DECOMPOSITION OF TOTASH BY GALVANISM. \$~( 



ther pair of troughs of the same size as the first ; and to re- action of 2800 

 medy the inconvenience occasioned by the deliquescence of ij queS c en ce 

 the potash in the former attempt, a glass tube was employed, prevented by 

 having a platina wire, coiled into a spiral form, sealed into ^ e ° 3ing in * 

 one of its ends. The alkali was placed in the tube, sur- 

 rounded by the spiral wire, and another wire, passing through 

 a cock which occupied the ,other end of the tube, was, by 

 sliding freely up and down, made to touch the potash at in- 

 tervals. The wires being connected with the battery,- and 

 the alkali slightly moistened, a considerable portion of gas 

 was evolved, which from time to time exploded by the sparks 

 produced : the temperature of the mass was materially in- Appearance* 

 creased, and the black matier, which was deposited on solution a3 bcfore - 

 of the alkali in water, appeared in greater quantity than be- incased "^ 

 fore. Small portions of this black substance sticking to the Back matter 

 eud of the wire, on being brought into contact with water, detonated on 

 suddenly detonated accompanied with a vivid flash ; an ef- water# 

 feet which was also produced on pouring distilled water into 

 the tube. 

 The detonations caused by the black matter coming into Potash does not 



contact with water, we ascertained from experiment, could P™**"^ tnis 

 i iii i • n , i • effect i' 1 any 



not be produced by potash in any state of dryness; hence it state. 



would appear, that some substance has been created during Farther inquiry 



the galvanic process, possessed of properties very different P :omised " 



from those of the materials employed. 



It is our intention however, to resume these experiments 

 assisted by greater galvanic power, the result of which I shall 

 transmit to you. 



I am, Sir, Your obedient servant, 



Derby, 20th Jan. 1808. CHA. SYLVESTER. 



SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 

 Discovery of a complete Mammoth. 



JL HE bones that have been discovered in different Mammoth 



parts of the northern hemisphere sufficiently prove the ex- J ou,ld in a P er " 

 . _ . l , • i , fect slute * 



istence ot some large animal, or animals, now unknown; 



and some writers have even given a particular description of 

 the quadruped generally called a mammoth, though it would 

 seem merely from the report of tradition among the uncul- 

 tivated 



