88 



ON STONY AND METALLINE SUBSTANCES 



IV. 



Chemical exa- 

 mination of 

 ftones fallen on 

 the earth. 



Objections to 

 the analyfis of 

 the ftone pre- 

 fented by the 

 Abbe Bachelay, 



and to that of 

 }f . Bavthold. 



Chemical exa- 

 mination of the 

 ftone from Be- 



parcs. 



The black coat- 

 ing deprived of 

 magnetk parts 



Experiments and Objurations on certain ftony and metalline 

 Subjiances, which at different Times are /aid to have fallen 

 on the Earth ; alfo on various Kinds of native Iron. By 

 Edward Howard, Efq. F. R. S. From the Philofophical 

 Tranfaclions, 1 802. 



(Continued from Page 263, Vol. II.) 



I PROCEED to confider the affi fiance to be derived from 

 chemiftry in diftinguilhing thefe ftones from all other known 

 fubftances, and in eftablifhing the affertion, that they have 

 fallen on the earth. 



The analyfis made by the French academicians of the ftons 

 prefented to them by the Abbe" Bachelay, was in part con- 

 dueled by the ever to be deplored Lavoifier ; but it was per- 

 formed before that celebrated author had enriched chemiftry 

 with his laft difcoveries, and before he had given birth to the 

 fyftem under which it flourifhes. The refult of this analyfis 

 might well induce the conclufion, that the fubjeci of it was 

 common pyritical matter. It was unfortunately made of 

 an aggregate portion of the ftone, and not of each diftinct 

 fubftance irregularly difleminated through it. The propor- 

 tions obtained were, confequently, as accidental as the ar- 

 rangement of every fubftance in the mafs. 



The analyfis of M. Barthold, of the ftone of Enfifheim, 

 is fubjedt to the fame objections : but, after having the ad- 

 vantage of the foregoing defcriptions, the refearches which 

 follow cannot be fuppofed altogether liable to a fimilar 

 fatality. 



EXAMINATION OF THE STONE FROM BENARES. 



This ftone, as the Count de Bournon has already remarked, 

 has the moft diftinguifhed characters. Indeed it is the only 

 one of the four fufficiently perfect (if I be allowed that ex- 

 preftion) to be fubjecled to any thing approaching to a regu- 

 lar analyfis. 



The cruft, or external black covering, is the firft fubftance 

 to which the attention is naturally directed. When a portion 



of 



