ON OXIMURIATIC ACID. 201 



ence in the results. The difficulties which Mr. Davy hat 

 supposed attend the common opinion from the comparative 

 inactivity of this gas, though it contains more oxigen than 

 oximuriati'c acid, and which he imagines will probably lead 

 me to "adopt the new idea, that oximuriatic ^as is a sim- 

 ple body," appear to me of no weight., The powerful ac- 

 tion of oximuriatic acid does not depend merely on thti 

 ijuaHtity of oxigen it contains, but on the t.tute of oombina- 

 nation of that element, and the dispoHug affinity exerted 

 by the muriatic acid; and I can easily suppose the quan* 

 tity of oxigen to be increased without any augmentation, or 

 even with a diminution of power. It will be time enough 

 however to explain this to Mr. J. Davy, when the proper- 

 ties and composition of this new compound are more fully 

 detailed. 



1 have now given all the attention to this controversy, 

 which it appears to me to claim ; and the progress of it has, 

 1 trust, shown more clearly, that the common opinion of 

 the relation between muriatic and oximuriatic acids is still 

 the most probable one, inferred by the most simple and 

 direct induction, and in strict conformity with the es- 

 tablished theory of acidity, and the chemical agencies and 

 combinations of acids ; while the opinion of Mr, Davy, in- 

 stead of being, as it has been contended, a simple expres- 

 sion of facts, is an hypothesis, involving assumptions gratu- 

 itous and complicated, and at variance with extensive and 

 well established analogies. The experimental proof [ have 

 brought forward, and which I consider as sufficiently con- 

 firmed, is still farther, it appears to me, conclusive in sup- 

 port of the opinion I have maintained. I regard the dis- 

 cussion on my part as closed, and I shall not be disposed to 

 resume it, unles:8 some new facts or arguments are adduced 

 ftufficiently important to demand consideration. 

 I am, with much respect. 



Your most obedient servant, 

 Edhiburgh, June (he Jth, J. MURRAY. 



1811. 



P. S. Mr. J. Davy, in a communication in the number of On the na- 



your Joor«al ibr May, haft stated » aeries of facts, from tureofthem*. 



, . , talloids. 



^ .^ which 



