|g2 PREIENDED NEW METAL 5 PALLADIUM. 



on thufe which are du6lile, fome quality which adapts them 

 better to particular purpofes. It often happens that, by being 

 alloyed, two du6lile melals become fragile; but we have n6 

 inilance of the contrary efle6l in any high degree. It is there- 

 fore more to be fuppofed that we (bould look to fimplification 

 among the fragile melals ; and, even at this early period, it 

 may not be too fpeculative to coniider the metallic bodies In 

 an order which may bring together thofe which poflefs the 

 greateii number of fimilar characters. 



Comparifons of ^g 3,^ inftance of this approximation, it may be obferved, 

 metallic bodies . • , 1 , , i o . • . .1 c 



with this viewj ^^^^ nickel and cobalt Itrongly participate in the properties ot 



copper and iron. The two former metals were long regarded 

 as mixtures; and the doubts of the ancient chemifts, who 

 feared to pronounce as to their nature, may ftill be proved to 

 have more foundation in truth than the aflTertion of the moderns, 

 who have declared them to be fimpie. ACted upon by the fame 

 menftrua, forming infoluble compounds with the fame acids, 

 and foluble alike in other fubftances, they have but one or two 

 marked properties that lead us to coniider tiiem as diftin5t 

 metals. But palladium has at leaft live or fix characters, as 

 Itrong as thofe of any metal whatfoever, that diftinguifli it, not 

 only from its elements, but aifo from all other metals, 

 and earthsalfo. Among the earths, this approximation is flill more apparent. 

 A leading character of thefe fubftances is, their tendency to 

 enter into faline combination, in which they receive new pro- 

 perties, and perform new functions. If we rank them accord- 

 ing to this general tendency, we fliall have the following order ; 

 barytes and ftrontia; lime and magnefia; glucine and alumina ; 

 zircon and lilica. And, if we confider them two by two in 

 this order, which is a natural one, we lliall bring together 

 precifely thofe which differ by the fmalleft number of chemical 

 characters. 

 Conclu£on. This inveftlgatlon might be purfned flill farther; but we 



rauft wait the refult of experiments ; a wide field is open for 

 releafch. In the dark ages of cheraiflry, the objeCt was, to 

 rival nature; and the fubftance which the adepts of thofe days 

 were bulled to create, was univerfally allowed to be fimpie. 

 In a more enlightened period, we have extended our enqui- 

 ries, and multiplied the number of the elements. The laft 

 talk will be to fimplify; and, by a clofer obfervation of 

 nature, to learn from what a fmall liore of primitive materials, 

 II that we behold and wonder at was created. 



IV. Obfervation 



