^Hl) ATOMK PRINCIPLES OP CHEMISTRY. 



yet been able to produce more than omp combination with 



each of these substances, therefore Mr. palton concludes, 



that only one combiuatiou can possibly exist," (page 286, 



»ee also note.) 



Siz« of atoms Though I am fuHy persuaded wie are in possession of data 



not dependent sufficient to decide upon the relative weiifkt of atoms, we 



on their , i • • r»^i . • 



veight. ^^^ "ot m regard to their size, 1 his last is a matter of mere 



speculation. Dr. Bostock seems to think the size must be 

 in direct proportion to the weight, I should however rather 

 suppose, that atoms of dili'erent bodies may be made of 

 ijaatter of different densities, if the expression may be al» 

 lowed; thus mercury, the atom of which weighs almost 

 :>70 tinpies as much as that of hidrogen, I should conjecture 

 was larger, but by no means in the proportion of the 

 weights, which would require a diameter of live or six times 

 the magnitude. Perhaps in a question of this sort Newton 

 has a better claim to be heard than either of us; he says, 

 (1 think in the 31st query to his Optics) " God is able tq 

 create particles of matter of several sizes and Jigures, and 

 in several proportions to the space they occupy, and perhaps 

 of different densities and forces* • • • • ^at least I see nothing 

 of contradiction in all this." 



• Knowing that Dr. Bostock had occasionally communi- 

 cated several chemical essays through your Journal, I was 

 purious to see whether he had not furnished me with some 

 arguments in behalf of that doctrine, which he thinks 

 ** depends for its proof entirely upon subsequent observa- 

 tions and experiments." In the Xlth vol. of this Journal, 

 page 75, May 1805, he has given valuable analyses of the 

 acetate and superacetate of lead. The results give the pro- 

 ' pprtions of lead and acid as under : 



Superacetate— Lead 6*12 or 100 



Acid 3 •• 49 



Acetate — Lead 8'4- or 100 



Acid 2 ••24 



A number of such analyses as these would compel Dr. 



/ Bostock, and others of your chemical readers, to examine 



the theory of chemical combinations which 1 have offered to 



them 



