CONTENTS. vii 



AUGUST, 1809. 



Engravings of the following Objects: 1. Mr. Davy's Apparatus for heating 

 Potassium in Gasses, Distilling Potassium, and taking the Voltaic Spark in 

 Sulphur and Phosphorus : 2. Various Figures by Mrs. Agnes Ibbetson, to il- 

 lustrate the Growtli of Leaves, and the Divisions of the Wood in the Stem 

 of Trees. 



I. The Bakerian Lecture. An Account of some new analytical Researches on 

 the Nature of certain Bodies, particularly the Alkalis, Phosphorus, Sulphur, 

 Carbonaceous Matter, and the Acids hitherto undecomposed ; with some ge- 

 neral Observations on Chemical Theory. By Humphry Davy Esq., Sec. R. S. 

 F. R.S.Ed, and M.R.I. A. - - - 241 



II. On the Production of an Acid and an Alkali from pure Water by Galvanism. 

 In a Letter from Mr. Charles Sylvester, with Remarks by W. N. 258 



III. Account of the Decomposition and Recomposition of Boracic Acid. By 

 Messrs. Gay-Lussac and Thenard - 26*0 



IV. On the Influence of Galvanic Electricity on the Transition of Minerals ; 

 read at the Meeting of the Mathematical and Physical Class of the Institute, 

 the 13th of July, 1807. By Mr. Guy ton - - - 263 



V. On Artificial Sandstones, that have undergone a regular Contraction in the 

 Fire. By Mr. Aluau - . - - - 268 



VI. Observations on the Oxigenized Muriatic Acid. By Mr. Joseph Mojdn, 

 Professor of Pharmaceutic Chemistry in the Medical School of the Imperial 

 University of Genoa, &c 273 



VII. Extract of a Letter from Mr. Resal, Apothecary at Remirement, to Mr. 

 Cadet, Apothecary to the Emperor, on the Conversion of Malt Spirit into 

 Vinegar, and on the Red Colour of Oil of Hempseed - 275 



VIII. Remarks on some Points of Hydrography, by Mr. Leblanc, Officer in 

 the French Navy. - - - - 27 S 



IX. On the Spontaneous Tgnition of Charcoal: by B. G. Sage, Member of the 

 Institute, Founder and Director of the first School of Mines - 277 



X. Theory of the Detonation and Evplosion of Gunpowder, by the same 270 



XI. On the Sulphates of Lime, Barytes, and Lead - - 280 



XII. Extract of a Letter from Mr. Gehlen to Mr. Descotils, on the Igneous 

 Fusion of Barytes - - - - 281 



XIII. Note on a Species of Manna, or concrete Sugar, produced by the Rho- 

 dodendron Ponticum - - - 283 



XIV. An Essay on Manures. By Arthur Young, F. R. S. # - 2S4. 



XV. On the Formation of the Winter Leaf Bud, and of Leaves. By Mrs. 

 Agnes Ibbetson - 293 



XVI. A Letter on a Canal in the Medulla Spinalis of some Quadrupeds. In a 

 Letter from Mr. William Sewell, to Everard Home, Esq. F. R. S. 300 



XVII. Note on the Alteration that Air and Water produces in Flesh. By Mr. 

 C. L. Berthollet. - 302 



XVIII. Analysis of a Schist in the Environs of Cherbourg, taken from the 

 Excavations made in Bonaparte Harbour. By Mr. Berthier, Mine Engineer 



304 



XIX. Method of rendering'common Alum as good for Dyeing as Roman Alum; 

 by Mr. Seguin, Corresponding Member of the Institute - 307 



Scientific News ----- 308 



Meteorological Table * 320 



SUPPLEMENT 



