J. E. B. on Mr.Lindley's Statement relative to Orchideae. 4-03 



It is almost unnecessary to observe, that the change of 

 colour already noticed as being produced in our compound 

 by the action of muriatic acid, is due to the development of 

 hydriodic acid, which passing to the bicyanide, produces at 

 the same time, biniodide of mercury and prussic acid. A 

 similar effect is produced by any other acid capable of libe- 

 rating hydriodic acid from the iodide of potassium. In such 

 experiments it is clear that but one half of the mercurial salt 

 can be converted into biniodide; for one atom of the bicyanide 

 of mercury would require for perfect decomposition two atoms 

 of hydriodic acid, whereas but one can be developed from the 

 iodide of potassium. 



The iodo-bicyanide of potassium and mercury is probably 

 but one of a class of double salts which the bicyanide of mer- 

 cury forms with haloid compounds. This conjecture, how- 

 ever, I have not as yet had time to put to the test of experi- 

 ment. 



Dublin, May 14, 1831. 



LX. On Mr. Lind ley's Statement respecting the Investigation 

 of the Structure of the Orchidese. % J. E. B. 



T 

 * 



To the Editors of the Philosophical Magazine and Annals. 



Gentlemen, 



REGRET exceedingly to be compelled, by the high esti- 

 mation I entertain for the character of Mr. Brown the 

 botanist, to be obliged to notice, thus publicly, a statement 

 by Mr. Lindley in his " Introduction to the Natural System 

 of Botany," from which an inference has been drawn, by an 

 anonymous writer in a Northern Journal, prejudicial to the 

 reputation of that gentleman. Those who are acquainted with 

 Mr. Brown will at once acquit him of all desire to deck him- 

 self in borrowed plumes ; but as there are many persons, 

 whose good opinion is worth preserving, and to whom he 

 may be a stranger, I deem it but justice to state what appears 

 upon the face of the proceeding ; yet I should not have inter- 

 posed, if Mr. Lindley had not contented himself with only 

 privately disavowing his intention to convey to his readers the 

 meaning imputed to him. 



The Dedication to the " Introduction" bears the date of 

 August last. Under the head of " Orchidea" p. 262, after 

 remarking that it is not necessary to enter upon an historical 

 view of the gradual alteration which has taken place in the 

 opinion of botanists with regard to the sexual apparatus of 

 3 F 2 these 



