72 SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 



lightly stopped by a cork. On the Application of heat to the 

 bulb, the water passed off into steam apparently wiih the same 

 velocity that it would have done, had there been a free com- 

 munication between it and the atmosphere, and o( course the 

 steam was just as readily condensed. This experiment was 

 suggested and made by Dr. Hope. 



I have now finished the account of the experiments which f 

 wished to communicate, and as I have no intention of answer- 

 ing personal aspersions, which are only injurious to the author 

 when unjustly made, nor of entering again into a controversy- 

 concerning words, I shall here conclude with subscribing 

 myself, 



Your obedient humble servant, 



JOHN DAVY. 



Edinburgh, December 9. 



To Mr. Nicholson. 



P. S. I have authority from Dr. Hope, and also fiom Sir 

 George Mackenzie and Mr. Playfair, to mention, that the 

 detail I have given of the experiment is correct. 



I should have before observed, that the muriate was heated 

 in the preceding experiment in a, partial vacuum. After the: 

 combination of the two gases had been formed, a little ammonia 

 remained in the retort, and to this as much air was admitted, 

 as was conceived sufficient when the heat was applied, to pro- 

 duce the common atmospheric pressure. 



SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 



Account of Books, &c. 



Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, fur 

 the year 1812. Part II. 4to. 187 pages, with 12 plates. 



THIS part contains the following paper. 1 . Observations of 

 a second Comet, with remarks on its construction. By 

 William Herschel, LL. D. F. R. S. 2. Additional Experi- 

 ments on the Muriatic and Oxymuriatic Acids. By William 

 Henry, M. D. F. R. S. &c. (See our present volume, p. 42.) 

 3. Of the Attraction of such Solids as are terminated by planes ; 



and 



