being united, muriatic acid is produced.

Why,

Why, then, it may be demanded, fhould we doubt that the fuppofed oxygenated acid is in fact a radical, which, when combined with hydrogen, becomes ordinary muriatic acid; or, that the fuppofed oxygenated acid is a body fimilar to oxygene, which, uniting with hydrogen as a radical, produces one of the known acids ?— We anfwer, firft, that the experiments are not detailed with fuch minutenefs as is effentially neceffary, when any new point of doctrine is to be eftablished; and ftill more, when the change in our theories is, from a leading pofition, thought to be established irrefragably, upon full an 1 minute details of fact, to one utterly inconfiftent with it, and in the highest degree hoftile to the whole of the received fyftem. It is in this cafe quite neceflary,, that we fhould have fuch particulars, as the following, anxioufly detailed :— The exact quantities of the hydrogene and oxymuriatic acid exhibited to each other, the method taken to make them act on each other, the appearances of their action,-the exact quantity of the body refulting from their union,-and the particular tefts by which that body is proved to be muriatic acid. If an experiment of this nature is made, and the refult is, that oxymuriatic acid and hydrogene, when united in a known manner, uniformly leave a refidue of muriatic acid equal in weight to the fum of the weights of the oxymuriatic acid and hydrogene,-we fhall at least have made one ftep, and a step neither unimportant nor infecure. There will then remain another, before we can fafely adopt the conclufion in queftion: And this brings us to the fecond dificulty, in the way of our entire agreement with Mr Davy's theory. After the above experiment fhall have been cautioufly and repeatedly made, and minutely detailed, it will ftill be poffible to infer from it more than one propofition;-in other words, to account for the appearances in different ways: for it will prove, either that muriatic acid confifts of oxymuriatic acid and hydrogene,-er that oxymuriatic acid confifts of oxygene and muriatic acid deprived of water; and that muriatic acid confifts of an acid combined with water. Which of thefe is the true theory, must be proved by other experiments, made with a fimilar attention to minute particulars. Let it not be fuppofed, that we accufe Mr Davy of rafinefs in his method of philofophizing. We know him to be eminent for his caution, and for the modefty which diftinguithes all really great men. In his prefent paper, he does not require our implicit affent; because he has not, as he is well aware, completed his experimental investigation. But we think it neceflary to point out the reafons for hefitation, to fuch readers as may be difpofed to haften too precipitately towards a conclufion, and may be unwilling to await thofe further and final evidences which Mr Davy has pollibly already in kis poffeffion.

If any thing were wanting to enforce the degree of caution which we have been recommending to Mr Davy's readers, and which we so well know it would be superfluous to bring within his own recollection, such additional considerations, we apprehend, will be admitted to arise very naturally out of passages like the following. The vivid combustion of bodies in oxymuriatic acid gas, at first view, appears a reason why oxygene should be admitted in it; but heat and light are merely results of the intense agency of combination. Sulphur and metals, alkaline earths and acids, become ignited during their mutual agency; and such an effect might be expected, in an operation so rapid as that of oxymuriatic acid upon metals and inflammable bodies.'" This remark is highly apposite; for it is offered in answer to a supposed objection, which it sufficiently repels. But what follows is merely sceptical, and produces no conviction one way or the other. It may be said (he adds), that a strong argument in favour of the hypothesis, that oxymuriatic acid consists of an acid basis united to oxygene, exists in the general analogy of the compounds of oxymuriatic acid and metals to the common neutral salts. But this analogy, when strictly investigated, will be found to be very indistinct; and, even allowing it, it may be applied with as much force to support an opposite doctrine,namely, that the neutral salts are compounds of bases with water, and the metals, of bases with hydrogene; and that, in the case of the action of oxymuriatic acid and metals, the metals furnish hydrogene to form muriatic acid, and a basis to produce the neutral combination.' This last appears rather a strained hypothesis; but if dry metals and oxymuriatic acid, acting on each other, produce compounds in which oxygene shall be proved not to exist, we shall certainly be compelled to change our opi

nion.

Our author proceeds to consider the phenomena of oxymuriates, as they were originally called,—or, as late experiments seemed to prove them, hyperoxymuriates: and here, again, we have rather the beginning of an investigation, than a complete induction of facts, upon which a conclusion may safely be built. He endeavoured to procure from hyperoxymuriates, the acid supposed to be hyperoxygenized, but without success. He distilled those salts with dry boracic acid, and found oxygene to be the chief gaseous product, and muriate of potash the fixed residue. He distilled the orange-coloured fluid produced by dissolving hyperoxymuriates in sulphuric acid, but obtained only oxygene and oxymuriatic acid. He placed muriates (in a state of solution) in the galvanic circuit, and obtained oxymuriatic acid at the positive, and hydrogene at the negative surface; and, upon repeating the

same

same experiment with oxymuriatic acid dissolved in water, he obtained oxymuriatic acid and cxygene at the positive, and hydrogene at the negative surface; which products, however, he admits, in a note to this passage, must be ascribed rather to the water than the acid.

