Scknttjic NewSy Aaounts of Books, &c, 1 19 



Verted Into deliquefcent falts ; but a good deal of acid is neceflary for this purpofe. 

 Even diftilled vinegar has this efFedt in part. 



I intended to repeat thefe experiments with greater care and exa£lnefs, with a view to 

 the improvement of the analyfis of mineral waters ; but having been diftraSed by other 

 occupations, I beg your acceptance of them for the ufe of your valuable Journal, if you 

 deem them of fufficient confequence. Before I conclude, I will take the opportunity of 

 correfting another error which, I believe, pervades the moft recent chemical works. It is 

 this : — Ammonia is faid to decompofe fulphate of magnefia only i,n part : but this, alfo, is 

 owing to the ammonia not having been wholly deprived of carbonic acid. I precipitated 

 the whole of the magnefia from fulphate of magnefia, by ufing ammoniacal gas in excefs. 

 I then filtered the'liquor, and boiled it with a fixed alkali j but I only obtained a little 

 lime, difcoloured feemingly with oxide of Iron. 



I am, SIR, 



With great refpeft. 



Your obedient fervant, 

 Warwick, May 23, 180 1. W. LAMBEi 



SCIENTIFIC NEWS, ACCOUNTS OF BOOKS, S(c. 



Gratuitous Attaints of Minerals, by the Britifh Mineralogical Society. 



X HAVE received the following addrefs by poft, which I give without abridgement or 

 alteration. — W. N. 



The immenfe importance which, at all times, and particularly at prefent, Is attached 

 to Improvements in agriculture, and the liberal encouragement to experiments In the art 

 of cultivating the land offered by the' patriotic views of the Board of Agriculture, have 

 rendered it a defirable objeft to affift the inquiries of the farmer in that part of experimental 

 chemiftry which determines the nature of foils by an analyfis of their feveral contents. 



The Britifti Mineralogical Society, having of late increafed the number of their members, 

 find themfelves enabled to extend the plan of their inflitution,. from the analyfis of minerals, 

 in the ufual fenfe of the term, to that of the various foils which are made the bafis of 

 agricultural operations. 



They therefore give this public notice that they will examine, free of expence, all 

 fpeclmens of earths or foils, with a view of determining the nature and proportion of their 

 different contcnts> with as much accuracy as fhall feem requifite. 



They. 



