316 Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 



water, and treated with hydrosulphuric acid, when it became imme- 

 diately black. 



2. Sulphuric acid which had been boiled with sulphate of lead was 

 saturated with potash ; in this state a current of hydrosulphuric acid 

 immediately^rendered it black, and on standing a deposit of sulphuret 

 of lead was formed. 



It follows from what has been stated, — 



1st. That a small portion of sulphate of lead is soluble in concen- 

 trated sulphuric acid. 



2nd. That hydrosulphuric acid does not react upon sulphate of lead 

 dissolved in a great excess of sulphuric acid, or mechanically mixed 

 with it. 



3rd. That consequently, hydrosulphuric acid cannot be employed 

 for the purpose of ascertaining the presence of sulphate of lead in 

 commercial sulphuric acid. 



4th. That boiling concentrated sulphuric acid dissolves some sul- 

 phate of lead, the greater part of which is precipitated on the addition 

 of water. 



5th. That hydrosulphuric acid immediately reacts, and sulphuret of 

 lead is instantly formed from the sulphate whether it is dissolved or 

 not, when the excess of sulphuric acid is saturated by an alkaline 

 base ; from which it evidently results, that it is the excess of sul- 

 phuric acid that prevents the reaction of the hydrosulphuric acid 

 on the oxide of the sulphate of lead. — Journal de Pharmacie et de 

 Chimie, Aout, 1843. 



HALO ROUND THE SUN, SEEN BY MR. VEALL, BOSTON. 

 S.W. 



At Boston, June 16th, 1843, at 2 h 30 m p.m., was seen a halo 

 round the sun, with prismatic colours on the north-east and south- 



