On the Terms go/ecus Oxide of Azote, i^e, l6f 



be about a cortima and a half too' fliarp. The fa£l Is, that in this cafe the harmony is 

 fomewhat impaired in order to improve the melody. The interval of 15 to 16 is far too 

 final! to be diftinftly conceived as commenfurate, it poflclT s therefore no melody in virtue 

 of the perfeftion of its ratio, and a certain elegance of expreflion is added by approaching 

 to the natural and colloquial afcent of a voice by imperceptible degrees. It mufl:, however, 

 be confefllul, that fome excellent muficians prefer a purer harmony, and in this, as in all 

 other matters of tafte, confiderable latitude mufl: be allowed for the habits and prediledions 

 of iiidividuals. 



I am, SIR, 



With great refpeft, 

 Your obedient humble fervant, 



THOMAS YOUNG. 

 No.^^yWel^eck-Street,, July \2> 1801. 



ERRATA IN THE PAPER ON SOUND AND LIGHT. 



In Table XII, yir E^ 838'0 rfai/ E (J 84I97 ; /o/- .0011562 read .ooioMd. In Fig. 53 

 the Ei ( Q^) is too near D, and the EA (Y) fliould be above infcead of below it. 



II. 



Ott certain Points of Nomenclature. By a Correfpotideiit, 



To Mr. NICHOLSON. 

 SI R, 



London^ July 15, 1801. 



Ti 



HE gas at this time, whofe efFefts on breathing it are an objedt of great curiofity 

 among chemifts and amateurs, denominated by its difcovferer Dr. Pt'cftley, dephloeijii- 

 c'ated nitrous gas, and fubfequently by the Dutch plulofophers who inveftigatcd many of its 

 properties, called oxide of azote gas, or gafeous oxide of azote, is now univerfally fpokea 

 of by the name ^cj/f«/j- ffw'//^. The very ingenious and promifirg philofopher, and expert 

 experimenter, whom the managers of the Royal Inftitution have engaged, has detefted the 

 miftake of Deiman, Trooftwyk &c. who found out that it was capable of fupporting in- 

 flammation, but erroneoufly concluded, that it could not poflefs refpiration. Mr. Davy 

 thereupon very juftly enjoys the honor of the difcovery of this, and other new properties of. 

 this oxide;; but my object now is only to obferve, that the term gafeous oxide carries no ufe- 

 ful and difcriminating import, but what is worfe than no' import at all, it is very liable to 

 produce roiftake and confufioa ; as was the cafe with the iermsfxed air, aerial acid, &c. 



formerly 