Our author then states his opinion with respect to the composition of hyperoxymuriates; and it is, like many of the opinions contained in this paper, only a probable conclusion drawn from an induction of facts admitted to be imperfect, but which, in all likelihood, will hereafter be completed. For the present, the opinion may be taken as a query, or hint, for further inquiry; and, we doubt not, Mr Davy will, ere long, convert it into a certainty. • If the facts (says he) respecting hyperoxymuriate of potash be closely reasoned upon, it must be regarded as nothing more than as a triple compound of oxymuriatic acid, potassium and oxygene. We have no right to assume the existence of any peculiar acid in it, or of a considerable portion of combined water; and it is, perhaps, more conformable to the analogy of chemistry, to suppose the large quantity of oxygene combined with the potassium, which we know has an intense affinity for oxygene, and which, from some experiments, I am inclined to believe, is capable of combining directly with more oxygene than exists in potash, than with the oxymuriatic acid, which, as far as is known, has no affinity for that substance.'

Mr Davy subjoins a variety of very ingenious observations upon the probable nature of oxymuriatic acid,-referring partly to the received facts upon the subject, and partly to his own experiments, as authorising, or rather as giving colour to his remarks. From the failure of the experiments to decompose it, as well as from its agreeing in scarcely any particular with acids, he can scarcely consider it as belonging to that class of bodies; and he suggests the probability of its being a peculiar acidifying and dissolving principle, like oxygene. Although his observations are marked with his usual ingenuity and chemical learning, we shall not at present dwell longer upon them,-reserving the further consideration of the theory for the period so often mentioned, and indeed so confidently anticipated, in the preceding pages, when the same admirable inquirer shall have finished his experimental researches, and presented us with discoveries on the subject in question, worthy (we can praise no higher) of being ranked near his own former improvements in natural knowledge.

This paper concludes with some valuable experiments upon sulphur and phosphorus, particularly in their relations to potassium and oxymuriatic acid. But they do not admit of an abridgement; and though highly useful, as assisting future inquiries, they lead

to

to no very definite general conclusions. We therefore can only recommend them to the attention of chemical readers; and, expressing our hopes that no interruption of any kind may stop Mr Davy in his brilliant course of discovery, we take leave of the subject for the present, with again predicting, that the next time we turn towards it, we shall have to celebrate new triumphs of his skill and indefatigable industry.

ART. X. Sur la Souveraineté. Par M. J. Chas, Ancien Jurisconsulte. Seconde Edition, revue et augmentée. tis, 1810.

8vo. Pa

THE very singular pamphlet, of which we have just copied over the title, has, for some months past, been circulated in France, we understand by the very hand, but certainly by the authority, of government. A copy of this pamphlet, notwithstanding the difficulty of intercourse, we have had the satisfaction to obtain; and it is (as we believe) the only one which has yet made its way to this country. It is a curious document; and which, we think, will repay a pretty accurate analysis. It contains a panegyric, a professed panegyric on Despotism;-a comparison of this simple form of government with all other forms, whether simple or mixed-and, in particular, with that mixed form which is exemplified in Great Britain,-and a distinct, deliberate, raisonné preference over them all. If Bonaparte has hitherto played the hypocrite, it must be allowed that his agents now speak plain. He probably thinks the time is at last come, when boldness is better than imposture; and it cannot, at any rate, be insinuated, that he is afraid to avow his purposes. If impudence were a term which could apply to persons in situations so exalted, we should say that this, taken with all its circumstances, is the most impudent address which any government ever ventured upon offering to its subjects. How low must a nation, which had once dared to lift its eyes to liberty, be degraded, bofore its government could venture to present it with a creed like this! How prodigiously did the first efforts of the French to acquire for themselves a good government lead the world in general to overrate the true character of that nation! With the single exception of courage and military skill, among the commonest and cheapest qualities of human nature, they have exhibited nothing but what is vulgar in point of conception, and servile in point of spirit, through the whole course of their revoJution. Hardly had it begun, when some hired ruffians in the metropolis were allowed to give law to the whole nation. How

tamely,